European Union

Sweden is ramping up Baltic defences with a €790M German air system to shield Gotland - its most vulnerable outpost - from drones, jets and missiles.

Polish man charged with aiding Russian plot to assassinate Zelenskyy at Rzeszów airport, in a case confirmed by both Kyiv and Warsaw.

Macron condemns US strikes on Iran as illegal and counterproductive, warning forceful regime change has never brought stability.

The US president congratulated both sides on ending what he dubbed 'The 12 Day War'.

The remarks suggest that Brussels could – like the UK – accept a 10% levy on most European exports in order to avoid sector-specific US duties.

 "If the situation does not improve, then we can discuss further measures", Kallas said.

To underpin the plan, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is reportedly planning to take on record levels of public debt.

Iran said its strikes on the US-run al Udeid air base near Doha were “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression.”

One company linked to PM Sánchez’s PSOE party allegedly received €7.8 million in EU funds to build just 46 social housing units, according to leaked documents.

The informal group now claims it represents a "clear majority" within the bloc.

Reducing red tape is not just a policy issue - it is a political and strategic imperative. This Special Report examines how excessive bureaucracy is undermining Europe's innovation, profitability and competitiveness.

Written by Sidonia Mazur, updated on 12 June 2025

On 4 June 2025, Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, presented the Commission’s draft budget for 2026 to the Members of the Parliament’s Committee on Budgets. The proposal sets the 2026 EU budget commitments at €193.26 billion, complemented by €105.32 billion under NextGenerationEU. The Commission underlined that the ‘next year’s draft budget is designed to support strategic objectives, including support for Ukraine, competitiveness, migration management, security and defence, and strategic investments, while maintaining momentum on green and digital priorities’.

Background – 2026 budget procedure

The European Parliament is one of the two arms of the European Union’s budgetary authority, the Council being the other. The two institutions, assisted by the European Commission, decide on the budget in the annual EU budget procedure, within the limits of the long-term EU budget – the multiannual financial framework (MFF). Although it is the Commission’s right and duty to propose a draft budget for the upcoming year, the two arms of the EU budgetary authority, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, play their part in the run-up to its presentation by submitting their views. The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) agreed on its guidelines for the 2026 EU budget on 18 February 2025. The European Parliament adopted its guidelines for the preparation of the 2026 budget, Section III, on 2 April 2025.

Next steps

On 9 July, the Commission plans to formally adopt the 2026 draft budget and publish it in all official languages. More information on performance is presented in the Annual Management and Performance Report published on 17 June.

By mid-July COREPER (the Committee of Permanent Representatives, made up of Member States’ Ambassadors) is expected to come to an agreement on Council’s position on the 2026 draft budget.

Parliament, Council and Commission are then expected to meet for a budgetary trilogue on 17 July.

Further reading

• For key issues in EU budget see the EPRS flagship publication: Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2025
• For key dates see: Timeline for the three key EU budgetary procedures in 2025
• For Parliament’s guidelines for the 2026 budget: Parliament’s guidelines for the 2025 EU budget; Section III – European Commission
• For more on Parliament’s role in the EU annual budgetary procedure see: Annual EU budgetary procedure: An introduction to the steps in the European Parliament

Trump has proved that America’s longstanding pledge to not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran is not just rhetoric. That should be welcome news to European leaders.

MEPs are seething over Commission and Council's move to put the brakes on a draft law.

Hungary and Slovakia once again work to block EU sanctions against Russia, citing energy concerns.

Orban’s budget roulette weakens Hungary’s economy, undermining public projects and private enterprise.

European farmers are trailing in agritech adoption, with only 46% reporting using at least one technology, compared with 74% in the US and 53% in Brazil.

Europe’s young entrepreneurs are struggling with complex, unnecessary bureaucracy. Startups need simplified systems.

Following the Commission’s announcement on Friday that it intends to withdraw the legislative proposal, the Council has decided to cancel the trilogue scheduled for Monday.
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Following the Commission’s announcement on Friday that it intends to withdraw the legislative proposal, the Council has decided to cancel the trilogue scheduled for Monday.
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP