European Parliamentary Research Service Blog

The European Union (EU) aims to reduce, and eventually eradicate poverty. It is the world’s largest donor of development aid. In 2023, the EU and its member countries provided €95.9 billion for official development assistance to support long-term economic, social, environmental and political development around the world.

EU development aid policies

The EU is committed to implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty, find sustainable and inclusive development solutions, and ensure everyone’s human rights by 2030.

In 2021, the EU adopted its Global Gateway strategy. It aims to boost smart, clean and secure connections in the digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. Up to €300 billion in public and private investment will be mobilised between 2021 and 2027 to achieve these goals. More information is available in the related press release.

EU action follows the principle of policy coherence for development, which means that EU policies should not have negative effects on developing countries. Under this principle, the EU aims to minimise inconsistencies and improve synergies between different EU policies, for instance in trade, agriculture or on climate action.

The EU therefore supports the private sector through public funding and several initiatives aiming to leverage investment in developing countries. For instance, the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) promotes sustainable investment in the EU’s partner countries. It aims at mobilising up to €135 billion of public and private financing to help partner countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

To help improve people’s lives and the economy by fighting hunger and protecting natural resources, the EU also engages in international partnerships with countries in need, providing assistance through financial grants, public procurement contracts and budgetary support. In June 2021, the EU adopted the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, which aims to promote stronger partnerships with non-EU countries, including with the European neighbourhood.

European Parliament’s position

In a March 2023 resolution, the European Parliament called to prevent EU policies from negatively impacting poor and vulnerable people in developing countries. Parliament also stressed the need to clarify, strengthen and promote policy coherence for development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a December 2023 resolution, the European Parliament reaffirmed that everyone has the right to education. It also stressed that, if we are to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, education – notably basic education – must be free, quality, inclusive, and accessible without discrimination.

In a May 2025 resolution about the updated long-term budget for the Union, the European Parliament emphasised that the EU should aim to remain the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance. Parliament also noted that the EU and its member countries have jointly pledged to allocate 0.7 % of their gross national income (GNI) to official development assistance, and stressed that reducing poverty must remain the main goal.

Further information

• Understanding the triple nexus: The challenges of creating synergies between humanitarian, development and security policies, European Parliamentary Research Service, Briefing, April 2025
• The EU Aid Strategy: A Gateway to Human Development?, European Parliament External Policies Analysis and Support Unit, Study, March 2025
• Assessing policy coherence for development across internal and external EU policies: A call for action – Ex-post evaluation, European Parliamentary Research Service, Study, November 2024
• Understanding policy coherence for development, European Parliamentary Research Service, November 2023
• Keep sending your questions to the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)! We reply in the EU language that you use to write to us.

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

One focus of the June 2025 plenary session was the situation in the Middle East, with Members debating statements from Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, on the risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation, and the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed Parliament in a formal sitting, and spoke in particular on the implications of the crisis in the Middle East.

Members held further debates on international questions, including debating with Kallas on the upcoming NATO summit, on 24-26 June 2025. They also debated the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression, the rise in violence and the deepening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and the assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe and the threat to the democratic process and peace in Colombia.

Inside the EU, Members debated the state of play on illegal use of spyware and the follow-up two years after the PEGA inquiry committee recommendations, freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act, safeguarding the rule of law in Spain, the institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process, and the latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations.

Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, opened the session with a statement marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Area agreement.

Revision of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive

Today’s criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and exploitation are no longer fit for purpose. Members debated the proposed directive on combating child sexual abuse and endorsed the report from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) which urges increased maximum penalties for such offences, including recruiting children for prostitution and possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material, and proposes to remove limitation periods so that victims can claim compensation indefinitely. The committee also calls for criminalising the use of artificial intelligence systems for child sexual abuse. The vote sets Parliament’s negotiating mandate on the legislative proposal.

Welfare of dogs and cats

Members adopted the Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committee report on a proposal for new rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, setting the mandate for trilogue negotiations. The initiative would establish EU-wide minimum standards for the first time, covering – among other things – the accommodation, care, and treatment of these animals. It puts forward uniform EU rules for the welfare of dogs and cats in breeding establishments, pet shops, and shelters, introducing minimum standards for their housing, care, and handling. It also includes strict traceability requirements and automated checks to control the breeding and trade of these animals.

Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)

The main investment tool underpinning the EU’s Next Generation EU (NGEU) response to COVID-19, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), finances reform and investment in EU countries. Members held a debate and adopted a joint report from the Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), which looks at how the RRF has been implemented to date. The report acknowledges the RRF’s stabilising effect and notes that the Member States even exceeded their green and digital targets. However, implementation delays are a key concern, particularly in the impact on repaying NGEU debt. To boost transparency and traceability, the report calls for improved data on the use of RRF funding, and greater Parliament involvement in ensuring scrutiny and accountability.

Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy

Home to a quarter of Europe’s population and occupying the majority of the EU’s territory, rural areas face economic, social, demographic and structural challenges that affect their economic growth and development. Members debated an own-initiative report from the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy. The report underlines the demographic and structural challenges facing these regions, vital for food and water supplies. It emphasises the need for investment in transport, digital connectivity, agriculture, tourism and essential public services. It also underlines that young people, and women in particular, need more support to thrive in rural areas. The report urges the Commission to prepare a new rural strategy and to secure sufficient funding for rural areas.

Commission’s fifth rule of law report

Members adopted a resolution drafted by the LIBE committee on the Commission’s fifth annual rule of law report, which looks at the state of the rule of law in all Member States plus four candidate countries. The LIBE report on the Commission’s work highlights gaps on prison conditions and the quality of administrative justice. It also regrets that some non-governmental organisations face restrictions, and urges all Member States to support media freedom and implement the Anti-SLAPP Directive and Parliament’s PEGA inquiry committee recommendations. The report highlights the continued need for EU governments to act on LGBTIQ rights, anti-Semitism, islamophobia, and equality and non-discrimination for third-country nationals legally residing in the EU.

