European Union

Romania’s government talks stall as VAT hike disagreement blocks prime minister nomination and strains -again- coalition ties.

After 14 years of delays and UN criticism, Finland rewrites key law to let the Sami define who represents them.

Sweden’s struggling Liberals bet on 30-year-old Simona Mohamsson – a bold pick some see as too “woke,” despite her pivot on working with the far right.

Talks on the historic treaty had long been on ice but may now be completed as early as next month, Euractiv has learned.

Parts of the Commission’s new proposal risk creating a “procedural burden” that could undermine the returns regulation itself, Rome warns.

The UK's commitment to align with EU food rules in return for reduced checks includes a list of 'limited' exceptions – and foie gras could be on it.

The EU and Britain outspend Russia on defence – but clunky procurement, high prices and limited production mean Europe is still years away from countering the threat, two prominent think tanks find.

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