This study examines recent developments in EU farm incomes, focusing on the heightened price volatility observed since 2020. Sharp increases in energy, fertiliser, and feed costs, driven by multiple factors, have led to significant income variations across Member States and farm types. The report reviews challenges in measuring farm income and proposes improvements to enhance the timeliness, coverage, and policy relevance of income data. It also summarises existing farm income support mechanisms and outlines policy options to improve targeting efficiency, strengthen sector resilience to shocks, and support the long term economic sustainability and competitiveness of EU farm incomes. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This digest provides a collection of documents prepared by academia, think tanks, other EU institutions and bodies, as well as stakeholders that could be useful for Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets to stay informed about the debate concerning the next Multiannual Financial Framework, starting in 2028. The document is produced monthly by the Budgetary Support Unit in the Directorate-General for Budgetary Affairs (DG BUDG) and the Members' Research Service in the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is one of the EU’s seven institutions. It consists of two courts of law: the Court of Justice proper and the General Court. It is the judicial authority of the EU. The courts ensure the correct interpretation and application of primary and secondary EU law in the EU. They review the legality of acts of the EU institutions and decide whether Member States have fulfilled their obligations under primary and secondary law. The Court of Justice also provides interpretations of EU law when so requested by national judges. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

European company law is partially codified in Directive (EU) 2017/1132, while Member States continue to maintain their own national company laws, which are amended from time to time to comply with EU directives and regulations. Ongoing efforts to develop a modern and efficient company law and corporate governance framework for European undertakings, investors and employees aim to enhance the business environment in the EU. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Individual citizens’ rights and European citizenship are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EUCFR), the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 9 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). They are essential factors in the formation of a European identity. In the event of a serious breach of basic values of the Union, a Member State can be sanctioned. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In areas in which the European Union does not have exclusive competence, the principle of subsidiarity, laid down in the Treaty on European Union, defines the circumstances in which it is preferable for action to be taken by the Union, rather than the Member States. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Treaties attach great importance to the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice. In 2009, several important new features were introduced: a more efficient and democratic decision-making procedure that comes in response to the abolition of the old pillar structure; increased powers for the Court of Justice of the EU; and a new role for national parliaments. Basic rights are strengthened by the legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This briefing examines the role of biomethane and bioethanol in Europe’s energy transition, focusing on where these fuels are produced, their end-uses, and how policy frameworks shape their uptake. Biomethane, a renewable gas that can be injected into existing gas grids and is mainly used in heating and transport, and bioethanol, a renewable liquid fuel with a relevant role in road transport and industrial applications, rely on different feedstocks, technologies and infrastructures. Yet, both offer near-term decarbonisation options using existing energy systems. This briefing distinguishes between established and emerging production pathways, including advanced biofuels, and assesses their respective maturity and deployment challenges, with the aim of identifying policy and market conditions that enable stable, scalable and sustainable supply across the EU, its Member States, and the UK. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Transformation, Innovation and Health at the request of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a multiannual financial framework (MFF) regulation for 2028 to 2034, together with a proposal for an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (IIA), which would set the provisions governing cooperation on the budget. These texts define spending priorities and expenditure ceilings and set budgetary rules for 2028 to 2034. The Commission proposes a budget of €1.76 trillion (2025 prices) or 1.26 % of the EU's gross national income (GNI). This includes €149.3 billion (0.11 % EU GNI) for repayment of the Next Generation EU debt. It proposes a shift in spending priorities, from traditional policies such as the common agricultural policy or cohesion towards competitiveness, security and defence. It drastically changes the budgetary structure, motivated by an intention to increase flexibility in EU funding. Parliament's MFF co-rapporteurs' (Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, Romania) and Carla Tavares (S&D, Portugal)) draft interim report demands a €1.93 trillion budget (1.38 % of EU GNI), a 10 % increase compared to the Commission proposal. Excluding the €149.3 billion for the repayment of NGEU-related debt, which should be treated separately from EU programme funding, would leave €1.78 trillion (1.27 % of EU GNI) for financing EU policies. Parliament is set to analyse the proposed structure and governance to ensure full democratic scrutiny and transparency of EU spending and Parliament's full involvement in budgetary decisions. It intends to adopt an interim report in May 2026, which will serve as its negotiating position for the Article 312 TFEU consent procedure. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Dombrovskis are invited to the 22nd Recovery and Resilience Dialogue (RRD), scheduled for 9 February 2026. The RRD is the mechanism by which the European Parliament exercises democratic oversight over the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) according to the RRF Regulation. The previous RRD took place on 24 November 2025. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Amidst increasing political pressure to adopt a stricter approach to migration, certain EU Member States have begun calling for reform of the protections available to migrants under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The calls have centred around Article 3 and Article 8 of the ECHR. Article 3 prohibits torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. It blocks states from deporting individuals to places where they would be at risk of such treatment. It is absolute and cannot be restricted in any circumstances. Article 8 protects the right to respect for private and family life. It is a qualified right, meaning that it can be subject to limitations: it must be in accordance with the law, in pursuit of a legitimate aim and proportionate to the aim pursued. Since June 2025 in particular, calls for reform have intensified, culminating in an agreement between Council of Europe states to adopt a political declaration on issues related to migration and the ECHR. The declaration is expected in May 2026. As yet, there is no consensus on the changes which should be made, or whether changes should be made at all. Nonetheless, support for reform seems to be growing amongst EU Member States. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

