European Parliamentary Research Service

📚 Explore our topical digest on #GenderEquality across policy areas: link.europa.eu/jc79g4

EPRS briefing summary on 'Women in politics in the EU: State of play in 2026' (February 2026)

Women in politics in the EU: what's the state of play?

🔹Gender gap in political representation
🔹Why #GenderBalance in politics matters
🔹EU action on gender balance in political decision-making

Full explainer👉 link.europa.eu/6Pd9Pc

@femm.europarl.europa.eu @linagalvez.eu @irenemonterog.bsky.social

ESMH Summer School 2026 - Call for young journalists and content creators - ESMH Are you a young journalist writing about science and technology? Do you have questions about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on newsrooms,

⏰Only 2 weeks left to apply for the 2026 #ESMHSummerSchool for young EU journalists!

Join #comms experts & journalists at the #EUParliament in Brussels for interactive workshops on #SciComm & #AI

📅 22-25/6
✍ Apply before 18/3 noon (CET): wp.me/panTdn-4vj

@efsj.bsky.social @ep-eprs.bsky.social

Atlantic ocean with big waves forming foam and crashing against the rocks

🌊 Will 2026 be the year of action for the #oceans?

Commission President just announced the #OceanEye initiative.

What else to expect this year?

Read Chapter 9 of 10 issues to watch in 2026
👉 link.europa.eu/rVgvkY

@anjahazekamp.bsky.social @melissacamara.bsky.social @emma-fourreau.bsky.social

EPRS at-a-glance publication on 'EU action against harmful gender stereotypes' - February 2026 (first page)

🔎 Harmful gender #stereotypes are widely rejected by EU citizens. Yet they still persist.

Fighting such stereotypes is part of the EU action to promote #GenderEquality.

Full explainer 👉 link.europa.eu/JXqfXy

@femm.europarl.europa.eu @linagalvez.eu @luciayar.bsky.social @irenemonterog.bsky.social

EPRS illustration showing how visual and audio deepfakes are created

How are visual & audio #deepfakes created?

Our briefing looks at:
🔴 deepfakes impact
🔴 information manipulation in the age of #GenAI
🔴 EU and Parliament response

➡️ link.europa.eu/GvDvyn

@svenjahahn.bsky.social @kimvsparrentak.bsky.social @birgitsippel.bsky.social @marketkag.bsky.social

Tomorrow 28/2 is #RareDiseaseDay

#RareDiseases affect over 36 mln people in the EU
Challenges remain such as:
☑️fragmented #research
☑️lengthy diagnosis times
☑️limited access to innovative treatment
☑️the overall quality of life for patients

👉 link.europa.eu/4VBrfp

Illustration showing migration of food contact materials and chemicals in a yoghurt pot

🥫 Food contact materials are any materials touching food from production to storage. Some may release chemicals into food.

🔎 EU law sets general safety rules, but enforcement gaps remain.

Read more 👉 link.europa.eu/NCMRMB

@sant.europarl.europa.eu @tillymetz.bsky.social @stinebosse.bsky.social

EPRS briefing summary 'Understanding EU counter-terrorism policy' (February 2025)

Today, the Commission proposed a new EU Agenda for preventing and countering #terrorism & violent #extremism

Read our briefing on the EU counter-terrorism policy 👉 link.europa.eu/8MjH9C

@libe.europarl.europa.eu @estrellagalan.bsky.social

Official Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to London (United Kingdom) - Meeting with Sir Keir STARMER, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

President Metsola went to London to strengthen the EU-UK partnership

ICYMI read this:
Next steps after the EU-UK 2025 Leaders' Summit
link.europa.eu/3rMkQw
EU security & defence partnership with the #UK
link.europa.eu/pxndXb

@president.europarl.europa.eu
@bernd-lange.bsky.social @masz.bsky.social

The results of the 2025 #EPAcademicFreedom Monitor are out:

👉 #AcademicFreedom is under pressure in almost all of EU: link.europa.eu/b7H9dn

👉Next Wednesday 4/3: #STOA’s High-Level Conference: link.europa.eu/FKxfq8

@eua.eu @guildeu.bsky.social @scholarsatrisk.bsky.social @linagalvez.eu

ESMH Summer School 2026 - Call for young journalists and content creators - ESMH Are you a young journalist writing about science and technology? Do you have questions about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on newsrooms,

🗓️22-25 June 2026 Brussels:

#ESMHSummerSchool for young journalists on #Science #Communication in the age of #AI

👉You can now apply: wp.me/panTdn-4vj

#SciComm @linagalvez.eu @europeanjournalists.org @wfsj25.bsky.social @stinaborchers.bsky.social @pierregirard.bsky.social @josecepeda.bsky.social

EPRS briefing first page on 'Firearms Trafficking Directive' (January 2026)

The European Commission is set to propose a Firearms trafficking directive.

What issues are at stake?

Our briefing highlights the choices which may shape the initiative 👉 link.europa.eu/Hqh9fp

@libe.europarl.europa.eu @estrellagalan.bsky.social

What is the 28th regime, and is the Parliament supporting it? Across the EU, the definition of a start-up varies. However, characteristics frequently mentioned across a number of sources describe start-ups as new, innovative, technology-driven companies that hav...

The 28th regime would create a single set of rules for businesses in the EU to simplify laws & strengthen the single market. Commission is set to discuss it today.

Read 👇

@juri.europarl.europa.eu @repasi.bsky.social @pcanfin.bsky.social @kiramph.bsky.social @arashsaeidi.bsky.social

🔎 #ArtificialIntelligence changes the way we search online.

But this also raises questions around:
🔹#copyright
🔹content quality
🔹potential informational dependency

Read 👉 link.europa.eu/YmKH3r

@imco.europarl.europa.eu @libe.europarl.europa.eu @mcnamaramep.bsky.social

EPRS briefing context section on 'European Competitiveness Fund' (November 2025)

The proposed European competitiveness fund aims to:
🔸 support sectors critical to EU #competitiveness
🔸 simplify procedures
🔸 coordinate funding

Read more 👉 link.europa.eu/gqJJK8

@itre.europarl.europa.eu @yvanverougstraete.bsky.social @botengam.bsky.social

United States Supreme Court with US flag

The US Supreme Court's ruling invalidates all #tariffs that President Trump imposed under #IEEPA on US trading partners 

What to expect after this landmark ruling?

Read 👉 link.europa.eu/Y8yxq4

@inta.europarl.europa.eu @bernd-lange.bsky.social @manonaubryfr.bsky.social @sophiewilmes.bsky.social

EPRS study cover on 'EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027: Taking stock and the way forward' (January 2026)

The EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027 sets the framework for EU-wide policy cooperation for young people.

Our study supports the CULT committee's implementation report on the EUYS.

Read 👉 link.europa.eu/mjmXMB

@cult.europarl.europa.eu @sabrinarepp.bsky.social

How does Parliament support Ukraine? On 24 February 2026, the European Parliament will hold an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels, to mark the four-year anniversary of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Today, the European Parliament holds an extraordinary plenary session marking the 4-year anniversary of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against #Ukraine.

Our article summarises how Parliament supports Ukraine ↓

@press.europarl.europa.eu @afet.europarl.europa.eu @budg.europarl.europa.eu

EPRS briefing summary on 'From values to economic security: The transformation of the EU's economic model 2016-2026' (February 2026)

The European Parliamentary Week 2026 is underway to discuss EU economy, budget & social priorities

Our #foresight briefing puts economic security in context to anticipate future developments

📝 link.europa.eu/BWvrBp

@econ.europarl.europa.eu @budg.europarl.europa.eu @aurorelalucq.bsky.social

EPRS briefing summary on 'From values to economic security: The transformation of the EU's economic model 2016-2026' (February 2026)

Trade is part of the EU's economic security shift.

Our #foresight briefing puts economic security in context to anticipate future EU developments, including in #trade.

📝 link.europa.eu/BWvrBp

@inta.europarl.europa.eu @kvanbrempt.bsky.social @bartgroothuis.bsky.social @annacavazzini.bsky.social

Illustration with text reading 'Scientists have explored fewer than 1000 rare diseases. Source: European Medicines Agency'. Visual by European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)

🧫Because each condition affects very few people, knowledge is fragmented & research is limited.

This EPRS study identifies areas for further EU action 👉 link.europa.eu/nXYyXv

@sant.europarl.europa.eu @tillymetz.bsky.social @stinebosse.bsky.social

Illustration with text reading '8 in 10 rare diseases have identified genetic origins. Source: European Medicines Agency' Visual by European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)

🧬 8 in 10 #RareDiseases have genetic origins

What's the potential added value of an EU rare disease action plan? 

Our study identifies 31 EU-level possible measures
👉 link.europa.eu/nXYyXv

@sant.europarl.europa.eu @tillymetz.bsky.social @stinebosse.bsky.social

Illustration with text reading 'Rare diseases affect 36 million people in the EU. Source: European Medicines Agency'. Visual by European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)

🔬 Rare diseases affect around 36 million people in the EU, around 8% of the EU's population.

The new EPRS study investigates the potential benefits of an EU #RareDisease action plan.

Read 👉 link.europa.eu/nXYyXv

@sant.europarl.europa.eu @tillymetz.bsky.social @stinebosse.bsky.social

YouTube video by MySTOA Planetary health: a critical discipline for the future

7️⃣ of 9️⃣planetary boundaries have now been breached; humanity pushes Earth's support systems beyond safe operating limits

✅Video w/ Prof Rockström @pik-potsdam.bsky.social & @nicogcasares.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxoV...

✅Interview Dr Vanessa Harris: wp.me/panTdn-4ss

#PlanetaryHealth

EPRS briefing summary on 'Private financing of innovation in the EU' (March 2025)

Innovation is central to boost EU #competitiveness.

How does the EU incentivise private #innovation?

Read ahead of the European Parliamentary Week 2026 👉 link.europa.eu/Mx6Wgh

@econ.europarl.europa.eu @katarina-barley.de @aurorelalucq.bsky.social @dboeselager.volteuropa.org

EPRS study cover on 'Evaluation of EU agri-food promotion policy: Insights and lessons learnt' (December 2025)

The EU agri-food promotion policy helps EU producers market their products.

The AGRI committee's report offers Parliament a chance to review its implementation & ways to improve.

Read our study with recommendations
👉 link.europa.eu/Y6HNjy

@agri.europarl.europa.eu @ciaranmulloolymep.bsky.social

Informal EU leaders' retreat on 12 February 2026

What did EU leaders discuss at the #EuropeanCouncil retreat on #competitiveness on 12 Feb?

The outcome will feed into the conclusions of the March #EUCO meeting.

Read 👉 link.europa.eu/VpkTY9

@imco.europarl.europa.eu @annacavazzini.bsky.social

Russia under Vladimir Putin: His 26-year rule in facts and figures Vladimir (Vladimirovich) Putin has ruled the Russian Federation since the 31 December 1999, inheriting a country in economic, political and social disarray. Out of Putin’s 26-year ruling, Russia has b...

🔎 How has Russia changed over Vladimir Putin's 26 years in power?

Indicators show:
- economic evolution
- surge in military expenditure
- demographic decline
- growing inequality

Read more 👇

@afet.europarl.europa.eu @epdiplomacy.bsky.social @villeniinisto.vihreat.fi @hjalloul.bsky.social

EPRS briefing summary on 'Digital Omnibus on AI' (February 2026)

The Digital Omnibus on AI aims to simplify EU rules and ease the #AIAct's regulatory burden

🔎 What are the key proposals?

Find out 👉 link.europa.eu/HKNrH9

@imco.europarl.europa.eu @libe.europarl.europa.eu @mcnamaramep.bsky.social @svenjahahn.bsky.social @marketkag.bsky.social