ISMU InfoFlash dall’Europa
Aggiornamenti a dicembre 2025
(18/12) Commission welcomes political agreement on new rules to facilitate the application of the safe third country concept. The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on new rules that will facilitate Member States’ application of the safe third country concept. These will help Member States accelerate the processing of asylum applications, reduce pressure on asylum systems, and reduce incentives for illegal migration to the EU, while preserving the legal safeguards for applicants and ensuring respect of fundamental rights. The safe third country concept allows Member States to consider an asylum application inadmissible when applicants could receive effective protection in a third country that is considered safe for them. Full press release here.
(16/12) Commission takes action for more affordable housing across Europe. With the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan presented today, the Commission addresses one of the most pressing needs of European citizens: access to affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing. With an average increase of house prices by more than 60%, and of rents by more than 20% in the past ten years, millions of Europeans are struggling to find a home they can afford. By hurting labour mobility, access to education, and family formation, the housing crisis is hampering both the competitiveness of the EU economy and our social cohesion. Tackling this crisis requires a truly European effort anchored in local realities. The Commission will therefore support Member States, regions and cities by taking action where it can bring added EU value. This Plan focuses on increasing housing supply, triggering investment and reforms, addressing short-term rentals in areas under housing stress, and supporting the people most affected. Full press release here.
(11/12) Digital skills should receive the same amount of attention at school as reading, mathematics, and science latest Eurobarometer reveals. Nine in ten Europeans would include digital skills into education at all levels, according to a new Eurobarometer survey published today. The ‘Future Needs in Digital Education’ survey reveals citizens’ views on the importance of digital skills in education, including the role of teachers, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and the benefits and challenges of technology in teaching and learning. Full press release here.
(10/12) Commission hosts Second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling. The European Commission is hosting the Second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Brussels today. The Conference brings together more than 80 delegations, many at ministerial level, from EU Member States and international partners, along with high representatives from international organisations, committed to strengthening global cooperation against migrant smuggling. President Ursula von der Leyen opened the event with a keynote speech. The smuggling of migrants remains a grave concern, with criminal networks having links to other serious criminal offences, such as money laundering, corruption and trafficking in drugs. The Global Alliance is a key element of the Commission’s approach to countering migrant smuggling worldwide, as underlined in the 2024-2029 political guidelines and in President Ursula von der Leyen‘s 2025 State of the Union address. Full press release here.
(4/12) Commission sets out roadmap for future-proof quality jobs in a competitive EU. Today, the European Commission presented the Quality Jobs Roadmap, a strong commitment to improving job quality and creating high-quality and future-proof jobs in Europe. The Commission also launched a first-stage consultation on the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, a new legislative proposal to ensure workers’ rights while keeping up with technological, economic and societal changes. Adequate wages and quality jobs are essential to boost productivity, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and protect against in-work poverty. While job quality in the EU is generally high, workers continue to feel the impact of global crises and rising living costs. At the same time, companies face labour and skills shortages while striving to remain competitive in a fast-changing global environment. Full press release here.
(27/11) Commission launches Skills Guarantee to support workers in transition learning new skills for strategic sectors. Today, the European Commission has launched a new scheme – the Skills Guarantee – to support workers and businesses and tackle labour shortages in strategic and growing sectors. A flagship initiative under the Union of Skills, the Skills Guarantee will reinforce strategic sectors in line with the future European Competitiveness Fund. Ιt will enable workers to transition into strategic industries, secure new jobs, and develop additional skills. Full press release here.
(18/11) Commission welcomes political agreement on the EU Talent Pool, making the EU more attractive to skilled talent from outside the EU. The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the EU Talent Pool. Once in place, the EU Talent Pool will be the first EU-wide platform to facilitate international recruitment of jobseekers residing outside the EU. This is a key step in making the EU more attractive to skilled talent from outside the EU, and hence more competitive globally. As part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration set out in the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Talent Pool will offer opportunities for labour mobility and contribute to the EU’s competitiveness agenda by helping Member States attract and retain global talent. Participation in the Talent Pool is voluntary for Member States. Full press release here.
(12/11) European Democracy Shield and EU Strategy for Civil Society pave the way for stronger and more resilient democracies. The Commission has presented today the European Democracy Shield, setting out a series of concrete measures to empower, protect, and promote strong and resilient democracies across the EU. An open civic space is at the core of our democracies, and this is why the Commission has also put forward an EU Strategy for Civil Society, for stronger engagement, protection and support to civil society organisations who play essential roles in our societies. Both initiatives had been outlined in the political guidelines and this year’s State of the Union address by President von der Leyen. The European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society present measures to protect the key pillars of our democratic systems: free people, free and fair elections, free and independent media, a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.
Full press release here.
(10/11) Switzerland joins Horizon Europe and other key EU research and innovation programmes. The European Union and Switzerland have signed the agreement on Switzerland’s participation in Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and the Euratom Research & Training (R&T) programme. The agreement places Swiss researchers and organisations on the same footing as those in EU Member States: they may lead consortia, receive direct EU funding, and access all thematic pillars and instruments of the programmes. It opens new capacity for pooling talent, research infrastructures and industrial capabilities across borders, accelerating progress on climate solutions, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, health innovation and energy security. This step strengthens Europe’s position as a global centre for high-impact scientific and technological development. Full press release here.
(11/11) Commission launches first Annual Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Today, the European Commission is taking a further step in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum by launching the first Annual Migration Management Cycle. The Annual Cycle provides a comprehensive overview of the asylum and migration situation in the EU, identifies the migratory situations Member States are facing, and proposes an Annual Solidarity Pool, to be adopted by the Council. The launch of the Annual Cycle is a key milestone in ensuring the effective implementation of the Pact as of June 2026. Full press release here.
(7/11) Europeans continue to view democracy and economic power as EU’s main strengths, according to latest Flash Eurobarometer survey. According to the results of the latest Flash Eurobarometer survey on ‘EU challenges and priorities’ published today, respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law (36%) and the economic, industrial, and trading power of the EU (31%) remain the EU’s main strengths, followed by the good relationships and solidarity between the EU’s Member States (28%). When asked about values, over half of Europeans say that the EU rather than other countries in the world best embodies respect for fundamental rights and values, freedom of speech and expression (55% for each) and social equality and welfare (52%). Full press release here.
(21/10) Commission unveils 2026 work programme. The European Commission has today unveiled its 2026 work programme, which outlines a series of actions to help build a more sovereign and independent Europe. The work programme, entitled ‘Europe’s independence moment’, addresses current and future challenges arising from threats to our security and democracy, to conflicts and geopolitical tensions, to risks to our economy and industry, and accelerating climate change. It builds on the commitments set out in the Political Guidelines and mission letters sent by President von der Leyen to the College of EU Commissioners and the ideas set out in the 2025 State of the Union address. Full press release here.
(16/10) Pact for the Mediterranean – One Sea, One Pact, One Future – a shared ambition for the region. Today, the European Commission and the High Representative set out a new ambitious strategy to strengthen EU relations with its Southern Mediterranean partners. Building on our historical and cultural ties, the Pact for the Mediterranean will focus on areas of mutual interest where we share challenges and aspirations. The Pact for the Mediterranean will step up cooperation and economic ties between the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. It will contribute to building a Common Mediterranean Space that is connected, prosperous, resilient and secure. Full press release here.
(8/10) Commission builds on Union of Equality with adoption of new LGBTIQ+ Equality strategy. Everyone in the European Union should feel safe and free to love whomever they wish and be their authentic self. To this end, today the European Commission adopted its LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030. It builds on the strong foundation of the first LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 to pave the way for further progress, and ensure LGBTIQ+ equality is mainstreamed across all EU policies. While social acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people has increased across the EU in the last five years, LGBTIQ+ people continue to experience disproportionate and unacceptable levels of hate, violence and discrimination. For example, around 1 in 4 LGBTIQ+ people, and almost half of trans men and trans women, have experienced some type of “conversion” practice in the form of physical or sexual violence, verbal abuse and humiliation. Full press release here.
(19/03) Labour migration: an EU Talent Pool to facilitate international recruitment. Today, MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee backed the creation of an EU Talent Pool, designed to make it easier to recruit non-EU nationals to jobs in sectors where there are shortages, through a dedicated digital platform that matches EU vacancies with jobseekers living abroad. Application of the new legislation would be optional for EU countries and would not affect their right to decide how many third-country workers to admit to their territory. Full press release here.
(12/03) MEPs call for a more competitive EU that respects social and labour standards. On Wednesday, MEPs adopted two resolutions outlining their priorities for the next cycle of economic and social coordination between member states. In a resolution on economic policy coordination, MEPs focus on the need to increase public and private investment to address the investment gap, improve competitiveness and entrepreneurship, and continue fiscal consolidation. They say the EU should pursue these objectives while ensuring social cohesion and a high standard of living. In the resolution on the employment and social priorities, MEPs emphasise the importance of reducing the administrative burden for companies, whilst safeguarding labour and social standards. They believe better support for small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) can lead to more innovation and better-quality jobs, and that stronger social economy enterprises can promote quality employment opportunities and the circular economy. The report states that fiscal policies under the European Semester must ensure investments align with sustainable growth and the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), in particular on affordable housing, healthcare, and education. Full press release here.
(11/03) Parliament calls for a strong and standalone Fund to combat social exclusion. On Tuesday, Parliament called for more resources for the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 to better support the EU’s social dimension. The report calls for a reinforcement of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support people in vulnerable situations, invest in people and skills, help combat poverty, in addition to boosting social investment and entrepreneurship.
The text outlines Parliament’s input for the upcoming discussion on the budget ESF+, stressing it should remain the key tool to help member states, regions and local communities to strengthen the EU’s social dimension. The fund should tackle social challenges such as digitalisation, the consequences of climate change, decent working conditions, and the rising cost of living, with sufficient funding for education, training, and skills development. Full press release here.
(17/02) Cost of living and environment are the main concerns of young people in the EU. An EP survey of EU citizens aged 16-30 shows social media is their main information source, and that the majority are also aware of the risks of online disinformation. Rising prices and the cost of living are a concern for 40% of the 16-30 year-olds who took part in the latest Eurobarometer Youth Survey published on Monday. One third of respondents said they believed the EU should focus its attention on the environment and climate change over the next five years, while 31% believe the economic situation and job creation should be a priority. Almost three in ten (29%) want the EU to prioritise social protection, welfare and access to healthcare. More than one in five respondents highlighted education and training (27%), housing (23%) and the EU’s defence and security (21%) as important priorities for the EU. European defence is of particular concern for young people in Czechia (36%), Poland (33%), and Estonia (32%). Full press release here.
(31/01) Polish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities. Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council. Poland holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of June 2025. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take place. Full press release here.
(16/01) MEPs choose Bruno Gencarelli as top candidate for EU data protection watchdog. The Civil Liberties Committee selected Bruno Gencarelli as their preferred candidate for the role of European Data Protection Supervisor in a vote on Thursday. MEPs in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs ranked the four candidates applying for the position of European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) in a secret ballot. Before the vote, MEPs held a hearing with the candidates to evaluate their suitability for the role, touching on the interplay between security and fundamental rights, including data retention and law enforcement questions; prioritisation and consistency after the EDPS’s tasks have been expanded; and the impact of new technologies. Full press release here.
(8/12) Migration and asylum: Member states agree on solidarity pool. Today, the Council reached a political agreement on the establishment of the annual solidarity pool for 2026. The solidarity pool is one of the main elements of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum and provides effective support to those member states that are under migratory pressure. The Pact, when it starts applying from 12 June 2026, will make the European asylum system more effective. On the one hand, the Pact contains clear rules on responsibility for processing asylum applications. On the other hand, it aims at reducing illegal entry and provides for solidarity measures between member states to relieve the burden on those countries where most migrants arrive. In the long term, the Pact will help to reduce migration pressure on all member states. Full press release here.
(10/12) The EU strengthens the protection and support of victims of crime. The Council and the European Parliament provisionally agreed on an update to the 2012 EU law on the rights of, support for and protection of victims of a crime. The new law will make it easier for a victim to report a crime, obtain support via helplines, receive help from support services and access information about their rights. Full press release here.
