The questions of why terrorism occurs and how to stop it have haunted European citizens ever since the series of terrorist attacks across the EU that started in the early 2000s. The idea that someone might become a terrorist by going through a 'radicalisation' process seemed like a plausible explanation and therefore quickly gained ground among EU policymakers. Even though experts still disagree over what radicalisation is and whether focusing on it has really advanced the understanding of terrorism, the idea of the close linkages between the two phenomena has endured for better or for worse. Although the terrorism threat the EU faces has evolved, measures to prevent radicalisation are still a key component of EU counter-terrorism efforts as the radicalisation debate goes on. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Following the adoption of various items of EU legislation, both international and cabotage road haulage and passenger transport services have been gradually liberalised. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Funding for the fishing sector is one of the oldest components of the EU fisheries policy. The current programme is the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), which is worth EUR 6.108 billion over the 2021-2027 period. The EMFAF aims to support sustainable fishing in order to achieve food security through the supply of seafood products, the growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Following up on the REPowerEU plan adopted in response to the energy crisis in 2022, the Commission proposed a 'Roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports' on 6 May 2025. The roadmap presents steps to phase out imports of Russian gas, oil and nuclear supplies by 2027. It is the latest initiative in a series of EU efforts to boost its energy sovereignty. During the May II plenary session, the Parliament will hold a debate on Council and Commission statements on this topic. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Union (EU) is the heaviest-drinking area in the world. In 2019, the average total per-capita consumption among adults in the EU was 11 litres of pure alcohol, roughly double the global average of 5.5 litres. Experts maintain that clearly visible, compulsory, standardised health warning labels on alcoholic beverages are essential to help tackle irresponsible drinking behaviour and excessive energy intake from alcohol. Under EU food labelling legislation, producers are required to provide a list of ingredients and a nutrition declaration for drinks, except for alcoholic beverages containing more than 1.2 % by volume of alcohol. In the absence of EU-wide harmonised rules on alcohol labelling, France, Germany, Ireland and Lithuania have implemented legislation on health information (e.g. warnings about drinking while pregnant, driving, or underage, or general warnings about the health risks posed by drinking). Nine EU countries have some form of legislation on ingredient listing, and only one – Ireland – requires producers to disclose the drink's energy value. A 2017 European Commission report on the mandatory labelling of the ingredients in alcoholic beverages and their nutritional value concluded that there were no valid reasons to justify the absence of this information and invited the industry to propose self-regulatory measures. In 2019, the representatives of the spirits industry committed to including the energy value on the label and providing a list of ingredients and full nutritional values by digital means. According to the latest spiritsEUROPE implementation report on self-regulatory commitments, by the end of 2024 over 70 % of spirits in the total EU market included on-label energy information. With growing consumer demand for non-alcoholic wines, the Commission proposed in March 2025 to harmonise some labelling requirements. However, a cancer health warning that the Commission had planned to introduce during its previous mandate is still missing from the proposal. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Lisbon Treaty, effective since December 2009, granted the Union competence to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States in tourism policy. Although the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework does not provide for a separate budget line for tourism policy, tourism activities are largely supported under the Single Market Programme and various other EU programmes and funds. Source : © European Union, 2025 - 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, 2025 - EP

The EU budget is financed in large part from own resources, and supplemented by other revenue. Annual revenue must completely cover annual expenditure, as a budget deficit is not allowed. The system of own resources is decided by the Council on the basis of unanimity, having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, and needs to be ratified by each Member State. A reform of the own resources system composed of two packages of new own resources was proposed by the Commission in 2022 and 2023. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The economic and monetary union (EMU) is the result of economic integration in the EU. A common currency, the euro, has been introduced in the euro area, which currently comprises 20 EU Member States. All EU Member States – with the exception of Denmark – must adopt the euro once they fulfil the convergence criteria. A single monetary policy is set by the Eurosystem, comprising the European Central Bank’s Executive Board and the governors of the central banks of the euro area. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Thirty-one out of 54 African countries criminalise consensual same-sex relations between adults. In addition, several African countries penalise the public expression of lesbian, gay, trans, intersex, queer and other non-heteronormative (LGBTIQ+ ) identities, or those who fight for LGBTIQ+ rights. This criminalisation leads to violations of privacy and inhumane treatment, with some countries even providing for the death penalty. Despite decriminalisation in a few states like South Africa, Angola, and Mozambique, the trend of recriminalisation persists. Recently, Uganda and Ghana have enacted severe anti-LGBTIQ+ laws. Across the continent (with the notable exception of South Africa), LGBTIQ+ persons are still far from fully enjoying the same rights as other citizens. Intolerance of LGBTIQ+ behaviours is widespread in Africa; influences from religious leaders and the narrative that homosexuality is 'un-African' play a role in perpetuating this sentiment. Discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ persons have dire consequences on their livelihoods and their physical and mental health. Those advocating efforts for LGBTIQ+ rights face significant restrictions and threats, which hinder their ability to operate. The European Union, through guidelines and strategies, aims to promote LGBTIQ+ rights globally. However, its initiatives are often weakened by a cautious approach to avoid imposing values perceived by some in Africa as non-African. As a result, regional agreements with African partners do not explicitly mention LGBTIQ+ rights, a notion that a majority of African countries contest in multilateral arenas. Nevertheless, the European Parliament has consistently advocated for LGBTIQ+ rights, calling for increased funding, legal protection, and the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality. This briefing updates a previous version from 2019. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Este documento se integra en una serie de estudios que, desde una perpectiva de Derecho Comparado, tienen como objeto analizar el principio de protección del Medio Ambiente en diferentes ordenamientos jurídicos. Tras la explicación de la normativa y la jurisprudencia de aplicación, se examinan el contenido, los límites y la posible evolución de dicho concepto. El presente estudio tiene por objeto el Derecho Internacional del Medio Ambiente. No trata la protección del Medio Ambiente en el marco de la Unión Europea, objeto de un estudio específico en esta misma Colección. El Derecho Internacional del Medio Ambiente es un sector de creación relativamente reciente. En su dimensión actual tiene su origen en las primeras conferencias de la ONU de Estocolmo (1972) y de Río de Janeiro (1992). Fruto de ese impulso normativo que continúa imparable es la regulación de numerosos sectores que integran el concepto global de Medio Ambiente (aire, atmósfera, Antártida, cambio climático, biodiversidad, bosques, capa de ozono, fauna y flora, cursos de agua transfronterizos y lagos internacionales, lucha contra la desertificación, medio marino, residuos). Desde el punto de vista normativo, las particularidades del Derecho Internacional también se manifiestan en él. Así, la pluralidad de normas de distinta naturaleza jurídica y efectos (convencionales, consuetudinarias e institucionales -actos de OOII-) que interaccionan y se complementan entre sí; sin que resulte de utilidad la distinción habitual entre normas vinculantes y no vinculantes. El Derecho Internacional del Medio Ambiente es un sector con incidencia en el de los derechos humanos. Es el caso, entre otros, de los derechos y obligaciones procedimentales en materia de acceso a la información, participación pública en la toma de decisiones, acceso a la justicia en cuestiones medioambientales o la evaluación de impacto ambiental. De ahí la abundante y relevante jurisprudencia internacional existente, vinculada con derechos como los relativos a la vida, la propiedad, la libertad de expresión, el derecho de recurso, la salud y, donde está recogido y/o el derecho a un Medio Ambiente sano. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Article 4(3) of the European Climate Law states: 'With a view to achieving the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) of this Regulation, a Union-wide climate target for 2040 shall be set'. Article 4(4) and 4(5) sets out aspects to consider in setting the 2040 target. In early 2024, the European Commission adopted a communication accompanied by an impact assessment (IA) regarding a 2040 target and the pathway to 2050 climate neutrality. Setting out pathway scenarios and an indicative 2030-2050 EU greenhouse gas (GHG) budget, it considers that a 2040 climate target depends on two dimensions (I): fairness and (II): feasibility. The legislative proposal was scheduled for first quarter 2025 but is delayed until June or July 2025. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Key EU connectivity challenges include: (i) accelerating fibre network deployment by setting a decommissioning deadline for legacy technology (copper networks); (ii) balancing EU and national interests in allocating spectrum; (iii) ensuring cybersecurity for new generation mobile technologies (5G and 6G); (iv) controlling and protecting the submarine cable connection system; and (v) tackling the network cost contribution debate ('fair share'). The long-awaited digital networks act (DNA) may also aim at tackling these issues to improve the EU's digital connectivity ecosystem. The DNA is expected at the end of 2025, probably replacing the European Electronic Communication Code. The EECC Directive aims at stimulating investment in and take-up of very high capacity networks in the EU (e.g. fibre and 5G) and set new spectrum rules for mobile connectivity. As consistently late transposition has jeopardised its effects (resulting in fines for five Member States), it might be assumed that the DNA will take the form of a regulation. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Spain's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is the second largest (in absolute figures) financed by the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and its main spending tool, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Following the October 2023 amendment of the Spanish NRRP, adding a REPowerEU chapter, the plan's value reached €163 billion (or 13.1 % of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019), an increase of roughly 135 % compared with the original plan of 2021 (€69.5 billion in grants only). The amended plan comes with an increased grant allocation of €79.8 billion and a freshly requested loan allocation of €83.2 billion. The grant part includes the June 2022 upward revision of Spain's grant allocation of €7.7 billion and the country's REPowerEU grant allocation of €2.6 billion. In addition, Spain has requested a transfer of its share from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve of €58 million to its NRRP. So far, €48.3 billion of RRF resources (29.6 % of the amended NRRP) have been received. These have been disbursed by the European Commission in form of pre-financing and four grant instalments. The amended plan focuses on the green transition, devoting almost 40 % of the resources to it, and fosters the digital transformation by committing 25.9 % of the funds (excluding REPowerEU) to digital projects. In the context of the European Semester, the Commission assessed the plan's implementation as 'under way', yet warned about emerging delays hindering effective and swift implementation. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on its implementation and scrutinises the European 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, 2025 - EP

The Congress is the legislative branch of the United States (US) system of government. It is divided into two chambers: the House of Representatives (the lower chamber) and the Senate (the upper chamber). The formal powers of Congress are set out in Article I of the US Constitution, and include making laws, collecting revenue, borrowing and spending money, declaring war, making treaties with foreign nations, and overseeing the executive branch. Elections to the US Congress occur every second November, with the Congress convening the following January. Additionally, every four years, these elections coincide with the presidential election. The current, 119th Congress was elected in November 2024, and convened in January 2025. The US has a long-standing two-party system, which means that nearly all members of Congress belong to either the Republican or Democratic parties. Independent members, if any, generally align or caucus with one of the two main parties. In the most recent US Presidential and Congressional elections, held in November 2024, the Republican party won the White House. They also retained control of the House with a five-seat margin – the smallest in modern history – and won back the Senate with a six-seat majority, taking account of two independents who caucus with the Democrats. This gave the Republicans a governing trifecta, with control of the presidency and both chambers of Congress. This EPRS briefing provides key facts and figures about the US Congress as an institution, including relevant comparisons with the European Parliament (EP). Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

For many years, the common agricultural policy (CAP) was financed from a single fund, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), which on 1 January 2007 was replaced by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The CAP 2023-2027 regulation introduces a new delivery model (strategic plan) for all CAP expenditure. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Sustainable growth is one of the main objectives of the European Union (EU). In a period of rapid climate change and growing demand for energy and resources, the EU has introduced a range of policies and initiatives aimed at sustainable consumption and production. Under the European Green Deal and, in particular, the circular economy action plan, a sustainable product policy legislative initiative was announced to make products fit for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and circular economy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European financial assistance mechanisms are intended to preserve the financial stability of the EU and the euro area, as financial distress in one Member State can have a substantial impact on macro-financial stability in other Member States. Financial assistance is linked to macroeconomic conditionality (it is a loan rather than a fiscal transfer), to ensure that Member States receiving such assistance implement the necessary fiscal, economic, structural and supervisory reforms. The reforms are agreed and set out in specific documents (memoranda of understanding) published on the Commission website and, when relevant, on the European Stability Mechanism website. As part of the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis, a number of additional financial instruments were put forward to help the Member States recover and make their economies more resilient to shocks. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The common agricultural policy (CAP) has undergone six major reforms, the most recent of which were in 2013 (for the 2014-2020 financial period) and 2021 (for the 2023-2027 financial period). The latest reform and new legislation came into force in January 2023. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Supporting democracy worldwide is a priority for the European Union. Democracy remains the only system of governance in which people can fully realise their human rights, and is a determining factor for development and long-term stability. As the only directly elected EU institution, the European Parliament is particularly committed to promoting democracy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In 2023, Romania accounted for around 2 % of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and had achieved a net emissions reduction of 50.8 % compared with 2005 (Figure 1). The country's total emissions decreased by 30.1 % between 2005 and 2023, while its net carbon removals in the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector increased by 50 %. Emissions from sectors covered by the effort-sharing legislation had risen by 8.4 % since 2005. In 2023, they were more than three times higher than those from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), which fell by 68.2 % over the same period. Romania has committed to the EU's target of climate neutrality by 2050 (see the trajectory in Figure 1). However, to meet its energy needs, the country still relies mainly on fossil fuels; the deployment of various renewable energy sources for the shift towards a sustainable economy requires further