This weekend, the Commission concluded the European Citizens’ Panel on Preparednessin Brussels. After nearly three months of deliberation, the 150 randomly selected citizens, drawn from the 27 Member States and representing the diversity of the EU, put forward 20 recommendations on how to strengthen the EU’s capacity to prevent and respond to emergencies. On Sunday, […]
Slovakia: MEPs call for measures to protect EU values and the EU budget
Parliament wants the Commission to assess whether there is a clear risk that the Slovak government will seriously breach the EU’s founding values. In a resolution adopted on Wednesday by 347 votes to 165, with 25 abstentions, MEPs express their deep concern at the deterioration in respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental […]
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union 2026
Where inequality and discrimination persist, democracy cannot thrive. Equality is not optional; it is the foundation of free and resilient societies. However, around the world, too many LGBTI people continue to face violence, discrimination, hate speech and stigmatisation, and are targeted by disinformation campaigns, simply for being who they are. When the full enjoyment of […]
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, […]
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 […]
The EU, Ukraine, Canada and their partners are joining forces to return Ukrainian children who have been forcibly removed and illegally deported
On 11 May, representatives of the European Union, together with Ukraine and Canada, organised a ‘High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children’. This initiative was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her 2025 State of the Union address. President von der Leyen stated: […]
The Commission is coordinating the European response to the hantavirus outbreak
The European Commission is taking steps to coordinate and support the responses of national authorities to the hantavirus outbreak. Currently, theEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Controlconsiders the risk to the general public in Europeto be very low, given that appropriate infection prevention and control measures are being implemented and that hantaviruses are not easily […]
A new law strengthening water protection in the EU comes into force
The EU directiverevising the lists of pollutants in surface water and groundwater came into force today (11 May), ensuring that the lists are brought into line with the latest scientific recommendations and that new substances are subject to more comprehensive monitoring and stricter controls. Three pieces of EU legislation will be amended: theWater Framework Directive, […]
Eurobarometer shows great majority of Europeans see benefits from EU membership and the EU as a pillar of stability and security
Published ahead of Europe Day, the new Eurobarometer survey shows nearly three quarters of Europeans believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. In a challenging global context, Europeans increasingly see the EU as a source of stability, alongside record-high backing for a common defence and security policy. Three quarters of respondents (75%) say they feel they […]