The EU and Ukraine took another important step in the accession process by launching negotiations on the so-called ‘external relations’ thematic group (Group 6). This is a key thematic group within the EU’s accession negotiation framework, which sets out the parameters for how candidate countries must align their international, trade and defence policies with those […]
A Commission report highlights the achievements of EU animal health standards
Ten years after its adoption, the European Commission has published an evaluation of EU legislation on animal health. The evaluation and the accompanying report highlight the positive impact the legislation has had on combating animal diseases, whilst also identifying areas for improvement. Animal diseases can have devastating consequences for livestock farmers and rural communities, and […]
EU institutions receive the Ombudsman’s award for their tool for tracking EU legislation
The EU institutions have been awarded the 2026 Ombudsman’s Prize for Excellence in Open Government for their user-friendly tool, the EU Law Tracker. On Tuesday 30 June, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission won the award for ‘excellence in open administration’ at the 2026 Ombudsman’s Award for Good Administration […]
European Parliament gives the green light to the trade agreement with the United States
On Tuesday, Parliament approved two pieces of legislation to implement the tariff commitments made by the EU under the declaration signed with the US in August 2025. The main regulation, adopted by 440 votes in favour, 151 against and 50 abstentions, removes tariffs on all US industrial goods and grants preferential access to the EU […]
The EU agrees to accelerate the development of the defence industrial base and streamline public procurement in the defence sector
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to simplify public procurement in the fields of security and defence, facilitate investment in defence and support the defence industry. The Commission proposed the comprehensive package of defence measures a year ago, as part of the […]
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 […]
The Commission is accelerating the transition away from the use of animals in chemical safety assessments
The European Commission has presented a roadmap for the phasing out of animal testing in chemical safety assessments, setting out clear and concrete steps to ensure the transition to innovative, non-animal approaches. This roadmap will also safeguard the integrity of safety assessments, which ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health, as […]
Study visits – European Committee of the Regions – Belgium
Students wishing to complete their dissertation or who are curious to find out how local and regional authorities contribute to EU legislation in areas such as citizenship, cohesion, climate change, public procurement and security can apply for a short-term study placement. These placements are an excellent opportunity to discover the geographical dimension of EU […]
Agreement to improve the protection of vulnerable adults
The new legislation adopted on Tuesday aims to promote the right to independent living for adults across the EU. The European Parliament and EU government negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on new rules to ensure that adults requiring assistance in matters such as healthcare, residence, property, commerce or asset management receive greater support and […]