efforts. Romania's recovery and resilience plan dedicates 44 % of investments to the green transition, with a focus on industry decarbonisation, sustainable transport, and building renovation. Romania submitted its final updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) in October 2024. In a 2023 survey, 23 % of Romanians, compared with a 46 % EU average, identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect national government (40 %), the EU (37 %), and/or business and industry (33 %) to tackle climate change; 18 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The modernisation and expansion of electricity grids lies at the heart of the EU's energy transition and decarbonisation efforts. In the context of the rising share of electricity in final energy consumption, there is increasing demand for grid upgrades to accommodate the new generation capacity and to adapt, in particular, to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Key concerns include ageing infrastructure, investment shortfalls, and regulatory complexities that hinder rapid modernisation of grids and efficient integration of decentralised energy production. Interconnectivity between EU Member States is important to ensure energy security and reliability: the integration of European electricity markets benefits consumers by up to €34 billion every year. To meet the challenge posed by electricity infrastructure modernisation, various innovative solutions, including the adoption of smart grids, digitalisation, and grid enhancement technologies, should be considered. In addition, ways of increasing private and public sector financing should be explored to meet the challenge of the massive investments that are needed in this sector in the coming decades; methodologies and scenarios for anticipating future needs constitute an essential element in ensuring a cost-effective approach to the development of grids. Globally, electricity grids will need to increase by more than 20 % in length by 2030 to meet energy and climate pledges in time and in full, which requires annual average investment in grids to rise to US$600 billion from around US$300 billion today, according to the International Energy Agency. Concerning supply chain risks, the need for resilient and effective grid manufacturing supply chains is recognised by the Net-Zero Industry Act, which designates grid technologies as strategic net-zero technologies. Recognising the critical importance of grids for the EU energy union and economy as a whole, the European Commission came forward with an EU action plan for grids in November 2023, while a new European grids package is expected in the coming months. Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted an own-initiative report on the subject on 13 May 2025. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Lithuania's national climate change management agenda sets emissions reduction targets with a view to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1). Lithuania accounted for 0.4 % of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023 and had reduced its net emissions by 31.5 % since 2005, slightly above the EU average reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. Emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) were more than halved (-57.5 %). For the effort-sharing sectors, Lithuania overachieved its target for the 2013-2020 period and expects to reach its 2030 target. Lithuania's land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is an important carbon sink, absorbing around a third of the country's GHG emissions. In June 2023, Lithuania modified its recovery and resilience plan, adding a REPowerEU chapter. Lithuania submitted a draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) in July 2023. The European Commission assessed it and made recommendations for the final updated NECP, which was published in October 2024. In a 2023 survey, a third of Lithuanians, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect national government (57 %) and/or business and industry (56 %) to tackle climate change, 50 % see it as a task of the EU, while 37 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

ECON Committee Meeting on 20 May 2025 The Statistical Dialogue is a regular exchange between the Director-General of Eurostat and the ECON Committee, enabling its Members to engage on key statistical issues related to EU economic governance. It is based on Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, which enshrines principles of professional independence and accountability, and was reinforced by Regulation (EU) 2015/759, introducing a formal obligation for regular appearances before Parliament. This is the first Statistical Dialogue of the 10th parliamentary term.. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This comparative analysis of national legislation on rape in European Union Member States provides an overview of legal provisions on the crime of rape, with a focus on the notion of consent. According to the Council of Europe Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence, to which the EU became a party in 2023, lack of consent from victims of rape should be made a constitutive element of the crime. This norm, together with increased social awareness of sexual violence, has inspired a wave of legal reforms in many EU Member States. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This glossary gives an overview of the definitions of performance, mainstreaming and conditionality. This glossary puts forward general definitions consistent with the way these concepts are used in the EU context while remaining, to the extent possible, consistent with commonly accepted notions found in grey and academic literature, as well as within international organisations such as the OECD and the UN. As a complement to these generic definitions, a forthcoming second part of this glossary will provide additional background elements based on a literature review that will provide a short history of the concepts, discuss eventual divergences in the way they are interpreted and provide illustrations on how these concepts are used in practice in EU policymaking. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU defence industry is characterised by economic and technological components that are important factors for Europe’s industrial competitiveness. The European Defence Agency supports Member States in improving their defence capabilities and contributes to the development of their defence industry. The sector has recently decided to address some of its main challenges, including market fragmentation and low spending levels, by reinforcing common procurement and enhancing defence expenditure. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This study examines the implications of future enlargements for the next MFF. It reviews adjustments made to the EU budget during past enlargements and estimates the budgetary costs of the accession of all current candidate and potential candidate countries (excluding Türkiye) under three alternative scenarios which distinguish between the number of enlargement countries and the timing of enlargement. It then provides policy recommendations for adapting the next MFF to enlargement. The study was prepared at the request of the Committee on Budgets. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Union provides farmers with income support or ‘direct payments’ to function as a safety net and make farming more profitable, guarantee food security in Europe, assist them in the production of safe, healthy and affordable food and reward farmers for delivering public goods not normally paid for by markets. They are managed jointly by the Commission and the Member States through a number of schemes. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Common rules have been drawn up to ensure that passengers receive at least a minimum level of assistance in the event of serious delays to or cancellation of their journey, irrespective of the mode of transport used, and, in particular, to protect more vulnerable travellers. The rules also provide for compensation schemes. However, a wide range of derogations may be granted for rail and road transport services, and court actions challenging the application of the rules are still common. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU regulations on maritime transport focus on the application of the principle of free movement of services and the correct application of competition rules, while ensuring a high level of safety, good working conditions and environmental standards. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Social Fund (ESF) was set up under the Treaty of Rome to improve workers’ mobility and employment opportunities. Its tasks and operational rules have since been revised and complementary EU instruments have been integrated to enhance coherence and synergies, and reflect developments in the economic and employment situation in the Member States, as well as the evolution of the political priorities defined at EU level. As a result, ESF+ has become the main EU instrument for investing in people. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The action of the European Union (EU) in the field of budgetary control is based on two principles: on the one hand, ensuring that the EU’s budget is properly spent and, on the other, protecting the Union’s financial interests and combating fraud. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has the power to investigate fraud against the EU budget, corruption and serious misconduct and develops anti-fraud policy. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigates, prosecutes and brings to justice crimes against the EU budget. Even if their primary focus is not strictly on protecting the Union’s financial interests, EUROPOL and Eurojust provide additional support. Finally, the anti-fraud landscape will soon be marked by a further decentralised EU agency, the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA). Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission presented the Clean Industrial Deal, a new EU plan to support competitiveness and decarbonisation of EU industry. The Deal focuses mainly on energy-intensive industries and clean technologies (clean tech). Both sectors face high energy prices, intense global competition and complex regulations. The Clean Industrial Deal includes several solutions to address this situation. It aims to bring energy costs down, boost demand for clean products, reduce EU dependency on raw materials, improve circularity and restore domestic manufacturing. Planned legislative initiatives in the energy field include a new electricity grids package, revisions of the energy security framework and Energy Union governance, as well as an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and a delegated act on low-carbon hydrogen. Recommendations and guidance documents are also planned, for instance on network charges, energy taxation and the design of long-term instruments for electricity supply. In the short term, the Clean Industrial Deal aims to mobilise over €100 billion through boosting EU-level funding, leveraging private investments and enhancing State aid. The key EU funding sources will be the Innovation Fund, Horizon Europe, InvestEU and a new Industrial Decarbonisation Bank. In the next long-term EU budget, the Competitiveness Fund will support EU investments in research and innovation, industrial deployment and scale-up, manufacturing, clean tech and industrial decarbonisation. The European Parliament is currently working on a resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal. The vote in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) is expected in June 2025, while the plenary vote is planned for July 2025. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

President Donald Trump threatens that the US will take back the Panama Canal, a strategic maritime route for global trade, because of perceived Chinese influence in the Canal Zone. In fact, a Hong Kong-based private company owns two of the canal's five port terminals at strategically important points. The Panama Canal is a key maritime trade route that handles about 40 % of US container traffic and approximately 5 % of world trade. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP