European Union | News and stories
European Union | Featured news
27 Jun 2025, 1:43 pm
European Accessibility Act enters into force
From 28 June, the emergency number 112, banks, public transport and other services must be accessible to all European citizens, especially the 100 million people with disabilities living in the EU. For example, ATMs must include accessible interfaces and online banking operations must be accessible.
27 Jun 2025, 12:57 pm
EU leaders discuss how to strengthen the EU’s position on the global stage
At the European Council meeting on June 26 and 27, leaders focused on how to ramp up EU defence readiness and boost competitiveness. They also discussed ongoing efforts towards achieving peace in Ukraine and welcomed the cessation of hostilities in Iran.
27 Jun 2025, 9:00 am
Flying the EU flag for 40 years!
The flag of the European Union is turning 40 this June. Its 12 gold stars on a blue background are instantly recognisable and synonymous with the European project that unites all Europeans.
26 Jun 2025, 2:06 pm
EU prosecutors crack down on illegal Chinese imports scheme
A coordinated raid by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has dealt a major blow to criminal networks flooding the EU market with fraudulent Chinese imports. The scheme, which involved the illegal import of textiles, shoes, e-bikes, and other goods, caused an estimated €700 million in losses.
26 Jun 2025, 2:00 pm
European rural areas face higher levels of energy poverty
Around 48 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes warm, according to a new report. Rural areas in the EU experience higher levels of energy poverty, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. However, rural areas are ahead of cities in carrying out energy efficiency improvements.
26 Jun 2025, 1:49 pm
Global leaders unite in support of immunisation, health security and prosperity
The EU has co-hosted with the Gates Foundation the Gavi 6.0 Pledging Summit, dedicated to securing investments in vaccination programmes. Donors pledged over €7.7 billion towards a target budget of €10.2 billion for 2026-2030. Ensuring equitable access to vaccines is a global priority.
25 Jun 2025, 3:07 pm
EU Space Act to enhance market access and space safety
The Commission has proposed new rules to make Europe’s space sector cleaner, safer, and more competitive. The EU Space Act aims to cut red tape, protect space assets, and create a fair, predictable playing field for businesses.
24 Jun 2025, 2:30 pm
20% of Europeans exposed to harmful noise pollution levels
A new report finds that just over 110 million Europeans are exposed to high levels of transport noise that exceed thresholds set under EU reporting rules and which harm our physical and mental health. The report calls for stronger action at EU and national levels to address the problem.
24 Jun 2025, 2:25 pm
EU strengthens rules on right to vote
New EU rules will help to strengthen the electoral rights of EU citizens living in another EU country. The rules will provide proactive information to citizens about their voting rights and registration conditions, as well as standardised registration templates to make registration more accessible.
20 Jun 2025, 1:56 pm
New EU labels to help you choose more repairable electronics
You can now see how easy it is to repair your smartphone or tablet thanks to a new scoring system on EU energy labels. The scores rate the repairability of an electronic product from A (high) to E (low) to help you make more sustainable product choices.
20 Jun 2025, 1:45 pm
Come on in, the water’s safe!
A large majority of Europe’s waters, both coastal and inland, are safe to swim in, according to the latest European bathing water assessment. Some 95% or more of 22,000 bathing water sites across all EU countries, plus Albania and Switzerland, were deemed to be of ‘excellent’ quality.
20 Jun 2025, 1:29 pm
EU calls for greater efforts to protect youngsters’ mental health in digital era
The Council is calling on EU countries and the Commission to better protect the mental health of children and adolescents, by promoting the safe and healthy use of digital tools. Inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or excessive screentime currently pose a threat to youngsters’ mental health.
19 Jun 2025, 2:31 pm
EU Ecolabel: small flower, big power
Since 1992, the EU Ecolabel has driven Europe towards a clean, competitive and circular economy and become a symbol that consumers trust. To get it, goods and services across 25 product groups must meet various environmental criteria like reuse potential and recyclability. Find out more.
18 Jun 2025, 3:30 pm
Deal struck on improving transparency of funding of EU political parties
Council and Parliament have agreed to ensure greater accountability in the rules governing EU political parties and foundations. The provisional new rules will improve parties’ transparency, funding, and compliance with EU values.
18 Jun 2025, 3:14 pm
Montenegro and Moldova: Parliament welcomes EU membership progress
Montenegro and Moldova have been praised by members of the European Parliament for the progress made on their EU membership efforts. They commended Moldova for advancing with reforms despite external challenges but urged Montenegro to continue to fight foreign interference.
17 Jun 2025, 2:03 pm
Commission proposes gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports
To end the EU's dependency on Russian fossil fuels, the Commission has today provided a concrete timeline for phasing out corresponding gas and oil imports into the EU by end of 2027. The import ban will be gradually implemented to avoid adverse economic impacts or risks to security of supply.
17 Jun 2025, 1:47 pm
Schengen area turns 40
We are celebrating 40 years of the Schengen area, the world’s largest area of freedom and security. Launched in 1985, in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, the Schengen area has expanded 9 times to 29 countries today. It guarantees free movement to more than 450 million people. Find out more.
16 Jun 2025, 2:59 pm
Schengen area’s IT system celebrates 30 years
2025 marks 30 years of the Schengen Information System (SIS), the IT backbone of the Schengen area that helps keep this border-free zone both secure and operational. Every day, SIS helps authorities locate missing persons, intercept criminals at borders, recover stolen assets, and more.
16 Jun 2025, 2:55 pm
EU agencies help take down largest illegal trading platform for drugs
Eurojust and Europol have coordinated an international action that took down Archetyp, one of the longest-running dark web marketplaces for drugs. The platform had around 3 200 vendors and more than 600 000 users, who traded drugs. Archetyp’s creator was arrested, along with 7 other people.
12 Jun 2025, 12:39 pm
2025 European Heritage Awards winners announced
This year’s European Heritage Awards honour cultural professionals and volunteers from 24 European countries, who are working to conserve our heritage. From restoring a church roof in Austria and a market in Cyprus to 3D models of historic shipwrecks in Finland and a children’s festival in Ukraine.
10 Jun 2025, 1:03 pm
EU deal struck on detergents to make them less harmful and safer to use
The Council and European Parliament have struck a deal on detergents that will make them safer to use and cause less harm to the environment. It will improve their biodegradability, enable the reduction of harmful substances and improve information on the label, without extra red tape.
6 Jun 2025, 1:29 pm
New plan will help EU countries tackle cyber-attacks better
EU telecom ministers have adopted the EU Blueprint for cyber crisis management. It clarifies how EU countries can detect, respond to, recover and learn from large-scale cybersecurity incidents and cyber crises that could affect the whole EU. Cyber-attacks pose a growing threat to Europe’s security.
6 Jun 2025, 1:26 pm
Thousands to take part in European youth event
Around 8,500 young people from all over the world will take part in activities centred on the future of Europe in Strasbourg on 8 and 9 June. They will debate with members of the European Parliament on climate justice, skills for the future, and media freedom, among many other topics.
5 Jun 2025, 1:41 pm
EU changes protection status of wolves in Europe
The EU has changed the level of protection of the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected” to give EU countries more flexibility in managing wolf populations. The estimated population of wolves on the European continent almost doubled between 2012 and 2023 to more than 20 000.
5 Jun 2025, 1:08 pm
New Ocean Pact to protect marine life and strengthen blue economy
To better protect our ocean, the Commission has presented a European Ocean Pact. This new pact will bring together EU ocean policies under one single and coordinated framework. It will help to promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas.
4 Jun 2025, 2:56 pm
EU will support raw materials projects outside the EU
The Commission has given the green light to 13 projects that will help it access raw materials located outside the EU. The projects will also boost local value creation in third countries. We need raw materials to build electric vehicles, batteries, high-performance magnets and much more.
4 Jun 2025, 2:50 pm
New EU plan to ensure water security and quality for all
The Commission has presented a plan to support EU countries in managing water more efficiently. By implementing current EU water laws and actions, we can ensure water security and prepare for water-related disasters, locally and globally. Everyone needs access to secure, clean and affordable water.
4 Jun 2025, 2:35 pm
LIFE awards go to projects working on nature, circular economy and climate action
The EU’s LIFE awards 2025 have honoured 3 projects doing pioneering work in nature, circular economy and climate action. LIFE Lynx took a prize for helping to reverse the decline of lynxes, LIFEPOPWAT for depolluting contaminated water and LIFE DESERT-ADAPT for tackling desertification.
28 May 2025, 3:05 pm
EU closing in on the 2030 climate and energy targets, according to national plans
EU countries have significantly closed the gap to achieving the 2030 energy and climate targets, according to the European Commission. Following improvement to their national energy and climate plans, EU countries are on course to reduce net emissions by around 54% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
28 May 2025, 2:16 pm
EU survey: record high trust in the EU and strong support for common defence
The latest Eurobarometer survey shows the highest level of trust in the EU in 18 years and highest-ever support for the euro. It also reveals that Europeans would like to see a stronger and more assertive EU through common defence. Also, peace remains the value that best represents the EU.
