European Union

Today’s edition also looks at moves by wealthier EU states, which tend to be net contributors to the budget, to gain an advantage over poorer rivals in the battle over access to the bloc’s proposed €400 billion European Competitiveness Fund

Durée de la vidéo : 225'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2026 - PE

Lors d’un audition à l’Assemblée nationale, le 9 avril, le chef d’état-major de la Marine [CEMM], l’amiral Nicolas Vaujour, a souligné le très bon taux de disponibilité des dix sous-marins mis en œuvre par la Force océanique stratégique [FOST], celui-ci s’étant élevé à 70 % en 2025. «C’est exceptionnel. Sur nos cinq sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque,...

Cet article Sa rénovation étant trop coûteuse, le sous-marin américain USS Boise va être désarmé prématurément est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

On Tuesday 14 April, the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a public hearing on 'Caste discrimination in South Asia'. The panel, comprised of representatives of the European External Action Service, the United Nations, as well as civil society actors and individuals with lived experience, will provide a holistic overview of caste discrimination and its implications for human rights in South Asia.
Drawing on recent findings, including those of the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, it aims to explore the role of the caste system as a core driver of oppression, particularly in South Asia.

The hearing will underline the need for an intersectional approach that recognises how caste-based discrimination intersects with gender, poverty and other factors, creating distinct and severe forms of marginalisation. The exchange will also examine existing international and EU-level responses and explore avenues for more effective action to combat caste-based discrimination.
Location : SPINELLI 1E2 (Brussels)
Draft programme
Webstreaming
Photos
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

"The future is already on the front line," the Ukrainian president said

EP vice-president Verheyen, a representative of the winner, the European Film Academy chair, and the honorary president of the selection panel will speak to the press on Tuesday at 19.15.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

EP vice-president Verheyen, a representative of the winner, the European Film Academy chair, and the honorary president of the selection panel will speak to the press on Tuesday at 19.15.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

DÉCRYPTAGE - Le premier secrétaire du PS assume de vouloir «construire un rapport de force» avec le gouvernement pour empêcher une réforme du 1er Mai.

In today's edition: EU pharma exports, global health, cancer drug investigation

In today's edition: Frontier AI challenge, business wallet draft, top DG COMP role filled

In today's edition: small EVs, green spaces, electrification

Germany, MFF, raw materials

The Arctic and the Arctic-North Atlantic region are gaining in geopolitical relevance as Arctic shipping routes and resources become more accessible. Germany should step up its political, military and economic engagement in this part of the world. A successful German Arctic policy requires closer cooperation both with Arctic states and with partners in the EU and NATO, Germany’s stronger engagement with security policy and the improved integration of civilian and military capabilities. The Arctic-North Atlantic region is to be regarded as a single strategic space and viewed in the context of European security. For its part, Germany should actively contribute to the stabilisation of this space and help pre­serve the fragile balance in the Arctic. A German Arctic strategy should not only reaffirm principles such as those of a rules-based order and multilateralism; it should also seek to protect them by means of clearly defined political, economic and security policy instruments. In the long term, a German Arctic strategy must go beyond the 2024 guidelines and identify concrete steps to safeguard German interests in the region. It must also establish clear priorities, outline political and security-policy measures, mobilise resources and both generate and demonstrate overall capacity for action. Germany’s new Arctic policy should be more consistently embedded in a policy framework for Europe as a whole. By ensuring close alignment with EU foreign and security policy and playing an active role in the shap­ing of the EU Arctic strategy, Germany can represent its own interests more effectively and at the same time contribute to Europe’s capacity to act in the region.

In today's edition: Hungary, fertilisers, EU-US

On 15 April 2026 at 14.30-16.30, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in association with the Delegation for relations with Iran, will hold an exchange of views with representatives from Iranian democratic parties as well as democracy advocates.
Guests expected to address Members are:

• Shirin Ebadi (Sakharov and Nobel Peace Prize laureate) (online)
• Mustafa Hijri (leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI))
• Abdullah Mohtadi (leader and secretary general of Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan)
• Saeed Bashirtash (leader of the political organisation the 7 Aban Front)
• Sanaz Behzadi (artist and journalist, working with the Association for the Promotion of Open Society (APOS))

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Guillaume Ragonnaud with Raphaël Wainstain.

Overview

On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published the automotive omnibus as part of a broader automotive package aimed at supporting the sector in the transition to clean mobility. The automotive omnibus is the ninth set of simplification measures (also known as ‘omnibus packages’) that have been published by the Commission since 2025. Its purpose is to simplify the rules governing the EU automotive industry and improve coherence and consistency between different regulatory requirements. The two legislative proposals included in the package would amend the EU rules concerning tachograph obligations for electric light commercial vehicles (electric vans) and motor caravans, as well as those applying to speed limitation devices for electric vans. Additionally, the package would introduce a definition of a small electric car in motor vehicle legislation and authorise the Commission to adopt delegated acts to lay down the technical requirements for vehicle interoperability with charging infrastructure and grid. Furthermore, the proposals would simplify the rules for EU type-approval of new motor vehicles in terms of their sound level; remove some low-temperature laboratory tests from the Euro 7 Regulation; simplify Euro 7 rules for heavy-duty vehicles; and empower the Commission to adopt implementing acts on car data management.

Procedural information (1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 561/2006, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2019/2144 and (EU) 2024/1257 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the simplification of technical requirements and testing procedures for motor vehicles and repealing Council Directive 70/157/EEC and Regulation No 540/2014

(2) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 92/6/EEC to exempt certain N2 electric vehicles from the requirement to install and use a speed limitation deviceCommittee responsible:(1) Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), and Transport and Tourism (TRAN) (joint committee)

(2) Transport and Tourism (TRAN) (1) COM(2025)993

(2) COM(2025)999Rapporteur:(1) Tbd
(2) Tbd (1) 2025/0422(COD)

(2) 2025/0424(COD)Next steps expected:Publication of draft reports

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU automotive omnibus‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Israeli ground forces have invaded south Lebanon

The Russian foreign ministry said discussions include the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East

Also, in Tuesday’s edition: Ukraine loan, Meloni vs Salis, EPPO baby, budgetary ‘excellence’

Europe’s circular transition has stalled because recycled materials markets are fragmented, quality is uneven and virgin materials win on price. The Circular Economy Act can change this by harmonising rules, strengthening demand, de-risking investments and building trust through digital tools.