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European Parliamentary Research Service
@ep-eprs.bsky.social
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The European Parliament's in-house research service: independent, objective briefing on EU issues, policy & law
europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en

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📆 SAVE THE DATE

Join our annual EPRS policy roundtable on 10 issues to watch in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

We will explore 10 of the major issues that are likely to shape next year

⏰ 14 January (13:00-14:30)
📍 European Parliament + online
✍️ Register by 9 January for accreditation link.europa.eu/4jp6x4

#EPRSevents
Poster of the annual EPRS policy roundtable on ten issues to watch in 2026. This event will take place on 14 January (13:00-14:30) at the European Parliament in Brussels (SPAAK 4B1) and online.
December 22, 2025 at 11:06 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🔭 #Foresight is shaping how the EU prepares for the future

By combining evidence, expertise and scenarios, policy foresight strengthens agenda-setting and strategic planning

link.europa.eu/K7PDyT

#StrategicForesight

@afet.europarl.europa.eu @econ.europarl.europa.eu @inta.europarl.europa.eu
December 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🧰 With the growing weaponisation of trade, the EU's trade defence tools are increasingly relevant. What are they?

Watch 👇

Read link.europa.eu/qRRtDQ

@inta.europarl.europa.eu @bernd-lange.bsky.social @manonaubryfr.bsky.social @karinkarlsbro.bsky.social @kvanbrempt.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Parliament's adoption of the new pact on migration & asylum confirmed its willingness to take 'an important step to a common European asylum & migration policy that is well functioning and long-term'

link.europa.eu/4MGC33

#InternationalMigrantsDay
@afet.europarl.europa.eu @libe.europarl.europa.eu
Ukrainian refugee making pastries in a bakery
December 18, 2025 at 9:35 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
📆 Last week, EPRS hosted an #ECPRD seminar focusing on the use of data visualisation in parliaments.

📊 Turning complex information into clear, concise visuals is key for parliaments.

Thanks to all speakers including EP Vice-President Victor Negrescu

#EPRSevents
Group picture of the EPRS-ECPRD joint seminar on data visualisation for all four Areas of Interest (11 December 2025)
December 18, 2025 at 8:42 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
The #EuropeanCouncil meets on 18–19 Dec, with EU support for #Ukraine high on the agenda.

Read our latest briefing on financing Ukraine in 2026 and 2027
👉 link.europa.eu/V7Ygmt

@afet.europarl.europa.eu @sede.europarl.europa.eu @masz.bsky.social @peto69.bsky.social @hbrandstaetter.bsky.social
EU and Ukrainian flags in front of the European Council building
December 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Less milk, weight loss, hide damage, trade restrictions & costly biosecurity measures cause big economic losses

They all result from lumpy skin disease in cattle

How does it affect EU farmers and how can we tackle it? 

link.europa.eu/48xkGC

@agri.europarl.europa.eu @erics40.bsky.social
Dairy cows standing in individual stalls
December 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
The value of Russian assets immobilised worldwide is estimated at around €300bn

Parliament has repeatedly demanded such assets be used to support Ukraine's defence against Russia's occupation forces

👉 link.europa.eu/V7Ygmt

@afet.europarl.europa.eu @hbrandstaetter.bsky.social @peto69.bsky.social
EU and Ukrainian flags at the EP buildings in Brussels to mark the 1000 days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
December 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🔎 What is the role of national parliaments in scrutinising the #EuropeanCouncil meetings?

How do they hold their national representative to account for their participation in #EUCO meetings?

Read our study comparing scrutiny activities between EU countries and the EU level 👉 link.europa.eu/Q8HwT6
View of MEPs in the hemicycle of the European Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025
December 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
⏰ The #EuropeanCouncil meeting is taking place on 18-19 Dec in Brussels

Who are the current members?
👉 link.europa.eu/gWM6kG

What is the outlook for the final #EUCO meeting of 2025?
👉 link.europa.eu/nBGrfK
Current membership of the European Council (as of 16 December 2025)
December 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🏠 Housing affordability is a rising challenge in the EU

Today, the European Commission is presenting in plenary the new European Affordable #Housing Plan

Watch 👇

Read: wp.me/p2qdgs-ikO

@dirkgotink.bsky.social @vicentmarza.bsky.social @ciaranmulloolymep.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🔋 Batteries are key to the EU’s clean energy transition, but challenges persist

Today, the Commission is set present in plenary of the new Automotive package including the Battery Booster Strategy

🔎 link.europa.eu/3fXPvn

@itre.europarl.europa.eu @envi.europarl.europa.eu @borys-budka.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:16 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Parliament aims to increase transparency of the #RuleofLaw conditionality regime

Plenary debate: 17 Dec
Vote: 18 Dec

Rapp: @jmgermain.bsky.social @monika-hohlmeier.bsky.social

#EPlenary @budg.europarl.europa.eu @cont.europarl.europa.eu
EPRS plenary note on 'Implementation of the rule of law conditionality regime' (December 2025)
December 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Today: debate in plenary on #ECI 'My voice, my choice: for safe and accessible abortion' initiative

@femm.europarl.europa.eu calls for EU countries to align their abortion laws with human rights standards

Vote: 17 Dec

#EPlenary @linagalvez.eu @abiralsahlani.bsky.social @irenemonterog.bsky.social
EPRS plenary note on 'European Citizens’ Initiative ‘My voice, my choice: for safe and accessible abortion' (December 2025)
December 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Innovation is a top EU priority.

A compulsory patent licensing scheme could facilitate rapid use of patents during crises while preserving innovation incentives through patent protection.

Vote: 16 Dec

Read ↓

#EPlenary @juri.europarl.europa.eu @woelken.eu
EPRS plenary note on 'EU compulsory licensing of patents for crisis management' (December 2025)
December 16, 2025 at 8:36 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
What is in the 2025 US National Security Strategy #NSS?  President Trump's agenda features prominently, including on Europe

Read: link.europa.eu/jfMPTQ

@afet.europarl.europa.eu @sede.europarl.europa.eu @epdiplomacy.bsky.social @masz.bsky.social @sophiewilmes.bsky.social @rasmusandresen.bsky.social
US flag
December 15, 2025 at 12:09 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Military mobility allow EU countries to efficiently move troops and equipment across the EU

Plenary debate: 16 Dec
Vote: 17 Dec

Read ↓

#EPlenary @sede.europarl.europa.eu @tran.europarl.europa.eu @masz.bsky.social @francoiskalfon.bsky.social @devauxvalerie.bsky.social @mstakis.bsky.social
EPRS plenary note on 'Military mobility' (December 2025)
December 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Accelerated investment in defence programmes aims to strengthen the EU's response to geopolitical threats

Plenary debate: 15 Dec
Vote: 16 Dec

Rapp: Rihards Kols

#EPlenary @itre.europarl.europa.eu @borys-budka.bsky.social @wouterbeke.bsky.social @loekkegaard-mep.venstre.dk @saramo.bsky.social
EPRS plenary note on 'Enhancing EU defence investments' (December 2025)
December 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
The #SakharovPrize will be awarded tomorrow to journalists Andrzej Poczobut & Mzia Amaglobeli

Both were jailed for defending freedom of expression and democracy in their respective countries, Belarus & Georgia

Read link.europa.eu/m67rfY

#EPlenary @droi.europarl.europa.eu @afet.europarl.europa.eu
Two people holding hands, with text reading 'The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought'. There is a European Parliament logo at the bottom of the visual, with the words 'Democracy in action' written underneath.
December 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
#CAP simplification aims at easing the administrative burden for farmers.

Plenary debate: 15 Dec
Vote: 16 Dec

Rapporteur: André Rodrigues

Read ↓

#EPlenary @agri.europarl.europa.eu @thomaswaitz.bsky.social @lukemingflanagan.bsky.social @erics40.bsky.social
EPRS plenary note on CAP simplification agreement (December 2025)
December 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
📊 Our latest Economic Outlook Quarterly of 2025 is online.

🔎 What is the state of the EU economy?
EU growth, fiscal deficits, inflation, US tariffs, etc.
Explore ➡️ link.europa.eu/4hy4mk

@econ.europarl.europa.eu @inta.europarl.europa.eu @budg.europarl.europa.eu @fisc.europarl.europa.eu
December 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
Visual reading 'The new European grids package aims to: strengthen energy independence, modernise the EU energy system, boost interconnection, further integrate renewable energies. Source: European Commission, communication on European Grids Package (10 December 2025)
December 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
⚡️ Reducing energy dependencies is essential for Europe's strategic autonomy

Next week, MEPs will debate in plenary the new European grids package with the European Commission

🔎 Read our briefing link.europa.eu/94HK

@itre.europarl.europa.eu @borys-budka.bsky.social @yvanverougstraete.bsky.social
Data visualisation reading 'Electricity cannot move efficiently in the EU, causing grid congestion' and showing grid congestion based on electricity price spreads across EU bidding zones, in 2024. Source: EPRS, based on EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), 2025'
December 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
🌍 What is the status of climate action 10 years after the #ParisAgreement?

Read our latest briefing 👉 link.europa.eu/cy6MnJ

@envi.europarl.europa.eu @anjahazekamp.bsky.social
Notebook for the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015.
December 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
ep-eprs.bsky.social
International and EU anti-corruption efforts have translated into a multi-layered policy and legal framework.

Read more in our note on International Anti-Corruption Day: link.europa.eu/j7VW6q

@juri.europarl.europa.eu
Picture of a man refusing an envelope offered by another man.
December 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM