Between 2013 and 2024, house prices in the EU increased by over 60%, average rents rose by around 20%, and residential building permits fell by 22%, while about 20% of homes remain unused.
The EU’s plan to tackle the housing crisis addresses what has become both a housing and a social crisis.
Rules for affordable housing investment projects will be made simpler, more funds will be mobilised with the help of the European Investment Bank for affordable and social housing, and these projects will be protected through minimum project durations of at least 20 years and price limits below market levels for publicly funded projects.
Leaders from the EU and Western Balkans are meeting in Brussels on 17th December 2025.
Chaired by Council President António Costa, the meeting will highlight and reaffirm the robust strategic relationship between the EU and the Western Balkans as well as the advantages it provides to citizens.
The President of the European Council, along with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the gathering, while High Representative Kaja Kallas will also attend.
Following the summit, a declaration from the EU-Western Balkans summit will be released, and the Western Balkan partners are anticipated to align with it. This livestream will cover the press conference following the summit.
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On 17 December, two Galileo satellites will be launched on Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in the 14th operational launch of the Galileo programme. These satellites will improve the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo system by adding spares to guarantee the system can always provide a navigation signal for users worldwide. This will be Galileo’s first launch on Ariane 6 and the fifth launch of Europe’s heavy-lift launcher.
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Ukrainians are defending their independence every day, and with that, the security of Europe.
There is real progress being made, and this was shown in the Ukraine peace talks in Berlin, between Ukraine, Europe and the US, on 15 December.
Ukrainians deserve a just peace, worthy of their courage.
Discover how, for decades, the European Commission has been providing reliable news services for the press. Beginning in 1965, the Audiovisual Services of the European Commission have offered essential infrastructure for journalists and for Commissioners: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en
The studios enabled media across Europe to access material needed to report on important EU matters. In line with the Commission’s ongoing policy of promoting openness and transparency, 30 years later, on 4 September 1995, Europe by Satellite (EbS), the European Commission’s satellite information service, was launched.
EbS is available for free to television companies, local, regional and national, within the European Union, the Mediterranean area and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to national and regional EU institutions.
Across the decades, the AV Services of the Commission, and later EbS, which became European Broadcasting Service (EBS) in 2025, have captured on film every phase of EU enlargement, carried out live transmissions with the International Space Station and broadcast the EU receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since its creation, EbS, which in 2024 became the European Broadcasting Service and currently covers all of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia, has recorded more than 14,000 press conferences, more than 4700 midday press briefings and covered more than 1300 weekly meetings of the Commission.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-279868
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The European Commission has proposed new initiatives to ensure that affordable and clean energy flows more efficiently across the EU.
Grid infrastructure is the backbone of the European energy system. The new package proposes to modernise and expand it to unlock its full potential. This means removing bottlenecks and increasing interconnectivity across EU countries.
The set of measures will:
– help lower energy prices
– ensure a secure and reliable energy supply
– help achieve energy independence
Convened by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, the second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling will take place on 10 December 2025, in Brussels.
Building on the international momentum gained since the launch of the Global Alliance in November 2023, this Conference will bring together representatives from Member States, key partners, EU Agencies as well as international organisations to boost the fight against migrant smuggling. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union and Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships will also be attending.
President von der Leyen and Commissioner Brunner will present a Joint Declaration for endorsement by partners. This political statement reaffirms joint determination to strengthen international cooperation in tackling migrant smuggling collectively and globally, in a ‘whole of route’ approach and in the spirit of shared responsibility.
“We in Europe must be the ones to decide who comes to us and in what circumstances, not the people-smugglers and traffickers. They are making millions upon millions with their cynical, false and fatal promises. That is why we must break their business model. […] Too many people are still trying to cross the border illegally and are dying on the way.” (President von der Leyen)
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On 9 December 2025 the European Commission announced a reinforcement of controls on food, animal and plant products entering the EU: more audits, tougher checks, a new Task Force, and updated pesticide rules.
Stronger controls. Safer food. Fair competition.
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On 3 December 2025, 28 young representatives from the youth councils of each EU Member State and one from the European Youth Forum met for the first time to form the President’s Youth Advisory Board. This Board will advise the Commission on policies relevant to young people. Youth-led organisations from candidate countries and potential candidates for EU accession were also invited to join as observers, reflecting the EU’s broader vision of unity and participation.
Want to learn more about the Youth Advisory Board and what it entails? Click on the link below:
https://commission.europa.eu/topics/youth/presidents-youth-advisory-board_en
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The European Commission does not fine individuals; it fines companies that breach the Digital Services Act. In order to take the decision of fining X, the EU identifies the relevant corporate structure, including entities such as XIUC, X Holdings Corporation, and xAi, before reaching a decision. The fines are calculated by assessing the nature, duration, recurrence, and gravity of the breach, while ensuring the amount remains within the 6% legislative ceiling.