Commission reports on Montenegro and Moldova

Members debated and adopted reports from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on the Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on EU accession prospects for Montenegro and Moldova. Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations began in 2012, and AFET’s report welcomes the country’s ambitious plan to join the EU in 2028, recognising its commitment to EU accession and confirming Parliament’s full support for future EU membership. To ensure progress however, the report stresses the need for political stability and the effective implementation of adopted reforms. While the report underlines Montenegro‘s full alignment with EU common foreign and security policy, it also outlines malign foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns as central concerns. Moldova also faces significant challenges, not least the impact of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and interference in its democratic processes. AFET’s report on Moldova underlines the need for authorities to deal with fundamental issues such as money laundering and corruption, and calls for EU support for justice reform. While Moldova‘s EU accession negotiations began more recently, in 2024, the AFET report nevertheless emphasises the country’s steady progress on its reforms.

The United Kingdom’s accession to the Hague Judgments Convention

Members posed an oral question to the Commission on the United Kingdom’s planned accession to the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention. Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming the UK’s accession, recognising its benefit for citizens and companies alike by ‘simplifying the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters’.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

One decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, from the LIBE committee on a proposal on enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; and enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes, was approved without vote.

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

Written by Steven Blaakman.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 June as World Refugee Day, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

A refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin based on race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion, receives international protection from another state on its territory.

A call for solidarity with refugees

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that 120 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by May 2024, with over 43.4 million of them being refugees. In addition to that, at least 4.4 million people are stateless. With growing numbers of people being forced to flee their homes, the international day serves as a reminder that refugees need support more than ever. This year, World Refugee Day is focusing on solidarity with refugees. According to UNHCR, this means not only ending conflict so they can return home in safety, but also ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees.

Looking for protection in the European Union

Many displaced people around the world seek protection in the European Union (EU). After a peak in migrant arrivals in 2015 and 2016, followed by a decrease due to the pandemic, arrival numbers began rising again in 2021. In 2023, over a million first-time asylum-seekers applied for international protection in the EU, up 20 % from 2022 and the highest number since the peak in the 2015-2016 period. Additionally, over 4 million Ukrainians in the EU had received support under the Temporary Protection Directive by the end of March 2025. In addition to asylum-seekers arriving at EU borders, the EU has set up a system for all of its Member States to directly receive refugees from non-EU countries, such as Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan, currently hosting large numbers of asylum-seekers. This scheme is primarily based on EU cooperation with the UNHCR, which assists in resettling refugees directly from refugee camps. For the 2024-2025 period, 14 Member States have pledged to secure over 60 735 places for resettlement and humanitarian admission.

Solidarity and inclusion in the EU

The European Parliament has consistently called for solidarity with refugees. In its 2016 resolution on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration, Parliament emphasised that hosting Member States ‘must offer refugees support and opportunities to integrate and build a life in their new society’. While the responsibility for integration policies lies primarily with the Member States, the EU has established its guiding principles in the EU action plan on integration and inclusion (2021-2027) on support for national, regional and local authorities, as well as civil society. In December 2023, a permanent solidarity framework was established when Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on the asylum and migration pact, which included the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management, adopted in 2024.

The new rules, which will start to apply in July 2026, combine mandatory solidarity to support Member States that cannot cope with the number of irregular arrivals on their territory with flexibility for Member States in choosing how they contribute. Countries will not be required to relocate asylum seekers, but will have the option to provide financial contributions or help with capacity-building, such as providing staff and equipment.

This is an update of a 2024 At a Glance note written by Anita Orav.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘World Refugee Day 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Lucia Vesnic-Alujevic with Georgios Saitis.

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.

Read the complete briefing on ‘What role for AI skills in (re-)shaping the future European workforce‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Computer science in education Potential impact of GenAI on jobs in different regions of the world

Written by Clément Evroux and annastiina Papunen.

Issues at stake

• The combined global revenues of Earth observation and positioning-navigation-timing solutions revenues are expected to double between 2023 and 2035, making space services one of the fastest growing economic sectors. According to the European Commission, around 10 % of EU GDP is enabled by satellite signals. However, space congestion hampers further development.
• The probability of a new global ‘space race’ led the European Council to identify space as a sensitive sector where strategic EU dependencies need to be reduced. A legislative initiative on an EU space law is planned in the European Commission’s 2025 work programme (Q2).
• While there is a broad consensus on the relevance of collective EU space assets and services for competitiveness and strategic autonomy, Member States hold different views on the most appropriate legal basis and legislative format for EU action.
• Most stakeholders in the EU are supportive of an EU space act that would address the safety, security and sustainability of space operations and facilitate the creation of a single market for space services, provided it does not hamper the competitiveness of EU space actors by creating additional burdens, and would apply to any entity delivering space services in the EU.
• This situation presents a strategic opportunity for the European Parliament to be proactive and use its tools to shape the proposal (see below), aiming to complement the act with the required financing for space investment in the next EU multiannual financial framework.

Read the complete briefing on ‘European space act‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Frederik Scholaert.

On 5 June 2025, the European Commission published the European ocean pact. The world’s seas and oceans are under severe and increasing pressure from pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. The deterioration of the environment, coupled with the growing demand for maritime space and marine resources, has emphasised the necessity of coherent ocean governance — a goal that the ocean pact aims to achieve.

The pact is a non-legislative strategy intended to serve as a unified reference framework for all ocean-related EU policies. It was announced as one of the key deliverables within the Commission’s fisheries and oceans portfolio. Actions and initiatives in this pact are grouped under six priorities: ocean health; a sustainable blue economy; coastal communities and islands; ocean research, skills and literacy; maritime security and defence; and ocean governance. To support implementation, a high-level stakeholder-led ocean board would be established as well as a ‘ocean pact scoreboard’ to monitor achievement of the objectives. Member States will be encouraged to designate and manage marine protected areas in order to meet the 2030 target of protecting 30 % of their seas. In order to achieve all targets set out in the ocean pact, the Commission will table an ocean act in 2027. This legislative act, which has been requested by various stakeholders, will be based on a revision of the maritime spatial planning directive. It would strengthen and modernise maritime planning and bring relevant ocean-related targets together in one place.

Read the complete briefing on ‘The European ocean pact: And an ocean act by 2027‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Clare Ferguson with Olga Dunderberg.

The agenda for the European Parliament’s June 2025 plenary session has a strong focus on the rule of law and advances several important files through the legislative procedure. The Commission will make statements on the following week’s NATO summit, and on the recently adopted European Oceans Pact. His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is scheduled to address Parliament in a formal sitting on Tuesday morning.

The main investment tool underpinning the EU’s Next Generation EU (NGEU) response to COVID‑19, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), finances reform and investment in EU countries. Members are due to discuss a joint report from the Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) on Tuesday, which looks at how the RRF has been implemented to date. The report acknowledges the RRF’s stabilising effect and notes that the Member States even exceeded their green and digital targets. However, implementation delays are a key concern, particularly in the impact on repaying the NGEU debt. To boost transparency and traceability, the report calls for improved data on the use of RRF funding, and greater Parliament involvement in ensuring scrutiny and accountability.

Today’s criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and exploitation are no longer fit for purpose. Members are therefore set to debate the European Commission’s proposed directive on combating child sexual abuse on Tuesday morning. A report from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on the proposal urges increased maximum penalties for such offences, including recruiting children for prostitution or possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material and proposes to remove limitation periods so that victims can claim compensation indefinitely. The committee also calls to criminalise the use of artificial intelligence systems for child sexual abuse. The vote on the report will set Parliament’s negotiating mandate on the legislative proposal.

On Tuesday afternoon, Members are to debate a resolution drafted by the LIBE committee on the Commission’s fifth annual rule of law report, which looks at the state of the rule of law in all Member States plus four candidate countries. The LIBE report on the Commission’s work highlights gaps on prison conditions and the quality of administrative justice. It also regrets that some non-governmental organisations face restrictions, and urges all Member States to support media freedom and implement the Anti-SLAPP Directive and Parliament’s PEGA inquiry committee recommendations. The report highlights the continued need for EU governments to act on LGBTIQ rights, anti-Semitism, islamophobia and equality and non-discrimination for third-country nationals legally residing in the EU.

Turning to future EU enlargement on Tuesday afternoon, Members are expected to debate reports from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on the Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on EU accession prospects for Montenegro and Moldova. Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations began in 2012, and AFET’s report welcomes the country’s ambitious plan to join the EU in 2028, recognising its commitment to EU accession and confirming Parliament’s full support for future EU membership. To ensure progress however, the report emphasises the need for political stability and the effective implementation of adopted reforms. While the report underlines Montenegro‘s full alignment with EU common foreign and security policy, it also outlines malign foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns as central concerns. Also facing significant challenges, not least the impact of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and interference in Moldova’s democratic processes, AFET’s report on Moldova underlines the need for authorities to deal with fundamental issues such as money laundering and corruption, and calls for EU support for justice reform. While Moldova‘s EU accession negotiations began more recently, in 2024, the AFET report nevertheless emphasises the country’s steady progress on its reforms.

Home to a quarter of Europe’s population and occupying a majority of the EU’s territory, rural areas face economic, social, demographic and structural challenges that affect their economic growth and development. On Monday evening, Members are scheduled to debate an own-initiative report from the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy. The REGI report underlines the demographic and structural challenges facing these regions, vital for food and water supplies. The REGI report emphasises the need for investment in transport, digital connectivity, agriculture, tourism and essential public services. It underlines that young people, and women in particular, need more support to thrive in rural areas, through a decentralised and place-based cohesion policy with simplified access to funding. The committee urges the Commission to prepare a new rural strategy and to secure sufficient EU funding for rural areas.

Finally, on Thursday, Members are due to pose oral questions to the Commission on the United Kingdom’s planned accession to the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention. Parliament welcomes the UK’s accession, recognising its benefit for citizens and companies alike by ‘simplifying the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters’. Members are also expected to vote on a resolution, which is likely to remind the Commission of its obligation to respect Parliament’s right to be involved in the procedure.

Further reading

• European Parliament Plenary Session June 2025 – agenda
• Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy
• Revision of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive
• Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)
• 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro
• 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova
• Commission’s fifth rule of law report
• The United Kingdom’s accession to the Hague Judgments Convention

Written by Dessislava Yougova.

The European Union is currently legally bound to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and has agreed on targets and legislation to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. The EU raised its’ ambitions after Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019 and asked the European Commission to align the EU’s climate legislation with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Having become the world’s fastest-warming continent, Europe is now facing increasing and stronger climate-related hazards, including heatwaves, prolonged droughts, extreme flooding, and rising sea levels. However, there is scope to significantly reduce climate risks by applying existing EU and national policies and action that rapidly reduce emissions and prepare countries to adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) launched a series of briefings in 2024, based on statistical data, to take stock of each Member State’s progress towards climate neutrality and the EU-wide and national targets set in the ‘fit for 55’ package. Building on national energy and climate plans and using additional sources, the briefings provide an overview of a Member State’s current situation with regard to GHG emissions and removals and its energy system, national objectives and targets, as well as existing and planned measures to deliver on national commitments.

European countries’ energy mix and renewable energy share in final energy consumption are of particular interest, as reducing energy-related emissions by phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to renewables and energy efficiency is the way to achieve the EU’s climate neutrality objective. Member States are therefore required to contribute to the EU-wide target of a 42.5 % share of renewable energy sources by 2030. However, for several Member States, decarbonising the energy system remains the most challenging issue.

