The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist skewered presidents from Johnson to Trump, reaching a vast audience through syndication.

This briefing, published by the European Parliamentary Research Service, aims to provide a broad range of key facts and figures about the European Parliament. Its many graphics offer a picture of the Parliament's Members and the institution's structures and activity in the current parliamentary term (July 2024 to June 2029) and in previous five-year terms since direct elections were introduced in June 1979. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the European Union’s latest generation of so-called mini trade deals (MTDs), an informal but analytically useful label applied to agreements that sit outside the standard free trade agreement (FTA) framework. The paper focuses on three current categories: clean trade and investment partnerships (CTIPs), sustainable investment facilitation agreements (SIFAs), and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to critical raw materials (CRMs). Drawing on existing research by Claussen (2022), Cernat (2023), Larsson and Wennerberg (2024), and Sasmal (2026), as well as on institutional documents, European Parliament (EP) research, and further academic literature, it examines each instrument’s substantive content, procedural origins, stakeholder involvement, legal character, governance architecture, and the role, or absence of a role, of the European Parliament. The paper evaluates the implementation record of existing agreements where data are available, identifies the systemic challenges of transparency and democratic accountability, and assesses the strategic rationale for MTDs in the current geopolitical environment. It concludes that while MTDs offer genuine advantages in speed and flexibility, their growing use (especially in legally non-binding form) raises serious governance concerns that the EU’s institutional architecture is not currently equipped to manage. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) contain carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest chemical bonds in organic chemistry, making them resistant to degradation. The favourable physicochemical properties that make PFAS valuable for countless applications and products pose huge environmental challenges: PFAS are persistent. Due to their persistence and mobility, widespread use and resulting emissions, PFAS are now ubiquitous contaminants, polluting soil and water resources. Remediation is technically challenging and very costly. Human biomonitoring shows PFAS are omnipresent in populations, raising serious health concerns. Given the scale of contamination and remediation limitations, scientists and regulators deem pollution prevention, i.e. regulating PFAS at source, the most sustainable option. European Union (EU) legislation has increasingly covered PFAS, with decisive Parliament input. However, regulatory steps taken so far are fragmented and cannot effectively address PFAS risks. Due to the sheer number of PFAS, regulating them individually is impractical and inadequate. The EU chemicals strategy for sustainability committed to regulate PFAS as a group. The European Chemicals Agency is assessing a wide-ranging restriction proposal (targeted ban) under the EU Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) that covers some 10 000 compounds. At stake are the need to protect citizens' health and preserve essential natural resources; the technical and economic challenges for businesses; Europe's need to catch up on innovation; and PFAS risks for investors and insurers. The European Chemicals Agency is expected to transmit its final opinion to the European Commission by the end of 2026. Parliament will scrutinise the Commission's draft restriction. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced his selection of Darline Graham Nordone to serve into January after her brother died suddenly amid a campaign for a fifth term.

Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, has the backing of President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR), solemnly proclaimed in Nice in 2000, became legally binding on 1 December 2009, when the Treaty of Lisbon granted it the same legal status as the EU Treaties. Its provisions are addressed to the EU institutions and Member States when implementing EU law. A key feature of the Charter is the distinction, drawn in Articles 51 and 52, between two categories of guarantee: rights and principles. According to the distinction drawn by the Charter itself, rights may, where sufficiently clear, precise and unconditional, confer directly enforceable subjective entitlements on individuals, who may invoke them before the courts. By contrast, Charter principles cannot generate individually enforceable claims; they bind the EU and its Member States to pursue certain objectives through legislation and executive action and may be relied upon before the courts only as standards for interpreting and reviewing such implementing measures. This distinction made by the drafters of the Charter was intended as a political compromise on economic, social and cultural rights. The terminology chosen for these purposes reflects broader jurisprudential categories. Rights (subjective rights, rights-claims) are understood as legally protected and judicially enforceable entitlements, with duties as their corollaries. Principles are understood as legal norms that can be fulfilled to a greater or lesser degree or as optimisation directives and are subject to balancing against competing considerations. The Charter does not exhaustively identify which of its provisions contain rights and which contain principles. Despite the importance of this distinction in the Charter, its wording is not conclusive as to whether a given provision contains a right, a principle, or both. It was the intent of the drafters to leave this to the Member States' courts under the guidance of the Court of Justice of the EU. Although the Charter formally distinguishes between rights and principles, this briefing argues that, in practice, the legal significance of that distinction largely turns on whether a given Charter guarantee is capable of producing direct effect. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the core component of Next Generation EU (NGEU). By promoting the sustainable and inclusive recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic that ensures the green and digital transitions make progress, the RRF is consistent with the European Commission's priorities. Belgium's initial maximum contribution to finance its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) was set to €5 924 million in grants. The amount was updated in June 2022 and reduced to €4 523 million. In addition, the non-repayable allocation for the REPowerEU chapter to reinforce the NRRP's energy dimension was set at €281 million. Belgium also submitted a reasoned request to transfer part of its allocation from the resources of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to the RRF (€228 million). Finally, Belgium requested a loan support of €264 million. Following the Belgian NRRP's first revision, the overall EU financial contribution thus stood at €5 298 million, which represented 0.7 % of the entire RRF, and 1.1 % of Belgium's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The Council approved Belgium's latest amended NRRP on 12 June 2026. It previously approved one revision each in 2023 and 2024, and five revisions in 2025. In November 2025, the total EU contribution was revised to €5 264 million following the decommitment of part of the loans. Belgium has received €3 070 million including pre-financing so far (58.3 % of its allocation, below the EU average of 74.3 %). The European Commission is currently assessing two payment requests. The deadlines for Belgium to meet the remaining milestones and targets and to submit the final payment request are 31 August and 30 September 2026 respectively. The European Parliament was a major advocate of the common EU recovery instrument; it participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on RRF implementation and scrutinises the Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fourth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The president recommended that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster select Darline Graham Nordone to serve into January. Her brother died suddenly amid a campaign for a fifth term.

This study analyses the US critical mineral strategy, mapping its institutional framework, policy instruments and value-chain priorities – such as such as tax incentives, funding mechanisms, strategic stockpiling and demand-anchoring mechanisms. It provides a comparative analysis with the EU’s approach, highlighting differences in scale, coordination and market intervention. Finally, it explains how its findings relate to the specific policy areas of the European Parliament’s IMCO and ITRE committees. The document was prepared by the Policy Departments for Economy and Growth and Transformation, Innovation and Health. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Graham died hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Trump said he spoke with the senator Saturday evening and that “could’ve been his last call.”

Graham died hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Trump said he spoke with the senator Saturday evening and that “could’ve been his last call.”

Graham, a staunch Trump ally and key GOP foreign policy voice, was running for reelection this year. He died of a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said.

This fact sheet explains the EU’s energy policy framework and its core objectives of decarbonisation, competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability. It outlines the key legislation underpinning the Energy Union – from the Renewable Energy Directive to the Electricity Market Design reform – and traces the policy evolution driven by the European Green Deal and the push to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels. It also describes the European Parliament’s role as co-legislator and its calls for more ambitious climate targets and stronger cross-border energy solidarity. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains the EU Banking Union, its legal basis, objectives and main components, including the Single Supervisory Mechanism, the Single Resolution Mechanism and the proposed European Deposit Insurance Scheme. The fact sheet outlines the development, recent reforms and remaining challenges for financial integration and stability concerning the Banking Union. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy, a key component of the European Green Deal, which aims at building sustainable EU agri-food systems by making agri-food systems fairer, healthier and more environmentally sustainable. It outlines the strategy’s objectives and main policy actions, including measures relating to agriculture, food processing and distribution, food consumption and prevention of food loss and food waste. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains how the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) – consisting of the ECB plus all EU national central banks – conduct monetary policy in the euro area. It sets out the legal basis and primary objective of price stability, describes the main policy instruments – from interest rates and open market operations to asset purchase programmes – and outlines how the ECB’s strategy has evolved, most recently with the June 2025 strategy review. It also explains how the European Parliament holds the ECB to account through regular dialogues, resolutions and written questions. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The July 2026 plenary session featured a debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 18 19 June 2026; and heard a presentation of the priorities of the Irish EU Council Presidency. Members also heard and debated Council and European Commission statements on the EU's response and preparedness on protecting people against heatwaves and wildfires; and considered the implications for public security in Europe of recent violent and fatal attacks in Italy and Denmark. Members examined measures to strengthen EU automotive sector competitiveness and safeguard jobs; and a competitive bioeconomy strategy's contribution to EU strategic autonomy. The plenary further addressed the Commission's action plan on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Members discussed the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on Cypriot women and girls. They debated the future of EU support for Russian democratic forces; the EU's response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda; protection of European democracy following illegal spyware surveillance of a Member; and evaluation of the common fisheries policy. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

As part of ongoing European Union (EU) efforts to create a more business-friendly and competitive environment, on 24 June 2026 the European Commission presented a proposal for a tax simplification package, including an omnibus simplifying EU rules on direct taxation. The proposed omnibus comprises a set of measures designed to streamline EU direct taxation rules and reduce administrative burdens, by revising key corporate tax directives. The legislative acts proposed for revision are the Interest and Royalties Directive, the Tax Merger Directive, Parent-Subsidiary Directive, the Anti-Tax-Avoidance Directive, the Tax Dispute Resolution Mechanisms Directive, and the Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes Directive. The implementation of this legislation has led to a fragmented landscape across EU Member States, characterised by different rules and interpretations. Evidence indicates that these directives have created significant challenges for taxpayers and businesses, leading to legal uncertainty and inefficiencies, particularly for cross-border activities, which can undermine the proper functioning of the EU single market and business competitiveness. Additionally, the tax landscape has evolved significantly, both within the EU and globally, since the adoption of the directives the omnibus addresses. This evolution is particularly evident with the introduction of new regulations such as the EU's Global Minimum Tax Directive, which has created additional complexities in the existing tax framework. This implementation appraisal focuses primarily on the revision of the directives under the omnibus. It also examines implementation reports, evaluations, and other evidence assessing the application of the directives under revision. It summarises the main features of the omnibus proposal and considers the European Parliament's perspective, written questions from its Members, and the views of stakeholders, including EU institutions and advisory bodies. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains that in the EU judicial cooperation in criminal matters is based on the principle of mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions, and that this includes measures to approximate the laws of the Member States in several areas. The Treaty of Lisbon has provided a stronger basis for the development of a criminal justice area, while also stipulating new powers for the European Parliament. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains what the EU does to support the cultural and creative sectors. It highlights key strategic frameworks and flagship initiatives for culture, which have the aim of fostering diversity, cooperation and innovation. It also outlines the European Parliament’s role in addressing ongoing challenges, including those related to artists’ working conditions, digital transformation and cultural diversity. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains the EU’s audiovisual and media policy, governed by Articles 167 and 173 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union guarantees respect for ‘the freedom and pluralism of the media’ under Article 11(2). At EU level, the key piece of legislation is the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, with the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme acting as the main EU funding instrument. The European Media Freedom Act establishes a framework for media services in the internal market. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains how multilingualism, a core EU value, is supported through studies abroad, intercultural exchanges and language learning. It outlines the EU’s support for the literary and audiovisual sectors in disseminating works in all EU and minority languages. The fact sheet goes on to explain the European Parliament’s role in upholding the EU’s language policy. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This fact sheet explains the EU rules on the freedoms to establish a business and to provide services – two fundamental rights enabling businesses and professionals to operate EU-wide. Services are vital to the EU economy, making up three quarters of its GDP and total employment. The fact sheet covers the legal basis for, and purposes of these freedoms, action taken to complete the single market for services, and Parliament’s role in shaping the rules, including the 2025 single market strategy. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Prosecutors laid out their case against Tyler James Robinson on Day 4 of the preliminary hearing in Utah.

The National Capital Planning Commission, led by the president’s allies, voted to advance the project near Arlington Cemetery, tabling a height question for later.

The unusual cross-party fundraising committee comes amid speculation that Republicans are courting John Fetterman, who has said he has no plans to switch parties.

