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Ukraine has opened its first railway line based on the EU standard for track width. It marks a significant step in the country’s transport integration with the EU. The new 22-km railway line will prevent delays caused by the previous need to change trains at the EU-Ukraine border.

Europe's supercomputer, JUPITER, has become the first European system to achieve the exascale threshold. It means that it is performing more than one quintillion (10¹⁸) operations per second, a computing power level comparable to aggregating the computing capabilities of 1 million new smartphones.

People across the EU want action to address inflation, the cost of living, energy prices, the housing crisis and the growing impact of extreme weather events. Discover what the Commission has been doing to meet these challenges ahead of President von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech next week.

Europol coordinated a joint action between Brazilian and Irish police authorities against a criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation of victims originating from South America. The mainly Brazilian criminal network was active in Ireland and across several EU countries.

Following the strong earthquake that hit north-eastern Afghanistan, the EU has approved €1 million in humanitarian emergency funding to address the most urgent needs of the affected population. The EU will also donate around 130 tonnes of relief supplies such as tents, clothes, and medical supplies.

A new survey reveals that 56% of EU citizens are in favour of further EU enlargement. Support is particularly high among young people with around 66% of respondents aged 15 to 39 in favour. A majority (56%) also believe their own country would benefit from future enlargement.

The European Commission has tabled two proposals to help implement the 21 August EU-US Joint Statement. They eliminate tariffs on US industrial goods and provide preferential market access to US seafood, among other measures. This will ensure tariff relief by the US for the EU automotive sector.

A new wave of projects has secured funding as part of the EU's mission to restore our ocean and waters. €116 million will go towards 13 projects that will deliver benefits not only to ocean and waters in the EU and beyond, but also the communities that rely on them.

During the past week, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help deal with forest fires – many of which are occurring simultaneously across Europe.

Follow Sven, Elena and Sofia as they embark on an exciting trip across Europe and discover the benefits the EU brings to your daily life. From study opportunities and ticket compensation claims to using your phone abroad and the euro, there’s all sorts of ways the EU improves your life. Read on.

27 international partners, including Foreign Ministers from 17 EU countries, are calling to authorise all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operation on the ground in Gaza.

The EU generates 42.5 million tonnes of plastic waste per year. A Commission study analyses the plastic materials flows in the EU in 2022 and suggests possible ways to reduce environmental impacts.

New EU rules to better protect journalists, their sources and press freedom apply in all EU countries as of 8 August 2025. Among other measures, the new rules enhance transparency of media outlet ownership, improve allocation of state advertising, and strengthen public media independence.

Thanks to harmonised EU rules on travelling with pets, your cats, dogs, and indeed, ferrets, enjoy freedom of movement within the EU. All you need to have for your pet before they set off on their travels, is an up-to-date EU pet passport, which you can get from any authorised vet.

Applications are open for the design of future euro banknotes. The European Central Bank has selected two themes for the notes: “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”. The public will be invited to give feedback on winning designs. Designers across Europe have until 18 August to apply.

Expedia and Lastminute.com are the latest online travel agencies to commit to refund tickets within 14 days for a cancelled flight. They join three other online travel agencies which committed to the same, following talks with the European Commission and Consumer Protection Cooperation network.

The EU’s accessibility act came into force in June, ensuring that key products and services – such as phones, computers, TVs, banking and payment services, public transport, e-commerce platforms – are accessible to persons with disabilities. Some 100 million people in the EU live with a disability.

The Cool Noons project, co-funded by the EU, has created 15 walkable green paths to keep tourists cool during the summer heat in Lisbon, Marseille, Imola, Dubrovnik and Budva. It is helping establish new practices in sustainable tourism by devising cool urban spaces with fountains and green areas.

You can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary or urgent medical care when travelling abroad, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. It’s valid in any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Read more.