As part of its sectoral proposals within the EU's long-term budget for the 2028-2034 period, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Council Regulation establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania for 2028-2034. The Ignalina programme aims to assist Lithuania in managing the radiological safety challenges of decommissioning the nuclear power plant. It also aims to create knowledge for EU Member States and third countries undertaking their own decommissioning activities, in particular those involving graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. The programme has been conducted through several financial programming periods since the early 2000s. The proposed budget allocation for 2028-2034 is set at €678 million in current prices, while the proposed EU co-financing rate is up to 86 %. The legislative act is a Council regulation and the European Parliament's role is limited to consultation and issuing an opinion. The file has been allocated to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

EU-Russia relations have been deeply strained since 2014 following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, its invasion and occupation of parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, destabilisation policies in the wider region, disinformation and interference operations and human rights violations. Russia’s full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 led to the suspension of all remaining political, cultural and scientific cooperation and the adoption of unprecedented EU sanctions in coordination with international partners. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Croatia's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is an ambitious outline of reforms and investment designed to mitigate the pandemic's socioeconomic fallout and to address the consequences of the two devastating earthquakes of 2020. Following the December 2023 amendment of the Croatian NRRP, to which a REPowerEU chapter was added, the plan's worth reached €10 040.7 million (or 18.5 % of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019). The amended plan comes with a grant allocation of €5 779.4 million and a loan allocation of €4 254.2 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The grant part includes Croatia's REPowerEU grant allocation of €269 million and the €7.2 million transfer from the country's share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. In November 2025, the Council approved the third revision of the plan, which reflects simplification efforts while keeping the EU financial contribution to the plan intact. So far, Croatia has received €6 392.7 million of RRF resources (63.7 % of the amended NRRP) in the form of pre financing, seven grant and three loan instalments. The disbursements are below the current EU average of 68.4 %. The eighth payment request covering grants and loans is under assessment by the Commission. The plan focuses on the green transition by devoting 37.1 % of the resources to it. It also fosters the digital transformation by committing 21.1 % of the funds (excluding the REPowerEU chapter) to digital projects. In the context of the 2025 European Semester, the Council recommended that Croatia accelerate the implementation of its NRRP. The European Parliament continues to ensure transparency and accountability through interinstitutional dialogues on RRF implementation, and scrutiny of the Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Sixth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In the last few decades, more and more people have been forced to flee war, violence, poverty and climate change, with many of them seeking a safe haven in Europe. While the number of irregular migrant arrivals in the EU dropped significantly following the 2015 migration crisis, detections of irregular border crossings are far from being a thing of the past, and pressure on national asylum systems, especially in certain Member States, remains high. At the same time, a steady flow of regular migrants arrives in the EU while Member States struggle to cover labour shortages and cope with demographic challenges. In an attempt to move away from ad hoc solutions and put in place a predictable and reliable migration management system, the EU adopted a new pact on migration and asylum, which will apply from June 2026. The pact creates a common EU system for managing migration, asylum, borders, and integration. This topical digest offers a sample of EPRS publications published in 2025 on the migratory challenges facing the EU. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

We analyse selected RRF reforms and investments, from milestone design to payment assessment. Our findings suggest that the RRF model can strengthen the effectiveness of the European Semester by translating reform priorities into enforceable commitments. Yet there is scope for improvement. First, uneven milestone design limited conditionality in some cases, calling for a better balance between national ownership and consistency in the drafting of similar reforms. Second, investment conditionality should be recalibrated to safeguard value creation, rather than prioritising absorption. Third, decentralised implementation should not imply fragmented or restricted access to information across national systems, which constrains effective accountability and oversight. This document was provided by the Economic Governance and EMU Scrutiny Unit at the request of the ECON Committee. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The European Union (EU) faces constant challenges to its internal security. Security threats, such as organised crime, cybercrime, drugs trade, terrorism and violent extremism, are increasingly cross- border, interconnected and digital in nature, making the EU's security landscape ever more complex and unpredictable and reinforcing the need for cooperation. The European Parliament helps shape the EU's security policy, insisting on the need to uphold fundamental rights, equality and the rule of law. This topical digest highlights a sample of recent EPRS publications on today's challenges to the EU's internal security and what the Union is doing to tackle them. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Value added tax (VAT) is a cornerstone of national public finances and an important source of revenue for the EU budget. Missing trader intra-Community (MTIC) fraud – often perpetrated by organised criminal networks – is among the most damaging forms of VAT fraud, causing annual revenue losses running into the billions, and underscoring the need for effective anti-fraud tools. One such tool is the reverse charge mechanism, under which the liability to account for VAT is shifted from the supplier to the customer. The EU VAT Directive's optional reverse charge mechanisms – Articles 199a and 199b, introduced in 2010 and 2013 respectively – are currently authorised until 31 December 2026. Given their exceptional and time-limited nature, it would appear timely to assess how these mechanisms operate in practice, and how effective they have been in addressing MTIC fraud, with a view to their possible extension. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Cancer is currently the second leading cause of mortality in the EU, after cardiovascular diseases. In 2024, around 2.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer in the EU and around 1.27 million died. EU action focuses on prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment; and quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and carers. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the EU’s economy, accounting for 99% of its businesses. EU programmes to support SMEs have focused on improving their competitiveness, access to finance and their ability to innovate. Recent initiatives have sought to help SMEs navigate challenges such as the digital transition, carbon neutrality, and economic recovery in the face of geopolitical developments. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Audiovisual policy in the EU is governed by Articles 167 and 173 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The key piece of legislation in this field is the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The main EU instrument to help the industry is the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union demands respect for ‘the freedom and pluralism of the media’. The European Media Freedom Act establishes a common framework for media services in the internal market. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Water is essential for human, animal and plant life and for the economy. Its protection and management transcend national boundaries. The EU’s water policy plays a key role in preserving the environment, supported by legislation that safeguards water sources and both freshwater and marine ecosystems. These laws also ensure the cleanliness of drinking and bathing water. The EU Water Framework Directive establishes a legal framework to protect and restore clean water and to ensure its long-term sustainable use. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Strategic Compass, adopted by the 27 EU Member States in March 2022 – only weeks after the onset of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine – emphasised the need for robust partnerships in order for the EU to be able to achieve its objectives in the area of security and defence. Alongside 'acting' (operations), 'securing' (resilience) and 'investing', 'partnering' is one of the four main pillars of the Compass. The document itself outlines specific targets and deadlines against which to measure progress in this area. While the EU has partnered with other security and defence actors (essentially states and international organisations) in the past, a new model of tailored security and defence partnership was launched shortly after the adoption of the Compass, as a reinforced framework for enhanced partnership. To date, the EU has signed eight such partnerships – with (by date of signature) Moldova, Norway, Japan, South Korea, North Macedonia, Albania, the United Kingdom and Canada, and more are envisaged. While the partnerships vary in content, depending on the assessed mutual interests of the EU and each individual partner, around 10 areas of cooperation are common to all eight. The European Parliament has highlighted the significance of the Strategic Compass's partnership dimension and, in particular, the value of security and defence dialogues with partners from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, as well as with key partners in strategic maritime areas such as the Southern Neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific. Parliament has underlined that cooperation with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Ukraine, Georgia, Western Balkan countries, Japan, Australia and certain African countries serves as a key element of the common security and defence policy. In 2023, it called for deeper military and defence cooperation with Japan and South Korea, and for closer cooperation with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. This briefing updates an earlier one from January 2025. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Nuclear energy is a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels and accounts for around 25% of the electricity produced in the EU. However, in the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 catastrophe in Fukushima, nuclear energy has become highly controversial. While Member States can decide whether to include nuclear power in their energy mix, EU legislation aims at improving the safety standards of nuclear power stations and ensuring that nuclear waste is safely handled and disposed of. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union. Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treaties have helped consolidate this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Medicines and medical devices have a direct impact on people’s health and are subject to the rules of the single market. A robust legal framework is in place to protect public health and guarantee the safety of these products. An adequate and affordable supply of medicines, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, the ethical conduct of clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in medical devices and incentives for research and development are just some of the key issues the EU deals with in this field. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Public authorities across the EU use public procurement to award contracts for works, services and supplies that account for approximately 14% of the EU’s GDP (more than EUR 3 trillion annually), making public procurement a major driver of economic growth, job creation and innovation within the EU single market. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In accordance with the subsidiarity principle, education policies are decided at the level of the individual Member States. The role of the EU is therefore mainly a supporting and coordinating one. The main objectives of Union action in the field of education include encouraging mobility of students and staff, fostering mutual recognition of diplomas and periods of study, and promoting cooperation between higher education institutions[1]. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This European implementation assessment supports the European Parliament's implementation report on the EU Youth Strategy (EUYS) 2019-2027 prepared by the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). Part I of this study examines recent European Commission developments on the EUYS, Parliament's oversight of the EUYS, and the results of consultations. Part II of the study examines EUYS implementation at the EU level and in six selected Member States, drawing on the most recent evidence from a literature review, stakeholder interviews, and a survey. It analyses the 11 European Youth Goals and their implementation and relevance, before assessing the extent to which the EUYS has promoted youth mainstreaming across policy areas. It further explores youth participation, focusing on social inclusion, equality and young people with fewer opportunities (case study 1), and examines the EUYS's role in improving access to quality education and training (case study 2). It concludes with recommendations to enhance the EUYS, thereby informing its update and future implementation beyond 2027. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This European implementation assessment supports the European Parliament's implementation report on the EU Youth Strategy (EUYS) 2019-2027 prepared by the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). Part I of this study examines recent European Commission developments on the EUYS, Parliament's oversight of the EUYS, and the results of consultations. Part II of the study examines EUYS implementation at the EU level and in six selected Member States, drawing on the most recent evidence from a literature review, stakeholder interviews, and a survey. It analyses the 11 European Youth Goals and their implementation and relevance, before assessing the extent to which the EUYS has promoted youth mainstreaming across policy areas. It further explores youth participation, focusing on social inclusion, equality and young people with fewer opportunities (case study 1), and examines the EUYS's role in improving access to quality education and training (case study 2). It concludes with recommendations to enhance the EUYS, thereby informing its update and future implementation beyond 2027. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The 'datafication' of everyday life and various data scandals have made the protection of personal data an increasingly important social, legal and political topic for the European Union (EU). Privacy and data protection are recognised as fundamental rights in EU law and were strengthened when the Lisbon Treaty came into force in 2009, giving the EU a stronger legal basis for updating its data protection and privacy system. In 2012, the European Commission began reforming the outdated framework. This led to the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive, along with updates to EU institutional data protection rules, in 2016 and 2018. The European Parliament played a key role in these reforms, both as co-legislator and author of own initiative reports and resolutions, seeking to guarantee a high level of data protection for EU citizens. The Court of Justice of the EU further developed the EU data protection framework through case law. Nevertheless, new concerns have emerged under the updated data protection framework. These relate to shortcomings in GDPR enforcement, tensions between compliance and competitiveness, difficulties in reconciling security-related data access with privacy protection, and the risk of overburdening small and medium-sized enterprises with compliance requirements. In response, EU lawmakers adopted GDPR procedural rules for cross-border cases, and introduced a temporary derogation from the e-Privacy Directive to combat online child sexual abuse. Meanwhile, the Commission has proposed a permanent framework intended to replace the temporary rules, and a digital omnibus regulation easing certain data protection requirements in support of competitiveness and artificial intelligence development. It also appears to be preparing a legislative initiative on data retention. This is a further updated edition of a briefing originally written in 2020 by Sofija Voronova and previously updated most recently in 2025. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) was established in 1993 and has been strengthened by subsequent treaties. Today, Parliament regularly contributes to the development of the CFSP, in particular by scrutinising the activities of its institutional actors and bodies: the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who also serves as Vice-President of the European Commission; the European External Action Service (EEAS); the EU Special Representatives (EUSRs) and the EU delegations. Parliament’s budgetary powers can also shape the scale and scope of the CFSP. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The EU gained responsibilities for sport under the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into effect in December 2009. Since then, it has been responsible for developing evidence-based policy, fostering cooperation and managing initiatives to support physical activity and sport across Europe. Dedicated specific funding for sport was introduced for the first time under the first Erasmus+ programme (2014-2020) and has been continued under subsequent iterations of the programme. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

EU public health policy is under continuous development. While several measures were triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU delivered by addressing both immediate and future health concerns, building resilience against cross-border health threats, implementing Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (better screening and preventive measures), advancing the pharmaceutical strategy for Europe (making sure EU patients have timely and equitable access to medicines) and enhancing the digitalisation of health systems. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

As the institution charged with promoting the general interest of the EU, the Commission holds a quasi-exclusive right of legislative initiative and acts as the EU’s principal executive body. It proposes legislation, enforces EU laws as the guardian of the Treaties, manages policies and the budget, negotiates international agreements, exercises sanctioning powers in areas such as competition and oversees day-to-day operations. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP