Source: European Parliament
Since April 2025, the United States (US) and Iran have been engaging in talks over a new nuclear deal. The current multilateral agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear programme is considered defunct by most analysts, after the US withdrew in 2018 and Iran started breaching its provisions as of 2019.
Source: European Parliament
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is at the core of Next Generation EU (NGEU), the EU’s recovery instrument. NGEU was created to help its Member States address the socioeconomic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and tackle key EU challenges, including the green and digital transitions. RRF implementation has been ongoing since 2021, and just over a year is left until the deadline to meet its objectives in August 2026. EU Member States have so far received, on average, 47.8 % of the total grants and loans in their national allocation. The milestones and targets associated with the payments made so far stand at 30 % of the total. Digital transformation is among the RRF’s core priorities, and one that is shared across EU Member States. An average of 26 % of RRF funding is dedicated to digital objectives in several policy areas, of which digital public services is the largest. In its guidance at the launch of the RRF, the European Commission encouraged Member States to include investment in several digital categories. The priority of enhancing cybersecurity and cyber resilience can be found across several national recovery and resilience plans as a separate reform or investment measure. However, in many of them, it is part of a broader measure addressing, for instance, the digitalisation of public administration, digital-related investment in research and development, investment in digital capacities and deployment of advanced technologies, or supporting small companies to reposition themselves with digital tools that take into account cybersecurity needs. Thus, while not always a manifest objective, cybersecurity considerations are an integral feature of many of the RRF digital measures found across the individual national plans. Implementation of these measures, as of the RRF more generally, is underway and gaining speed. The Commission’s preliminary positive assessments of payments disbursed allow for an examination of the fulfilled implementation steps. Without being exhaustive, they offer an indication of cybersecurity developments in Member States that have been made possible with RRF funding and carried out in the first half of the RRF’s lifetime.
Source: European Parliament
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure(1),
Whereas:
(1) The Union’s imports of urea and nitrogen-based fertilisers from the Russian Federation in 2023 were significant, at 3,6 million tonnes, and increased considerably in 2024 by comparison with 2023. The level of the Union’s imports from the Russian Federation of the agricultural goods covered by this Regulation (the ‘agricultural goods concerned’) is relatively low for most of those goods, but could increase significantly if the current trading conditions persist.
(2) The Union’s imports of the fertilisers covered by this Regulation (the ‘fertilisers concerned’) currently reflect a situation of economic dependence on the Russian Federation. Moreover, the imports of the agricultural goods concerned could create a similar and additional economic dependence on the Russian Federation, which should in the present circumstances be prevented and reduced in order to protect the Union’s market and to safeguard the Union’s food security.
(3) The Union’s erga omnes common customs duties are the most-favoured-nation tariffs currently applied to imports of the agricultural goods concerned and fertilisers concerned (the ‘goods concerned’). Those tariffs vary greatly at present. Depending on the goods concerned, some tariffs are either set at zero or set very low, while other tariffs are so high that no trade takes place.
(4) Continued imports of the goods concerned from the Russian Federation under the current conditions could make the Union vulnerable to coercive actions by the Russian Federation. In particular, a potential increase in imports of the goods concerned from the Russian Federation could disrupt the Union’s market and negatively impact the Union’s producers. It is therefore necessary to take appropriate tariff measures in order to address the Union’s current and potential economic dependence on imports of the goods concerned from the Russian Federation. That should be done by ending the current situation where the goods concerned enter the Union’s market on terms that are as favourable as those applied to goods of other origins that receive most-favoured-nation treatment.
(5) At present, imports of the fertilisers concerned from the Russian Federation are already increasing and could increase further and quickly if additional Russian production is re-oriented towards the Union. Such potential increased imports from the Russian Federation would disrupt the Union’s market for the fertilisers concerned and harm the Union’s producers of nitrogen fertilisers, who are already facing difficulties in competing with imports from the Russian Federation because gas prices in the Union remain high. The long-term survival of the Union’s nitrogen fertiliser industry is of crucial importance for the Union’s food security because the Union’s agricultural sector needs the fertilisers concerned in order to produce food. Addressing the growing dependence on imports of the fertilisers concerned from the Russian Federation and preserving the viability of an autonomous Union nitrogen fertiliser industry is therefore vital to ensuring and maintaining the Union’s food security. In order to prevent future dependence on imports of agricultural goods from the Russian Federation, it is also necessary to adjust the tariff levels for the agricultural goods concerned.
(6) Tariff measures should also be taken in respect of the Republic of Belarus in order to prevent potential imports to the Union from the Russian Federation being diverted through the Republic of Belarus, given the Republic of Belarus’s close political and economic ties with the Russian Federation. Such diversion of potential imports could happen if the Union’s tariffs on imports of the goods concerned from the Republic of Belarus were to remain unchanged. Imports of the goods concerned that originate in or are exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to the Union should therefore be subject to higher customs duties than imports from other third countries.
(7) Imports from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus should not benefit from any lower tariffs under the Union’s tariff rate quotas on the basis of most-favoured-nation treatment. The reduced rates set out in the Union’s tariff rate quotas for the goods listed in the Annexes to this Regulation should therefore not apply to goods originating in or exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to the Union.
(8) The envisaged increase in customs duties is not expected to affect global food security negatively because the increase in tariffs applies only to imports into the Union and does not affect the goods concerned if they are only transiting through the Union’s territory to third countries of final destination. On the contrary, the envisaged increase in Union import duties could increase the exports of the goods concerned to third countries and increase the availability of supplies in those third countries.
(9) At the same time, fertilisers play a significant role for food security as well as for the financial stability of farmers in the Union. It is therefore necessary to ensure predictable and sufficient access to fertilisers, at affordable price levels for farmers in the Union, which should in turn contribute to the stabilisation of agricultural markets. During a transitional period, the proposed measure would stimulate stepping-up production in the Union and allow for the reinforcement of alternative sources of supply from other international partners, minimising the risk that fertiliser prices for farmers in the Union increase substantially. To that end, the Commission should closely monitor the evolution of fertiliser prices on the Union’s market. If fertiliser prices increase substantially, the Commission should assess the situation and take all appropriate actions to remedy such price increase.
(10) The envisaged increase in customs duties is consistent with the Union’s external action in other areas, as set out in Article 21(3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The state of relations between the Union and the Russian Federation has greatly deteriorated in recent years and particularly since 2022. That deterioration of relations is due to the Russian Federation’s blatant disregard for international law and, in particular, its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. Since July 2014, the Union has progressively imposed restrictive measures on trade with the Russian Federation in response to the Russian Federation’s actions against Ukraine.
(11) The Russian Federation is a member of the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’). However, the Union is currently allowed, by virtue of the exceptions that apply under the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (‘WTO Agreement’), and in particular Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (security exceptions), to disregard the obligation to accord to goods imported from the Russian Federation most-favoured-nation treatment, and it is not prevented from imposing import duties higher than those contained in the Union’s schedule of tariff commitments on trade in goods, if the Union considers such measures to be necessary in order to protect the Union’s essential security interests.
(12) Relations between the Union and the Republic of Belarus have also deteriorated in recent years due to the Republic of Belarus’s disregard for international law, fundamental freedoms and human rights, as well as its support for the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Since October 2020, the Union has progressively imposed restrictive measures on trade with the Republic of Belarus.
(13) The Republic of Belarus is not a member of the WTO. The Union is therefore not obliged, by virtue of the WTO Agreement, to accord to goods from the Republic of Belarus most-favoured-nation treatment and other treatment in line with that Agreement. In addition, existing trade agreements between the Union and the Republic of Belarus allow actions justified on the basis of applicable exception clauses, in particular security exceptions.
(14) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation as regards the laying down of arrangements for the monitoring of import volumes, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2).
(15) In accordance with the principle of proportionality, it is necessary and appropriate to lay down rules increasing tariffs on the goods concerned with immediate effect, firstly in order to achieve the basic objective of ensuring that the goods concerned that originate in or are exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus do not disturb the Union’s market for the goods concerned and, secondly, in order to implement the Common Commercial Policy and to reduce the Union’s imports of the goods concerned from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in response to concerns that such imports could negatively affect the Union’s internal market and impair the Union’s food security. This Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives pursued in accordance with Article 5(4) TEU.
(16) In order to prevent further economic dependence of the Union on imports of the goods concerned from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. Goods classified under the Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes listed in Annex I that are imported into the Union and that originate in or are exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus shall be subject to an additional 50 % ad valorem customs duty that is to apply on top of the applicable Common Customs Tariff rate. Such goods originating in or exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus shall not be eligible for lower import duties for limited quantities (tariff rate quotas) where those duties apply pursuant to the Union’s obligations under the WTO Agreement or where tariff rate quotas are opened by the Union on another basis.
2. Goods classified under the CN codes listed in Annex II that are imported into the Union and that originate in or are exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus shall be subject to a customs duty as follows:
(a) with regard to the goods falling under CN code 3102:
(i) 6,5 % ad valorem + 40 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
(ii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 60 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
(iii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 80 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
(iv) 6,5 % ad valorem + 315 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028;
(b) with regard to the goods falling under CN codes 3105 20, 3105 30, 3105 40, 3105 51, 3105 59 and 3105 90:
(i) 6,5 % ad valorem + 45 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
(ii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 70 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
(iii) 6,5 % ad valorem + 95 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
(iv) 6,5 % ad valorem + 430 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028.
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, if cumulative import volumes of goods listed in point (a) or point (b) of that paragraph reach the following thresholds, the Commission shall, within 21 days, impose a duty at the level set out in point (a)(iv) or point (b)(iv), respectively, of that paragraph, for the remaining imports of those goods in the given period:
(a) 2,7 million tonnes from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
(b) 1,8 million tonnes from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
(c) 0,9 million tonnes from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028.
4. The Commission may adopt implementing acts laying down the arrangements for monitoring the import volumes set out in paragraph 3 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 3(2).
Article 2
1. The Commission shall monitor prices applicable in the Union of the goods listed in Annex II for a period of four years from … [the date of entry into force of this Regulation].
2. In the event that the price levels of the goods listed in Annex II substantially exceed the 2024 price levels during the period referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall assess the situation and take all appropriate actions to remedy such price increase. Such actions may include, where appropriate, a proposal for the temporary suspension of tariffs for those goods imported from and originating in countries other than the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus.
Article 3
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Customs Code Committee established by Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 4
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
In respect of the goods listed in Annex I, this Regulation shall apply from … [four weeks from the date of entry into force of this Regulation].
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at …,
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
ANNEX I
List of goods referred to in Article 1(1)
|
CN code |
Description |
|
01 |
Live animals |
|
02 |
Meat and edible meat offal |
|
04 |
Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included |
|
05 |
Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included |
|
06 |
Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage |
|
Ex 07 |
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers, except: 0713 10 peas (Pisum sativum) 0713 20 chickpeas (garbanzos) |
|
08 |
Edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons |
|
09 |
Coffee, tea, maté and spices |
|
1004 |
Oats |
|
1006 |
Rice |
|
1008 60 |
Triticale |
|
Ex 11 |
Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten, except CN code 1106 10 00 |
|
1209 |
Seeds, fruits and spores, of a kind used for sowing |
|
1210 |
Hop cones, fresh or dried, whether or not ground, powdered or in the form of pellets; lupulin |
|
1211 |
Plants and parts of plants (including seeds and fruits), of a kind used primarily in perfumery, in pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not cut, crushed or powdered |
|
1212 |
Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety Cichorium intybus sativum), of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included |
|
1213 |
Cereal straw and husks, unprepared, whether or not chopped, ground, pressed or in the form of pellets |
|
1214 |
Swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, lucerne (alfalfa), clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches and similar forage products, whether or not in the form of pellets |
|
13 |
Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts |
|
1401 |
Vegetable materials of a kind used primarily for plaiting (e.g. bamboos, rattans, reeds, rushes, osier, raffia, cleaned, bleached or dyed cereal straw, and lime bark) |
|
1404 20 |
Cotton linters |
|
1501 |
Pig fat (including lard) and poultry fat, other than that falling under headings 0209 or 1503 |
|
1502 |
Fats of bovine animals, sheep or goats, other than those falling under heading 1503 |
|
1503 |
Lard stearin, lard oil, oleostearin, oleo-oil and tallow oil, not emulsified or mixed or otherwise prepared |
|
1505 |
Wool grease and fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin) |
|
1506 |
Other animal fats and oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified |
|
1509 |
Olive oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified |
|
1510 |
Other oils and their fractions, obtained solely from olives, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, including blends of these oils or fractions with oils or fractions falling under heading 1509 |
|
1511 |
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified |
|
1513 |
Coconut (copra), palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified |
|
1515 30 |
Castor oil and its fractions |
|
1515 50 |
Sesame oil and its fractions |
|
1515 60 |
Microbial fats and oils and their fractions |
|
1515 90 11 |
Tung oil; jojoba and oiticica oils; myrtle and japan wax; their fractions |
|
1515 90 21 |
Crude tobacco-seed oil and its fractions, for technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption |
|
1515 90 29 |
Crude tobacco-seed oil and its fractions, excluding for technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption |
|
1515 90 31 |
Tobacco-seed oil and its fractions other than crude, for technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption |
|
1515 90 39 |
Tobacco-seed oil and its fractions other than crude, excluding for technical or industrial uses other than the manufacture of foodstuffs for human consumption |
|
1516 10 |
Animal fats and oils and their fractions |
|
1516 20 10 |
Hydrogenated castor oil, so-called ‘opal-wax’ |
|
1516 30 |
Microbials fats and oils and their fractions |
|
1517 |
Margarine, edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils or of fractions of different fats or oils of Chapter 15, other than edible fats or oils or their fractions falling under heading 1516 |
|
1518 00 10 |
Linoxyn |
|
1520 |
Glycerol, crude; glycerol waters and glycerol lyes |
|
1521 |
Vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured |
|
1522 |
Degras; residues resulting from the treatment of fatty substances or animal or vegetable waxes |
|
1601 |
Sausages and similar products of meat, meat offal, blood or insects; food preparations based on these products |
|
1602 |
Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal, blood or insects |
|
17 |
Sugars and sugar confectionery |
|
18 |
Cocoa and cocoa preparations |
|
19 |
Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks’ products |
|
20 |
Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants |
|
21 |
Miscellaneous edible preparations |
|
22 |
Beverages, spirits and vinegar |
|
2301 10 |
Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or offal, unfit for human consumption; greaves |
|
2302 10 |
Bran, sharps and other residues of maize (corn), whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from sifting, milling or other working |
|
2302 40 02 |
Bran, sharps and other residues of rice, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from sifting, milling or other working, with starch content not exceeding 35 % |
|
2302 40 08 |
Bran, sharps and other residues of rice, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from sifting, milling or other working, other than with starch content not exceeding 35 % |
|
2302 50 |
Bran, sharps and other residues of leguminous plants, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from sifting, milling or other working |
|
2306 90 11 |
Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of olive oil, containing 3 % or less by weight of olive oil |
|
2306 90 19 |
Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of olive oil, containing more than 3 % by weight of olive oil |
|
2307 |
Wine lees; argol |
|
2308 00 11 |
Grape marc, whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included, having a total alcoholic strength by mass not exceeding 4,3 % mas and a dry matter content not less than 40 % by weight |
|
2308 00 19 |
Grape marc, whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included, other than having a total alcoholic strength by mass not exceeding 4,3 % mas and a dry matter content not less than 40 % by weight |
|
2308 00 40 |
Acorns and horse-chestnuts; pomace or marc of fruit, other than grapes, whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used for animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included |
|
2309 10 |
Dog or cat food, put up for retail sale |
|
2309 90 10 |
Fish or marine mammal solubles, of a kind used in animal feeding |
|
2309 90 33 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 but containing no starch or containing 10 % or less by weight of starch and containing not less than 10 % but less than 50 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 35 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 but containing no starch or containing 10 % or less by weight of starch and containing not less than 50 % but less than 75 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 39 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 but containing no starch or containing 10 % or less by weight of starch and containing not less than 75 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 43 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and containing more than 10 % but not more than 30 % by weight of starch and containing not less than 10 % but less than 50 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 49 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and containing more than 10 % but not more than 30 % by weight of starch and containing not less than 50 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 53 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and containing more than 30 % by weight of starch and containing not less than 10 % but less than 50 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 59 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup of subheadings 1702 30 50, 1702 30 90, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and containing more than 30 % by weight of starch and containing not less than 50 % by weight of milk products |
