The European Union has designated seven countries—Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia—as 'safe countries of origin,' marking a major shift in its asylum policy. Under the new framework, asylum applications from these nations will no longer receive the same priority and will likely face higher rejection rates unless applicants can individually prove a credible threat to their safety. The decision, announced on International Migrants Day, follows the EU’s broader asylum system reform approved in 2024.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the move as an attempt to sidestep international legal obligations and endanger vulnerable migrants. Critics such as French MP Mélissa Camara and the Danish Refugee Council warned that the policy could lead to unmonitored deportation centers and increased risks of mistreatment. EU officials, however, argue that the classification will streamline migration management and strengthen border control.

The new asylum and migration pact is set to take effect in June 2026. The EU has indicated that the list may expand further, depending on future legislative reviews and geopolitical assessments.

European Union leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with an interest-free loan worth $105 billion over the next two years. The decision, announced by European Council President António Costa, aims to support Ukraine’s defense and budget needs without relying on frozen Russian assets. The financing will instead be raised from capital markets and secured against the EU budget, according to reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the EU, noting that the funds will help cover Kyiv’s budget deficit and strengthen its defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The agreement was reached after lengthy late-night negotiations on December 18, marking a significant show of unity among EU leaders.

By opting for market-based financing, the EU temporarily steps away from the contentious plan to use seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort. Analysts say the move could ease internal divisions within the bloc while ensuring continued financial backing for Ukraine through 2027.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the European Union to reduce its economic overdependence and strengthen its global competitiveness through a wider network of free trade agreements. Speaking in Brussels ahead of the European Council summit, she emphasized the strategic importance of finalizing the proposed trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc, describing it as a gateway to a market of 700 million consumers.

However, the Mercosur agreement has sharply divided EU member states. France and Italy, led by Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni, oppose the deal over concerns about environmental standards, agricultural safeguards, and regulatory clarity. Germany and Spain, in contrast, argue the pact would boost exports and diversify trade ties at a time of weak growth. Farmers’ unions across Europe have also voiced strong resistance, fearing cheap imports could undermine domestic producers.

Thousands of farmers were expected to protest in Brussels as leaders met, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the deal. The outcome of the summit may determine whether the EU can balance trade expansion with internal protectionist pressures.

The European Union is preparing to withdraw its landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, a move expected to be part of a broader reform package aimed at supporting Europe’s struggling automotive sector. The European Commission may instead propose a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from new vehicles, replacing the full ban initially adopted under the EU’s Green Deal.

The shift follows intense lobbying from car manufacturers and member states such as Germany and Italy, who argue that slow electric vehicle (EV) adoption and competition from China make the original target unrealistic. According to industry data, only about 16% of new cars sold in Europe during the first nine months of 2025 were battery-powered. Environmental groups warn that relaxing the ban could undermine climate goals and discourage EV investment.

The Commission is also considering new incentives for small and affordable EVs and measures to green corporate fleets. The final proposal is expected to test the EU’s balance between industrial competitiveness and environmental commitments.

European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned that Russia could create a real conflict scenario in Europe within the next three to four years. Speaking after a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Kubilius described the situation as a potential 'conflict test' for Europe and urged rapid strengthening of the continent’s defense capabilities.

Kubilius emphasized that Russia’s economy has effectively become a wartime economy, posing a long-term security threat to Europe. He identified two major challenges: the potential for Russian aggression and the United States’ call for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security as Washington shifts focus toward the Indo-Pacific. He noted that while progress is being made through new financial tools and strategic planning, Europe still heavily depends on U.S. intelligence and satellite systems.

Kubilius also proposed initiating discussions on a European Defense Union that could include the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, stressing that Europe must prepare for greater responsibility within NATO and consider the long-term goal of a unified European army.

The European Union has reached a consensus to tighten its migration and asylum policies in response to growing pressure from irregular migration flows. During a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels on December 8, member states provisionally approved several measures proposed by the European Commission. These include stronger controls on migrant arrivals and returns, as well as the establishment of ‘return hubs’ outside the EU’s 27 member states to manage deportations more efficiently.

Officials say the proposals aim to make the EU’s migration system more streamlined and enforceable. The initiative comes as many European governments face increasing domestic pressure from right-wing parties gaining popularity over migration concerns. The new measures still require final approval from the European Parliament before implementation.

Human rights organizations have voiced strong opposition, warning that the tougher stance could undermine asylum rights and humanitarian protections. The debate highlights the EU’s struggle to balance border security with its commitment to international refugee obligations.

The European Union has agreed on a provisional deal to halt all gas imports from Russia by November 2027, marking a major step toward energy independence following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Under the agreement, member states will stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026 and end pipeline gas imports by November 2027. The move aims to eliminate the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy, which once supplied about half of its gas needs before 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the decision as the beginning of Europe’s energy freedom. However, the deal still requires final approval from the European Parliament and Council, and faces political resistance from countries like Hungary and Slovakia that remain dependent on Russian energy. Hungary’s foreign minister has vowed to challenge the measure in the EU Court of Justice. The agreement also bans new long-term pipeline contracts after September 2027 and LNG contracts after January 2027, with short-term deals phased out earlier.

The European Commission has proposed significant changes to the EU’s flagship data protection and artificial intelligence frameworks, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens and stimulate economic growth. The revisions would simplify the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by easing data-sharing restrictions and reducing cookie pop-ups, while also delaying enforcement of key provisions in the AI Act governing high-risk systems. The proposal allows AI firms to use personal data for model training under certain GDPR safeguards and introduces lighter documentation requirements for smaller companies. Brussels argues the reforms will foster innovation without compromising fundamental rights, but critics accuse the EU of bowing to Big Tech and undermining privacy protections. The plan, part of a broader “Digital Omnibus” package, will now go before the European Parliament and member states for approval, a process expected to face intense political and civil society scrutiny.