Leaders of the Maine Democratic Party are still working toward a process to replace Graham Platner, without angering his supporters.

Prosecutors lay out their case against Tyler James Robinson in Day 4 of the preliminary hearing in Utah.

Despite judicial and now-defunct legislative efforts to harmonise data retention practices across the EU, national data retention regimes remain fragmented, with some countries adopting their own rules and others none at all. Law enforcement authorities report operational difficulties, while service providers face significant compliance burdens and costs. Although the Court's case law has clarified the general principles governing data retention, important practical details remain unresolved. In response, the European Commission is assessing the need for a new harmonised EU framework, with a proposal potentially forthcoming. However, stakeholders are divided over its scope and safeguards. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Artificial intelligence (AI) was already transforming the world of work when the advent of generative AI (GenAI) and its rapid uptake accelerated the process. Today, it is widely recognised that GenAI can both significantly enhance and degrade human skills, and cause labour market disruptions by transforming or displacing jobs.AI's impact on jobs depends on the degree to which these are exposed to AI, and is often estimated by the potential of individual tasks to be automated. Reports distinguish between augmentable, automatable and unaffected jobs.Expectations about AI's impact are evolving. Claims that white-collar jobs will soon be massively replaced by AI are being mitigated by economic research predicting AI's modest macroeconomic effects on productivity and gross domestic product growth. The most likely impact of GenAI is a profound transformation, rather than large-scale destruction, of jobs.Early evidence shows a strong impact on white-collar entry-level jobs and shifting regional labour-market dynamics, as AI's effects are more strongly felt in urban areas and in places where AI-adopting companies are located. Much will depend on the regulatory framework, on organisations' workflow adaptation, and on training people in AI skills.With the recent data on AI use by individuals and enterprises, the European Union (EU) considers AI a defining challenge for its long-term competitiveness. It is adapting its regulatory framework with a view to developing AI talent and, generally, increasing AI skills. Forecasts about how AI and digital technologies could reshape employment in European regions are cautiously positive.To reap AI's benefits and mitigate its negative effects on jobs, societal adaptations are needed. Beyond regulation and supportive policy, these start with training and education, to provide both current and future workers with the necessary skills, and include adapted social protection, social dialogue, and safeguards of workers' rights. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Although the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) continued developing EU data retention standards after invalidating the former EU Data Retention Directive in 2014, national interpretations diverge and efforts towards alignment have stalled. Law enforcement and judicial authorities report operational challenges arising from this fragmentation, sometimes precluding timely access to communications-related data necessary for identifying suspects and victims, reconstructing criminal activity, and generating investigative leads. In response to these issues and to calls from the Council, the European Commission is assessing the need for a new EU framework. Any legislative action would require a series of politically and legally sensitive design choices. Controversy may arise in relation to the legitimacy and appropriate scope of renewed EU legislative intervention; the operationalisation of the CJEU's system of graduated objectives and safeguards; the adequacy of retention periods; the design of access conditions and safeguards; and, possibly, the need to regulate automated processing of retained datasets. This briefing builds on the overviews provided in the EPRS briefings 'Towards new EU data retention rules' and 'Mapping CJEU limits on data retention framework'. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

As the European Union prepares to redefine its external financing framework for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the proposed Global Europe Instrument raises key questions about the future place of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in EU external action. While intended to enhance coherence, flexibility and geopolitical responsiveness, the new framework must also ensure that values-based commitments remain visible, adequately funded and operationally effective. The workshop held on 23 February 2026, organised on behalf of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), examined how the proposed instrument may affect the EU’s capacity to support democratic governance, accountability, civil society, human-rights defenders and fundamental rights worldwide. Against a background of democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space and growing geopolitical competition, participants discussed the risks and opportunities of moving from dedicated funding structures towards a more integrated external financing instrument. The discussion also addressed the balance between strategic interests and values-based external action, and the role of the European Parliament in ensuring democratic oversight, policy coherence and sustained support for human rights and democracy. This publication brings together the workshop proceedings, including exchanges with Members, academics, civil society experts and EU representatives, with a briefing on the same topic. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP