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, 2025 - EP

By supporting the Member States in the fight against poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, the EU aims to reinforce the inclusiveness and cohesion of European society and to everyone to enjoy equal access to opportunities and resources. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Europe's culture and cultural heritage are fundamental to EU values and identity, providing space for discussion, engagement and debate. Culture also fosters a European sense of belonging and social cohesion, strengthens communities, and drives innovation and economic competitiveness. The New European Agenda for Culture, which has provided a framework for EU cultural policy since 2018, has become outdated in light of the significant challenges currently facing culture. To address this gap, the priorities of the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, include the development of an overarching, coherent and ambitious strategic framework for culture. This framework, called a new Culture Compass for Europe, is expected to provide long-term direction for diverse cultural aspects in EU policymaking and to ensure that culture becomes more accessible to all. The Culture Compass can be seen as a new policy approach that places culture at the centre of EU policies, serving as a driver for democracy, security, competitiveness, societal resilience, innovation and international partnerships. The European Parliament has played a crucial role in advancing discussions on culture at the EU level. Parliament has called on the Commission to strengthen EU support for building more crisis-resilient creative and cultural sectors and to provide adequate funding for EU-wide programmes promoting culture. Source : © European Union, 2025 - 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 is 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. The overall EU financial contribution to the amended Belgian NRRP stands thus at €5 298 million; it represents 0.7 % of the entire RRF, and 1.1 % of Belgium's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The Council approved Belgium's amended NRRP in December 2023. Other targeted revisions took place in 2024 and 2025. In total, Belgium has received €2.46 billion so far: €915.1 million in pre-financing – 13 % of the initial NRRP (€770 million, all grants) in 2021, and 20 % of the REPowerEU chapter (€102.1 million in grants, €43 million in loans) in 2024; and two result-based instalments – one of €631.6 million (all grants) in September 2024, and another of €909 million (of which €40 million in loans) in May 2025. The European Parliament, which was a major advocate of creating a common EU recovery instrument, participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on RRF implementation and scrutinises the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Third edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU cooperation with African countries and the African Union (AU) is based on two distinct frameworks: namely (a) the Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and (b) the Joint Africa-EU strategy.The legal basis for the political, economic and development aspects of the partnership between the EU and the ACP states was established by the Cotonou Agreement in 2000. This was replaced, on 15 November 2023, by the Samoa Agreement, which was negotiated to modernise and upgrade the partnership.The Joint Africa-EU strategy has been implemented through multiannual roadmaps and action plans adopted at each EU-AU summit, which traditionally takes place every three years. At the EU-AU summit held in February 2022 in Brussels, EU and AU leaders agreed on ‘A Joint Vision for 2030’, which aims to consolidate a renewed partnership based on solidarity, security, peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity. The third EU-AU ministerial meeting took place on 21 May 2025, with the participation of the new AU leadership. This meeting reviewed progress on the Joint Vision for 2030, and paved the way for the seventh EU-AU summit, which is set to take place in Africa in 2025, marking 25 years of the partnership since the Cairo summit in 2000.The EU is Africa’s most significant donor of official development assistance. This is mainly funded by the EU’s general budget through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 18 March 2025, a law was adopted in Hungary restricting the freedom of assembly, by connecting it to a previous controversial law from 2021 that prohibited the public portrayal to children of 'divergence from self-identity corresponding to sex at birth, sex change or homosexuality'. An amendment to the Hungarian Constitution adopted on 14 April 2025 further reinforced this. On the basis of this law, Budapest police decided to ban Budapest Pride. While at first some of the police's decisions were annulled by the Hungarian Supreme Court on procedural grounds and required new decisions, the Supreme Court later upheld these decisions and refused to check the law against the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or make a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The Supreme Court considered that this case is not within the CJEU's jurisdiction. The mayor of Budapest announced that Budapest Pride will be held as a municipal event, but the Budapest police have issued a decision prohibiting this. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

While Europeans are adopting TikTok at a remarkable pace, recent headlines on addictive design, data protection violations, election interference, incendiary content and child sexual exploitation incidents are casting a shadow over its success. This briefing maps the key issues associated with the platform and outlines the European Union's (EU) legal framework to facilitate parliamentary discussions on recent developments, inform debates on future legislation such as the digital fairness act, and support the European Parliament's scrutiny of regulatory enforcement. EU investigations into TikTok are ongoing, yet few final decisions are available, and reliable information is sparse. A review of incidents and initiatives in the United States and the United Kingdom provides relevant insights on topical issues relating to TikTok. For instance, hearings and lawsuits linked to the US divest-or-ban law reveal possible national security risks arising from TikTok granting Chinese affiliates access to user data. Lawsuits from at least 16 US attorneys general demonstrate TikTok's potentially addictive features. Parliament will review the results and formulate its position once EU enforcement actions and regulatory preparations conclude. More than 10 EU laws regulate social media operations and services. For instance, rules in the Artificial Intelligence Act, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation on non-manipulation can be invoked to mitigate risks like addictive design. However, precise legal applications remain unclear without established case law. This creates broad enforcement possibilities, but it also suggests a need for clearer guidelines or additional regulation. While enforcement actions may escalate geopolitical tensions with China, these issues could be eased through collaboration on shared priorities such as child protection, enhancing strategic and operational interdependence, and exploring privacy-enhancing middleware solutions. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Questo studio fa parte di un progetto più ampio, il cui scopo è quello di analizzare, nella prospettiva del diritto comparato, il principio della protezione dell’ambiente in diversi ordinamenti giuridici. Dopo una breve introduzione storica, l’individuazione della normativa applicabile e l’analisi della giurisprudenza formatasi al riguardo, vengono esaminati il contenuto, i limiti e la possibile evoluzione di tale principio. Il presente studio è dedicato al principio della protezione dell’ambiente nell’ordinamento giuridico italiano. La crescente attenzione da parte del legislatore italiano alla protezione dell’ambiente porterà, in epoca recente, all’inserimento di un riferimento alla tutela ambientale nei principi fondamentali e in ulteriori disposizioni della Costituzione, nonché all’adozione di una serie di leggi che, progressivamente, finiranno per imporre sempre più rigorose limitazioni all’esercizio di qualsiasi attività destinata ad incidere sul territorio, rischiando, talora, di pregiudicarne lo sviluppo. Nel contemperamento fra le esigenze di tutela ambientale e l’esercizio di diritti costituzionalmente garantiti, questi ultimi finiscono sovente per essere sacrificati in ragione di esigenze di tutela della sostenibilità ambientale, ancorché i parametri di valutazione utilizzati nel considerarne la legittimità non siano adeguatamente definiti nel diritto positivo ed espongano il loro apprezzamento ad eccessivi margini di discrezionalità, se non addirittura ad arbitrarietà. Source : © European Union, 2025 - 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, 2025 - EP

The Commission is the EU institution that has the monopoly on legislative initiative as well as important executive powers in policies such as competition and external trade. It is the principal executive body of the European Union and is formed by a College of members composed of one Commissioner per Member State. The Commission oversees the application of Union law and respect for the Treaties by the Member States; it also chairs the committees responsible for the implementation of EU law. The former ‘comitology’ system has been replaced by new legal instruments, namely implementing and delegated acts. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU's trade-dependent economy faces uncertainty from global trade policy shifts, prompting calls to strengthen domestic demand. Economic growth forecasts for the years ahead have been downgraded, reflecting this uncertainty. Anticipatory trade to avoid US tariffs peaked in March 2025, as EU exports to the US rose by 59 % in the first quarter of 2025, but has subsided since. The final phase of the Next Generation EU recovery instrument is expected to support public investment and economic activity, but EU countries must step up efforts – in some cases significantly – to ensure full implementation of their national recovery and resilience plans by 31 August 2026. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In response to Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have provided unprecedented financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. According to European Commission figures, Team Europe, consisting of the EU and its Member States, has made available around €150 billion in support to Ukraine. This support encompasses macro-financial assistance, financial support through the Ukraine Facility, humanitarian aid and military assistance from Member States and the European Peace Facility, as well as support to Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The overall support of Team Europe for Ukraine is now greater than the support provided by the United States (US), except in terms of military support allocation. However, Team Europe has provided 83 % of the tanks and 76 % of the air defence systems given to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. The disbursement of EU payments under the Ukraine Facility is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine Plan – an ambitious reform and investment plan drafted by Ukraine's government and endorsed by the EU. The Commission and the Ukrainian government publish updates on the progress of the reforms and on the disbursal of payments. In addition to the Ukraine Facility, the G7 have agreed upon a further €45 billion loan, with €18.1 billion to be financed by the EU. For this purpose, a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism has been established, which uses extraordinary revenues originating from Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the G7 member states to repay loans and associated interest costs. The rights, responsibilities and obligations provided for under the Ukraine Facility will apply to the G7 loan to ensure seamless management of both. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for confiscating the immobilised Russian sovereign assets to finance further support for Ukraine and the country's reconstruction, instead of just relying on extraordinary revenues. International financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, play a key role in addressing external financing needs and supporting the country's macroeconomic stability. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Council meeting on 26-27 June has a full agenda. One year into the new institutional cycle, global affairs have grown tense and unpredictable. Although a discussion on the Middle East was not originally envisaged for the June European Council meeting, the rapidly developing situation in the region will require the EU leaders' attention. EU leaders are also expected to discuss Ukraine, European defence and security, the EU in the world, competitiveness, migration, Moldova, the Western Balkans, internal security and EU preparedness. Some further items, such as the rules-based international order, may also feature on the agenda. The discussion on internal reforms in the context of enlargement, envisaged in the Leaders' Agenda for June, seems to have been postponed to a later date. Despite a full agenda, in his invitation letter European Council President António Costa stressed his intention to keep the meeting to one day. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). In order to ensure that these values are respected, Article 7 TEU provides for an EU mechanism to determine the existence of, and possibly sanction, serious and persistent breaches of EU values by a Member State. It has only been activated in relation to Poland and Hungary so far. The EU is also bound by its Charter of Fundamental Rights and is committed to acceding to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Following the emergence of threats to EU values in some Member States, the EU institutions are strengthening their toolbox to counter democratic backsliding and protect democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, equality and minorities across the Union. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU chemicals and pesticides legislation aims to protect human health and the environment, as well as to prevent barriers to trade. It consists of rules governing the marketing and use of particular categories of chemical products, a set of harmonised restrictions on the placing on the market and use of hazardous substances, and protocols for handling major accidents and exports of dangerous substances. The two most important achievements at EU level are the CLP Regulation and the REACH Regulation. Under the European Green Deal and particularly the ‘chemicals for sustainability’, ‘farm to fork’ and ‘biodiversity’ strategies, EU legislation on chemicals and pesticides is undergoing a revision process. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power, ocean and geothermal energy, biomass and biofuels offer cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels. They reduce pollution, broaden our energy options and decrease our dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices. In 2022, renewable energy accounted for 23% of the European Union’s energy consumption. In 2023, lawmakers increased the Union’s target for the share of renewable sources of energy in gross energy consumption from 32% to 42.5% by 2030, aiming for 45%. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) applies to Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. It aims to strengthen prosperity, stability and security in the EU’s neighbouring regions. It is based on shared values, the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The ENP is a bilateral policy between the EU and each partner country, with regional and multilateral cooperation initiatives. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The aim of the EU’s asylum policy is to offer appropriate status to any non-EU national requiring international protection in one of the Member States and ensure compliance with the principle of non-refoulement[1]. To this end, the EU is striving to develop a Common European Asylum System. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Drug precursors are substances that may have legitimate commercial or industrial applications but are also used to produce illicit drugs. Criminal organisations seek to divert these substances from licit trade, while governments strive to prevent this without hindering the commercial interests of lawful operators. Faced with challenges in accessing these substances, primarily produced outside the European Union (EU) and subject to stringent regulations, criminal organisations have increasingly turned to using uncontrolled substitutes, putting in question conventional prevention strategies. Trade in drug precursors is strictly monitored and controlled at the international, EU, and Member State levels. The 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is the cornerstone of the international framework for regulating these substances. Precursors are listed in the tables annexed to the Convention, which also outlines the roles of various bodies, such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board, in the scheduling process. To address the diversion of drug precursors, the EU has established a comprehensive framework composed of legislative, policy and institutional elements. The provisions of the 1988 Convention have been implemented through two EU regulations: one governing intra-EU trade and the other regulating trade with third countries. These laws impose obligations on operators handling substances listed by the EU. The EU Drugs Agency has been granted an enhanced mandate to assist the European Commission in monitoring precursor-related developments. In 2020, the Commission published a report assessing the effectiveness of EU drug precursors regulations in terms of implementation, impact, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value. The evaluation's findings will inform the forthcoming revision of the two regulations. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU's temporary protection regime has provided predictability and legal certainty to both displaced people from Ukraine and the EU Member States. The situation in Ukraine, as a result of Russia's ongoing war of aggression, still requires a common European response. The EU has therefore decided to extend temporary protection for a fifth year, until 4 March 2027. Moreover, the European Commission has proposed a coordinated approach to a smooth transition out of temporary protection, when the circumstances allow. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The purpose of this briefing is to provide support to the European Parliament delegation to the 13th session of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, taking place 14-23 July 2025 at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The briefing provides an overview of the progress made on the SDG implementation by the global community and the EU, as well as key issues at stake in the meeting. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Transformation, Innovation and Health at the request of the Committee on on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI). Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU has made increasing participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) a key priority, since there are clear benefits from attending quality ECEC, particularly for children who may face additional needs or difficulties. This infographic is based on the Eurydice report 2025, of key data on ECEC in Europe. The data show some progress in expanding access to ECEC services, especially for younger children. However, in most Member States there is still an 'ECEC gap', a time without childcare leave for parents or a guaranteed place in ECEC. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

G7 leaders gathered under this year's Canadian Presidency in Kananaskis, Canada, from 15 to 17 June 2025. The 51st leaders' summit was overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (which forced United States (US) President Donald Trump to leave the summit earlier), trade tensions between the US and the G7 nations, Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, and the Israel–Hamas war and the situation in Gaza. While the G7 issued several joint statements, for instance on the Israel–Iran crisis, no final G7 leaders' communiqué was adopted, contrary to previous summits. The EU and other G7 members did not achieve a breakthrough in the trade talks with the US. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The cooperation between the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has deepened significantly in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has reshaped Europe's security environment and highlighted the complementary roles of both organisations. NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defence, backed by United States (US) capabilities, while the EU has emerged as a key actor in financial aid, military assistance and sanctions. Both institutions have formalised their partnership through joint declarations and strategic documents, including NATO's Strategic Concept, the EU's Strategic Compass and White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030. Practical cooperation now spans a wide range of areas including cyber defence, countering hybrid threats, military mobility, critical infrastructure protection, and joint crisis preparedness. Regular staff-level coordination, shared exercises, and technical arrangements – such as the NATO–EU task force on critical infrastructure – have improved resilience and interoperability. The EU has also significantly ramped up its defence role. It has delivered €50.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine (EU plus Member State contributions). It has introduced industrial policies such as EDIRPA, ASAP, and the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan to reinforce the European defence industrial base. Despite progress, persistent challenges remain. Political tensions – in particular between Cyprus and Türkiye – continue to block intelligence sharing and formal joint planning. The EU still relies heavily on NATO, particularly US assets, for operational capabilities. Growing uncertainty over US commitments under the second Trump Presidency has reinforced the EU's drive to strengthen strategic autonomy and ensure greater burden-sharing within NATO. The European Parliament supports stronger, complementary EU–NATO ties focused on interoperability, resilience and avoiding duplication, while stressing the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. At the NATO summit on 24-25 June in The Hague (the Netherlands), key challenges include agreeing on higher defence spending targets, maintaining alliance unity, managing the Russia threat, and rapidly scaling up Europe's defence capabilities. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU’s Eastern Partnership policy, established in 2009, covers six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It was created to support political, social and economic reform efforts in these countries with the aim of increasing democratisation and good governance, energy security, environmental protection, and economic and social development. All the members except Belarus participate in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.In June 2023 Moldova and Ukraine were granted EU candidate country status, followed by the decision of the European Council on 14 December 2023 to open accession negotiations with both countries. On 24 and 25 June 2024 the EU held the first Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level to officially open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, but the formal opening of negotiating clusters is still pending as of April 2025. Source : © European Union, 2025 - 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, 2025 - 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 choose 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, 2025 - EP

The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) is a central plank of the EU’s broader internal security architecture. Law enforcement cooperation and policies are still developing, with a special focus on countering terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. The main goal is to achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of everyone in the EU, in compliance with fundamental rights and data protection rules, as requested several times by Parliament. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a serious form of discrimination against women. It takes many forms and, according to survey data, affects one third of women in the EU. Such violence has a major impact on victims and imposes a significant cost burden on society. International documents adopted by the United Nations and Council of Europe, including the latter's 'Istanbul Convention', to which the EU acceded in 2023, set the normative framework for combating violence against women. The EU has embodied these international norms in its legislation and policies. The EU has deployed all the tools at its disposal to combat this phenomenon. It has adopted specific legislation focused on violence against women and has used legislation on other related subjects to address this type of violence. It has funded multiple programmes at EU and international level and has organised exchanges of good practice among its Member States. Although there are similarities between national policies to combat violence against women, the Member States have adopted different approaches. Parliament has been a strong supporter of EU action in the area. It has repeatedly called on the Commission and Member States to adopt legislative and non-legislative measures to combat violence against women, and has debated the multiple forms of this violence in its resolutions. This is a further update in a series of EPRS briefings on the matter dating back to February 2014. The most recent previous edition was from 2022. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In this paper, we analyse potential impacts that dollar-denominated stablecoins could have on monetary policy. We also consider related questions about the introduction of the digital euro. Based on our findings, the adoption of stablecoins in Europe is unlikely to be large-scale without state support. The development of the digital euro with full state and central bank backing is more likely to succeed. To be a viable alternative to private payment options, the digital euro needs to be carefully designed. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In this paper, we review the recent economic outlook, policy decisions and communication of the ECB against the backdrop of growing uncertainty. First, inflation heterogeneity has receded with inflation, thus contributing to facilitating the design of monetary policy. Second, monetary easing is somewhat dampened by the reduction in ECB’s balance sheet. Third, ECB has chosen to foreground uncertainty more explicitly in its public-facing communication, potentially as a tool to manage expectations and signal caution to a broader audience. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The current US administration promotes dollar-backed stablecoins—privately issued and supported by US debt—to reinforce dollar dominance worldwide, a strategy we dub “cryptomercantilism.” This report studies the EU’s 2024 Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and its safeguards for the EU’s monetary sovereignty. It also compares MiCAR to the proposed GENIUS Act in the US. Under existing policies, USD stablecoins create severe risks for third countries, indirectly also affecting the EU. The EU should counter digital dollarisation by promoting the international role of the euro in a context of enhanced multilateral payment systems. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This study explores the design of future Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (R&I) in the European Union. Employing a foresight methodology – comprising a literature review, case studies, scenarios and foresight workshops with stakeholders – the study examines prevailing discourses on Framework Programme structures, identifies key R&I trends, and analyses the challenges posed by current developments. It presents a set of hypothetical programme structures alongside policy recommendations to optimise the Framework Programme for fostering effective R&I across the EU. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Confronted with warfare on the European continent since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU Member States, along with other European partners, have backed the need for a substantial increase in defence spending. This budgetary challenge has in turn raised important questions about the role of taxation in financing these efforts. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Driven by the rapid pace of technological change and the need for a human-centric approach to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), AI skills have a significant role in shaping the future European workforce. The growing skills gap in the EU, with almost half of the population lacking basic digital skills, including AI skills, poses a significant challenge for the future that needs to be addressed for the EU to maintain its competitiveness and manage regional disparities. Several EU initiatives are under way, including the recently adopted union of skills communication and AI continent action plan. Fostering anticipatory governance, a culture of innovation, supporting diversity and inclusiveness in the AI workforce, and strengthening digital infrastructure are all critical to ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared by all, while minimising its negative impacts. Aligning with European values will be important to ensure fairness in this process. The EU's future prosperity depends on using AI's potential while basing it on a human-centric approach and ethical development, ensuring transparency and accountability, as well as prioritising people's wellbeing. Targeted investment in EU-wide digital infrastructure and education that emphasises lifelong learning and skills development could ensure balanced economic growth and competitiveness in the global talent market. By examining the multifaceted interaction between AI, skills and jobs, a way forward may be identified that focuses on the needs of EU citizens and ensures that the future European workforce – and citizens in general – are equipped to succeed in an increasingly automated and AI-driven economy. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP