Key Issues for EU Lawmakers Ahead

As the new term for European lawmakers begins, the implementation of the EU’s Digital Services Act remains a focal point. This legislation mandates platforms like Instagram and TikTok to enhance protections for minors online. Incoming Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will closely monitor the European Commission's enforcement of these regulations, which are deemed essential by children’s advocacy groups and law enforcement to combat rising online crime. While seasoned MEPs may feel familiar with the complexities of this policy, newcomers will need to quickly acclimate. In addition to digital regulations, the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are set to intensify. A senior EU diplomat highlighted that while farmers have shifted their protests from urban streets to rural fields, the underlying crisis persists. This context is crucial as the EU embarks on its first significant overhaul of medicine regulations in two decades, aimed at ensuring secure and affordable access to medications while fostering innovation and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Another pressing issue is the establishment of a capital markets union, which seeks to create a unified investment market to support the EU's green and digital transitions. This initiative has now reached the desks of national leaders, who will debate necessary reforms. Finally, EU leaders face the daunting task of negotiating financial resources amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the need to address post-pandemic debt. The bloc's capitals are reportedly divided on funding priorities, complicating efforts to prepare for a significant enlargement in the coming years.