Russia’s war on Ukraine has been a wake-up call for many EU Member States in terms of defence budgets. Rising from €218 billion in 2021 to an expected €381 billion in 2025, there are significant ...

Under current EU law, EU Member States are free to set their minimum national voting age for European elections. This age is set at 16 in Austria, Germany and Malta, 17 in Greece, and 18 in the ...

The EU’s digital partnerships with like-minded countries across the globe establish a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation on digital issues. Written by Maria Niestadt. The EU launched ...

The February 2026 plenary session saw two key votes: on the Ukraine Support Loan, reaffirming the EU’s continued financial support for Ukraine; and on the EU-Mercosur agreement safeguard clause, ...

EU Member States’ defence expenditure rose significantly between 2021 and 2024. The EU has introduced several initiatives to complement national efforts in order to boost defence spending and ...

The ‘fit for 55’ package, presented in July and December 2021, is designed to realise the European Climate Law objectives: climate neutrality by 2050 and a 55 % reduction of net greenhouse gas (GHG) ...

In response to United States (US) tariffs, and citing national security interests as a reason, China introduced two waves of export controls for rare-earth elements (REEs) in April and October 2025 ...

Enforcement of the Digital Services Act at national level is still very limited owing to delayed implementation. The European Commission has therefore begun infringement procedures against several ...

The central task of the Members Research Service is to ensure that all Members of the European Parliament are provided with analysis of, and research on, policy issues relating to the European Union, ...

Russia’s escalating hybrid attacks, including drone incursions, have prompted NATO’s Operation Eastern Sentry and the European Union’s (EU) plans for a European Drone Wall and Eastern Flank Watch. The ...

Between 2021 and 2023, at least 51 433 unaccompanied minors were reported as missing across Europe, averaging nearly 47 children a day. Written by Maria Margarita Mentzelopoulou. Between 2021 and 2023 ...

The EU automotive sector has a century-old tradition of producing vehicles with internal combustion engines. It enjoys a global reputation for mechanical engineering excellence, quality, design and ...