The overview of sectoral challenges and strategies reveals limited progress in most countries in addressing emissions from transport, buildings, waste and agriculture. As EU legislation sets binding national targets for reducing emissions from these sectors, Member States would need to implement additional national measures, particularly in the transport, buildings and industry sectors.

The EU land use, land-use change and forestry sector, which plays an important role as a carbon sink thanks to forests’ capacities to absorb carbon from the atmosphere, is also subject to national targets set by EU legislation. However, Member States’ latest projections show that the EU is likely to miss its collective 2030 target in this sector.

In addition, the EPRS briefings give an overview of each Member State’s climate and energy strategy and climate action governance, as well as the latest policy developments, using available country information. They also shed light on the climate-related spending under the national recovery and resilience plans, as Member States are required to invest at least 37 % of EU Recovery and Resilience Facility Funds on climate objectives.

Written by Carmen-Cristina Cîrlig.

On 20 May 2025, the European Union (EU) High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission (HR/VP) announced the launch of a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The review will assess Israel’s compliance with human rights and democratic principles, which is an essential element of the agreement. This is the first step in a procedure that could eventually lead to the suspension of the agreement.

The EU-Israel Association Agreement

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part (EU-Israel AA), provisionally applied since 1996 and in force since 2000, provides the framework for political and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel. It includes provisions on regular political dialogue, and establishes a free trade area between the parties, including the progressive liberalisation of the provision of services, of capital movements and of public procurement. It also includes rules on fair competition and the protection of intellectual property. Furthermore, under the AA, the parties commit to strengthening their cooperation in various economic sectors, in research and technology, and in audiovisual, cultural and social matters. The agreement sets up governing bodies, most importantly an Association Council, made up of representatives of the Council of the EU and the Commission, on the one side, and Israel on the other, meeting at ministerial level and having the power to take decisions binding on the parties and to make recommendations, as well as an Association Committee meeting at officials’ level.

The EU-Israel action plan, adopted in 2005 and extended several times by the Association Council, implements the Association Agreement. On 26 March 2025, the Commission issued a proposal for a Council decision on the extension of the action plan, which expired in January 2025.

Reviewing Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement

Respect for human rights and democratic principles constitutes an essential element of the EU-Israel AA, Article 2 of which states: ‘Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.’ This is a standard human rights clause reflecting the EU’s longstanding poli cy on human rights conditionality in its external policy. The violation of the human rights (or essential elements) clause by one party to the agreement enables the other to take ‘appropriate measures’, including ultimately the suspension of the agreement. However, the human rights clause does not contain any explicit provisions about the grounds for its activation, leaving the Parties with a wide margin for interpretation.

On 20 May 2025, Kaja Kallas said there was ‘a strong majority in favour of [the] review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel. So, we will launch this exercise and, in the meantime, it is up to Israel to unblock the humanitarian aid.’ The formal request to review Israel’s compliance with Article 2 (backed by 17 EU Member States) was made by the Netherlands, citing Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip and the proposed new system for aid distribution as seemingly being incompatible with international humanitarian law and principles. Pending the review, the Netherlands will withhold its approval of the extension of the EU-Israel Action Plan.

The review is being led by the European External Action Service, possibly with the Commission’s participation, but its timeline is undefined. Reports point to the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June 2025 as an opportunity to present the review to Member States.

Should the review conclude that Israel has breached Article 2, the likely outcome would be a Commission and/or HR/VP proposal to the Council to open consultations with Israel on the matter, in accordance with Article 79 of the EU-Israel AA (the non-execution clause) which sets out the provisions applicable in case a party fails to fulfil obligations under the agreement, including in relation to human rights.

Article 79 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement
1. The Parties shall take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement. They shall see to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained.
2. If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before so doing, except in cases of special urgency, it shall supply the Association Council with all relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties. In the selection of measures, priority shall be given to those which least disturb the functioning of the Agreement.

Article 79 outlines a gradual procedure whereby the alleged breach must first be discussed within the Association Council, in order to find an acceptable solution (i.e. consultations). If a solution is not found, then the aggrieved party may take appropriate measures – for the EU, these would be reflected in a Council decision. Moreover, preference should be given to those measures that would least disturb the functioning of the agreement, thus making suspension a measure of last resort. Nevertheless, Article 79 provides that, in cases of special urgency, appropriate measures may be adopted immediately without prior submission of the matter to the Association Council. Appropriate measures, including suspension, may be subject to the dispute settlement provisions in the agreement (Article 75 of the EU-Israel AA). According to the Commission, this would not prevent suspension.

Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement or other ‘appropriate measures’?

The suspension by the EU of an international agreement is governed by Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which states that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission or the HR/VP (depending on the areas covered by the agreement), shall adopt a decision suspending application of an agreement. According to Article 218(8) TFEU, the Council ‘shall act unanimously … for association agreements’. Article 218(9) TFEU also applies to ‘establishing the positions to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in a body set up by an agreement’ regarding the adoption of ‘acts having legal effects’. The unanimity requirement would make full suspension of the EU-Israel AA challenging. However, the EU could decide to halt cooperation in specific areas, for example by suspending the free trade area, excluding Israel from research funding programmes (Horizon) or suspending the political dialogue with Israel. Depending on the measures considered, the Council would have to act by unanimity (e.g. suspension of political dialogue) or qualified majority (e.g. trade, research cooperation).

Precedents

The EU has so far invoked the human rights clause of an international agreement only under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. Article 96 of that agreement (detailing the procedure for opening consultations and adopting appropriate measures) has been applied about 17 times since 2000, following violent government overthrows, election irregularities or human rights violations. While, in some of these cases, EU action did not go beyond opening consultations, in others the EU took appropriate measures, such as cutting development aid and suppressing some forms of cooperation. There is no case to date where the EU has activated the non-execution clause leading to the suspension or termination of the agreement on grounds of the ‘essential elements’ clause being breached. In 2011, the EU partially suspended the application of the 1977 Cooperation Agreement with Syria, invoking the United Nations Charter, as that agreement did not contain a human rights clause.

The European Parliament’s role

Parliament would have to be informed if a proposal were made for a Council decision to suspend fully or partially the EU-Israel AA, in accordance with Article 218(10) TFEU. Parliament’s Framework Agreement with the Commission confirms that Parliament has to be fully and immediately informed of decisions concerning the suspension of agreements and EU positions in a body set up by an agreement (e.g. Association Council). Such decisions are adopted in accordance with the procedure in Article 218(9) TFEU. The Commission also undertakes to ‘inform the Council and Parliament simultaneously and in due time of its intention to propose to the Council the suspension of an international agreement and of the reasons therefor’. In such cases, Parliament may organise a debate and invite the Commission, the HR/VP or the Council to give statements; it may also issue recommendations (Rule 118 of its Rules of Procedure).

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘Review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Jakub Przetacznik.

Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022. Accession negotiations were opened in June 2024. While bilateral screening meetings of three thematic clusters have been completed, negotiations proper have not yet started, pending unanimous agreement of EU Member States. The European Parliament is calling for the timely organisation of subsequent intergovernmental conferences.

EU–Ukraine relations

In 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an association agreement and established a deep and comprehensive free trade area, thereby strengthening bilateral political and trade relations. Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU and its Member States have made available almost €147 billion in financial, economic, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, and have welcomed 4.3 million refugees. The EU has underlined ‘its unwavering commitment to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression and to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future’. The EU’s objective is ‘to support Ukraine to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law’. In addition, the EU has stressed its readiness to play its full part in supporting the forthcoming steps in the process. Currently, the main priority is a full and unconditional ceasefire. To put pressure on Russia, which is escalating its attacks instead of negotiating in earnest, the EU on 20 May 2025 approved the 17th package of sanctions, and is preparing an 18th package.

EU accession process

Ukraine, which formally requested to join the EU after Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, was granted candidate country status in June 2022. In December 2023, EU Member States agreed to open accession negotiations, as Ukraine met previously set preconditions. The first intergovernmental conference – or ‘accession conference’, marking the formal opening of accession negotiations – took place in Luxembourg on 25 June 2024. The EU and Ukraine have completed screening meetings for three thematic negotiating clusters:

• Cluster 1 (Fundamentals of the accession process)
• Cluster 2 (Internal market)
• Cluster 6 (External relations).

Bilateral screening allows candidate countries to familiarise themselves with the body of EU legislation (acquis), and present the state of their preparations to adopt and implement it. According to the European Commission, Ukraine is ready to open negotiations on Cluster 1 – a precondition to opening any other negotiating cluster. However, due to the lack of the required unanimity in the Council, accession negotiations proper have not yet started on any cluster. Screening meetings on the remaining clusters are continuing, with the aim of completing them, and opening negotiations, for all clusters by the end of 2025. Ukraine has underlined its commitment to implementing all opening benchmarks once requested by the EU.

European Parliament position

The European Parliament has adopted several resolutions supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against the country. Its resolution of 12 March 2025 on continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression, underlines that Ukraine’s EU integration is a strategic priority. In its resolution of 2 April 2025 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2024, Parliament calls for the acceleration of the screening process and the timely organisation of the subsequent intergovernmental conferences.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘Ukraine’s future in the EU‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Ivana Katsarova.

World Health Organization data reveal that unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can cause more than 200 different diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. In the EU, national authorities are responsible for conducting official controls along the agri-food chain, while the European Commission oversees the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation on food and feed safety.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘World Food Safety Day: Prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Maria Niestadt.

The EU launched digital partnerships with several Asian countries and Canada in 2022 and 2023, to promote human-centric, responsible, sustainable and inclusive technology governance. These partnerships help the EU to address vulnerabilities like foreign technology dependence and cybersecurity threats, aligning with its Indo-Pacific cooperation strategy. The EU and the partner countries usually meet once a year at ministerial level to discuss topics of mutual interest.

Context

The EU’s digital partnerships with like-minded countries across the globe establish a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation on digital issues. They are one of the responses to the EU’s dependence on foreign technologies, and growing tensions with certain countries. By collaborating with technologically advanced countries, the EU can reduce its dependence on any single country for critical technologies. The partnerships enable the EU to promote a vision of digital transformation that protects fundamental rights like privacy, accountability, transparency and inclusivity. They also support progress in areas such as AI and quantum technologies, enhancing both sides’ competitive position. Besides Asian countries and Canada, the EU has collaborated with other countries, some of them not necessarily like-minded. These other forms of cooperation differ in name, scope and structure from digital partnerships. For example, with the United States and India, the EU has cooperated through the Trade and Technology Council, a broader and more prominent form of cooperation. The cooperation with China has been more ad hoc, through a ‘digital dialogue’, with signed action plans on areas like online product safety.

Digital partnership with Japan

The EU signed its first digital partnership with Japan in May 2022. Annual meetings at the Digital Partnership Council track progress and set further cooperation goals. In July 2023, the parties signed a memorandum of cooperation on submarine cables. The latter seeks, for example, to develop submarine cable connectivity via the Arctic. The EU also signed with Japan – a leading semiconductor manufacturing country – a memorandum of cooperation on semiconductors, fostering skills development and supply chain resilience. The EU and Japan collaborate on AI, HPC, quantum computing, cybersecurity and 5G, with reciprocal access to supercomputers. As mentioned during the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) meeting on 8 April 2025, the EU and Japan are negotiating an association agreement to associate Japan to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation funding programme. In April 2024, the EU and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation on digital identities and trust services, aiming to pave the way for mutual recognition. During the latest Digital Partnership Council meeting in May 2025, the EU and Japan announced the ‘6G MIRAI-HARMONY’ joint research project, which uses advanced machine intelligence to enhance the network components that manage how devices connect to mobile internet services. The parties also recalled that, in July 2024, the EU-Japan agreement on data flows entered into force.

Digital partnership with the Republic of Korea

In November 2022, shortly after the EU signed its digital partnership with Japan, the EU launched the digital partnership with the Republic of Korea, another major semiconductor manufacturing country. The first Digital Partnership Council with Korea took place in June 2023, with the parties agreeing to cooperate in areas such as semiconductors, HPC, quantum technology, 5G and beyond, the platform economy, AI and cybersecurity. During the second Digital Partnership Council in March 2024, they added new areas of cooperation such as network connectivity, and concluded negotiations on associating Korea to Horizon Europe. The parties agreed to collaborate on research and innovation in the field of semiconductors and quantum technologies and, in July 2024, announced their joint support for four research projects in semiconductors. Each year, the EU and Korea organise a South-Korea-EU Semiconductor Researchers Forum; they have also decided to facilitate researchers’ access to each other’s HPC infrastructure.

In March 2025, the EU and the Republic of Korea concluded negotiations on a digital trade agreement. The agreement coordinates their approaches to privacy, data flows and digital trade; it still needs to be signed to enter into force. The sides committed not to adopt or maintain measures that prohibit or restrict cross-border transfer of data. An example of such a measure could be a requirement to store or process data within its borders or making cross-border transfer of data contingent upon using the country’s own computer systems or networks. The EU and Korea also encourage the use of electronic documents and signatures, recognising their legal effect and validity. Consumers will benefit from the requirement to limit unsolicited commercial electronic messages.

Digital partnership with Singapore

In February 2023, the EU signed the digital partnership and non-binding digital trade principles with Singapore. The parties agreed to cooperate in areas such as AI, 5G and beyond, digital connectivity, semiconductors, trusted data flows, cybersecurity, online platforms, digital identity, digital trade, and digital skills. They committed to provide online safety for consumers and ensure that they would not receive commercial electronic messages without the ability to consent to such messaging. They also committed to paperless trading and allowing electronic signatures and authentication documentation to have equivalent legal force to paper-based documents. Similarly to other digital partnerships, the EU and Singapore meet annually in a Digital Partnership Council.

In July 2024, the EU and Singapore concluded negotiations on a digital trade agreement, the first EU agreement of its kind, complementing the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement of 2019 and digital trade principles of 2023. The EU and Singapore signed the agreement in May 2025, but it still needs to be ratified by both parties. The digital trade agreement facilitates cross-border data flows by prohibiting unjustified data localisation requirements, similar to the digital trade agreement with the Republic of Korea. The agreement also permanently bans customs duties on electronic transmissions between the parties and protects consumers against unfair marketing practices and direct marketing communications (spam).

Digital partnership with Canada

The EU’s digital partnership with Canada was launched in November 2023 and focuses on areas such as AI, connectivity, digital identity, semiconductors, online platforms, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and digital skills. Both sides share an inclusive, human-centric vision of the digital economy and society, that respects democratic values and fundamental rights, and face similar challenges such as a digital skills gap. The EU and Canada meet annually at ministerial level in the Digital Partnership Council. The parties have collaborated to harmonise their regulatory approaches to AI and Canada participated in the development of the EU’s AI code of practice. They have also both signed the Council of Europe’s framework convention on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule of law. More recently, the EU and Canada have cooperated to secure undersea cables, by endorsing, in September 2024, the New York joint statement on the security and resilience of undersea cables in a globally digitalised world. On 25 February 2025, the EU and Canada held a joint workshop on digital credentials, identity and trust services. The parties explored their systems’ interoperability, with Canada creating platforms for single sign-on to government services, and the EU using eIDAS for secure digital identification and authentication across Member States. 

Stakeholders’ views

In general, EU business organisations have welcomed digital partnerships, in particular digital trade agreements. For example, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea welcomed the conclusion of EU-Korea digital trade agreement negotiations. The chamber of commerce appreciates that the agreement provides legal certainty for businesses, and helps to increase consumer trust. Digital and consumer rights organisations, such as BEUC and EDRi, are concerned at how digital trade agreements impact the privacy and rights of workers and consumers. The European Data Protection Supervisor has suggested amending the digital trade agreement with Singapore to clarify that each party can adopt and uphold the safeguards it considers necessary to protect personal data and privacy.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘The EU’s digital partnerships‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Sebastian Clapp.

Military drones have become a defining feature of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine where they have caused more casualties than any other weapon. Their widespread use spans reconnaissance, strikes, logistics and naval operations, with both state and non-state players increasingly relying on unmanned systems.

The European Union (EU) has prioritised drone development and countermeasures, funding and coordinating research and capability development through the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation. EU leaders have committed to strengthening the defence industry and made major investments in drone production, innovation, and interoperability. The EU is also fostering synergies between the civilian and the defence sectors, addressing strategic dependencies and collaborating with NATO. Furthermore, the European Defence Agency is advancing unmanned aerial system technology through joint projects and its innovation hub.

Meanwhile, drone regulation remains fragmented: civilian drones are subject to comprehensive EU rules, while military drone use falls under international law. Legal concerns persist, especially regarding proportionality, accountability and lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS). The European Parliament has called for transparency, adherence to international law and a ban on LAWS, while supporting defence innovation and proposing an EU drone package to stimulate joint procurement and industry participation, particularly from Ukraine. EU lawmakers continue to stress the need for ethical guardrails, robust export controls and a coherent regulatory framework that balances innovation with international legal obligations. The Parliament also emphasises the importance of meaningful human control over all lethal decisions and insists that military artificial intelligence include strong accountability mechanisms.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Military drone systems in the EU and global context: Types, capabilities and regulatory frameworks‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Citizens are calling on the European Parliament to address the export of pesticides that are banned in the EU. Many citizens have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since May 2025, asking her to advocate for legislative measures to prohibit their production and export entirely.

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President:

Main elements of our reply

The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the European Commission to take action to prohibit the export from the EU of hazardous substances banned in the EU.

In a resolution from 2021, Parliament called for the EU to stop all exports of pesticides banned in the EU, in line with the EU’s commitments to policy coherence for development, the Green Deal, the ‘do no harm’ principle and the Rotterdam Convention. In another 2021 resolution, Parliament stressed that the EU should support developing countries to help them reduce the imprudent use of pesticides and promote other methods to protect plants and fishery resources.

In 2024, the European Parliament rejected two Commission proposals to allow higher pesticides levels in imported food. Parliament stressed that allowing higher maximum residue levels for imports would jeopardise citizens’ health, both in Europe and in the producing countries.

In 2023, the European Parliament held a debate on the sustainable use of pesticides. You can watch the video of the debate on the Parliament multimedia website. The transcription is also available (in the language of the speaker).

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

Written by Polona Car and Beatrix Immenkamp.

Differences between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) over the regulation of online platforms have taken on a new dimension under the Trump administration. Senior members of the US administration have strongly criticised the EU for ‘limiting free speech’ and have called the EU’s content moderation law ‘incompatible with America’s free speech tradition’. Much of the debate is informed by misconceptions and misunderstandings.

The differences between the US and EU hate speech regimes are striking, largely for historical reasons. The First Amendment to the US Constitution provides almost absolute protection to freedom of expression. By contrast, European and EU law curtails the right to freedom of expression. Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which applies to all EU Member States, states that freedom of expressions ‘carries with it duties and responsibilities’. In a democratic society, restrictions may be imposed in the interest, among others, ‘of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others’. EU legislation criminalises hate speech that publicly incites to violence or hatred and targets a set of protected characteristics: race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. Even though legislation in EU Member States varies widely, many have extended protection from hate speech to additional characteristics.

In light of the exponential growth of the internet and the use of social media, the debate about hate speech has essentially become about regulating social media companies. The focus has been on the question of whether and to what extent service providers are responsible for removing hate speech published on social media platforms. The US has opted not to impose any obligation on social media companies to remove content created by third parties, merely granting them the right to restrict access to certain material deemed to be ‘obscene’ or ‘otherwise objectionable’. By contrast, the EU has adopted regulation that obliges companies to remove offensive content created by third parties, including hate speech, once it is brought to their attention. Social media companies also self-regulate, by adopting community guidelines that allow users to flag hate speech and ask for its removal.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Hate speech: Comparing the US and EU approaches‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Citizens often turn to the European Parliament to ask how the European Union deals with combating poverty and social exclusion

In 2023, according to Eurostat, around 20 % of the European Union (EU) population, and 25 % of children in the EU, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Although fighting poverty and social exclusion are among the EU’s specific objectives, social policy is primarily a responsibility of EU countries. The European Union only plays a coordinating and supporting role.

In 2017, the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission announced the European Pillar of Social Rights, a strategy to move towards a strong, social Europe that is fair and inclusive. Under the Pillar’s 2021 action plan, the EU wants to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030.

EU funds to fight poverty and social exclusion European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for 2021 to 2027 has a €142 billion to support the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies.

EU countries must dedicate at least 25 % of ESF+ funding to social inclusion: supporting people at risk of poverty, non-EU citizens and marginalised communities, such as Roma people. The ESF+ also aims to improve access to essential services, including housing and healthcare, and to combat social exclusion, particularly of children.

In March 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the post-2027 ESF+:

• calling for increased ESF+ funding to strengthen the EU’s social policies;
• emphasising the need to reinforce the ESF+ to support vulnerable people, invest in skills, combat poverty, and boost social investment and entrepreneurship;
• warning against splitting or merging the ESF+ with other funds, as this could weaken its ability to achieve its objectives and those of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Other EU funds

To mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the EU set up the temporary Recovery and Resilience Facility until 2026. Two of the six pillars set out in the instrument contribute to tackling poverty and social exclusion: the pillar on social and territorial cohesion and the pillar on policies for the next generation, children and youth.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has adopted swift changes to its funds to assist EU countries in welcoming people fleeing Ukraine and in supporting their integration. In October 2022, the EU adopted a law to allow for the provision of immediate assistance to displaced persons, including those fleeing conflict, through rapid access to healthcare and other essential services.

Minimum wages

In 2022, the EU adopted rules on adequate minimum wages across the European Union. They seek to establish a framework for EU countries to ensure that workers receive a fair minimum wage that provides a decent standard of living. However, these rules do not oblige EU countries to introduce minimum wages by law, nor do they set a common minimum wage level across the EU. The EU countries had until 2024 to take measures to:

• adopt national strategies for setting and updating minimum wages, where minimum wages are set by law, that take into account factors like purchasing power, cost of living, and collective bargaining coverage;
• promote collective bargaining on wages;
• improve monitoring and enforcement of minimum wage protection.

European Parliament’s position

The European Parliament has consistently expressed its strong commitment to combating poverty and social exclusion across Europe.

Women’s poverty: In a 2022 resolution, the European Parliament stressed that women are disproportionately, and often involuntarily, employed in precarious work. It underlined the crucial role of high-quality public services in combating women’s poverty. It also urged the EU and its member countries to take gender into account when defining policies to address homelessness. 

Children’s rights: In a 2021 resolution, the European Parliament asked EU countries to establish national strategies for tackling child poverty and social exclusion.

In-work poverty: In a 2021 resolution, Parliament recalled that preventing and tackling in-work poverty must be part of the overall goal to eradicate poverty in the EU.

Roma inclusion: In October 2022, Parliament addressed the need to tackle antigypsyism in all areas of society through effective legislative and policy measures. It called to increase Roma participation, especially from under-represented groups, when creating and implementing these measures.

Decent and affordable housing for all: In a 2021 resolution, the European Parliament called on the Commission and EU countries to make sure that the right to adequate housing is recognised as a fundamental human right that is legally guaranteed. It also called on them to ensure that public money is not used to support housing projects that might lead to segregation or social exclusion. In a 2020 resolution on homelessness in the EU, Parliament stressed that access to emergency shelters should only be temporary and is not an alternative to structural solutions such as prevention and the provision of adequate housing and social support.

