European Union

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Council adopts conclusions on the use of satellite data, in particular from Earth Observation constellations, for civil protection and crisis management.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States.

G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, met on 22 May 2025 in Banff, Canada and issued a joint communiqué.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Council approves conclusions ‘Towards the EU strategy on AI in science’ calling for a comprehensive strategy to boost the uptake of AI in science, with an ethical, sustainable, inclusive and human-centric approach.

Council adopts Council recommendation on the European Research Area Policy Agenda 2025-2027.

The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council will take place on Monday 26 May 2025 at 14.30.

The fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania was held today in Brussels opening Cluster 3: Competitiveness and inclusive growth.

During his visit to Abidjan, António Costa, President of the European Council, received the Félix Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize, in recognition of his commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and sustainable development.

The Council adopted a decision on the conclusion of the United Nations ‘Mauritius’ Convention on transparency for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

Council adopts its negotiating position on the electronic e-declaration for posted workers.

Council and Parliament strike provisional deal on the compulsory licensing of patents for crisis situations.

Joint communique and Preliminary Monitoring Report following the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire to receive the UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize on 22 May 2025. In the margins of the ceremony, he will also meet the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, to discuss bilateral relations, regional stability and preparations for the upcoming EU-African Union summit later this year.

The war-torn country is on its knees. Why is Brussels breaking its legs?

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

The second May plenary session in 2025 opened with Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, addressing Parliament in a formal sitting. Following her call for European solidarity, Members then debated the EU’s response to the Israeli government’s plan to seize the Gaza Strip, the urgent need for humanitarian support and for all hostages to be freed. Members also debated the Hungarian government’s drift to Russia-style repression, including threats to freedom of expression and democratic participation, and approved new tariffs on agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus. Members also debated and voted on a report on the Committee on Petitions’ activities in 2023.

Simplifying and strengthening CBAM

Tackling climate change remains an urgent priority and the EU has set stringent rules on greenhouse gas emissions. As the rules make carbon-intensive activities more costly, this leads to a risk that some companies try to increase their profits by moving their carbon-heavy activity outside the EU. To level the playing field for businesses, the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) ensures prices fairly reflect the carbon emitted during production of imported goods such as cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers and electricity. Before it comes into full operation in 2026, the European Commission is proposing to simplify CBAM. Members debated and adopted a report from Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety that largely endorses the Commission proposal to simplify and strengthen CBAM, pending clarifications on electricity generation and embedded emissions. The report sets Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council on the proposal.

Single market strategy

Continued single market fragmentation constrains EU companies’ ability to compete internationally, and many of the issues remain the same as they were 20 years ago. Members debated the Commission’s newly adopted strategy to bring new impetus to the single market. While reaffirming Parliament’s role in the process, Parliament has emphasised that Member States must implement and enforce existing single market legislation. It also demanded renewed commitment from Member States and other EU institutions to strengthen and further develop the single market, particularly in the services, digital and energy sectors.

Choose Europe for science

Academic freedom is increasingly under attack in many parts of the world. Following Council and Commission statements on attracting scientists, researchers and academics to Europe, particularly to contribute to the development of new, cutting-edge technologies, Members held a debate on the Commission’s ‘Choose Europe for Science‘ initiative. Parliament already called for increased Horizon Europe funding for researchers in its resolution on the 2026 budget guidelines.

Russian energy phase-out, Nord Stream and EU energy sovereignty

Following Council and Commission statements on ending Europe’s dependency on Russian energy by phasing out imports, Members debated plans to increase the EU’s energy sovereignty. The Commission’s recent roadmap – addressing the security and economic risks of continued reliance on Russian energy – is expected to provide an answer to Parliament’s repeated calls for measures to provide alternatives to imported Russian energy, to abandon Nord Stream 1 and 2, and to secure a reliable supply of medical radioisotopes.

Improving mental health at work

Members debated EU initiatives to improve mental health at work. Mental health issues have a considerable impact on society and the economy, and Parliament strongly supports the promotion of good mental health and its inclusion in EU policymaking. Parliament has called for an EU strategy for mental health and legislation on the use of artificial intelligence at work. Parliament also urged the Commission to propose minimum requirements for telework; legislation on psychosocial risks and wellbeing at work; and a ‘long-term, comprehensive and integrated European mental health strategy’.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

One decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, was announced, from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) on a proposal for a regulation on securities settlement in the EU and central securities depositories (CSDs): shorter settlement cycle in the Union.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – May II 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The feted EU-UK reset is more symbolism than substance. But after the performative hostility of previous British governments, it's a welcome relief.