European Union

The bloc wants construction with timber to happen faster

Greens and Left stayed away, while Socialist & Democrats staged a walk out on day one

That responsibly lies with EU capitals, Magnus Brunner said in an interview with Euractiv, as Brussels pushes ahead with an overhaul of the bloc's returns system

Europe’s standout innovators and entrepreneurial talents were honoured at the 2025 EIT Innovation Awards in Budapest

Drug-resistant infections are rising as Czechs keep leftover antibiotics at home, using them without medical supervision

Excellent modern marketing is the ‘golden rule’ for self-publishing as the author becomes entrepreneur

Parliament and Council have struck a deal on a more open and competitive EU payment services sector, with strong defences against fraud and data breaches.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament and Council have struck a deal on a more open and competitive EU payment services sector, with strong defences against fraud and data breaches.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026 (2026 CWP). In line with the Commission President's political guidelines and letter of intent and highlighting the need for full implementation of Mario Draghi's competitiveness report, the 2026 CWP places a strong emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and collective security. In parallel, the Commission commits to advancing simplification, implementation, and this year, also to strengthening enforcement. These three areas will remain key horizontal priorities for the entire Commission mandate. Just like last year's CWP, the 2026 CWP adheres to the seven headline ambitions put forward in the political guidelines. It is accompanied by a report on implementation, simplification and enforcement, the first of its kind. This new annual report is set to replace the annual burden survey. Annex I of the 2026 CWP puts forward 70 major new legislative and non-legislative initiatives, 44 % of which fall under the competitiveness headline ambition. (Up to) 48 of the new initiatives are legislative, including three sector-specific omnibus packages (on energy product legislation, taxation and citizens). Of the forthcoming legislative initiatives, 67 % are likely revisions of existing legislation, while more than half have a strong simplification dimension. Unlike previous CWPs, the 2026 CWP does not indicate whether a legislative initiative will be accompanied by an impact assessment; this lack of transparency runs counter to the spirit of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. Information on the Commission's 'Have your say' portal shows that, at the time of writing, two thirds of the up to 48 legislative initiatives were expected to be accompanied by an impact assessment (though the final number may be higher). The annual evaluation plan presented in Annex II of the CWP, comprising 20 evaluations, does not appear exhaustive. Finally, the communication on Better Regulation, expected in Q2 2026, may entail a revision of the Better Regulation Guidelines, the first since 2021.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026 (2026 CWP). In line with the Commission President's political guidelines and letter of intent and highlighting the need for full implementation of Mario Draghi's competitiveness report, the 2026 CWP places a strong emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and collective security. In parallel, the Commission commits to advancing simplification, implementation, and this year, also to strengthening enforcement. These three areas will remain key horizontal priorities for the entire Commission mandate. Just like last year's CWP, the 2026 CWP adheres to the seven headline ambitions put forward in the political guidelines. It is accompanied by a report on implementation, simplification and enforcement, the first of its kind. This new annual report is set to replace the annual burden survey. Annex I of the 2026 CWP puts forward 70 major new legislative and non-legislative initiatives, 44 % of which fall under the competitiveness headline ambition. (Up to) 48 of the new initiatives are legislative, including three sector-specific omnibus packages (on energy product legislation, taxation and citizens). Of the forthcoming legislative initiatives, 67 % are likely revisions of existing legislation, while more than half have a strong simplification dimension. Unlike previous CWPs, the 2026 CWP does not indicate whether a legislative initiative will be accompanied by an impact assessment; this lack of transparency runs counter to the spirit of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. Information on the Commission's 'Have your say' portal shows that, at the time of writing, two thirds of the up to 48 legislative initiatives were expected to be accompanied by an impact assessment (though the final number may be higher). The annual evaluation plan presented in Annex II of the CWP, comprising 20 evaluations, does not appear exhaustive. Finally, the communication on Better Regulation, expected in Q2 2026, may entail a revision of the Better Regulation Guidelines, the first since 2021.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has adopted 19 sanctions packages against Russia in close coordination with its Group of Seven partners. As part of these measures, the EU has immobilised around EUR 210 billion of Russia’s sovereign assets and froze around EUR 28 billion of private assets within its jurisdiction, while actively addressing possible utilisation of these funds as reparations owed to Ukraine by Russia under international law. Although significant steps have been taken in terms of private assets and windfall profits, many legal issues concerning the confiscation or management of state assets remain unaddressed. Hence, this paper aims to map current arguments and developments, in order to propose viable options for the use of these three asset types as reparations under EU and international law. At the EU level, proposals under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, especially those relating to the Central Bank of Russia’s (CBR) assets, are hindered by unanimity decision-making processes and the possible use of veto powers by Member States. At the international level, CBR assets are protected by the laws of state immunity. It therefore remains questionable under what circumstances such assets could lawfully be utilised for reparations. This paper argues that currently the most viable legal option, which addresses internal and international challenges, is the establishment of an EU Instrument (Reparations Loan). This could be achieved through carefully designated steps, allowing a qualified majority vote to prolong restrictive measures concerning immobilisation of CBR assets, ensuring temporality and reversibility while connecting this instrument to existing reparations and compensation mechanisms that adjudicate upon Russia’s violations and its obligation to pay reparations or compensation. At an international level, this paper argues that an EU Instrument can be justified in terms of central bank assets’ immunity by offering a new interpretation of the relationship between procedural rules on immunities and secondary rules on countermeasures. Such argumentation does, however, involve important legal risks highlighted throughout the paper.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Negotiators from the 27 national EU governments agreed a common position on a plan to cut red tape for defence companies, with a view to helping Europe quickly scale up its military production. In June, the European Commission presented its Defence Readiness package to alleviate administrative bottlenecks for Europe’s defence industry and simplify defence procurement. […]

Berlin’s refusal to address its dysfunctional power market comes at the cost of Europe’s entire electrical grid

Health advocates say ‘sin taxes’ have huge potential but warn there is no silver bullet

Czech President Petr Pavel will begin interviewing ministerial candidates on Friday and aims to wrap consultations within two weeks

Poland has chosen Sweden to build new submarines to boost its navy’s capabilities in the context of the war in Ukraine and fears of Russian threats, its defence minister announced Wednesday. The deal is part of Poland’s “Orka” (Orca) initiative, which aims to replace its Navy’s sole outdated Soviet-era submarine with three brand-new, higher-tech models. […]

The Western Balkans region stands at a critical crossroads for democracy, challenged by rising disinformation campaigns that exploit social divisions and fuel political polarisation, ultimately undermining democratic institutions and sowing scepticism toward European integration.

In the morning of 2 December, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) will hold a joint public hearing and discuss ways to effectively counter disinformation and FIMI in the Western Balkans, strengthen its democratic institutions, build public trust, and focus on the role the EU can play in this process.

Location : Brussels
Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The award ceremony for 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought laureates Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli will be held on Tuesday 16 December.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The award ceremony for 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought laureates Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli will be held on Tuesday 16 December.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The award ceremony for 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought laureates Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli will be held on Tuesday 16 December.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP