European Union

Austria's liberal education minister Christoph Wiederkehr has proposed fines of between 150 and 1,000 euros for parents who fail to cooperate with schools. The penalties would apply in cases such as parents refusing to talk to teachers when their children are suspended, or if they skip compulsory summer school without a valid excuse. Commentators debate the plan's merits and consequences.

AMENDMENTS 1 - 188 - Draft report European Defence Readiness 2030: assessment of needs
Committee on Security and Defence
Christophe Gomart

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This paper highlights evidence that moderate, regular sunlight supports longevity, heart and immune health, and wellbeing beyond vitamin D. ESA calls for balanced European policies that protect against overexposure while promoting sunlight as an essential health resource.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said the corridor would remain open for just 48 hours from midday on Wednesday

In today's edition: rent seeking, climate targets, Russian fossil fuels

In today's edition: Venture Capital, Snus tax, German Pharmacy Reform

Election of the Presidents of Chambers of the General Court of the European Union

In today's edition: Ominibus, EPPO, origin labels

In today's edition: Commission eyes EU data rules, EU merger guidelines rules, and consumer law enforcement

Plus an Eastern Sentry update, and the no-fly zone debate is back

Metsola makes fourth trip to Kyiv

Written by Györgyi Mácsai and Nadejda Kresnichka-Nikolchova, Members’ Research Service (EPRS) with Raffaele Ventura, GlobalStat, EUI.

This infographic provides insight into the economic performance of the United States (US) compared with the European Union (EU) and examines the trade dynamics between them. In 2024, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for the US was recorded at 2.8%, while the EU experienced a growth rate of 1.1%. Both inflation rates remain stable and show a declining trend compared to the years following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the war in Ukraine. The inflation rate in the US was slightly higher than that in the EU. Trade between the US and the EU continues to grow, except for EU imports of goods from the US, which have been in a declining phase since 2022.

Read this ‘infographic’ on ‘US: Economic indicators and trade with EU‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

In today’s edition: Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will propose a faster phase-out of Russian energy, lawmakers prepare to vote on lifting Italian MEP Ilaria Salis’ immunity, and the Commission is set to unveil a new 'strategic agenda' with India

We have already "reinforced our national air defence measures in response to the growing drone threat" said the Hungarian defence ministry

The 2% wealth tax is the main hurdle the new prime minister faces in talks with parties