On 10 July 2026, the European Commission adopted a Communication providing Member States and their critical infrastructure operators with non-binding guidance on technical, security and organisational measures to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure against natural and man-made risks. The Communication offers practical guidance on addressing all risks that could lead to disruptive incidents, including […]
The Commission welcomes the political agreement on criminal law provisions to combat child sexual abuse
On 22 June, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the Directive updating criminal law provisions on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. This marks a significant milestone in child protection, particularly in light of worrying trends such as the proliferation of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence, […]
The Commission has decided to refer Spain and Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose agreed legislation
The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the revised EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Directive [Directive (EU) 2023/959] into national law. The Commission has also decided to refer Spain and Poland to the Court for failing to transpose the revised […]
Stricter anti-corruption rules come into force
On 31 May, more harmonised anti-corruption rules came into force across the EU under the new Anti-Corruption Directive. The Directive introduces modern rules to better prevent, detect and punish corruption throughout the EU, thereby helping to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and public trust, whilst promoting competitiveness across the European Union. The new […]
The EU signs a protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and strengthens global efforts to combat terrorism
On 26 May, the European Union signed the Protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, marking a historic step towards a common pan-European definition of terrorist offences. The Protocol amends the definition of ‘terrorist offences’ in the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. It introduces a […]
The Commission has published guidance to strengthen resilience by clarifying the application of European water legislation
The European Commission has published guidance to ensurea simpler and more harmonised application of European water legislation,thereby reducing uncertainties regarding compliance.Its aim is to support Europe’s overall resilience agenda, which includes water resilience. This guidance forms part of the Commission’s efforts to support Europe’s overall resilience by maintaining high standards for our waters, in order […]
The Commission has registered two European citizens’ initiatives on the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems
The European Commission has registered two European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECI) entitled ‘Rights for Nature: Empowering citizens to represent and protectecosystems’ and‘Reconnecting nature by creating European biodiversity corridors’. The initiative “Rights for Nature: Empowering Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems”calls on the Commission to “recognise the rights of nature in European law through a legal act, […]
The Commission announces measures to better protect migrant workers and tackle illegal employment
The Commission has adopted two new reports on theDirective on sanctions against employers and theDirective on temporary workers. The aim isto assess efforts to ensure fair working conditions for third-country nationals, prevent the exploitation of migrants and combat illegal employment. As set out in theEuropean Strategy on Asylum and Migration of January 2026. Labour mobility, […]
Commission decides to refer Spain to the CJEU for failing to transpose EU rules into national law
On 11 March, the European Commission decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose two Directives on VAT measures into national law. Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 introduced substantial changes to the VAT rules applicable to small businesses (SMEs). Its aim is to create a modern and […]