In 2025, Parliament set up a special committee on the housing crisis in the EU. The committee will investigate the root causes of the housing crisis and propose practical solutions at European level.

Energy poverty: In October 2022, Parliament urged EU countries to ensure people could afford to heat their homes and to avoid evictions of vulnerable households unable to pay their energy bills. It highlighted that many people were already in vulnerable situations before the crisis, and warned that inflation could make the situation unbearable for low-income households, with the middle class also being increasingly affected.

Further information

• A coordinated EU approach to housing, Briefing, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), January 2025
• EU contribution to the fight against child poverty, At a glance, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), October 2024
• Roma in 10 European Countries – Main results, Report, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), October 2022
• The fight against poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, Fact Sheet on the European Union, European Parliament, August 2022
• European Social Fund Plus (2021-2027), At a glance, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), June 2021
• Social protection and social inclusion, European Commission

Keep sending your questions to the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)! We reply in the EU language that you use to write to us.

Written by Marc Jütten.

After a political lull of almost a decade, the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) relaunched their strategic partnership in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 27 October 2022. The 2022-2023 bi-regional roadmap, together with the EU’s joint communication of 7 June 2023 on a new agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), prepared the ground for the successful third EU–CELAC summit that took place in Brussels on 17 and 18 July 2023 under the Spanish Presidency of the Council.

Two years later, the partners are preparing for the next EU–CELAC summit, due to take place in Santa Marta, Colombia, on 9 and 10 November 2025. This leaders’ meeting is deemed crucial for the EU to deepen its commitment to LAC and advance the strategic partnership.

From the EU’s perspective, the Latin American region is key – not only politically, given the recent geopolitical challenges, and economically, because of its great potential as a market for industrial products, but also as a stable supplier of renewable energy sources and critical minerals such as lithium and copper that are crucial for the transformation of the global economy.

Geopolitical developments have made it all the more urgent to intensify relations between the EU and CELAC: China has become a dominant player in LAC and is today a strong competitor for the EU and the United States (US). The US policy approach towards LAC under President Donald Trump is strained; this could be an opportunity for the EU to present itself as a reliable partner to the region. The promotion of inclusive and, in particular, mutually beneficial agreements on trade and on raw materials could be an advantage for the EU over its competitors.

The summit in Santa Marta provides a chance to elevate the EU–CELAC relationship to the next level. The main tasks will include deepening and concretising the bi-regional relations on issues such as trade and investment and the green and digital transitions, and further strengthening cooperation on other issues such as the fight against organised crime.

A litmus test for the strategic partnership will also be whether the partners manage to finalise the two key pending international agreements with Mexico and Mercosur respectively.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU–CELAC relations ahead of the 2025 summit‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Costica Dumbrava.

The development of the Schengen area is one of the major achievements of European integration. The removal of checks on persons at the Schengen states’ internal borders greatly facilitates the exercise of the EU freedoms of movement, which brings significant social and economic benefits.

The Schengen area has come under increased stress in the past decade, owing to multiple challenges relating to increased migration into the EU, threats to internal security and the COVID‑19 pandemic. In response to these challenges, many Schengen states decided to reintroduce checks at some or all of their internal borders. Despite the prescribed temporary nature of such measures, several Schengen states have prolonged these checks for years on end. The number of Schengen states with checks at internal borders reached its peak (18 states) during the first wave of the pandemic. In May 2025, 11 Schengen states had checks at internal borders owing to serious threats related to irregular migration and/or internal security.

The Schengen area has expanded gradually in the past three decades and is now composed of 29 countries. In January 2025, Bulgaria and Romania were the latest two countries to fully join the Schengen area, 18 years after their accession to the EU. Cyprus is also legally bound to join the Schengen area, but the evaluation procedure for its full accession is still ongoing.

This briefing presents key recent figures and developments in the Schengen area, focusing on the Schengen states’ measures to reintroduce checks at internal borders, and on the current situation regarding the completion of the Schengen area. This is an update of a briefing originally published in December 2023.

Read the complete briefing on ‘State of the Schengen area‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Timeline of Schengen enlargement Cumulative period of checks at Schengen states’ internal borders over the 2006-2025 period (in days) Number of Schengen states with checks at their internal borders (2014-2025)

Written by Saša Butorac.

The modernisation and expansion of electricity grids lies at the heart of the EU’s energy transition and decarbonisation efforts. In the context of the rising share of electricity in final energy consumption, there is increasing demand for grid upgrades to accommodate the new generation capacity and to adapt, in particular, to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Key concerns include ageing infrastructure, investment shortfalls, and regulatory complexities that hinder rapid modernisation of grids and efficient integration of decentralised energy production. Interconnectivity between EU Member States is important to ensure energy security and reliability: the integration of European electricity markets benefits consumers by up to €34 billion every year.

To meet the challenge posed by electricity infrastructure modernisation, various innovative solutions, including the adoption of smart grids, digitalisation, and grid enhancement technologies, should be considered. In addition, ways of increasing private and public sector financing should be explored to meet the challenge of the massive investments that are needed in this sector in the coming decades; methodologies and scenarios for anticipating future needs constitute an essential element in ensuring a cost-effective approach to the development of grids. Globally, electricity grids will need to increase by more than 20 % in length by 2030 to meet energy and climate pledges in time and in full, which requires annual average investment in grids to rise to US$600 billion from around US$300 billion today, according to the International Energy Agency.

Concerning supply chain risks, the need for resilient and effective grid manufacturing supply chains is recognised by the Net-Zero Industry Act, which designates grid technologies as strategic net-zero technologies. Recognising the critical importance of grids for the EU energy union and economy as a whole, the European Commission came forward with an EU action plan for grids in November 2023, while a new European grids package is expected in the coming months. Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted an own-initiative report on the subject on 13 May 2025.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU electricity grids‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

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.