The Entry/Exit System — the most modern IT border system in the world — is now fully deployed.
The EES is changing what border management actually looks like.
Passport stamps are becoming a thing of the past — replaced by a digital system that keeps accurate records of who enters and exits the EU. For travellers, that means shorter queues, self-service kiosks, and the option to share your details before you even arrive.
For border officers, it means better tools — biometric data that flags overstayers, catches fake identities, and helps law enforcement connect the dots on serious crime and terrorism.
Safe borders. Smoother travel. That’s what modern travel looks like.
This explainer video provides a clear look at the EU, the unique partnership of 27 member states working together for peace and prosperity. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between Europe vs the EU, or how the Single Market and Schengen Area actually work, this guide covers everything you need to know.
In this video, you’ll discover:
• The difference between the European continent and the European Union (EU)
• How the Union grew from the European Coal and Steel Community
• The benefits of the EU Single Market, the Euro, and free movement
• How the European Commission, Parliament, and Council cooperate
• Why "United in Diversity" matters to 448 million citizens
Perfect for students, educators, or anyone looking to understand EU politics and the history of the European Union in simple terms.
00:00 What is the European Union?
00:10 Europe vs. the EU
00:40 History: The European Coal and Steel Community
00:59 How the EU impacts your daily life
01:17 Who runs the European Union?
Watch this and many more videos about the EU on the Audiovisual Portal of the Commission: https://link.europa.eu/K6YkbK
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Briefing by Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations and associated personnel.
Michaud noted, “Regrettably, all these perpetrators are rarely held accountable. They are rarely named and shamed, let alone prosecuted.”
He highlighted, “This is not the right forum to describe the range of measures we have implemented to keep colleagues safe. But it is the right place and time to tell you: we have stretched the security system to its limit.”
Michaud said, “We ask you to take real, consequential measures against anyone, any party, any group, any Member State that compromises the safety and security of women and men whose work saves lives.”
He also said, “We ask you to invest, politically, financially, legally, in the safety and security of these women and men, the one noble cause that should unite us all.”
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Effective communication is a cornerstone of policymaking. The role of monetary policy communications has long been recognized as one of the key tools in anchoring inflation expectations. By now, communication has become a necessary element of good policymaking overall—it ensures the understanding of objectives, intended consequences, and the impact on countries, their economies, and citizens. That’s why the IMF, with financial support from Japan, has developed a Macroeconomic Policy Communication (MPC) course, marking a significant milestone in our training curriculum: for the first time, macroeconomic policy communication is being offered as a self-contained and comprehensive course. This course was also the first one intentionally designed in a blended format. It was developed to meet the demands of country authorities, particularly from low-income and fragile states, for tailored communication training that equips them with skills to convey complex macroeconomic concepts clearly and effectively. Join this session, where we will showcase how the MPC course is empowering effective policymaking in our member countries, and why it matters.
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
For decades, the International Monetary Fund has been providing capacity development support to its member countries, including institution-building in fragile and conflict-affected states. Though not always straightforward and sometimes affected by security considerations, this support is critical for countries that try to regain a grip of their economies, revive growth and create jobs, and strengthen public finances and public service delivery. One such country is Syria: following a 14-year hiatus, the Syrian authorities requested the IMF’s support to rebuild capacity at the Ministry of Finance and strengthen government finances. IMF staff from the Fiscal Affairs Department, supported by the IMF’s Global Public Finance Partnership, together with staff of the Middle East and Central Asia Department and the Middle East Technical Assistance Center (METAC), responded promptly, working closely with the authorities on the ground in Syria—also for the first time in over a decade. Initial support focused on two main pillars—revenues and spending—and included preparation of the 2026 budget, supporting cash management to address competing payment priorities, reviewing a new budget law and new tax laws, including tailored workshops on tax design, and evaluating policy options for the oil and gas sector. Complementing the other two key areas of the IMF’s support to our members—surveillance and lending—the capacity development work in Syria and other fragile and conflict-affected states aims at overcoming the challenges inherent to countries emerging from conflict and at enhancing their prosperity.
