European Union

EU citizens should have more ways to get a car checked, but frequency of mandatory tests should not change, say Transport and Tourism Committee MEPs.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

EU citizens should have more ways to get a car checked, but frequency of mandatory tests should not change, say Transport and Tourism Committee MEPs.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Marketa Pape

While the right to housing is recognised by the European Pillar of Social Rights, the supply of housing in the EU has not kept up with demand. The recent cost-of living crisis has made the lack of adequate, affordable and sustainable housing more palpable. While the responsibility for housing provision lies with EU Member States, regions and cities, the debates around the 2024 European elections showed that citizens expected the EU to step up its action beyond guidance and funding.

In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made housing part of a Commissioner’s portfolio. In parallel, all EU institutions started work to contribute to the new EU policy.

More than a year later, the basis of a coordinated EU approach is in place. European leaders have for the first time discussed the challenge of affordable housing in the European Council. Existing EU rules have been reviewed and EU funding possibilities made more flexible.The European Investment Bank has stepped up its investment support and, together with partner banks, is finalising a pan-European housing investment portal.

The Commission has put forward the European affordable housing plan and accompanying initiatives, which included changes to State aid rules, a housing construction strategy and a proposed recommendation on the New European Bauhaus policy and funding initiative. The Commission also outlined further steps, including legislative ones.

For its part, the European Parliament has put forward a set of recommendations prepared by its Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, ranging from simpler and digital procedures for granting housing permits – within a 60-day deadline – to tax measures to support low- and middle-income households.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Developing a coordinated EU approach to housing‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Written by Alessandro D’Alfonso, Marin Mileusnic and Tim Peters.

CONTEXT

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities (‘performance regulation’), as part of a wide-ranging package on the next EU long-term budget – the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF). The proposal aims to simplify and harmonise how EU spending is tracked and its performance measured, moving towards a single system with standardised indicators. It defines horizontal spending principles with a view to streamlining their application across the EU budget: climate and biodiversity, ‘do no significant harm’ to the environment, social policies, and gender equality. Although competitiveness and preparedness play a major role in the next long-term budget, and the European Parliament had requested to include them as horizontal spending principles, the Commission did not include them.

Ahead of the proposal, Parliament had called for further improvements in performance reporting under the EU budget, while underlining that the ‘implementation of horizontal principles should not lead to an excessive administrative burden on beneficiaries’. A stronger performance framework can improve Parliament’s decision-making on EU spending through more transparency. However, increased transparency from a proposed single portal to access EU budgetary data will depend on what information is made available. A briefing requested by Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control underlined that improved access to information – such as exchanges between the Commission and Member States, or to information about suspended milestones – was essential for public accountability. According to the European Court of Auditors, the proposal can improve processes for performance reporting and integration of EU horizontal policy priorities, but has design weaknesses to be addressed, including vague indicators, lack of clear results-based linkages, and risks of measuring implementation rather than achievements. The Court estimates that the proposal may achieve simplification between the Commission and the Member States, but that the administrative burden at national, regional and beneficiary levels may remain unchanged or even worsen.

Legislative proposal

2025/0545(COD) – Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities – COM(2025) 565,

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule: 2025/0545(COD)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Budget expenditure tracking and performance framework‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Les prix flambent déjà, et beaucoup de Serbes s'attendent à des temps difficiles. Les prévisions du FMI et de la Banque mondiale sont inquiétantes et la crise touchera surtout les plus pauvres. Le blocage des taxes sur les carburants pourrait même se révéler contre-productif.

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Written by Clare Fergurson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

Members also debated how to ensure accountability and justice in response to Russia’s continued attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine; and the danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events. Members also discussed how to support democratic resilience in Armenia; the situation on the implementation of a ceasefire in Lebanon, peace efforts and humanitarian access; as well as Sudan’s ‘abandoned’ humanitarian crisis. Further debates covered the presentation of the Better Regulation and Enforcement Communication from the European Commission; the need for targeted criminal provisions and platforms’ responsibility to effectively address cyberbullying and online harassment; the need to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life in Europe, following the recent attacks against the Jewish community in the Netherlands and Belgium; and Roma inclusion, equality and fundamental rights.

