European Union

EU agriculture ministers meet next week, but the controversial trade deal is still opposed by France and Poland.

Eight museums across Europe have joined forces with a single goal: making cultural venues accessible to all. They are part of an innovative project aimed at breaking down the barriers that prevent people from disadvantaged backgrounds from enjoying exhibitions.

In response, China accused the EU of "double standards" over protectionism.

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

One focus of the June 2025 plenary session was the situation in the Middle East, with Members debating statements from Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, on the risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation, and the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed Parliament in a formal sitting, and spoke in particular on the implications of the crisis in the Middle East.

Members held further debates on international questions, including debating with Kallas on the upcoming NATO summit, on 24-26 June 2025. They also debated the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression, the rise in violence and the deepening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and the assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe and the threat to the democratic process and peace in Colombia.

Inside the EU, Members debated the state of play on illegal use of spyware and the follow-up two years after the PEGA inquiry committee recommendations, freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act, safeguarding the rule of law in Spain, the institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process, and the latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations.

Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, opened the session with a statement marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Area agreement.

Revision of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive

Today’s criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and exploitation are no longer fit for purpose. Members debated the proposed directive on combating child sexual abuse and endorsed the report from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) which urges increased maximum penalties for such offences, including recruiting children for prostitution and possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material, and proposes to remove limitation periods so that victims can claim compensation indefinitely. The committee also calls for criminalising the use of artificial intelligence systems for child sexual abuse. The vote sets Parliament’s negotiating mandate on the legislative proposal.

Welfare of dogs and cats

Members adopted the Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committee report on a proposal for new rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, setting the mandate for trilogue negotiations. The initiative would establish EU-wide minimum standards for the first time, covering – among other things – the accommodation, care, and treatment of these animals. It puts forward uniform EU rules for the welfare of dogs and cats in breeding establishments, pet shops, and shelters, introducing minimum standards for their housing, care, and handling. It also includes strict traceability requirements and automated checks to control the breeding and trade of these animals.

Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)

The main investment tool underpinning the EU’s Next Generation EU (NGEU) response to COVID-19, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), finances reform and investment in EU countries. Members held a debate and adopted a joint report from the Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), which looks at how the RRF has been implemented to date. The report acknowledges the RRF’s stabilising effect and notes that the Member States even exceeded their green and digital targets. However, implementation delays are a key concern, particularly in the impact on repaying NGEU debt. To boost transparency and traceability, the report calls for improved data on the use of RRF funding, and greater Parliament involvement in ensuring scrutiny and accountability.

Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy

Home to a quarter of Europe’s population and occupying the majority of the EU’s territory, rural areas face economic, social, demographic and structural challenges that affect their economic growth and development. Members debated an own-initiative report from the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy. The report underlines the demographic and structural challenges facing these regions, vital for food and water supplies. It emphasises the need for investment in transport, digital connectivity, agriculture, tourism and essential public services. It also underlines that young people, and women in particular, need more support to thrive in rural areas. The report urges the Commission to prepare a new rural strategy and to secure sufficient funding for rural areas.

Commission’s fifth rule of law report

Members adopted a resolution drafted by the LIBE committee on the Commission’s fifth annual rule of law report, which looks at the state of the rule of law in all Member States plus four candidate countries. The LIBE report on the Commission’s work highlights gaps on prison conditions and the quality of administrative justice. It also regrets that some non-governmental organisations face restrictions, and urges all Member States to support media freedom and implement the Anti-SLAPP Directive and Parliament’s PEGA inquiry committee recommendations. The report highlights the continued need for EU governments to act on LGBTIQ rights, anti-Semitism, islamophobia, and equality and non-discrimination for third-country nationals legally residing in the EU.

Commission reports on Montenegro and Moldova

Members debated and adopted reports from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on the Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on EU accession prospects for Montenegro and Moldova. Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations began in 2012, and AFET’s report welcomes the country’s ambitious plan to join the EU in 2028, recognising its commitment to EU accession and confirming Parliament’s full support for future EU membership. To ensure progress however, the report stresses the need for political stability and the effective implementation of adopted reforms. While the report underlines Montenegro‘s full alignment with EU common foreign and security policy, it also outlines malign foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns as central concerns. Moldova also faces significant challenges, not least the impact of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and interference in its democratic processes. AFET’s report on Moldova underlines the need for authorities to deal with fundamental issues such as money laundering and corruption, and calls for EU support for justice reform. While Moldova‘s EU accession negotiations began more recently, in 2024, the AFET report nevertheless emphasises the country’s steady progress on its reforms.

The United Kingdom’s accession to the Hague Judgments Convention

Members posed an oral question to the Commission on the United Kingdom’s planned accession to the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention. Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming the UK’s accession, recognising its benefit for citizens and companies alike by ‘simplifying the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters’.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

One decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, from the LIBE committee on a proposal on enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; and enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes, was approved without vote.

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

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about Belgium leading a push to pressure the EU to end trade with Israeli settlements, the Commission sending Athens to the Court of Justice for failing to implement noise action plans, and so much more.

Europe can no longer afford to outsource critical components of its digital future, including the training of its digital workforce. Digital skills are not just about employment – they are about power.

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.