European Union

G7 Leaders' statement on the war in Ukraine, 24 February 2026.

Council greenlights signature of package of agreements with Switzerland

Simplification: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements.

Joint Statement by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Written by Juan Fernando López Hernández

CONTEXT

The Commission is proposing to revise CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans. The amendments aim to introduce flexibilities and enhance technology neutrality to achieve the related targets. The proposal also establishes a new labelling system based on CO2 emission performance classes, with the aim of facilitating the purchase of electric vehicles and harmonising labelling across the EU. The proposal builds on feedback from the 2025 strategic dialogue on the future of the automotive industry, which sought to address challenges in the sector. It forms part of the automotive package for a clean and competitive European automotive sector.

Legislative proposal

2025/0420(COD) – Proposal for a Regulation of the of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards CO2 emission performance standards for new light duty vehicles and vehicle labelling and repealing Directive 1999/94/EC – COM(2025)995 final, 16.12.2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The latest developments in the legislative procedure can be followed via the Legislative Train Schedule: 2025/0420 (COD).

Read the complete briefing on ‘Revision of CO2 emission performance standards for new light-duty vehicles and vehicle labelling‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

On Tuesday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed MEPs at an extraordinary plenary session, four years on from the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Exactly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, commemorative events for the victims of the war are being held in Ukraine and other countries across the world. Commentators reflect on these four years of death, destruction, hardship and suffering in Ukraine, and on how the war could end.

On the day before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has vetoed tougher sanctions against Russia at the EU foreign ministers' meeting. Together with Slovakia it accuses Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba pipeline. The 20th package of sanctions, which is now on hold, is directed against Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers and energy revenues. A loan already approved by the EU summit is also in limbo.

Moscow's Gulag History Museum, which was initially closed in November 2024 due to alleged fire safety violations, will now be given a new thematic orientation. According to the newly appointed museum director it will be converted into a "memorial museum for the victims of the genocide of the Soviet people" and document Nazi war crimes during WWII.