European Parliament

The directly elected legislative body of the European Union, which adopted a non-binding resolution in November 2025 calling for EU-wide social media age restrictions. - Called for EU-wide minimum age of 16

Spain became the first European country to announce a ban on social media for children under 16, joining Australia, France, and Denmark in a regulatory wave sweeping democracies worldwide. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled five measures at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3, 2026, including mandatory age verification systems that go beyond simple checkboxes—and criminal liability for tech executives who fail to remove illegal content.

Updated Feb 5

The EU's directly elected legislative body, whose consent is required for trade agreement ratification. - Must consent to agreement before it takes effect

Negotiations between the EU and Mercosur began in 1999. Twenty-six years later, on January 17, 2026, representatives signed a comprehensive free trade agreement in Asunción, Paraguay—the same city where Mercosur itself was founded in 1991. The deal eliminates tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade and creates the world's largest free trade zone, covering over 700 million consumers and roughly a quarter of global GDP. Days after the signing, the European Parliament voted 334-324 to refer the agreement to the European Court of Justice over legal concerns about the Commission's decision to split the deal into trade and non-trade pillars, potentially bypassing national parliaments.

Updated Jan 26

Parliament represents EU citizens and can amend or block legislation, including drug‑industry rules. - Co-legislator; pushed to soften cuts to exclusivity while tightening access rules

After two years of trench warfare between EU governments, lawmakers and drug makers, Brussels has finally agreed a ‘pharma package’ that tears up the bloc’s 20‑year‑old drug rules. The deal locks in eight years of data protection and one year of market exclusivity for new medicines, with bonuses that can stretch protection to 11 years if companies hit public‑health goals.

Updated Jan 9

EU legislative body that voted 531-69 to approve Bulgaria's eurozone entry. - Endorsed Bulgaria's euro adoption with strong majority

Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone on January 1, 2026, replacing the lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 per euro. ECB President Christine Lagarde welcomed Governor Dimitar Radev to the Governing Council table in Frankfurt, calling the euro "a powerful symbol" of European unity amid global geopolitical uncertainty. The ECB illuminated its headquarters with "Welcome, Bulgaria" in all eurozone languages. The adoption happened despite 49% public opposition and President Rumen Radev's New Year's address lamenting that "those in power chose not to listen to the citizens" about holding a referendum. Euro banknotes and coins began circulating at midnight, ending nearly three decades under a currency board.

Updated Jan 1

The political amplifier turning “customs overload” into “platform accountability.” - Pressing tougher platform obligations and enforcement capacity

The EU just put a price tag on the business model that turned “free shipping from China” into a daily habit. On 12 December 2025, EU governments approved a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce parcels under €150—starting 1 July 2026.

Updated Dec 12, 2025