European Union

MEPs added a debate on “the Hungarian government’s drift towards Russia-style repression” to today’s agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs added a debate on “the Hungarian government’s drift towards Russia-style repression” to today’s agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Katharina Reiche will try to balance German energy policy between boosting industry and sticking with net-zero climate targets.

Friendly fire hits the Commission as the EPP turns on new proposals in the next MFF.

Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella has already called for an investigation into alleged French interference in Romania’s presidential election.

The proposal comes as part of a broader EU offer to avoid Donald Trump’s sweeping duties on European exports.

Having a mental disorder should not mean you are socially exposed, said Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Denmark’s Minister of Social Affairs.

Patients and medical societies are now official parties to administrative proceedings to reimburse rare disease medicines.

Andriy Portnov was a senior aide to Ukraine's pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovich.

On 21 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the fifth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 21 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the fifth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Wednesday 21 May

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Wednesday 21 May

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Marketa Pape.

The recent cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated a longstanding problem with housing affordability in the EU. Higher building costs and mortgage rates, together with a related decrease in housing construction, have made access to home ownership more difficult. At the same time, investors use housing as a vehicle for investment. Growing numbers of people are struggling to access affordable housing, whether to rent or to buy, particularly in cities. Across Europe, homelessness is rising.

In addition, many residential buildings need to be made energy-efficient and decarbonised in order to achieve the EU’s energy and climate goals, lower energy consumption and reduce energy bills.

While the EU has no direct competence in the area of housing and only a limited scope of action to address social issues, it provides relevant guidance and funding, and has carried out several initiatives to support housing. Furthermore, certain EU rules have a indirect impact on housing provision, starting with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In parallel, many sources of EU funding are available for various housing-related purposes in the current financing period.

In the run-up to the 2024 European elections, the lack of adequate and affordable housing, and the need to address it at EU level, emerged as a concern across the whole of the EU and the entire political spectrum. The new European Commission) is giving housing policy visibility and weight by proposing a coordinated approach. For the first time, housing has become a distinct part of a commissioner’s portfolio. Dan Jørgensen, the new Commissioner for Energy and Housing, is responsible for dealing with several complex issues relating to housing.

In 2024, the spotlight was on affordable housing, while 2025 is seeing a scaling-up of housing-related policy developments across the EU institutions, including discussions, consultations and funding initiatives.

This updates a briefing published in January 2025.

Read the complete brifeing on ‘A coordinated EU approach to housing‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

George Simion will challenge the presidential election results at the Constitutional Court, accusing France and Moldova of interference.

Mentzen, distancing himself from both the government and PiS, has become a wild card whose young, anti-establishment base is now a prize for the final contenders.

The move – aligning Rome with Russia, Iran, and Israel – has sparked backlash, especially given the Meloni government's contentious record on COVID-19 vaccines.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about Sweden banning the purchase of OnlyFans content, Rome sitting out the WHO pandemic agreement, rekindling criticism over its COVID stance, and so much more.

Czech President Petr Pavel warned coordination with the United States is still falling short.

Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to improve the functioning of European Works Councils and strengthen their role.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP