European Union

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Throughout the year, Ask EP responded to enquiries in all 24 official EU languages, reaffirming the European Parliament’s commitment to transparency, multilingualism and accessibility.

This review highlights the key trends, topics and engagement patterns observed in 2025, based on consolidated data from individual enquiries, campaign messages and thematic breakdowns.

Overall volume of enquiries

In 2025, Ask EP received 10 184 individual enquiries and 8 809 campaign messages.

The number of individual enquiries remained high, reflecting citizens’ ongoing need for reliable information on EU policies, institutions and personal circumstances. Campaign enquiries, sent as part of coordinated actions on specific topics, represented a significant share of the messages received, focusing on political, humanitarian and environmental issues.

As in previous years, enquiry volumes fluctuated over the course of the year, with peaks linked to major political developments and legislative debates, demonstrating citizens’ responsiveness to EU-level decision-making.

Most frequent topics in individual enquiries

Individual enquiries to Ask EP in 2025 focused primarily on three main areas, reflecting citizens’ core interests and concerns regarding the EU and its institutions.

• EU democracy, institutional and parliamentary law: This remained the most frequently addressed topic. Citizens sought information on the European Parliament’s role and powers, legislative procedures, parliamentary questions, committee work and the right to petition. These enquiries highlight a sustained public interest in how EU democracy functions on a daily basis.
• Citizens’ rights and justice: A significant number of enquiries related to migration and asylum, fundamental rights, non-discrimination and access to justice. Citizens also contacted Ask EP about the rule of law and the protection of rights in the EU, reflecting the expectation that EU institutions explain and uphold these core values.
• Foreign affairs: Foreign policy remained a major area of concern in 2025. Citizens wrote extensively about the war in Ukraine (including EU support measures, sanctions and humanitarian assistance), the situation in the Middle East (particularly developments in Gaza and broader regional stability), and EU external relations, enlargement and role in promoting peace, democracy and human rights globally.

Together, these three topics accounted for the majority of individual enquiries received in 2025. The chart below shows the relative frequency of each topic.

Alongside these main areas, Ask EP also received a steady flow of enquiries related to visits to the European Parliament, traineeships and employment opportunities, as well as enquiries linked to citizens’ personal situations. These included requests for assistance with financial, legal or cross-border administrative issues, cases of alleged discrimination and questions concerning access to information or social and consumer rights. While neither the Parliament nor its President can intervene directly in these matters, Ask EP provided guidance, information and contact points whenever possible, helping citizens identify the appropriate authorities or available resources.

Campaign messages sent to the European Parliament

Campaign messages are coordinated public reactions to legislative initiatives, political developments and international events, and remained a prominent form of citizen engagement in 2025. These campaigns allowed citizens to collectively express their views and expectations regarding the European Parliament’s role and responsibilities.

The two largest campaigns received in 2025 were on the labelling of foodstuffs derived from new genomic techniques. During ongoing EU negotiations on the authorisation of new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food, citizens called on the European Parliament to retain mandatory and harmonised labelling requirements to ensure transparency, traceability and consumer choice across the EU. Messages also stressed the importance of maintaining the ban on such products in organic farming, preventing contamination and establishing clear rules on patents linked to new genomic techniques.

Other major campaigns in 2025 focused on foreign affairs, human rights and institutional integrity. Citizens contacted the Parliament about international crises and individual cases, including calls for humanitarian action and civilian protection in conflict zones such as Gaza, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were appeals for the release of detained or imprisoned individuals, including academics and human rights defenders. Campaigns also addressed the situation of EU citizens detained abroad, notably those who participated in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla.

Other campaigns targeted democracy, accountability and ethical conduct, with citizens calling for institutional or disciplinary responses in relation to the actions and public statements of Members of the European Parliament. In addition, citizens mobilised on issues linked to equality and participation, including initiatives highlighting the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

Languages used by citizens

In 2025, citizens contacted Ask EP in all 24 official EU languages, underlining the continued importance of multilingual communication. The most commonly used languages remained English, German, French, Spanish and Italian, while messages in other official languages underlined the service’s truly pan-European reach.

Ask EP always replied in the language used by the citizen, ensuring equal access to information for all.

Conclusion and outlook

Throughout 2025, responding to citizens’ enquiries required close cooperation across the European Parliament. Depending on the subject matter, replies drew on expertise from all the Parliament’s administration services. This ensured that citizens received accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive information.

In line with the European Parliament’s commitment to transparency, replies to a selection of campaign messages sent in 2025 are available on the EPRS blog. Answers to frequently asked questions can also be found online, providing citizens with continued access to information beyond individual correspondence.

This 2025 review confirms that citizens remain deeply engaged with the European Parliament and eager to understand, influence and participate in EU decision-making. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP) will continue to serve as a key contact point between citizens and the Parliament, fostering dialogue, transparency and trust.

Stay in touch

If you wish to share your views or request information, you can contact the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP) using the contact form, the Citizens’ app, or by post. We will reply in the EU language in which you write to us.

We look forward to continuing this dialogue in 2026 and beyond!

Your Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)

Durée de la vidéo : 150'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2026 - PE

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Die EU und Indien haben sich auf ein Freihandelsabkommen geeinigt. Experte Scholz erklärt, warum der Tag vor allem symbolisch wichtig ist, und was sich beim Handel ändern könnte.

Length of video : 15'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Knapp ein Jahr ist Donald Trump jetzt Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. Versprochen hatte er wirtschaftlichen Aufschwung durch seine "America first"-Politik. Bekommen haben die Menschen hohe Lebenshaltungskosten und einen wackeligen Finanzmarkt.

Nach den tödlichen Schüssen von Minneapolis wächst die Kritik am Vorgehen der US-Regierung. Die Politologin Laura von Daniels sieht einen Angriff auf die Zivilgesellschaft und Meinungsfreiheit in Amerika.

Durée de la vidéo : 90'

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2026 - PE

Length of video : 135'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Saša Butorac.

CONTEXT

Expansion and modernisation of the energy infrastructure in Member States is one of the key challenges of the ongoing energy transition in the EU. The electricity grids need to develop in order to ensure the security of energy supply, increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system, and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources, particularly at the distribution level. Given the peristent challenges relating to permit-granting procedures and delays in grid connection approvals at the national level, on 10 December 2025 the European Commission published the European grids package.

Along with the Commission proposal to introduce a new framework on the trans-European energy infrastructure guidelines, the proposal on acceleration of permit-granting procedures forms the core part of the grids package. It seeks to introduce a coherent regulatory framework at the EU level that addresses key challenges to a timely and cost-efficient development and upgrade of the transmission and distribution grids, storage, recharging stations and renewable energy projects. Major hurdles addressed in the proposal are incoherent administrative systems, lack of resources in national competent authorities, the complex nature of environmental impact assesments, the lack of public acceptance, the limited digitalisation of the procedures and data availability, as well as various judicial challenges.

Legislative proposal

2025/0400(COD) – Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures – COM(2025) 1007, 10.12.2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule:2025/0400(COD)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Acceleration of permit-granting procedures‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Saša Butorac.

CONTEXT

Timely, cost-efficient expansion and modernisation of the European energy infrastructure is one of the key challenges in the EU’s ongoing energy transition. Grid development is needed to ensure energy supply security, increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources. Cross border infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting national energy networks..

Meeting the 2030 interconnection targets is particularly important for completing the energy union and reaching European Union energy and climate goals. Given the scale of investment required, the persistent governance challenges around cross‑border projects and the need to enhance the robustness of the scenarios on which they are based, the European Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the TEN‑E regulation, as part of the European grids package published on 10 December 2025. The proposal is one of two legislative initiatives forming the core of the package (the other is on accelerating permit‑granting procedures).

Legislative proposal

2025/0399(COD) – Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EU) 2019/942, (EU) 2019/943 and (EU) 2024/1789 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2022/869 – COM(2025) 1006, 10 December 2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule:

2025/0399(COD)

Read the complete briefing on ‘Guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure Revision of the TEN E Regulation‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Seit Monaten übt die US-Regierung Druck auf verschiedene Universitäten im Land aus. Nun hat dieser Druck eine neue Form angenommen: Von der University of Pennsylvania will die Trump-Regierung eine Zusammenstellung über alle jüdischen Angestellten und Studierenden haben.

Donald Trump hat seine Forderung nach Grönland auch mit der mangelnden Verteidigungsfähigkeit Dänemarks in der Region begründet. Hat er damit etwa recht?

Presidential elections in Honduras, the non-recognition of the outcome by the incumbent administration and the attacks on opposition members of the National Assembly
Case of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic
Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Victoria Martin de la Torre.

Commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz

On 27 January 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp was liberated, after some 1.1 million people – mostly Jews, but also Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities – were murdered there. This year, survivor Tatiana Bucci, who was six years old when she was deported to Auschwitz with her family, will address MEPs, recalling that around 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered in the Holocaust.

Role of the European Parliament

In 1995, Parliament called for a Holocaust Remembrance Day in all Member States, and in January 2005 proposed 27 January as the EU’s Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. In November 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated 27 January as an international day of commemoration to honour Holocaust victims. Since 2005, Parliament has marked this date every year.

Parliament’s Vice-President responsible for Holocaust Remembrance Day and the fight against antisemitism is Pina Picierno (S&D, Italy). The House of European History, established at Parliament’s initiative in Brussels, features a permanent exhibition on the Holocaust and offers the Hidden Children – Survivors of the Holocaust in Brussels, a guided educational and commemorative walk for young people.

In October 2017, Parliament called on the Member States to mark 2 August as the date to remember the victims of the Roma Holocaust and to include this community in Holocaust Remembrance Day. In June that year, Parliament called on the Member States to adopt and apply the working definition of antisemitism employed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, so as to identify and prosecute antisemitic attacks more efficiently and effectively. In October 2018, in relation to the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe, Parliament drew attention to growing violence against Jews, and called on the Member States to counter Holocaust denial and trivialisation, and to mainstream Holocaust remembrance in education.

Parliament regularly adopts resolutions on fundamental rights in the EU, addressing a wide range of issues such as human dignity, freedom, minority rights and antisemitism. Its September 2022 resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU (2020-2021), for instance, provided an overview of antisemitism, racism, discrimination against LGBTIQ persons, anti-gypsyism and xenophobia.

In 2023, Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) began work on a report supporting the extension of the list of EU crimes in Article 83 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to include hate speech and hate crime, in response to a 2021 Commission communication. If the list is extended, Parliament and the Council may then establish minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions across the EU. Parliament endorsed the report in plenary on 18 January 2024.

The European Parliament’s Working Group against Antisemitism, bringing together more than 80 Members from across the political groups, cooperates with all EU institutions.

This is an update of an ‘At a glance’ note from January 2025 drafted by Alina-Alexandra Georgescu.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day 2026: Through the eyes of a child‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

President Trump’s hostile and erratic foreign policy actions accelerated the India-EU relationship – including a long-awaited FTA.