European Union

Whilst EU countries want an ambitious budget, they will also have to repay the bloc's €650 billion covid loans from 2028. The budget proposals must be approved unanimously.

"Understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have within the EU," reads the letter.

The agreement follows deadly riots in 2024, triggered by France’s proposal to revise New Caledonia’s electoral roll.

The investigation found that the fuel control switches were moved, but why this happened is still unknown. All but one of the 242 people on board, as well as 19 people on the ground, were killed in the crash.

The Commission wants to make sure that significantly less than 90% of the EU budget will be committed long-term from day one.

Germany's consensus-driven parliamentary system has entered a more rough-and-tumble period amid a rise of the political extremes.

The spectacle of von der Leyen's dressing down didn't distract from the more ominous prospect of US tariffs.

Written by Guillaume Ragonnaud (3rd edition, updated on 11.07.2025).

The EU’s automotive sector is resource intensive. There are 286 million motor vehicles on the road in the EU, and every year around 6.5 million vehicles become waste. If improperly managed, these vehicles may cause environmental damage and the economy may lose millions of tonnes of materials. In July 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation addressing the whole life cycle of vehicles, from design to end-of-life, aimed at improving design and end-of-life management of vehicles for a more resource-efficient automotive sector. It would set circularity requirements on vehicle design and production concerning reusability, recyclability, recoverability and the use of recycled content. It would also lay down requirements on information and labelling of parts, components and materials in vehicles. In addition, the proposed regulation would establish requirements on extended producer responsibility, collection and treatment of end-of-life vehicles, and on the export of used vehicles from the EU to third countries. The proposal is now in the hands of the co-legislators. In the European Parliament, the Committees on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) are jointly responsible for the file. The Council adopted its position on 17 June 2025. The joint committee adopted its report on 7 July and the Parliament is expected to adopt its position during the September 2025 plenary session.

Complete version

• July 2025: ‘Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles‘ (3rd edition)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/ECCommittees responsible (Joint Committee procedure – Rule 59):Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and
Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)COM(2023)451
13.7.2023Co-Rapporteurs:Jens Gieseke (EPP, Germany)
Paulius Saudargas (EPP, Lithuania)2023/0284(COD)Shadow rapporteurs:Pierfrancesco Maran (S&D, Italy), Matteo Ricci (S&D, Italy),
Filip Turek (PfE, Czechia), Silvia Sardone (PfE, Italy),
Alexandr Vondra (ECR, Czechia), Piotr Müller (ECR, Poland),
Pascal Canfin (Renew, France), Ivars Ijabs (Renew, Latvia),
Sara Matthieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium), David Cormand (Greens/EFA, France), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left, Sweden), Luke Ming Flanagan (The Left, Ireland), Anja Arndt (ESN, Germany)Ordinary legislative procedure
(COD) (Parliament and Council
on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)Next steps expected: Plenary vote on mandate for negotiations

Greece is suspending asylum requests from North Africa and is considering less appealing meals in migrant camps, drawing criticism for adopting far-right tactics amid a surge in arrivals from Libya.

As early as next year, up to 1,270 students a year can start training to become medical specialists. Currently, Denmark has a shortage of 2,000 specialists in hospitals and general practice.

Researchers, policymakers and advocates gathered in Milan for the “Mind the Future” summit. They aim to help Europe turn scientific progress into meaningful patient care.

Parliament’s co-rapporteurs for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will brief journalists on the expectations for the next EU budget ahead of the Commission’s proposal.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament’s co-rapporteurs for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will brief journalists on the expectations for the next EU budget ahead of the Commission’s proposal.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

The European Parliament’s July 2025 plenary session featured a debate on Parliament’s expectations for the EU’s post-2027 long-term budget ahead of the Commission’s proposal. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen presented the programme of activities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which began on 1 July 2025. Members then discussed the conclusions of the 26 June European Council meeting with António Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Members also considered and voted to reject a motion of censure of the Commission.

Roberta Metsola, President of Parliament, made a statement commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Debates on external policy addressed, among other things, EU-China relations; EU-US trade negotiations; the situation in the Middle East; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Rwanda peace agreement. Debates also covered post-2027 common agricultural policy; the chemicals package, the European Media Freedom Act, revision of the European Climate Law, and preparedness for wildfires and drought.

Bulgaria to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026

On its path to becoming the 21st euro-area Member State, Bulgaria has demonstrated solid foundations for medium-term convergence and met the requirements for accession to the euro area, despite still tackling corruption, money laundering and governance issues. As Parliament is consulted, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) prepared a report on the country’s readiness to adopt the euro. Members overwhelmingly voted in favour of Bulgaria’s euro-area membership.