2028-2034 EU budget: Parliament’s position

Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate for the EU’s 2028-2034 budget following a debate on the interim report on the multiannual financial framework (MFF). The report of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) defends a budget set at 1.27 % of the EU’s gross national income (GNI), excluding Next Generation EU (NGEU) repayment. This is a 10 % increase compared with the Commission proposal. BUDG also calls for a budget of €385.12 billion to be ringfenced for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF, with a €274.34 billion budget for cohesion policy. In terms of governance and rule of law, Members are concerned that the proposed budget weakens transparency, and stress that the Commission must apply the necessary legal provisions in cases where the EU’s financial interests are threatened.

Guidelines for the 2027 budget

Members adopted guidelines for the 2027 budget, following the debate held during the March session. The 2027 annual EU budget will be the last one under the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), which covers 2021 to 2027. The European Parliament’s set of guidelines contribute to the preparation of next year’s budget, with the Commission expected to adopt the draft 2027 budget in early summer.

Discharge 2024

Members granted discharge for the 2024 financial year to the various institutions and bodies of the EU, except for the Council and European Council. The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) had recommended granting discharge to the Commission and all six executive agencies, but raised concerns about the rule of law and corruption, calling on the Commission to ensure the EU budget is protected. Likewise, CONT recommended granting discharge to seven of the eight other institutions, but yet again recommended postponing discharge for the European Council and the Council of the EU. The Council refuses to acknowledge Parliament’s oversight role, and Parliament has therefore not granted discharge since 2009. The CONT committee also recommended granting discharge for all 33 EU decentralised agencies, but raised concerns about financial risks including rising EU debt and structural weaknesses in financial management, staffing and procurement.

Omnibus VI – chemicals

Rising energy costs and a decline in demand are affecting Europe’s chemicals industry. Parliament supports simplification of certain requirements but prioritises consumer protection and clear labelling. In April 2026, Members of the Committees on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) opposed the Commission’s proposals to extend the time before bans are applied on the use of carcinogenic substances in cosmetic products as well as the removal of certain text requirements to ensure labels remain legible for consumers. Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate for the ‘Omnibus VI proposal’, which aims at simplifying rules for chemicals, cosmetics and fertiliser manufacturing.

Emissions accounting in transport services

Transport is responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Nevertheless, EU countries have to rely on emissions calculation tools with limited reliability in their efforts to cut emissions. Parliament adopted a proposed common framework to calculate GHG emissions from both freight and passenger transport. This follows a trilogue agreement reached by negotiators from the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The agreed text, which Parliament considered at second reading, backs the Commission proposal for a single EU methodology and calls for a free public calculation tool to make data widely available. This universal methodology means a reduction in the administrative burden and allow for greater transparency and fairer comparison between services.

Generalised scheme of preferences

Reform of EU trade with less developed countries is on the horizon, and Members adopted a provisional agreement on revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation. Following negotiations between Parliament and the Council in December 2025, the agreed text includes the addition of new human rights and environmental treaties, which participating countries must ratify to benefit from trade preferences, as well as stricter criteria that must be met before GSP countries can see their preferential tariffs withdrawn for non-cooperation in the readmission of migrants illegally present in the EU. As adopted, the legislation would apply from 1 January 2027.

Consent-based definition of rape

As combating sexual violence and violence against women remains an urgent issue globally, Parliament continues to support a strong and survivor-centred legal framework. Members debated and adopted a joint own-initiative report from Parliament’s Committees on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which calls on the Commission to propose EU legislation to define rape based on consent, in line with the Istanbul Convention. The report reiterates Parliament’s previous call to make gender-based violence a specific area of EU crime, stresses that legislation should also apply to virtual acts of sexual assault, and should consider circumstances in which giving consent is precluded. This marks a renewed legislative effort on reform after provisions on a consent-based definition of rape were not included in the EU directive adopted in 2024.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Five decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations – one from the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) on registration documents for vehicles and vehicle registration data recorded in national vehicle registers; one from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on Directive 2004/37/EC as regards the addition of substances and setting limit values; two from the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee on economic and budgetary surveillance of Member States in the euro area experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability, and on alignment with the EU economic governance framework and further simplification of that framework; as well as from Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Fisheries (PECH) committees on empowering France to accede to the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles – were approved.

This ‘at a glance’ note is intended to review some of the highlights of the plenary part-session, and notably to follow up on key dossiers identified by EPRS. It does not aim to be exhaustive. For more detailed information on specific files, please see other EPRS products, notably our ‘EU legislation in progress’ briefings, and the plenary minutes.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘Plenary round-up – April 2026‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

On 4 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the sixth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 4 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the sixth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

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Committee meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

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