A new pharmaceutical strategy, adopted Wednesday by the EU Commission, offers patients access to affordable medicines and supports competitiveness and innovation in Europe’s pharma industry.

The EU executive and its foreign affairs arm put forward ambitious plans Wednesday to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through all external action of the European Union.

Groups of consumers will be able to join forces and launch collective action in the EU, following the final green light from MEPs Tuesday to EU-wide rules for the protection of collective interest of consumers.

A new plan on Integration and Inclusion for 2021-2027, unveiled by the EU Commission Tuesday, addresses barriers that hinder participation and inclusion of people with a migrant background in European society.

Almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution, leading to about 400,000 premature deaths across the continent, according to a report on air quality published Monday by the European Environment Agency.

The EU Commission published an action pan on Intellectual Property Wednesday, to help smaller firms in particular make the most of their inventions and creations and ensure Europe benefits fully from them.