Amendment of the Gas Storage Regulation

The EU Gas Storage Regulation has helped counter strong demand and supply disruption, reducing the need for additional gas imports and stabilising energy prices, so it is proposed to extend the measures for two years, until the end of 2027. Members adopted the text agreed between negotiators for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Council, to make the filling targets more flexible and to oblige Member States to track the amount of gas originating in Russia. The amended Gas Storage Regulation now goes to the Council for formal approval.

EU fisheries agreement with Greenland

The EU has had a fisheries agreement with Greenland since 1985, allowing EU vessels to fish in Greenlandic waters in the north-east Atlantic and enabling quota swaps with Norway. Following a recommendation from the Committee on Fisheries (PECH), Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the new protocol to the fisheries agreement with Greenland. It also underlined the importance of the agreement in today’s geopolitical context, while expressing concern over the lack of data on the state of certain fish stocks.

Measures against countries that do not cooperate on shared fish stocks

For greater sustainability in fisheries shared with non-EU countries, and to protect EU fishers from unfair competition, Members adopted a text agreed with the Council on tackling the issue of non-EU countries that do not cooperate on sustainable management of shared fish stocks. In line with Parliament’s demands to clarify the scope of the legislation, the agreed text refers specifically to regional management organisations, and sets rules for penalising third countries.

Product safety and regulatory compliance in e commerce and non-EU imports

Increasingly people are buying online and sourcing goods from outside the EU, goods that do not always conform to EU standards. Customs and other public authorities find it challenging to check large numbers of low-value imports. Members debated a report from the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), on tackling regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports. The report emphasises the need for enforcement of existing legislation and reform under the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation. It also urges the Commission to assess the impact of proposed controls for bulk shipments, to evaluate the proposed handling fee and investigate product safety compliance.

Draft amending budget 1/2025

Members endorsed the Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1/2025. It would enter the €1.35 billion surplus from implementation of the 2024 budget as revenue in the 2025 budget. This would reduce Member States’ contributions to the 2025 budget accordingly. While noting the surplus is low, the report from the Committee on Budgets underlines that financing needs remain high, and regrets the absence of progress in the Council on the reform of the own resources system.

Reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Georgia

Members debated and adopted four Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) reports on the European Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Georgia. AFET endorses Albania‘s progress and ambition to complete accession talks by 2027 yet underlines an urgent need to ensure judicial independence, fundamental rights, media pluralism and to tackle corruption and organised crime. In the face of political polarisation and malign foreign influence, AFET calls on Albania to enhance political dialogue. AFET’s report on Bosnia and Herzegovina also reaffirms support for the country’s accession aspirations. However, while acknowledging the reforms undertaken, it also underlines stalled progress and weak implementation, and condemns divisive rhetoric and secessionist policies. AFET’s report on North Macedonia‘s accession negotiations notes the country is a fully aligned and trustworthy partner. It welcomes the €750 million in grants and loans which will become available to North Macedonia under the new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, but underlines that political parties must engage in constructive dialogue. Regarding Georgia‘s accession prospects, stalled for some years, AFET’s report calls for new parliamentary elections, solidarity with the Georgian people and coordinated sanctions against key regime enablers.

European Citizens’ Initiative – Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of regional cultures

Members debated a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) stating that EU cohesion policy should focus on regions with national, ethnic, cultural, religious or linguistic aspects that differ from their surrounding regions. Several committees held a joint public hearing on the ‘Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures’ ECI in June 2025. The hearing emphasised the need to preserve cultural and linguistic elements of EU ethnic minority regions, and to address specific challenges. The Commission must examine the claims and provide a response by September.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Several decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations were approved without vote. These came from the Committees on: Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), on a proposal on increasing the efficiency of the EU guarantee under the InvestEU Programme Regulation and simplifying reporting requirements; Transport and Tourism (TRAN), on proposals on passenger rights in the context of multimodal journeys, and enforcement of passenger rights in the Union; Legal Affairs (JURI), on proposals on the protection of adults in cross-border cases, and on harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law; Employment (EMPL), on a proposal on reviewing the European Social Fund (ESF+); and the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), on a proposal on amending the European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund at mid-term.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – July 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Critics warn the deal could distort market competition and breach Spanish and EU competition law.

Committees

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The motion of no-confidence against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tabled by members of far-right parties, has failed. Only 175 MEPs voted in favour of the initiative – while more than twice that number voted against. Two-thirds of those present would have had to support the motion for it to pass. Europe's media draw varying conclusions.