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New figures show 3% fewer people died on European roads in 2025 compared to 2024. Some 19,400 road fatalities were reported in 2025, 580 fewer than the previous year. However, most EU countries are not yet on track to meet the EU's goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

The EU and Australia have concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement. It will remove over 99% of tariffs on EU exports to Australia, improve access to critical raw materials, and strengthen strategic ties with the Indo-Pacific. They also signed a Security and Defence Partnership.

Some 54 clean industry projects will receive €2.7 billion of funding from the EU’s Innovation Fund. The projects span 17 countries and will support innovative, decarbonisation solutions such as refineries, cement and lime, renewable energy, as well as maritime, aviation and road transport.

Creative Europe will fund the translation of nearly 500 works of fiction from 36 into 24 languages. In the next three years, the works, mostly youth literature and novels, will be made available to readers across Europe and beyond, showcasing the rich linguistic diversity of European literature.

This week marks 10 years since the terrorist attacks in Brussels in 2016. As commemorations take place to remember the victims and survivors, we take look at what the EU is doing to fight terrorism and extremism and to boost security.

At the EU summit, leaders agreed on concrete measures and deadlines to strengthen EU competitiveness. They also addressed the situation in Iran and energy security, the EU's long-term budget, Ukraine and defence.

The European Commission has presented EU Inc., a new single set of corporate rules that will be the same and apply across the EU. This will make it easier for businesses to start, operate and grow across the EU. Its optional, fully digital procedures will enable innovative companies to scale up.

The EU is supplying €458 million in humanitarian aid for Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt in 2026. The aid mostly comprises food assistance, health, protection, shelter and education. With many other donors withdrawing from the region, the EU is sustaining life-saving aid to millions.

Europol has successfully led an international operation targeting organised crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime. Over 1,000 inspections took place on five continents and investigators seized large amounts of harmful substances.

The Commission has presented steps to boost investment in homegrown clean energy solutions, increase resilience, and reduce energy prices. Speeding up the shift to clean energy is essential to secure Europe’s strategic independence, competitiveness, and long-term sustainable growth.

Two repatriation flights chartered by the European Commission have brought back 356 European citizens who were stranded in the Middle East from Oman to Romania. So far, the EU has supported 42 flights, bringing over 4,100 European citizens safely back to EU countries. More flights are planned.

Projects in seven EU countries will receive EU funding worth more than €103 million to improve public health and quality of life across the continent. They focus notably on climate and water resilience, nature restoration, circular economy and sustainable land use.

In a year where the world became more volatile and fragmented, the EU assumed more responsibility for its own security and stepped up efforts to boost its defence. It also continued to deliver for citizens and businesses. Find out more from the General report on the activities of the EU in 2025.

A deal has been struck on new measures that will help stabilise farmers’ income. The agreement will help set fair prices for farmers’ products; establish clearer labelling and advertising rules and for the first time, stricter labelling rules for some meat products.

Ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, the European Commission has presented its gender equality strategy for 2026-2030. It sets out concrete actions to empower women and girls, engage men and boys, oppose any backtracking on fundamental rights, and accelerate progress.

According to the first EU data on minimum wages for 2026, minimum wages in the EU ranged on 1 January from €620 per month in Bulgaria to €2 704 in Luxembourg. Find out more about why the minimum wage is key and why wages don’t tell the full story when it comes to local spending power.

Safety Gate, the European rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, recorded the highest number of alerts (4,671) last year since its launch in 2003. The most frequently reported dangerous products were cosmetics (36%), toys (16%) and electrical appliances and equipment (11%).

A new EU report finds a significant link between exposure to pollution (air, noise and chemicals) and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The report gives the latest scientific findings on the topic and offers courses of action, like the positive effects of nature on mental wellbeing.

The EU has signed a package of agreements with Switzerland that will help deepen and expand their mutual relationship. It enables frictionless access to a market of 460 million consumers in key sectors, delivering economic benefits to both sides.