(8/12) Council clinches deal on EU law about returns of illegally staying third-country nationals. Today the Council finalised its position on an EU law to speed up and simplify the procedures for the return of persons illegally staying in the member states. The regulation creates EU-wide procedures for their return, imposes obligations on those who have no right to stay and puts in place tools for cooperation between member states. It also enables member states to establish return hubs in third countries. Full press release here.
(28/12) Safeguarding democracy in Europe: Council shines a light on culture’s vital role. At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, culture and cultural heritage are essential to safeguarding democracy and upholding European values. This is the message put forward by EU culture ministers in conclusions approved in Brussels today. The ministers stress the need to protect and promote culture in all its forms and Europe’s cultural heritage as crucial factors in building and maintaining democratic resilience. Full press release here.
(4/12) FRA – FRA report calls for effective fundamental rights assessment of high-risk AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) brings about many opportunities for our societies and economies. But it also puts fundamental rights at risk, especially in sensitive areas like recruitment or social benefits. Drawing on interviews with providers, deployers and experts, a new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveals that many in the field of high-risk AI systems do not know how to systematically assess or mitigate these risks. Strengthening awareness and rights-compliant implementation of the AI act is key to protecting people’s rights while enabling innovation and creating legal certainty for businesses. Full article here.
(2/10) FRA – Roma and Travellers in the EU: more jobs but discrimination persists. Roma and Travellers in the EU have more jobs and better housing than before, but poverty, discrimination and segregation remain widespread, shows a new survey from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). FRA warns that significant gaps remain between Roma inclusion targets set by the EU and the lived experiences of Roma and Traveller communities. EU countries are not likely to meet the targets by 2030. Full article here.
(7/11) Council of Europe roundtable highlights need for fact-based communication on migration. In an increasingly polarised media and political environment, migration has come to dominate public debate, often with knock-on consequences. A roundtable on Fact-based communication on migration, bringing together leading academics, communication experts, journalists, and institutional representatives to address the growing challenges of communicating effectively and responsibly about migration has been held by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg to discuss this situation. Full press release here.
(8/10) “Youth perspectives in every decision – that is the spirit of the New Democratic Pact for Europe”. Young people are shaping 21st-century Europe in the streets, in universities, and online, and this is the new generation that will make the European project stronger, underlined Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, in his exchanges with young people in Malta today. Full press release here.
(12/12) EUROCITIES – Country insights from the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey. The 2025 edition of the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey gathers the views of 86 mayors from major cities in 26 European countries. It captures their top priorities this year, how they see their economies and democracies, and what they need from national and EU leaders. As in 2024, mayors across Europe have similar priorities on climate action, affordable housing and social inclusion. But looking more closely at cities in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands we see that differences in trust, fiscal autonomy, mobility and housing shape what they can actually deliver. These country insights are based on a limited sample of mayors in each country, so they are indicative of trends rather than fully representative national surveys. Full press release here.
(11/12) PICUM – Deportation over justice: EU deal offers no safe reporting for undocumented victims of crime. On 10th December, the European Parliament and the EU Council reached an agreement on the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive, the EU’s law setting minimum protection and redress standards for victims of crime. The leaked draft shows that EU lawmakers agreed on a text that fails to protect undocumented victims from detention and deportation should they report abuse or violence to police. Louise Bonneau, Advocacy Officer at PICUM, said “Across Europe, undocumented people already face the impossible choice between enduring abuse or risking detention and deportation if they seek help. This agreement reinforces that fear by signaling that some victims are less worthy of protection, undermining equality before the law and the fundamental rights the EU claims to uphold.” Full article here.
(8/12) PICUM – Return Regulation: JHA Council endorses police raids of private homes to search for migrants. On 8th December, the EU Council voted its negotiating position on the draft Return Regulation, the EU’s flagship initiative to escalate immigration detention and deportations of undocumented people, including to countries outside the EU. The Council has endorsed a position that further worsens the Commission’s original proposal. Full article here.
(4/12) ECRE – Joint Civil Society Statement on the Council’s Position on the Return Regulation Proposal. We, the undersigned civil society organisations across Europe, express deepest concern regarding the direction that discussions on the proposal for a Return Regulation are currently taking in the Council of the European Union. The compromise text prepared by the Danish Presidency, reflecting amendments and positions advanced by several member states, represents a severe and unprecedented deterioration of safeguards, legal protections and fundamental rights standards within EU return policy and the broader legislative framework. Full statement here.
(27/11) PICUM – Migrant Smuggling Laws: European Commission found in breach of transparency rules. The European Ombudsperson has found the European Commission bypassed key transparency rules (Better Regulation guidelines) when preparing legislation to counter migrant smuggling (Facilitation Directive and Europol Regulation). The inquiry followed a complaint by European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) on behalf of the Protect Not Surveil coalition, whose mission is to challenge digital surveillance in migration contexts. The Ombudsperson found that the Commission relied on an overly broad and poorly justified claim of “urgency” to skip Better Regulation requirements, including public consultations and evidence gathering, and concluded that these omissions amount to maladministration. Full press release here.
(25/11) EUROCITIES – 5 recommendations to tackle poverty in European cities. Poverty in Europe is more than a statistic. It is a daily reality for millions of people struggling to meet basic needs, access essential services, and participate fully in society. Tackling poverty requires more than income support, housing, or healthcare alone. The success of any anti-poverty strategy depends on the systems, professionals and governance structures that turn policy into action. As the European Union prepares its first-ever comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy, cities are proving that solutions can be locally driven, innovative and effective. But to scale these solutions, Europe must invest in the foundations that make them work: a strong social and care workforce, coordinated governance, capacity building, accessible funding and robust monitoring. Full press release here.
(20/11) EUROCITIES – The power of data: Understanding migration for better cities. “Without data, there is no visibility,” explains Ramon Sanahuja, Policy Technician at the Intercultural and Religious Pluralism Department of the Municipality of Barcelona. In his view, what is not measured often does not exist in the eyes of public administrations, and without recognition, it will neither be prioritised nor integrated into policy development processes. Without measuring diversity and migration patterns, it is impossible to identify barriers in access, discrimination in public services, or gaps in policy reach. Beyond basic migration status, Barcelona collects information that includes nationality, country of birth, parental origin, ethnicity, language, and religion. Full press release here.
(28/10) EUROCITIES – Cities, a counterweight to global authoritarian trends? The photo of the Tianjin summit reveals to Europeans the image of a strange, even foreign world. One in which the Western model is crumbling in the face of opposition from a bloc of states with authoritarian, even dictatorial tendencies; meanwhile equipped with the means to achieve their ambitions. Whether it be their military and bellicose pretensions, their global exploitation of raw materials, their domination of entire sectors of the economy of the future, or their still solid demographic base, these states are a clear counterweight to the Western world order. Full press release here.
(21/10) PICUM – Médecins du Monde and PICUM warn new EU migration regulation puts healthcare at serious risk. In March 2025, the European Commission proposed a Returns Regulation expanding immigration detention, deportation, externalisation, racial profiling, and surveillance of undocumented migrants. In a new report, Médecins du Monde International Network and PICUM warn that the proposal threatens the right to health and violates medical ethics, urging EU lawmakers to reject it and promote rights-based migration policies that protect people rather than punish them. Full article here.
(20/10) EUROCITIES – 8 recommendations from cities for a fairer European Pillar of Social Rights. Local governments are implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights across Europe, but the continent faces mounting social and economic pressures, from rising living costs and shifting labour markets to deepening inequalities. As communities adapt to these challenges, the renewed European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan must reflect people’s real needs and priorities, rooted in local realities and ensuring no one is left behind. Full press release here.
ECRE – All Packed-Up and Ready? Assessment of the State of Play on Pact Implementation
ECRE – Towards a point of no return for fundamental rights? The EC’s proposal for a Return Regulation
ECRE – Joint Shadow Report for the GREVIO Baseline Evaluation of the EU
ECRE – Comments Paper: Qualification Regulation
Council of the EU General Secretariat – Think tank review (December)
Council of the EU General Secretariat – Think tank review (November)
Council of the EU General Secretariat – Think tank review (October)
EPRS – Youth and social media
