Missed the headlines this week? Here’s the Weekly Wrap of EU news from 9–15 May.
Europe day : https://youtube.com/shorts/iu7446EdoXQ?si=gZzkHRSZVGYNT8Qm
Hantavirus situation : https://youtube.com/shorts/Nqwb9dGfqc4?si=doylmqWaTgTiaii8
Call for the return of abducted Ukrainian children: https://youtube.com/shorts/ls39N5gVT6M?si=LgFZ6pwLaTKU7kk2
Summit on AI and Children : https://youtube.com/shorts/SYa_ZJkrs3I?si=PIg3NYuH160sB_nf
One journey, one ticket : https://youtube.com/shorts/7jcB3YNSvsw
The Commission adopted the Passengers Package, that will facilitate mobility within Europe. This means that passenger will only need one ticket, regardless of booking multiple trains to cross European borders. One ticket, one journey. Find out more about the passenger package and how you are protected while traveling: Passenger Package – Mobility and Transport – European Commission
"The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people."
On 12 May, 2026, Commission President von der Leyen gave th keynote speech at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children Copenhagen stating that Europe must reclaim childhood in the digital age by putting children’s safety above tech profits.
President von der Leyen called for stronger accountability for social media platforms, stricter protections against addictive and harmful online design, reliable age verification, and a possible minimum age for social media access.
The EU had already taken several key measures the EU has already taken — and plans to strengthen — to protect children online:
• Enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA) against platforms with addictive or harmful designs.
• Using the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to prevent abuse of market power by major tech companies.
• Launching investigations into platforms such as TikTok, Meta, and X over child safety concerns.
• Creating a Special Panel of Experts on Child Safety Online to guide future action.
• Considering a legal proposal for a social media delay/minimum age requirement for children.
• Developing an EU age verification app with high privacy standards and open-source technology.
• Integrating age verification into European Digital Wallets.
• Advancing the principle of “safety by design” for online platforms and AI systems.
• Preparing a Digital Fairness Act targeting addictive design practices, attention-capture tactics, and subscription traps.
• Making children’s rights a priority in AI regulation and development.
• Promoting media literacy and digital education to help children think critically online.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/stories/M-009986
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The EU is strengthening efforts to better protect children online.
Speaking in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted concerns around addictive platform design, cyberbullying, harmful content and AI-related risks affecting minors.
The European Commission is considering:
• Minimum age requirements for social media
• Stronger age verification tools
• New rules on addictive online features
"Every child held captive is one too many," asserted Commission President von der Leyen via video message on 11th May 2026. On that day, representatives of the European Union, Ukraine, Canada and international partners met in Brussels for the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
In her video message, President Ursula von der Leyen advocates for the return of deported children from Russia. Until today, about 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children remain in Russian institutions.
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The EU has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and organisations accused of deporting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children.
Nearly 20,500 children have reportedly been forcibly transferred since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans aimed at holding those responsible accountable and supporting efforts to return the children home.
The risk of hantavirus for the wider European public is currently assessed as LOW, according to the latest evaluation by the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
From the very first notifications, the European Commission has coordinated the response, including most recently the repatriation flights for EU citizens.
Four flights operated yesterday under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism — applying strict health protocols to protect passengers, crew, and operational staff.
Key points from this update:
🟢The risk for the general European public is low
🛡️ Health coordination and protocols applied throughout with ECDC on the ground to provide expert advice
✈️ 4 repatriation flights coordinated over the weekend under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, under strict infection prevention and control measures
🇪🇸 EU actively supported evacuations conducted by Spain
📢 The European Commission will continue to communicate verified updates as the situation evolves. The Commission is working closely with Member States and international partners to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of EU citizens.
Europe is democracy. Freedom. Unity. And yes, football too.
On Europe Day, President Ursula von der Leyen reflects on what makes us uniquely European: our shared values, our diversity, and the concrete ways Europe shapes our lives, from Erasmus to start-ups to the best quality of life in the world.
Because Europe isn’t just an institution. It’s each and every one of us.
Did too many headlines go by you this week and didn’t have time to check them out? Here is the Weekly Wrap of EU news for the week of 4-8 May.
EU-Armenia: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y1JrUW5sKdA
Humanitarian aid to Gaza : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PAF5UJiHPmo
Anti-poverty package: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y1JrUW5sKdA
Airlines cannot add a fuel surcharge to your ticket after you’ve already paid. Here’s what your rights are if your flight gets cancelled.
✈️ Under EU rules on flight cancellations, airlines must show you the final price before you pay, no hidden fees added later.
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to:
✅ A full refund, rerouting, or return
✅ Assistance at the airport
✅ Flight delay compensation for last-minute cancellations
Airlines can only avoid paying flight delay compensation if they prove cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as a genuine fuel supply failure. High fuel prices alone do not qualify.
Currently, there is no evidence of jet fuel shortages. You can check your EU Air Passenger Rights here: https://link.europa.eu/btgHcn
