European Union

As Europe continues to advance its health agenda in the current legislative cycle, the 2025 Euractiv Health Policy Conference brought together leading voices from the EU institutions, the World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency, industry, and civil society for a timely discussion on the future of healthcare in Europe.

Written by Suzana Elena Anghel.

Following a request from the European Council in June 2024, the European Commission and the High Representative are due to adopt a joint communication on the EU strategic approach to the Black Sea region on 28 May 2025. This new initiative aims to:

• offer a political vision regarding the Black Sea, based on an overview of the challenging security situation in the region following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;
• re-confirm the EU’s strategic interest in the Black Sea as well as its intention to continue to engage with like-minded partners in/from the region on a bilateral and/or regional level;
• present a ‘strategic approach’ and not a ‘strategy’, displaying a lower level of ambition, which may represent a missed opportunity for the European Union to establish itself as a regional key player;
• build on the experience and achievements of the Black Sea Synergy, a 2007 EU initiative aimed at promoting, on a voluntary basis, cooperation in/with the Black Sea region;
• build coherence between the different EU polices and the Union’s offer to the region;
• re-confirm and re-cluster existing fields of cooperation in line with the Commission’s priorities, giving precedence to security, connectivity and preparedness;
• complement other EU initiatives relevant for the region, e.g. the Eastern Partnership and regional cooperation on the Danube River.

The initiative is not expected to:

• benefit from dedicated funding; it will rely on other EU policies and instruments;
• precede an action plan with clear-cut implementation objectives; implementation will be difficult to assess and monitor.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU strategic approach to the Black Sea region‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Europe targets cuts in natural gas consumption, even while mulling buying even more from the US. Top-level decisions are likely needed soon.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about a German court ruling against a consumer effort to stop Meta from training AI on user data, EU commissioners being asked to skip Budapest Pride over fears of an Orbán backlash, and so much more.

With 2040 Climate Target on the horizon, Europe must make a critical decision: will it unlock the full potential of its own circular energy resources or continue to rely on fossil energy imports that undermine sustainability, sovereignty, and affordability?

With Poland’s presidential runoff set for Sunday, a tense weekend saw debate controversy, a beer scandal, and rival marches in Warsaw.

Trump said on Friday he's no longer looking for a deal with the EU. But on Sunday, he stated he would postpone the implementation of a 50% tariff on EU imports until 9 July to allow more time for negotiations.

In the war’s biggest air assault yet, Russia launched 367 drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least 12, as Trump declared: Putin “has gone absolutely CRAZY!"

Economic intelligence must be treated not as technical support, but as a strategic capability. If Europe is serious about defending its values and borders, it must rethink its financial doctrine.

It was never meant to last this long.

Friday’s announcement was a decisive slap down of European media and policymakers’ belief that EU-US trade talks were progressing.

As organic sales slump in France, fair trade labels rooted in local sourcing and price transparency are gaining ground.

Euractiv’s weekly newsletter on politics, lobbying, and the media.

Defying a ban, organisers plan to go ahead with Budapest Pride in June.

Albania projects charm abroad, control at home. Onstage we see rule of law, democracy, and European values. Backstage, its judges pressured, media bought, and tenders rigged.

The warning against a 'weaponised' court comes in response to criticism of the European Court of Human Rights by Italy, Denmark and others.

But US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump's latest threats should "light a fire under the EU" to offer more trade concessions.

Written by Martina Prpic.

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime and a violation of human rights. When it happens to children, it disrupts their childhood and exposes them to horrific exploitation and abuse, and a precarious future. Even though the true number of victims of human trafficking is not known, recent data reveal that the number of child victims has been on the increase. Awareness of children as victims of human trafficking has increased as well.

Just like adult victims, child victims can be trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced criminality or organ removal. Recently, the EU has officially recognised new forms of exploitation, including surrogacy, forced marriage and illegal adoption. There are geographical differences in the recruitment of victims, with the vast majority of child victims originating from northern, southern and western Europe being girls (82.9 %) and 55.1 % of child victims from Africa and 77.6 % of child victims from southern Asia being boys. Female child victims are more likely to report sexual exploitation, while male child victims are more likely to be exploited through child labour. Forced criminality in the EU, although comparatively lower as a share of the total number of victims, is steadily increasing, with boys of migration background being the main targets.

The EU’s anti-trafficking legislation was amended last year, resulting in legislation that identifies children as especially vulnerable to trafficking. The amendments also expanded the list of forms of exploitation to include those that particularly affect children and emphasised the importance of a victim-centred approach and prevention. Member States are therefore asked, inter alia, to promote and provide regular and specialised training for professionals who are likely to come into contact with such children. Another relevant directive, on victims’ rights, is currently being revised to provide even more rights to victims, including child victims. The existing directive already prioritises the best interests of children when applying its provisions.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Trafficking in children‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 26 May–1 June 2025

European Council President António Costa will travel to Brazil from 27 to 29 May 2025 to meet with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and participate in the EU-Brazil Investment Forum. The visit highlights the EU’s commitment to a forward-looking strategic partnership with Brazil to advance joint priorities, including climate action and multilateral cooperation.