European Union

It's time to rethink the role of “civil society” in the EU. But the EPP's swipe at NGOs is no more than political opportunism.

The tech giant's lobby badges to access Parliament hang in the balance.

Written by Steven Blaakman.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 June as World Refugee Day, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

A refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin based on race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion, receives international protection from another state on its territory.

A call for solidarity with refugees

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that 120 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by May 2024, with over 43.4 million of them being refugees. In addition to that, at least 4.4 million people are stateless. With growing numbers of people being forced to flee their homes, the international day serves as a reminder that refugees need support more than ever. This year, World Refugee Day is focusing on solidarity with refugees. According to UNHCR, this means not only ending conflict so they can return home in safety, but also ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees.

Looking for protection in the European Union

Many displaced people around the world seek protection in the European Union (EU). After a peak in migrant arrivals in 2015 and 2016, followed by a decrease due to the pandemic, arrival numbers began rising again in 2021. In 2023, over a million first-time asylum-seekers applied for international protection in the EU, up 20 % from 2022 and the highest number since the peak in the 2015-2016 period. Additionally, over 4 million Ukrainians in the EU had received support under the Temporary Protection Directive by the end of March 2025. In addition to asylum-seekers arriving at EU borders, the EU has set up a system for all of its Member States to directly receive refugees from non-EU countries, such as Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan, currently hosting large numbers of asylum-seekers. This scheme is primarily based on EU cooperation with the UNHCR, which assists in resettling refugees directly from refugee camps. For the 2024-2025 period, 14 Member States have pledged to secure over 60 735 places for resettlement and humanitarian admission.

Solidarity and inclusion in the EU

The European Parliament has consistently called for solidarity with refugees. In its 2016 resolution on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration, Parliament emphasised that hosting Member States ‘must offer refugees support and opportunities to integrate and build a life in their new society’. While the responsibility for integration policies lies primarily with the Member States, the EU has established its guiding principles in the EU action plan on integration and inclusion (2021-2027) on support for national, regional and local authorities, as well as civil society. In December 2023, a permanent solidarity framework was established when Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on the asylum and migration pact, which included the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management, adopted in 2024.

The new rules, which will start to apply in July 2026, combine mandatory solidarity to support Member States that cannot cope with the number of irregular arrivals on their territory with flexibility for Member States in choosing how they contribute. Countries will not be required to relocate asylum seekers, but will have the option to provide financial contributions or help with capacity-building, such as providing staff and equipment.

This is an update of a 2024 At a Glance note written by Anita Orav.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘World Refugee Day 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

“Capabilities are paid for with euros, not GDP percentages,” Pedro Sánchez wrote in a letter to NATO chief Mark Rutte.

The letter includes no clear timeline as to when the European Commission should come up with a plan.

MEPs are likely to call for a stricter traineeships directive next month.

Lahbib will join EU lawmakers at the march as Orbán government and police move to block the event.

Euractiv is focused on "building a community of people who want to understand what is happening in Brussels and the rest of Europe".

As Europe faces growing environmental pressures, the future of agriculture depends on resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Euractiv’s recent Agrifood Policy Conference brought together EU policymakers, including Commissioner Hansen, alongside industry leaders, farmers, and civil society to explore how the sector can ensure sustainable productivity while remaining globally competitive.

In an interview with Euractiv, Adam Vojtěch, former Czech health minister, warns that dependence on countries like China has become a security issue, especially for essential medicines such as antibiotics.

Mainly, because people have fewer kids and move to other regions of the country.

MEPs want to extend EU recovery funding beyond 2026 to ensure the completion of key investments and large-scale projects.
Committee on Budgets
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs want to extend EU recovery funding beyond 2026 to ensure the completion of key investments and large-scale projects.
Committee on Budgets
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs welcome Montenegro´s objective to join the EU in 2028 and praise Moldova’s EU membership efforts in resolutions adopted on Wednesday.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs welcome Montenegro´s objective to join the EU in 2028 and praise Moldova’s EU membership efforts in resolutions adopted on Wednesday.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Lucia Vesnic-Alujevic with Georgios Saitis.

Driven by the rapid pace of technological change and the need for a human-centric approach to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), AI skills have a significant role in shaping the future European workforce. The growing skills gap in the EU, with almost half of the population lacking basic digital skills, including AI skills, poses a significant challenge for the future that needs to be addressed for the EU to maintain its competitiveness and manage regional disparities.

Several EU initiatives are under way, including the recently adopted union of skills communication and AI continent action plan. Fostering anticipatory governance, a culture of innovation, supporting diversity and inclusiveness in the AI workforce, and strengthening digital infrastructure are all critical to ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared by all, while minimising its negative impacts. Aligning with European values will be important to ensure fairness in this process. The EU’s future prosperity depends on using AI’s potential while basing it on a human-centric approach and ethical development, ensuring transparency and accountability, as well as prioritising people’s wellbeing.

Targeted investment in EU-wide digital infrastructure and education that emphasises lifelong learning and skills development could ensure balanced economic growth and competitiveness in the global talent market. By examining the multifaceted interaction between AI, skills and jobs, a way forward may be identified that focuses on the needs of EU citizens and ensures that the future European workforce – and citizens in general – are equipped to succeed in an increasingly automated and AI-driven economy.

Read the complete briefing on ‘What role for AI skills in (re-)shaping the future European workforce‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Computer science in education Potential impact of GenAI on jobs in different regions of the world

MEPs will investigate whether EU funds were misused for lobbying by environmental NGOs, following significant right-wing pressure.

The draft law approved by Parliament on Thursday lays down the first ever minimum EU standards for the breeding, housing, and handling of cats and dogs.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The draft law approved by Parliament on Thursday lays down the first ever minimum EU standards for the breeding, housing, and handling of cats and dogs.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Concerned about reports of the deportation and maltreatment, leading MEPs call on the Egyptian authorities to ensure the respect for human rights.
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP