European Union

In today’s edition: French PM Sébastien Lecornu is set to outline policy priorities before lawmakers as censure votes loom, interior ministers are expected to clash over EU deportation rules in Luxembourg, and MEPs back stronger air passenger rights, putting them on a collision course with the Council

The ability of Europe to remain competitive in the decades ahead will hinge on whether it can guarantee secure and affordable energy that enables its industries to grow, protects households from volatility and strengthens strategic resilience.

Sébastien Lecornu faces a make-or-break moment as he presents his policy agenda and 2026 budget, with looming no-confidence votes and Socialist demands threatening his government’s survival

Fights between governments, shipowners and NGOs supercharges final talks at the IMO

Cell-based burgers have been attracting attention for a while. Now, innovators say fish could be next to make a splash

Várhelyi’s meetings and public appearances are also proceeding as planned

Parliament's internal market committee will vote on whether under 16s should require parental consent for using social media applications on Thursday

The Commission has repeatedly pledged not to pursue the idea at EU level, mindful of potential retaliation from the Trump administration

Poland is updating its pharmaceutical security protocols to protect medicine supplies against regional hybrid attacks

Greek shipping leader warns that the Net-Zero Framework risks undermining the industry’s competitiveness and the IMO’s credibility if it's not revised

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Length of video : 60'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The new draft rules would reduce the required amount of sustainability reporting and simplify due diligence requirements for companies.
Committee on Legal Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The new draft rules would reduce the required amount of sustainability reporting and simplify due diligence requirements for companies.
Committee on Legal Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

To help air passengers, MEPs suggest maintaining the current right to compensation after a three-hour delay, plus unlocking new rights on free children’s seats and cabin luggage.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

To help air passengers, MEPs suggest maintaining the current right to compensation after a three-hour delay, plus unlocking new rights on free children’s seats and cabin luggage.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Opinion on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on information security in the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Tim Peters and Jakub Przetacznik with Ana Luisa Melo Almeida.

Updated on 07.10.2025

In response to Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have provided unprecedented financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. According to European Commission figures, Team Europe, consisting of the EU and its Member States, has made available around €173.5 billion in support to Ukraine. This support encompasses macro-financial assistance, financial support through the Ukraine Facility, humanitarian aid and military assistance from Member States and the European Peace Facility, as well as support to Ukrainian refugees in the EU.

The overall support for Ukraine provided by Team Europe is now larger than the support provided by the United States, except in terms of military support allocation, even though Team Europe has provided 83 % of the tanks and 61 % of the air defence systems given to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.

The disbursement of EU payments is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine Plan – an ambitious reform and investment plan drafted by Ukraine’s government and endorsed by the EU. The G7 have agreed upon a further €45 billion loan, with €18.1 billion of the whole amount to be financed by the EU. For that purpose, a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism has been established, which uses extraordinary revenues originating from Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the G7 member states to repay loans and associated interest costs. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for a full confiscation of immobilised Russian sovereign assets with the objective of making Russia pay for the destruction it has brought on Ukraine. The European Commission has proposed to use those assets for a ‘reparation loan’ to Ukraine.

Read the complete briefing on ‘State of Play: EU support to Ukraine‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Team Europe financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, February 2022 to September 2025, in € billion Bilateral and EU budget contributions to Ukraine by EU and non-EU Member States, 2022-2025, in € billion and as a % of GNI

AMENDMENTS 21 - 172 - Draft opinion Amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Marco Tarquinio

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Vasilis Margaras.

Towns and cities are home to nearly three quarters of the EU’s population. Many EU cities and urban areas constitute vibrant spaces of economic growth and innovation. However, they also face multiple challenges, such as building inclusive societies, tackling inequalities, addressing climate change and environmental degradation, and dealing with housing issues and demographic challenges. Cities are at the forefront of implementing EU legislation in several policy areas, including cohesion, and have been demanding a stronger role in shaping these policies and greater access to EU financial resources.

Cohesion policy has a strong urban dimension. Its support for sustainable urban development was reinforced in the current 2021-2027 programming period to help cities take an active role in designing and implementing policy responses to their own challenges. Cohesion funds invest more than €100 billion in towns and cities. For their part, cities are directly responsible for designing and implementing investments worth over €24 billion under the cohesion policy programmes.

The emergence of the Urban Agenda for the EU in 2016 and the beginning of participatory partnerships raised new expectations about the role of urban authorities in the EU decision-making process. The Pact of Amsterdam provided for urban partnerships focusing on key urban themes such as air quality, urban poverty and housing. However, progress in empowering cities within cohesion policy has been limited. Stakeholders evaluating the progress of the Urban Agenda for the EU highlight issues such as limited EU resources channelled to tackling urban issues, obstacles in achieving direct EU funding, a lack of effective long-term urban governance mechanisms in EU policymaking, and limited input of urban areas into EU policies.

Read the complete briefing on ‘A new urban policy agenda for the EU: Addressing cities’ current challenges‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.