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Women continue to be under-represented in EU countries at all levels of political decision-making as well as in political parties. The origins of this situation are complex, but one reason stands out: violence against women active in politics discourages many women from entering the political arena. Female politicians are exposed to two severe and intersecting forms of violence: political violence and gender-based violence. Violence against people active in politics, whether men or women, is a major ...

Child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are among the worst forms of violence against children and know no borders. The rise in these crimes is exacerbated by the use of digital technology. Harmonised national laws and international cooperation are essential to improve prevention and protect victims. This is a further update of a publication originally drafted by Ingeborg Odink in November 2024.

To raise awareness of the many forms of trafficking in human beings and to boost efforts to address them, the European Union has set 18 October as EU Anti-trafficking Day. Marking the day is an opportunity to highlight the European Parliament's call to step up action against trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, which is now broadly recognised as a significant problem across the EU, affecting both EU and non-EU citizens.

At more than one in five, the number of children at risk of poverty in the European Union (EU) remains high. This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty presents an opportunity to take stock of what the EU is doing to fight child poverty. Even though legal competence for child policy remains primarily with the Member States, the fight against child poverty is a major EU priority. The European strategy on the rights of the child now reflects the EU's increasing willingness to tackle ...

On 1 March 2023, the European Commission published its legislative proposal on driving licences – a matter of EU competence – to facilitate the free movement of persons and goods throughout the EU by modernising the driving licence system. This involves future-proofing the driving licence rules, improving road safety and simplifying the rules for those wanting to get a driving licence. The proposal provides for accompanied driving for young learners, zero tolerance for drink-driving, better preparation ...

In the European Union (EU), nearly 60 million tonnes of food – representing 132 kilogrammes per person – were wasted in 2022, of which over half (54 %) in households. The environmental impact of this amount of food waste accounts for 254 million tonnes of CO2 and 342 billion cubic meters of water, used in the production process.

The aim of this paper is to identify key enables, gaps and policy mechanisms that facilitate the creation of quality jobs, promote inclusive economic transformation and ensure that all communities, particularly the most vulnerable, are supported by Just Transition. Drawing on comparative evidence, it analyses how different elements of governance arrangements, financing tools and stakeholder participation shape reskilling, job quality and inclusion. The findings provide policy directions to strengthen ...

Maternity leave and voting procedures for Members of parliaments differ widely across the European Union (EU). Maternity-related absences are considered justified for Members of the European Parliament, but the current rules do not permit remote voting, proxy voting or temporary substitution. Maternity leave for parliamentarians is generally permitted across the EU's Member States, although legal frameworks and practical arrangements differ. Some national parliaments only allow for temporary substitution ...

International Safe Abortion Day, observed annually on 28 September, draws attention to global disparities in access to safe and legal abortion. It also provides an occasion to examine the legal and policy framework within the European Union. While competence in public health lies primarily with the Member States, EU institutions – most notably the European Parliament – have increasingly engaged with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

This in-depth analysis provides an overview of the reactions of Member States to the Cali Apartments SCI case and analyses challenges and opportunities stemming from short-term rental (STR) regulation. It also reflects on possible EU policy options in the STR field. Building on the briefing by Colomb (2025) on the Regulatory aspects of short-term rentals in the EU, this in-depth analysis examines in more detail the landmark ruling (C-724/18 and C-727/18) in the Cali Apartments SCI case. The ruling ...