|
2309 90 70 |
Preparations, including premixes, of a kind used in animal feeding, containing no starch, glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup but containing milk products |
|
24 |
Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body |
|
2905 43 |
Mannitol |
|
2905 44 |
D-glucitol (sorbitol) |
|
3301 |
Essential oils (terpeneless or not), including concretes and absolutes; resinoids; extracted oleoresins; concentrates of essential oils in fats, in fixed oils, in waxes or the like, obtained by enfleurage or maceration; terpenic by-products of the deterpenation of essential oils; aqueous distillates and aqueous solutions of essential oils |
|
3501 |
Casein, caseinates and other casein derivatives; casein glues |
|
3502 |
Albumins (including concentrates of two or more whey proteins, containing by weight more than 80 % whey proteins, calculated on the dry matter), albuminates and other albumin derivatives |
|
3503 |
Gelatin (including gelatin in rectangular (including square) sheets, whether or not surface-worked or coloured, and gelatin derivatives; isinglass; other glues of animal origin, excluding casein glues of heading 3501 |
|
3504 |
Peptones and their derivatives; other protein substances and their derivatives, not elsewhere specified or included; hide powder, whether or not chromed |
|
3505 |
Dextrins and other modified starches (e.g. pregelatinised or esterified starches); glues based on starches, dextrins or other modified starches |
|
3809 10 |
Finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate the dyeing or fixing of dyestuffs and other products and preparations (e.g. dressings and mordants), of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather or like industries, not elsewhere specified or included, with a basis of amylaceous substances |
|
3824 60 |
Sorbitol other than that of subheading 2905 44 |
|
4101 |
Raw hides and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals (fresh, or salted, dried, limed, pickled or otherwise preserved, but not tanned, parchment-dressed or further prepared), whether or not dehaired or split |
|
4102 |
Raw skins of sheep or lambs (fresh, or salted, dried, limed, pickled or otherwise preserved, but not tanned, parchment-dressed or further prepared), whether or not with wool on or split, other than those excluded by note 1(c) to Chapter 41 |
|
4103 |
Other raw hides and skins (fresh, or salted, dried, limed, pickled or otherwise preserved, but not tanned, parchment-dressed or further prepared), whether or not dehaired or split, other than those excluded by note 1(b) or note 1(c) to Chapter 41 |
|
4301 |
Raw fur skins (including heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers’ use), other than raw hides and skins of heading 4101, 4102 or 4103 |
|
5001 |
Silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling |
|
5002 |
Raw silk (not thrown) |
|
5003 |
Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garneted stock) |
|
5101 |
Wool, not carded or combed |
|
5102 |
Fine or coarse animal hair, not carded or combed |
|
5103 |
Waste of wool or of fine or coarse animal hair, including yarn waste but excluding garneted stock |
|
5201 |
Cotton, not carded or combed |
|
5202 |
Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garneted stock) |
|
5203 |
Cotton, carded or combed |
|
5301 |
Flax, raw or processed but not spun; flax tow and waste (including yarn waste and garneted stock) |
|
5302 |
True hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), raw or processed, but not spun; tow and waste of true hemp (including yarn waste and garneted stock) |
ANNEX II
List of goods referred to in Article 1(2)
|
CN code |
Description |
|
3102 |
Mineral or chemical fertilisers, nitrogenous |
|
Ex 3105 |
Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing two or three of the fertilising elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; other fertilisers; goods of Chapter 31 in tablets or similar forms or in packages of a gross weight not exceeding 10 kg, except: 3105 10 00 – Goods of Chapter 31 in tablets or similar forms or in packages of a gross weight not exceeding 10 kg 3105 60 00 – Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing the two fertilising elements phosphorus and potassium |
|
Source: European Parliament
This briefing examines the European Commission’s plans to finance and implement greater defence expenditure in Europe. In particular, it analyses the SAFE mechanism, National Escape Clause implementation across Member States, fiscal implications assessed by the ECB, and proposals to repurpose cohesion funds for defence objectives. This is an update of a previous version.
Source: European Parliament
Budget expenditure is approved jointly by the Council and Parliament. The annual EU budget must respect the expenditure ceilings agreed under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for different headings, i.e. categories of expenditure, such as those on the single market, cohesion and natural resources. Thematic and non-thematic special instruments ensure that the EU can react in the event of unexpected needs. The use of budgetary guarantees and financial instruments creates a leverage effect as regards EU spending. In addition to the MFF, the total EU expenditure for 2021-2027 includes the temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU, which will help the EU economy to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
Source: European Parliament
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99% of companies in the EU. Various action programmes have been adopted in order to increase the competitiveness of SMEs through research and innovation, and to provide better access to finance. Strategies to ensure better conditions for SMEs have also taken into account carbon neutrality and the digital transition. Also, recent geopolitical developments have stimulated new thinking about economic recovery, reconstruction and building SME resilience.
Source: European Parliament
The establishment of a European road safety area has been one of the EU’s long-standing objectives since 2010. While each Member State has the power to make its own decisions related to certain aspects of road traffic and safety provisions, the EU also carries out work in this field and has been focusing its measures on vehicle conditions, the transport of dangerous goods and road safety in general.
Source: European Parliament
A hearing on Enforcement of the EU Digital Rulebook and Political Advertising in the context of foreign interference: understanding Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and disinformation as systemic risks to electoral processes and public discourse will be held on 3 June.
Source: European Parliament
From 26 to 28 May, SANT will hold a delegation to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, on the occasion of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA).
Five Members of SANT will have the opportunity to meet representatives of WHO, and attend the 78th WHA. They will discuss health subjects relevant to SANT’s work programme, such as health emergencies preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, access to medicines, climate and health, sexual and reproductive health, amongst others. The SANT delegation will also engage with the parties involved with the preparation of the Pandemic Agreement.
Source: European Parliament
From 26 to 28 May, SANT will hold a delegation to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, on the occasion of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA).
Five Members of SANT will have the opportunity to meet representatives of WHO, and attend the 78th WHA. They will discuss health subjects relevant to SANT’s work programme, such as health emergencies preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, access to medicines, climate and health, sexual and reproductive health, amongst others. The SANT delegation will also engage with the parties involved with the preparation of the Pandemic Agreement.
Source: European Parliament
On 3 June, a hearing will be held on: Enforcement of the EU Digital Rulebook and Political Advertising in the context of foreign interference: understanding Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and disinformation as systemic risks to electoral processes and public discourse
Source: European Parliament
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(2),
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure(3),
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EU) 2019/876 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4) introduced into Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) requirement for credit institutions. That requirement reflected part of the Basel III standards agreed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), which were developed to ensure that credit institutions have sufficient stable funding on a one-year horizon, and thus to prevent an excessive maturity mismatch between assets and liabilities and an overreliance on short-term wholesale funding. The NSFR requirement has been applicable since 28 June 2021.
(2) Article 428r(1), point (g), Article 428s(1), point (b), and Article 428v, point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 currently provide for the stable funding factors for monies due from financing transactions with financial customers, where those transactions have a residual maturity of less than six months. Those funding factors are, depending on the financing transaction concerned, 0 %, 5 % or 10 %. However, Article 510(8) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 provides that, by 28 June 2025, those funding factors are to be raised to 10 %, 15 % and 15 %, respectively. That deferred raise aimed to give credit institutions sufficient time to gradually adapt to a more conservative calibration and to assess whether that calibration was appropriate. In addition to that deferred raise, other adjustments were adopted to ensure that the introduction of the NSFR requirement did not disrupt the liquidity of the related collateral markets, including sovereign bond markets.
(3) Under Article 510(6) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, the European Supervisory Authority (European Banking Authority) (EBA) established by Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council(6), was mandated to assess the appropriateness of the treatment of the stable funding required to cover the funding risk linked to securities financing transactions (SFTs) and to unsecured transactions with financial customers where those SFTs or unsecured transactions have a residual maturity of less than six months. In line with that mandate, EBA delivered a report on specific aspects of the NSFR framework on 16 January 2024. That report concluded that raising the required stable funding factors applying to the transactions referred to in Article 428r(1), point (g), Article 428s(1), point (b), and Article 428v, point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 would have a negligible impact on the NSFR levels of credit institutions. However, that report did not assess the broader dimension or spillover effects regarding the liquidity of the sovereign debt markets and the effects on sovereign bond markets. Therefore, the considerations justifying the deferral of the raising of required stable funding factors, as provided for in Article 510(8) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, continue to prevail. In particular, as the bulk of SFTs are collateralised by sovereign debt instruments, a raise in the related required stable funding could reduce the liquidity in the markets concerned. That could, in turn, risk creating additional funding costs for Member States and altering monetary policy transmission mechanisms.
(4) In addition, other BCBS member jurisdictions have set required stable funding factor levels for SFTs that are identical to those that are currently applicable under Regulation (EU) No 575/2013. In that context, given the intense international competition in the SFT market, raising the required stable funding factors by 28 June 2025 would create an uneven international playing field that would be detrimental to Union financial markets.
(5) To avoid those unintended consequences, the current stable funding factors for SFTs and for unsecured transactions with financial customers, where such transactions have a residual maturity of less than six months, should be made permanent.
(6) To ensure sufficient monitoring of interactions between the stable funding requirements and the market liquidity of assets received as collateral in SFTs and of unsecured transactions with financial customers, where such transactions have a residual maturity of less than six months, including when collateralised by sovereign debt, the funding risk for credit institutions, and possible international developments in that area, EBA should report to the Commission every five years on the appropriateness of those stable funding requirements.
(7) Temporarily discontinuing the prudential treatment for monies due from SFTs and for unsecured transactions with financial customers, with a residual maturity of less than six months, would create legal uncertainty for market participants and undue administrative and financial burden for the Union banking sector in general that could be mitigated by clearly setting the expected date of application of the provisions concerned. Therefore, to ensure the continuity of that prudential treatment, this amending Regulation should apply from 29 June 2025.
(8) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Article 510 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 is amended as follows:
(1) paragraph 6 is amended as follows:
(a) the introductory wording is replaced by the following:”
‘EBA shall monitor the amount of stable funding required to cover the funding risk linked to securities financing transactions, including to the assets received or given in those transactions, and to unsecured transactions with financial customers, where such transactions have a residual maturity of less than six months. EBA shall report to the Commission by 31 January 2029, and every five years thereafter, on the appropriateness of that stable funding requirement. Taking into account international developments and the regulatory treatment of similar transactions in other jurisdictions, those reports shall assess at a minimum:’;
”
(b) points (d) and (e) are replaced by the following:”
|
‘(d) the adequacy of the asymmetric treatment between liabilities with a residual maturity of less than six months provided by financial customers that are subject to a 0 % available stable funding factor in accordance with Article 428k(3), point (c), and assets resulting from transactions with a residual maturity of less than six months with financial customers that are subject to a 0 %, 5 % or 10 % required stable funding factor in accordance with Article 428r(1), point (g), Article 428s(1), point (b), and Article 428v, point (a); |
||
| (e) | the impact of the introduction of higher or lower required stable funding factors for securities financing transactions, in particular with a residual maturity of less than six months, with financial customers, on: | |
| (i) | the price structure of those transactions; and | |
| (ii) | the market liquidity of assets received as collateral in those transactions, in particular of sovereign and corporate bonds;’; | |
”
(2) paragraphs 7 and 8 are deleted.
Article 2
Entry into force and application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 29 June 2025.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at …, …
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
|
Source: European Parliament
The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for Apparel and Footwear (PEFCR A&F)[1] were developed by the textile industry based on Recommendation 2021/2279[2].
The aim is to facilitate reliable measurement of environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle, from raw material extraction to its end-of-life.
The PEFCR identifies environmental hotspots to support companies in improving their products but does not allow the communication of an overall single score and therefore cannot underpin the comparison among products made of different fibres in business-to-consumer communication.
Circularity aspects, such as renewability and biodegradability, are integrated into the Environmental Footprint (EF) method’s 16 impact categories. Separated indicators could lead to double-counting and therefore they are deemed as not needed.
Regarding microplastics, while their release is not yet a specific impact category due to the lack of a robust scientific model, the PEFCR A&F already requires an assessment of fibre fragmentation during laundry.
The Commission will make an effort to include the latest scientific evidence related to microplastic release in the upcoming revision of the EF methods.
The use of natural fibres as a biodegradable and microplastic free alternative to fossil-based synthetic fibres will also be looked at in the context of the review of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy[3].
Source: European Parliament
The EU is an area of shared values, which are incompatible with crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes, including crimes committed by totalitarian regimes.
Remembrance policies are primarily under the competence of Member States, who are responsible to deal with the sensitive and complex issue of addressing the horrors and crimes that have happened in the past as stated in the Commission Report on the memory of the crimes committed by totalitarian regimes[1].
The EU plays the role of facilitator and supports through funding[2] the promotion of remembrance of the crimes committed by totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, including Nazism, fascism, Stalinism, and totalitarian communist regimes.
Source: European Parliament
The project in question has been subject to an assessment[1] under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIAD)[2] and the Habitats Directive[3] that covers the effects on the site Serra do Careón[4] and the habitats it hosts.
The competent authorities have also assessed the impact of the project on the endangered plant species and natural habitat types of community interest[5], as well as the compensatory measures proposed by the developer prior to the project’s approval. The EIAD provides for a process of participation where the public concerned was able to express their views on the project.
Pursuant to Spanish law, the environmental impact statement issued by the competent authorities does not constitute a development consent for the project, which is subject to the obtention of all the relevant permits required under EU environmental law. There are no indications of a possible infringement of EU law at this point in the procedure.
The EIAD also provides for specific review procedures that allow the public concerned to challenge before national courts the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to the EIAD provisions on public participation.
The Commission does not have the power to suspend projects carried out in Member States. It focuses its enforcement action on structural and systemic cases rather than on individual cases of alleged non- compliance[6].
Based on the information available, the Altri large-scale project does not seem to receive funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)[7] at this stage.
Consequently, the Commission is not in a position to provide an assessment of the concrete project’s alignment with the RRF requirements, including the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle.
Source: European Parliament
Prevention of international child abduction and the regulation of cross-border issues related to parental responsibility are an essential part of the EU policy to promote the rights of the child and a core feature of EU judicial cooperation, including with third countries.
At EU level, the Brussels IIb Regulation establishes very strict rules concerning the return of the child after abduction[1] which supplement the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in relations between EU Member States.
The regulation, which is directly applicable to Member States, is constantly monitored by the Commission and discussed in the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters (EJN-civil) to ensure correct application in the Member States. To date, no complaints have been received on its implementation by France.
The Commission has taken several initiatives to inform and train judges, lawyers and Central Authorities, including via the 2022 practice guide[2] to improve the application of the regulation.
The Hague Convention is subject to the monitoring of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Special Commissions to identify problems and best practices are convened on a regular basis, most recently in 2023[3], and the Commission proactively participates to ensure proper implementation and enforcement.
Source: European Commission
European Commission Press release Brussels, 22 May 2025 Today, Member States endorsed the Commission’s proposal to mobilise €15 million from the agricultural reserve to support farmers in Czechia, Slovenia and Germany affected by adverse weather events and a recent animal disease outbreak.
Source: European Parliament
The resumed session of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP)16 agreed on the crucial issues of resource mobilisation, technical updates to the monitoring framework and procedures for the global review of implementation at COP17 and 19. This allows CBD processes to continue and provides wider impetus for multilateral environmental negotiations.
48 Parties submitted revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans whilst 125 Parties uploaded national targets aligned with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
There is ongoing work in other Parties. Parties also implement the GBF through other policies. The seventh national reports to be submitted by all Parties by February 2026 will allow a more complete analysis.
A further increase of resources from all sources will be necessary for achieving target 19 of the GBF. The Commission and Member States will continue work in this regard, leveraging private finance and public budgets — including through the multiannual financial framework[1]. The identification, phasing out or repurposing of harmful subsidies remains extremely important.
The Commission is implementing the updated GBF monitoring framework at EU level. This will continue in the years to come and will support the assessment of progress in implementation of the GBF in the seventh and eighth national reports to the CBD, which are due in 2026 and 2029, respectively.
The Commission is consulting the Member States on the use of indicators in view of increasing synergies in the reporting exercise, facilitating this work, maximising coherence and minimising duplication of efforts. CBD COP17 will review the use of indicators at the global level.
Source: European Parliament
An Employment and Social Affairs Committee delegation is travelling to Germany’s Ruhr area to visit chemical and steel plants and educational facilities.
Five MEPs from Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee will be in the Ruhr area from 26 to 28 May 2025 to meet with business leaders, trade union representatives and the state government. The delegation will be led by Dennis Radtke (EPP, DE). The other four members of the delegation are:
Interested journalists can accompany the delegation or join the concluding press briefing on 27 May.
On Monday 26 May, MEPs will visit the Chemical Park Marl, one of the largest chemical industry centres in Europe. They will also visit thyssenkrupp Duisburg, an international industrial and technology group.
On Tuesday 27 May, the parliamentarians will meet workers and trade union representatives for a discussion at the Quaz-Ruhr Qualification Centre in Bochum. The delegation will also stop at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), where they will visit the Worldfactory Start-up-Center and Makerspace, both central RUB hubs for start-ups and technology transfer.
In the afternoon, the MEPs will visit DASA − Germany’s largest exhibition on the world of work, where they will have a debate with the North Rhine-Westphalia State Minister for Labour, Health, and Social Affairs, Karl-Josef Laumann.
Press briefing
On Tuesday 27 May, at around 17:30, there will be a press briefing with Dennis Radtke (EPP, DE), the head of the delegation, and State Minister Karl-Josef Laumann at DASA, Working World Exhibit.
For any media questions, or to register for the press briefing, you are kindly advised to get in touch with Parliament’s press officer in Germany, Thilo Kunzemann (email: thilo.kunzemann@europarl.europa.eu; phone: +49 171 388 4775).
Background
Historically, the Ruhr area is well-known across Europe for its production of coal, iron, and steel. Production reached peak levels in the 1950s, when the sector accounted for about 70% of the Ruhr’s total workforce. With decarbonisation, jobs in the sector have since decreased drastically, and the region has shifted from an industry-based economy to one based on services and knowledge. The region is often seen as a successful example of the just transition, having transformed into a major “green hub”.
Source: European Parliament
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation[1], adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, has entered into force and will apply from 12 August 2026. However, some obligations, including on reuse targets, will enter into force only as of 2030.
The Commission has launched a study[2] to assess a possible exclusion of pallet wrappings and straps from the reuse targets for transport packaging as laid down in Article 29(2) and (3).
The study relies on literature review and consultation of the relevant stakeholders to get primary information. The methodological approach to assess a possible exemption is based on the Commission’s empowerment outlined in Article 29(18).
Therefore, food safety and hygiene issues, environmental issues and economic impacts (including possible supply chain disruptions) related to the exclusive use of pallet wrappings and straps in transport operations are being thoroughly assessed. In addition, the study is assessing the related administrative burden on concerned stakeholders.
This comprehensive methodological approach ensures a high-quality outcome and a deep analysis of all relevant sustainability aspects.
The study is to be completed by July 2025. Based on its results, the Commission intends to draft and propose the related delegated act under Article 29(18) of the regulation before the end of 2025 .
This timeframe will ensure predictability for economic operators well before the application of the related targets, by 2030.
Source: European Parliament
The protection of central databases in key sectors, including those managed by public administration entities, are subject to the rules established by the NIS2 Directive[1], which provide adequate horizontal safeguards against cyber-attacks , including in relation to driving licences, making it unnecessary for the directive to contain further provisions on the matter .
While mobile driving licences are to become the default format, applicants and holders retain the right to have their licence issued in both or either format.
Mobile driving licences will be available via the European Digital Identity Wallets which should be rolled out in all Member States by the end of 2026.
Should a citizen not possess the necessary technology for using the Wallet or does not wish to use it, they may (continue to) use a physical driving licence.
Driving licences issued by Member States and by third countries are not comparable as regards the criteria for their exchange. Citizens holding licences issued by Member States may exchange or continue to use their valid driving licences when moving residence in the EU without additional obligations.
Holders of driving licences issued by third countries do not have the same rights and may face administrative obligations, in particular when changing residence between Member States.
Once adopted, the new driving licence Directive intends to harmonise such obligations, for selected third countries, to facilitate the free movement of their licence holders.
Source: European Parliament
The European External Action Service has reported on safe passage operations, whenever the question was raised during an Afghanistan related session in the European Parliament or in a parliamentary question[1].
The Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/151 of February 2022 on a European Union action to support the evacuation of certain particularly vulnerable persons from Afghanistan[2] expired in December 2024 and was not extended.
The EU as such does not have the prerogative to deliver visas or grant asylum and in the absence of visa for the final destination country in Europe, the EU cannot continue operations. Member States still have the possibility to continue their own operations.
The Commission also supports civil society organisations and the protection of human rights in Afghanistan, through dedicated thematic budget lines.
This includes ongoing assistance to Human Right Defenders under the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism[3], which provides support worldwide, including in Afghanistan.
Source: European Parliament
The Dublin III Regulation[1] does not foresee sanctions in case of suspension of the taking charge and taking back of applicants for international protection by the Member State designated as responsible.
The Commission takes note of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in joined cases C-185/24 and C-189/24[2].
The proper functioning of the Dublin system is essential for achieving the common European objectives on migration and asylum. The Commission is working closely with Member States on the good functioning of Dublin transfers, and to ensure a successful transition to the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation[3].
Source: European Parliament
The European Platform on Combatting Homelessness was launched by the Lisbon Declaration in 2021 as a framework of cooperation, knowledge building and mutual learning, coordinated and facilitated by the Commission.
In the context of the Platform, the Commission supports various ongoing projects and activities in the area of homelessness which strengthen the evidence base on the extent and nature of homelessness, provide concrete policy guidance to policy-makers[1] and enhance capabilities at national and local level.
The work programme of the Platform, adopted in February 2022, guided its activities for the period 2022-2024[2]. A new work programme is planned to be discussed by its members in view of its adoption in June 2025.
During the next phase, the Platform is meant to continue supporting national, regional and local authorities to develop integrated, housing-led strategies, monitor their actual impact and optimize the use of funding sources, as the European Social Fund Plus, to implement sustainable solutions.
Also, the Platform’s work in relation to the scope, the drivers and effective policy responses should contribute to the preparation of future EU initiatives related to homelessness such as the new Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the European Affordable Housing Plan.
Since its launch the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness has evolved into an impactful initiative, illustrated by the adoption of national strategies in several Member States.
The Commission remains fully committed to further strengthening its added value and thus reinforce concerted responses at all levels to effectively address the most extreme manifestation of poverty and social exclusion.
Source: European Parliament
Since its launch, the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness has evolved into an impactful initiative. It supports, among other things, Member States in designing or reviewing national homelessness strategies based on a person-centred, housing-led and integrated approach.
The first work programme of the Platform for the period 2022-2024[1] had three work strands: data and analysis, mutual learning and access to finance.
The activities supported by the Commission include[2]: a pilot project on a European Homelessness Count; two projects with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on a policy toolkit and on monitoring and evaluation; a number of mutual learning events; the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness Practice project to promote knowledge and capacity building; and four social innovation projects on different aspects of homelessness.
Finally, a working group co-chaired with the Council of Europe Development Bank aims at mapping funding options and at developing projects to combat homelessness.
A new work programme, building on the ongoing activities, is currently being drafted with the input of Platform members. The Platform’s work is also expected to feed into the preparation of the forthcoming EU flagship social initiatives, namely the new Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the European Affordable Housing Plan.
Source: European Parliament
The traditional crafts and heritage occupations typically require vocational education and training (VET). The Commission has recently launched the Union of Skills[1], a comprehensive strategy that addresses skills across all levels of education, and across all sectors of the economy, so that artisans can be supported to sustain and preserve their skills.
Organisations from the craft and heritage sector can join the European Alliance for Apprenticeship (EAfA)[2] to network and exchange with other organisations, i.e. about how to reduce administrative burden.
Under the Pact for Skills, the large-scale skills partnership for Cultural and Creative industries[3] identified supporting VET initiatives that can serve the preservation and the further development of technical skills, arts and crafts as the priority.
Thanks to Regulation (EU) 2023/2411[4], as from December 2025, producers of craft and industrial products will be able to obtain an EU-wide registration of their geographical indication. This new protection tool is known for helping to pass on know-how, particularly to younger generations.
Horizon Europe currently funds four projects on ‘traditional crafts for the future: a new approach’[5]. The Erasmus+ programme contributes to the learning and exchange of know-how in the crafts, as part of VET learning mobility of apprentices and cooperation projects[6].
The Creative Europe programme contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, including the transmission and promotion of heritage professionals’ skills and craft through several actions among which are Europa Nostra[7] and Culture Moves Europe[8].
Artisans specialising in heritage restoration may apply for individual mobility grants and participate in residencies.
Source: European Parliament
The Commission is carrying out a consultation during 2025 on the issues related to affordable housing raised by the Honourable Member, and following that, will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan (EAHP). This Plan will assess the specificities of the rental market, too.
The Commission will also analyse and — if necessary — make further proposals related to short-term accommodation rentals and/or make proposals to address the use of the current housing stock.
In addition, the Commission will conduct an analysis of the impact of housing speculation and its economic consequences, as well as propose follow-up actions where needed.
At the same time, the Commission notes that housing — in line with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality — is mainly a responsibility of Member States, regions and local authorities and in developing the EAHP, the Commission will respect these principles.
While the Commission does not at this stage plan to produce a report on the impact of national regulations on housing availability in the Member States, the Commission seeks solutions where value can be added at EU level and aims at facilitating the sharing of best practices among stakeholders.
The Commission notes that it is important to attract private investments to housing. The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) group have recently laid the foundations for a new pan-European investment platform for affordable and sustainable housing[1].
The Commission will continue to work with EIB, national promotional banks, international financial institutions and other stakeholders to support local and national efforts.
Source: European Parliament
The Commission recognises the challenges faced by Member States at EU external borders in managing migration flows. The Commission will continue to provide financial assistance through the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI) established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1148[1], and operational support via the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/1896[2].
The Commission adopted a decision to provide an additional EUR 3 billion to support Member States with the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and to host refugees from Ukraine[3].
Frontex’s deployment of personnel and equipment to vulnerable regions will be enhanced, subject to the available budget as well as Member State agreement and cooperation.
The Commission is committed to strengthening Frontex’s capacity. Plans to increase logistical, financial, and operational support are under review, with a focus on ensuring adequate resources for border management. The Commission will work closely with Member States to assess needs and allocate resources effectively.
Well-managed integration of migrants is part of the Pact on Asylum and Migration[4] and is important for its success. In the framework of the action plan on integration and inclusion[5], the Commission provides financial support to Member States on migrants’ integration under EU funds, such as Asylum Migration and Integration Funds[6] and the European Social Fund+[7], and promotes exchanges of good practices.
Source: European Parliament
Ahead of the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, EP Members engaged in high-level discussions with representatives from the African Union Commission and African Member States.
Source: European Parliament
Housing Committee to discuss housing needs in Barcelona A delegation from the Committee on Housing is travelling to Barcelona to meet local, regional and national governments, economic and social actors and education and research institutions.