The EU faces complex environmental issues, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to resource depletion and pollution. To address these issues, European environment policy follows the principles of precaution, prevention, rectifying pollution at source and the ‘polluter pays’. In 2019, the Commission launched the European Green Deal, moving environmental concerns to the fore of EU policymaking. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Treaty of Nice only partially prepared the EU for its significant enlargements to the east and south on 1 May 2004 and 1 January 2007. Therefore, as part of the conclusions to the Laeken European Council meeting in December 2001, EU leaders established the European Convention on the Future of Europe – an effort to produce a new legal basis for the EU in the form of a treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Following ‘no’ votes in referendums in two of the Member States, this treaty was not ratified. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Public authorities across the EU award contracts for works and services worth EUR 2.448 billion annually, making public procurement a major driver of economic growth, job creation and innovation. The 2014 public procurement package alone adds EUR 2.88 billion to the EU’s GDP each year. Moreover, EU procurement directives have significantly increased total award values, rising from under EUR 200 billion in 2009 to approximately EUR 525 billion by 2017. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The disastrous effects of the Second World War and the constant threat of an East-West confrontation meant that Franco-German reconciliation had become a top priority. The decision to pool the coal and steel industries of six European countries, brought into force by the Treaty of Paris in 1951, marked the first step towards European integration. The Treaties of Rome of 1957 strengthened the foundations of this integration, as well as the notion of a common future for the six European countries involved. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

As part of the wider Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia has vital geostrategic importance for the EU and is currently facing relevant geostrategic challenges. The Indo-Pacific is undergoing rapid change, and as home to more than 50% of the world’s population, it is becoming a key geostrategic region. Two thirds of the world’s container trade passes through the Indo-Pacific and its sea lanes are important routes for trade and energy supplies. The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was adopted in September 2021 to increase the EU’s engagement and build partnerships to address global challenges. The EU is adapting its current instruments to achieve strategic autonomy. Its Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, formally approved by the Council in March 2022, promotes an open and rules-based regional security architecture, including secure maritime routes, capacity-building and an enhanced naval presence in the Indo-Pacific.The EU’s strategy priority areas in Southeast Asia are sustainable and inclusive prosperity, the green transition, ocean governance, digital governance, connectivity through the Global Gateway, security, defence and human security. The EU is forging closer ties with Southeast Asian countries and is promoting regional integration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which represents, as a whole, the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside Europe (after China and the US). The region has geostrategic concerns, such as the South China Sea dispute and the Taiwan issue, as well as environmental concerns, especially in the Mekong sub-region. The EU is a strong economic player in Southeast Asia and a major development aid donor, working to foster connectivity, digitalisation, institution-building, democracy, good governance and human rights. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This interdisciplinary report focuses on tax barriers to cross-border mobility of workers in the EU. Tax fragmentation creates multiple negative impacts on the EU Internal Market, and compliance costs vary considerably across size, industries and countries. Further, employees’ choice of host country may be distorted by the tax differential. The report concludes with specific policy recommendations for more tax harmonisation and coordination, and for simplified compliance requirements. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Dombrovskis are invited to the 19th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue (RRD) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation, scheduled for 16 June 2025. The previous RRD took place on 31 March 2025. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Maastricht Treaty altered the former European treaties and created a European Union based on three pillars: the European Communities, the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs (JHI). With a view to the enlargement of the Union, the Amsterdam Treaty made the adjustments needed to enable the Union to function more efficiently and democratically. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

As part of the wider Indo-Pacific, South Asia has vital geostrategic importance for the EU, facing significant challenges. The Indo-Pacific is rapidly evolving and becoming the most important geostrategic region, being home to more than 50% of the global population. The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was adopted in September 2021 to increase the EU’s presence in the region, build partnerships and reinforce the rules-based international order. The EU is adapting its current instruments as part of its strategic autonomy amid growing geostrategic challenges. The EU’s Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, formally approved by the Council in March 2022, promotes an open and rules-based regional security architecture, including secure sea lines of communication, capacity-building and enhanced naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. The EU is forging closer ties with countries in South Asia, as a strong economic player and a major development and aid donor. The EU is working to foster institution-building, democracy, good governance and human rights, while it also has security concerns, such as the Kashmir conflict, Afghanistan, maritime security and terrorism. Parliament has supported the EU’s cooperation and assistance in South Asia, with targeted support for the most vulnerable population groups. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Digital service platforms and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are profoundly reshaping our society. They have transformed how we communicate, shop and access information online, making them integral to daily life. The European digital agenda for 2020-2030 responds to these changes by seeking to establish secure digital spaces, ensure fair competition in digital markets and enhance Europe’s digital sovereignty, in line with both the digital and green transitions. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

'Securitisation' is the process of pooling financial assets (such as loans, mortgages and consumer credit) and turning them into tradable securities. This process allows banks to transfer the risk of some loans to other banks or long-term investors, such as insurance companies and asset managers. Banks are then allowed to use the capital which was set aside to cover the risk of those same loans to create and sell new loans. In the European Union (EU), the space freed up in banks' balance sheets through the securitisation process can be used to support the Union's priorities, such as the green and digital transitions. However, if left unregulated, the process of securitisation can increase vulnerabilities across the financial system, as it did in the United States with the subprime mortgage crisis which began in 2007. As part of its Capital Markets Union initiative, launched in 2015, the EU relaunched the framework establishing an EU securitisation market, helping the development of finance and the economy without creating risks to financial stability; this is the securitisation framework, which came into force in 2019. According to the Commission's 2022 review report, while the EU's current securitisation framework has made the EU's market safer, it has also resulted in higher costs for issuers and investors, preventing the development of the EU's securitisation market. The capital requirements it introduced may have reduced incentives to participate in or issue securitisations, and some stakeholders have stated that the EU's due diligence requirements have created entry barriers or disincentives for participation by some investors. With the start of the 10th legislative term, the intention of accelerating work on all European savings and investments measures, including securitisation, was confirmed in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's political guidelines of July 2024; in the mission letter of the Commissioner for Financial Services, Maria Luís Albuquerque, of September 2024; and in the 2025 Commission work programme. The European Parliament has remained supportive of securitisation as a tool for funding the EU's economy but has remained critical of any dilution of regulatory standards that could raise systemic risk. This briefing focuses on the two legal acts of the securitisation framework that the Commission proposes to review in June 2025: the Securitisation Regulation and the Capital Requirements Regulation. These two regulations govern the general rules for securitisation, and the capital requirements for banks and investment firms that hold securitisation positions, respectively. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Rural areas are home to 25 % of people in Europe and occupy 83 % of the EU's territory. They face a number of economic, social, demographic and structural challenges that hinder their economic growth and development. With the appropriate policy and financial tools, rural areas will be able to explore their full potential and move to a situation of sustainable long-term growth. In June, Parliament is due to consider an own-initiative report on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

During the June plenary session, Parliament is due to discuss the joint report of the Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) on the implementation of the RRF, which lays out Parliament's views on the RRF′s progress so far, proposes improvements for its remaining lifetime, and draws lessons for possible future performance-based budgetary instruments. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This briefing outlines recent and past developments concerning Romania’s fiscal situation and the steps taken under the Excessive Deficit Procedure. On 4 June 2025, the Commission issued a recommendation stating that Romania had failed to take effective corrective action. Should the Council adopt a decision in this regard, the Commission would be obliged to propose the suspension of payments or commitments under the ESI Funds and the RRF. Such a suspension could carry significant economic and social repercussions. Finally, this briefing recounts the situation of Spain and Portugal which also faced a suspension of payments in 2016, and highlights the role of the European Parliament in this process. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act regulates AI systems according to the risks they pose, and general-purpose AI (GPAI) models according to their capabilities. Published in July 2024, the AI Act should take at least three years to come fully into effect. Guidelines, standards, and codes that complement the act are expected. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Effective consumer protection policy ensures that the single market functions properly. It safeguards consumers’ rights against merchants and provides extra protection for vulnerable consumers. Consumer protection rules can boost market outcomes overall. They promote fairer markets and, with better consumer information, foster greener, more social outcomes. Empowering consumers and safeguarding their interests are key EU policy goals. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as data services, now surpass traditional telephone services in importance for both consumers and businesses. With the surge in on-demand content and 4G/5G growth, the EU has introduced a telecommunications regulatory framework. This encompasses all types of telecommunications, including broadcasting. Research indicates that telecommunications services, network equipment, content and applications contribute up to EUR 1 trillion to the EU’s GDP annually, representing about 4.7% of the EU’s GDP. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Youth is a national policy area, so EU-level harmonisation is not possible. The EU therefore plays a supporting role, especially when it comes to mobility and opportunities across the EU. For instance, Key Action 1 of the Erasmus+ programme about mobility for individuals encourages exchanges of young people within the EU and with third countries. Over the past few years, the European Union has strengthened its policies towards young people, as illustrated by the European Solidarity Corps programme and the DiscoverEU project. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

As the second pillar of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the EU’s rural development policy is designed to support its rural areas and meet the wide range of economic, environmental and societal challenges they face. Greater flexibility (in comparison with the first pillar) enables regional, national and local authorities to formulate their rural development support schemes based on a ‘menu’ of EU-wide measures. Unlike the first pillar, which is entirely financed by the EU, second-pillar programmes are co-financed by EU funds and regional or national funds. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Ombudsman conducts inquiries into cases of maladministration by European Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, acting on their own initiative or on the basis of complaints from EU citizens, or any natural or legal person residing or having their registered office in a Member State. The Ombudsman is elected by the European Parliament for the duration of the parliamentary term. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022. Accession negotiations were opened in June 2024. While bilateral screening meetings of three thematic clusters have been completed, negotiations proper have not yet started, pending unanimous agreement of EU Member States. The European Parliament is calling for the timely organisation of subsequent intergovernmental conferences. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The internal market is an area that fosters prosperity and enables the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. As the world’s largest single market, it leverages its scale to create jobs, drive business opportunities and promote European standards globally. It also tackles ongoing global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which have led to restrictions of free movement and shortages of goods and services. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU’s relationship with the Pacific region has political, economic and development dimensions. The EU is the Pacific region’s second largest trading partner. Australia and New Zealand are the EU’s like-minded partners, facing common geostrategic challenges and promoting multilateralism and a global rules-based order. In June 2018, negotiations were launched for a comprehensive EU-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) and the fifteenth round of negotiations took place in April 2023. The EU signed an FTA with New Zealand in July 2023.Under the Samoa Agreement the EU has a partnership with the 15 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that centres on development, fisheries and climate change. It also has partnerships with the three Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This briefing analyses the reasons behind changes to national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) and identifies potential drivers. It provides a reflection on the transparency of the process which may be of relevance to the remaining remaining duration of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), set to expire in August 2026, as well as the design of future EU instruments. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU launched digital partnerships with several Asian countries and Canada in 2022 and 2023, to promote human-centric, responsible, sustainable and inclusive technology governance. These partnerships help the EU to address vulnerabilities like foreign technology dependence and cybersecurity threats, aligning with its Indo-Pacific cooperation strategy. The EU and the partner countries usually meet once a year at ministerial level to discuss topics of mutual interest. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This study focuses on the recent development of the market for plant-based seafood substitutes and the challenges that it has generated for the EU fisheries sector in terms of labelling. The study shows that potentially non-compliant marketing strategies indeed exist on a large scale, and provides an overview of national initiatives to tackle such issues. Finally, it proposes some adjustments to the current EU legal framework, to ensure that the labelling of novel products provides accurate information to consumers. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Union (EU) is seeking to boost its competitiveness to help ensure the well-being of its society in the face of global challenges. Central to this objective is the EU's innovation ecosystem, which has fallen behind the United States (US) and China. As innovative European companies grow, they struggle to attract the necessary technical and financial support within the continent. The European Commission plans to put forward a legislative proposal for a 28th regime as part of a programme of measures to boost the EU's innovation ecosystem. The European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) is preparing a legislative-initiative report to inform the development of this proposal. This briefing, produced at the request of the committee, seeks to support its work on the file. The research identified four issues that are relevant for EU action: (1) the EU financial system has a low appetite for risk; (2) innovative companies struggle to attract workers (within the EU and beyond) with the relevant skills; (3) innovative companies face a high cost of failure and/or restructuring; and (4) there is high variation in laws affecting companies across the EU. While the proposed Savings and Investments Union could help to address the immediate and pressing demand for capital from innovative European companies, other measures such as the 28th regime could be complementary and offer European added value. Establishing one common set of EU-wide rules and introducing an EU stock option plan could boost the regime's attractiveness for innovative European companies. Embedding links to the EU innovation ecosystem and 'European preference' incentives could also be beneficial. Levelling the playing field for innovative European companies, particularly by reducing the period of time to establish a company, complete funding rounds and advance through the lifecycle, could help to attract venture capital and boost the number of innovative scale-ups. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Innovation plays an increasingly important role in our economy. As well as benefiting the EU’s consumers and workers, it is essential to creating better jobs, building a greener society and improving our quality of life. It is also key in maintaining the EU’s competitiveness on global markets. Innovation policy is the interface between research and technological development policy and industrial policy. It aims to create a framework conducive to bringing ideas to market. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Over the past decade, the EU has experienced major macroeconomic imbalances and serious divergences in competitiveness. These have both exacerbated the negative effects of the financial crisis that began in 2008 and prevented the effective use of common monetary policy measures to resolve them. In 2011, the EU set up the macroeconomic imbalance procedure to identify and correct such imbalances at national level, particularly those with the potential to spill over and affect other EU countries. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU-Russia relations have been strained since 2014 because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine, destabilisation policies in the neighbourhood, disinformation and interference campaigns and internal human rights violations. After Russia launched its unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the remaining political, cultural and scientific cooperation was suspended. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Banking Union is based on a proposal that the European Commission presented in 2012, a few years after the severe financial crisis had started to unfold in the EU. The key innovation was to transfer responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of the largest banks in the euro area from national to European level. From then on, the European Central Bank (ECB) was put in charge of supervisory tasks, which it needed to keep strictly separate from its activities on monetary policy. Another institution – the Single Resolution Board (SRB) – was set up at European level to deal with the failure of large banks. The Commission had proposed a third element – a European deposit insurance scheme – but so far this has not found the necessary political support. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Economic Area (EEA) was set up in 1994 to extend the EU’s provisions on its internal market to the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) countries. The EEA’s parties are Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Switzerland is a member of EFTA, but not of the EEA. The EU and Nordic EEA EFTA partners (Norway and Iceland) are also linked by various ‘northern policies’ and forums that focus on the rapidly evolving northern reaches of Europe and the Arctic region as a whole. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Differences between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) over the regulation of online platforms have taken on a new dimension under the Trump administration. Senior members of the US administration have strongly criticised the EU for 'limiting free speech' and have called the EU's content moderation law 'incompatible with America's free speech tradition'. Much of the debate is informed by misconceptions and misunderstandings. The differences between the US and EU hate speech regimes are striking, largely for historical reasons. The First Amendment to the US Constitution provides almost absolute protection to freedom of expression. By contrast, European and EU law curtails the right to freedom of expression. Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which applies to all EU Member States, states that freedom of expressions 'carries with it duties and responsibilities'. In a democratic society, restrictions may be imposed in the interest, among others, 'of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others'. EU legislation criminalises hate speech that publicly incites to violence or hatred and targets a set of protected characteristics: race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. Even though legislation in EU Member States varies widely, many have extended protection from hate speech to additional characteristics. In light of the exponential growth of the internet and the use of social media, the debate about hate speech has essentially become about regulating social media companies. The focus has been on the question of whether and to what extent service providers are responsible for removing hate speech published on social media platforms. The US has opted not to impose any obligation on social media companies to remove content created by third parties, merely granting them the right to restrict access to certain material deemed to be 'obscene' or 'otherwise objectionable'. By contrast, the EU has adopted regulation that obliges companies to remove offensive content created by third parties, including hate speech, once it is brought to their attention. Social media companies also self-regulate, by adopting community guidelines that allow users to flag hate speech and ask for its removal. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Trans-European Networks (TENs) are jointly funded by the European Union and the Member States. Financial support from the EU serves as a catalyst, with the Member States providing the bulk of the financing. The financing of the TENs can be complemented by Structural Fund assistance, aid from the European Investment Bank (EIB) or contributions from the private sector. A major reform was introduced across the TENs with the establishment of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in 2013, renewed in 2021. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The World Trade Organization (WTO) works to guarantee a rules-based international trading system. Despite the impasse in trade negotiations, ways to modernise WTO rules and address new global challenges are being explored. Under the Lisbon Treaty, Parliament legislates jointly with the Council, has to approve any changes or new WTO agreements and has an important scrutiny role on international trade policy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP