European Union

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/960 of 20  May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/957 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/1484 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/936 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/931 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

Written by Sebastian Clapp.

Military drones have become a defining feature of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine where they have caused more casualties than any other weapon. Their widespread use spans reconnaissance, strikes, logistics and naval operations, with both state and non-state players increasingly relying on unmanned systems.

The European Union (EU) has prioritised drone development and countermeasures, funding and coordinating research and capability development through the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation. EU leaders have committed to strengthening the defence industry and made major investments in drone production, innovation, and interoperability. The EU is also fostering synergies between the civilian and the defence sectors, addressing strategic dependencies and collaborating with NATO. Furthermore, the European Defence Agency is advancing unmanned aerial system technology through joint projects and its innovation hub.

Meanwhile, drone regulation remains fragmented: civilian drones are subject to comprehensive EU rules, while military drone use falls under international law. Legal concerns persist, especially regarding proportionality, accountability and lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS). The European Parliament has called for transparency, adherence to international law and a ban on LAWS, while supporting defence innovation and proposing an EU drone package to stimulate joint procurement and industry participation, particularly from Ukraine. EU lawmakers continue to stress the need for ethical guardrails, robust export controls and a coherent regulatory framework that balances innovation with international legal obligations. The Parliament also emphasises the importance of meaningful human control over all lethal decisions and insists that military artificial intelligence include strong accountability mechanisms.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Military drone systems in the EU and global context: Types, capabilities and regulatory frameworks‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Poland's government is trying to win back the hearts of farmers by claiming that their lobbying has "stopped the inflow of Ukrainian agricultural products”. But their overtures have fallen on deaf ears.

"See you soon, when you agree to respect the laws of the Republic!", posted French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz on X.

Poland ranks second in the Visegrad region for access to new treatments, yet patients still endure long waits and restrictions, especially for chronic diseases.

"We are being flooded by cheap foreign steel," EUROFER said in a statement.

Le Pen’s council seat loss casts doubt over who will lead the party ahead of the 2027 presidential race.

The announcement comes as Sweden struggles to handle an influx of new inmates arising from a wave of gang crime.

The extension will provide “legal certainty for EU member states, reassurance for Ukrainians, and avoid burdening national asylum systems,” Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said.

Swedish parliamentarians are demanding the formalisation of regional healthcare norms to reduce health inequalities. Services targeted include breast cancer, and the number of hospital beds per capita.

Europe is entering a critical phase in its digital transformation. With the new Commission mandate underway, this plenary session will focus on the 2030 Digital Decade targets while examining how policies can be translated into tangible outcomes.

Citizens are calling on the European Parliament to address the export of pesticides that are banned in the EU. Many citizens have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since May 2025, asking her to advocate for legislative measures to prohibit their production and export entirely.

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President:

Main elements of our reply

The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the European Commission to take action to prohibit the export from the EU of hazardous substances banned in the EU.

In a resolution from 2021, Parliament called for the EU to stop all exports of pesticides banned in the EU, in line with the EU’s commitments to policy coherence for development, the Green Deal, the ‘do no harm’ principle and the Rotterdam Convention. In another 2021 resolution, Parliament stressed that the EU should support developing countries to help them reduce the imprudent use of pesticides and promote other methods to protect plants and fishery resources.

In 2024, the European Parliament rejected two Commission proposals to allow higher pesticides levels in imported food. Parliament stressed that allowing higher maximum residue levels for imports would jeopardise citizens’ health, both in Europe and in the producing countries.

In 2023, the European Parliament held a debate on the sustainable use of pesticides. You can watch the video of the debate on the Parliament multimedia website. The transcription is also available (in the language of the speaker).

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

The European Commission also announced that it would urge member states to acknowledge Romania’s “non-effective action” to address its deficit, which could lead to financial penalties as early as this autumn.

The announcement comes in spite of major anti-euro protests across the country, with many citizens concerned that the currency switch could trigger steep price increases.

The four-party coalition government in The Hague has collapsed. Geert Wilders' right-wing populist PVV had presented plans for a significant tightening of the asylum laws last week and made the party's continued participation conditional on their acceptance, but the three other coalition partners rejected the ultimatum. After a crisis meeting on Tuesday, the PVV recalled its ministers and Prime Minister Dick Schoof resigned. Europe's press takes stock and looks ahead.