European Parliamentary Research Service

🏛️ Heritage is more than relics of the past. It is a storyteller of our collective memory. 🖼️ The European Heritage Days, an initiative of the Council of Europe launched in 1985 and joined by the EU in 1999, raise awareness of Europe's rich and diverse heritage. The 2026 theme 'Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine' highlights the urgent need to safeguard heritage at risk and ensure that historic sites, natural landscapes, languages and traditions continue to inspire future generations. 📅 Each year, mainly during a weekend in September, museums and historical sites across Europe open their doors for free, offering citizens the opportunity to connect directly with Europe's cultural heritage. 📝 Read more in our latest briefing ↓ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/euevRVFQ

🟰 Equal pay for equal work is one of the EU's founding principles. Yet the gender pay gap persists. In 2024, women's gross hourly earnings were on average 11.1 % lower than men's in the EU, according to Eurostat. 🗓️ On International Equal Pay Day, let's look at some of the EU's key actions to address the gender pay gap. 🔹Pay Transparency Directive The Directive strengthens pay transparency and enforcement of the principle of equal pay. Parliament played a central role in shaping it. Member States had until 7 June 2026 to transpose it into national law. Implementation remains incomplete in several countries. 🔹 Gender equality strategy 2026-2030 The strategy prioritises tackling gender pay and pension gaps, including by supporting Member States in implementing, monitoring and enforcing the Pay Transparency Directive. It also takes wider action on women's labour-market participation, work-life balance, occupational segregation and gender equality in economic decision-making. 🔹 Other relevant legislation The Women on Boards Directive requires listed companies to meet gender balance targets on corporate boards. The Work-Life Balance Directive promotes equal sharing of care responsibilities by introducing new rights to paternity leave, parental leave, and flexible working. In March 2026, Parliament called for an EU action plan addressing structural drivers of inequality, alongside effective implementation and enforcement of the Pay Transparency Directive. 📌 This week, in her 2026 State of the Union address, President von der Leyen also reaffirmed the EU's commitment to equal pay. 📝 Read more ↓ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ef9WahcM

📊 The EU's next long-term budget, the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF), will shape spending priorities for the years to come. 🔎 How do the European Parliament's and European Commission's positions on the next MFF compare? Here's a quick reminder of Parliament's negotiating position, adopted in April. Our video breaks it down. Watch ↓ Once EU countries agree on a common position, negotiations between Parliament and Council can start. 📑 Dive deeper: https://lnkd.in/emn7aXGj #MFF

📌  Today, the European Commission adopted the Fair Labour Mobility package and presented it to the European Parliament in plenary. The package includes a communication and five legislative proposals, including: - a European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) - a stronger mandate for the European Labour Authority (ELA) - a Skills portability initiative 🗂️ Two of our recent briefings provide analysis of the implementation of the European Labour Authority Regulation and of the Professional Qualifications Directive: 🔹Strengthening the European Labour Authority ELA faced several challenges, including the under-utilisation of its mediation function. The Commission therefore proposes to strengthen ELA's mandate as part of the package. Learn more about ELA: https://lnkd.in/dQZehfk3 🔹Skills portability initiative Skills portability aims to improve the cross-border recognition of skills and professional qualifications, addressing labour shortages in strategically important sectors. Learn more about the Professional Qualifications Directive and the Skills portability initiative: https://lnkd.in/dmxcNsUC

🗂️ The Defence Readiness Omnibus package aims to simplify and adapt EU rules to: - strengthen Europe's defence industrial base - accelerate defence preparedness 📋 In its mandate for negotiations, the European Parliament broadly supported the European Commission's simplification goal to strengthen Europe's defence readiness, while proposing several amendments (read more in our publication). The package contains three main legislative proposals: 🔸 Acceleration of permit-granting for defence readiness projects Rapporteurs: Lucia Yar, Henrik Dahl 🔸 Defence readiness and facilitating defence investments and conditions for defence industry Rapporteurs: Sven Mikser, Pierfrancesco Maran MEP, Aura Salla 🔸 Simplifying intra-EU transfers and security and defence procurement Rapporteurs: Pekka Toveri, Anna-Maja Henriksson Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement in June on the three legislative files. 📌 MEPs are set to debate the three texts today and vote on them tomorrow in plenary. 📝 Curious about the outcome of the negotiations between Parliament and Council? Read our #EPlenary note summarising the Defence Readiness Omnibus package: https://lnkd.in/eiQHq4MV

❓ How can the EU strengthen its resilience against foreign interference and other threats in an increasingly hostile world? In November 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative published a joint communication on the 'European Democracy Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies'. 📋 Last June, the European Parliament's Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) adopted its recommendations to strengthen it. 🔎 The report includes recommendations to: - better equip the EU to counter foreign interference, hybrid threats and disinformation - protect free and independent media - fight online electoral interference MEPs supported the establishing of an EU centre for democratic resilience, with a legal mandate and a dedicated budget, and involving all Member States in its governance. 📌 This week in plenary, MEPs will debate and vote on the report on 15 September, which coincides with International Day of Democracy 2026. 📝 Learn more in our #EPlenary note (available in 6 languages) ↓ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eybzYP-V

⏰ Join us for the first STOA panel meeting after the summer break!   The European Parliamentary Research Service will present its research on the protection of children online, highlighting recent developments, challenges and policy considerations.   📺 Follow the discussion live on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟳 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝟵:𝟯𝟬-𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧: https://lnkd.in/ezkgAdU2

⏰ Back to Strasbourg! The European Parliament's September plenary session starts today! One of the most important events for the EU's legislative planning is taking place on Wednesday: the 2026 State of the Union. The State of the Union address is a reflection of the EU's work and priorities over the past 12 months, as well as an overview of what lies ahead for the upcoming year. Stay up to date with our outlook article ⤵️ 📚 Prepare with our #EPlenary notes (available in six languages) #SOTEU