Delivering Europe's independence

Protecting our values

Europe is a Union of values. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are not only central to who we are, they are essential to how Europe works. Protecting these core values from internal erosion and external threats has been a central priority once again this year.

Protecting democracy in Europe

Europe’s democracies are increasingly targeted by forces that seek to undermine our elections, spread disinformation and divide our societies. To respond, we have launched the European Democracy Shield, a series of measures to

To improve our capacity to better detect and respond to these threats, we have established the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, bringing together expertise from across EU countries.

The Commission is also supporting programmes that help communities, particularly in rural areas and small towns, build media literacy across generations and strengthen trust in democratic debate.

Protecting Europeans online

We are going through a period of profound technological change, which offers incredible opportunities, but also immense challenges. Europe is clear: it is democratic societies, not technology companies, that decide the rules that govern our digital space.

Through the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, Europe has powerful instruments to ensure its rules are upheld and platforms operate responsibly and fairly. In the last year we have investigated

• TikTok, over its addictive design
• Meta, over its failure to enforce its minimum age requirements
• X, for Grok’s use in creating and spreading material depicting child sexual abuse

We have also fined e-commerce platforms, such as AliExpress for the sale of illegal and unsafe products, and Temu for not properly assessing the risks of illegal products. We also addressed abuses of market power with Apple, Meta and Google.

The EU has also made progress in protecting children and young people online, so they can enjoy the benefits of digital connection safely. Those whose minds are still developing are often the most exposed to addictive platform designs, harmful content and online pressure. We are clear that children are not commodities, and no company should profit from exploiting their vulnerabilities. President von der Leyen established a special panel on child safety online, which examined the benefits, opportunities and harms of social media algorithms on children and developed recommendations for the Commission on further strengthening protections.

This work is supported by the EU-wide age verification app, to protect children from harmful content, while the action plan against cyberbullying will support prevention and awareness as well as the implementation of an online safety mechanism to enable children and young people to easily report cyberbullying.

Europe is showing that technological progress must go hand in hand with democratic values and the protection of its citizens.

Delivering a defence union

Europe faces its most dangerous security environment in generations. Today, preserving peace means strengthening our ability to deter aggression. Since 2020, defence spending by EU countries has increased by almost 80%. This is being supported at the EU level through the largest defence mobilisation in the history of our Union.

^{Data from Eurobarometer surveys from January and May 2026}

Supporting EU countries with defence investments

The ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030 is mobilising €800 billion to close capability gaps, strengthen industrial capacity, and accelerate investment in our collective security, with the Readiness 2030 roadmap setting out concrete milestones and timelines.

At the heart of this effort lies SAFE, which provides €150 billion in loans to EU countries for defence investments.

These investments are

A coordinated approach to developing capabilities

Investment without a plan is not enough. That is why these investments are being supported through a coordinated approach to developing capabilities.That is why the 2030 roadmap introduced Capability Coalitions, bringing Member States together to identify common requirements, develop capabilities jointly and procure them at scale.

This new model is already shaping the following Europe's flagship  defence projects

These are strategic capabilities that are too costly, too complex or too urgent for countries to develop alone.

Developing a strong industrial base

In order to produce what our armed forces need, at the scale and speed required, Europe must strengthen its industrial base. Through the new European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), the Commission will mobilise €1.5 billion to expand production capacity, strengthen joint procurement, and reduce critical dependencies.

The EU is also combining Ukrainian battlefield expertise with European industrial capacity through the EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv, helping the EU develop next-generation capabilities.

A proactive approach to European defence

Innovation will play a decisive role in preparing and shaping the battlefield of the future. Through the European Defence Fund and the new AGILE instrument, we are investing in European innovators to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world capabilities.

Readiness also depends on showing our armed forces can be deployed at speed and scale wherever they are needed. The new military mobility package creates

Partnering with trusted partners around the world

Independence does not mean standing alone. This is why we are deepening defence and security cooperation with trusted partners around the world. We strengthened our industrial cooperation under SAFE with Canada and have concluded defence partnerships with Australia, Ghana, Iceland and India.These partnerships create new opportunities for industrial collaboration and closer cooperation on shared security challenges.

Strengthening eastern border regions

Europe’s eastern border regions are on the frontline of a changing security environment. The Commission has adopted a new strategy to strengthen the prosperity, resilience, and security of these regions, while the new EastInvest facility, will help border regions gain easier access to financing and advisory support.

A secure Union

Europe’s security relies on far more than just traditional defence. Whether its targeted cyberattacks on logistics hubs, democratic processes being subjected to foreign interference, or violent extremism, the threats we face are often designed specifically to operate below the threshold of armed conflict.

Countering hybrid threats

One of the fastest-growing security challenges Europe faces is from drones. Over the last year, drone incursions have seen European citizens rushed to shelters as well as flights being grounded. There are a number of ways the EU is working to counter this threat, including

Europe is also seeing a surge in malicious cyber activity, with daily cyberattacks against essential services, businesses, and public authorities. To tackle this, the Commission revised the Cybersecurity Act. This will ensure that products placed on the European market are cyber-secure by design and addressing vulnerabilities in critical ICT supply chains.

Meanwhile, with the EU action plan on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, we are addressing the risks of the most advanced AI models for cybersecurity.

Tackling terrorism and radicalisation

The threat from terrorism and violent extremism continues to evolve. Terrorist groups are increasingly exploiting digital technologies, social media, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies to recruit, finance, and organise their activities. Through the ProtectEU agenda on preventing and countering terrorism, Europe is strengthening cooperation between law enforcement authorities, improving intelligence sharing, tackling terrorist financing, and developing new tools to identify and prevent radicalisation before it leads to violence.

Tackling organised crime

Criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, firearms smuggling, money laundering, and cybercrime operate across borders and are increasingly exploiting digital technologies to expand their reach. The Commission has strengthened its response on multiple fronts

Tackling natural disasters together

This summer once again, Europe was hit by devastating wildfires, severe droughts and unprecedented floods. The wildfire season has been exceptionally severe. By mid-August, the area burned was already more than twice the average for that time of year. 

Ahead of summer, hundreds of firefighters and dozens of firefighting assets were prepositioned in the countries most at risk. Since then, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) has been activated 11 times by 9 affected countries, including the first-ever activations for wildfires by Belgium and the Netherlands.

Secure external borders

Strong security requires secure external borders. Europe is building a balanced migration and asylum system that combines humanity with responsibility and solidarity with security. One that is fair and firm. It is also building more effective border management.

The rules of the Pact on Migration and Asylum took effect in June 2026, meaning Europe now has a common framework to manage migration in a way that is fair, orderly and based on solidarity between EU countries.

In July 2026 the Commission also proposed a new sanctions regime to combat the threat of migrant smuggling and other illicit activities originating outside the Union.

This summer, as thousands of irregular migrants tried to enter Ceuta from Morocco, the Commission offered Spain its financial and operational support from day one. While the situation on the ground remains challenging, new illegal attempts to cross the border have been avoided. Our work with Meta, TikTok and independent fact-checkers has been crucial to prevent criminal networks from spreading disinformation. We have also doubled down on the fight against migrant smuggling.

The new Entry/Exit System started being deployed in April 2026 and is providing more reliable information on non-EU nationals crossing Europe’s external borders, strengthening security checks. Meanwhile, the first-ever EU visa strategy will also strengthen security screening for those wanting to come to the EU, while helping to attract the talent that Europe needs to grow.

A Union for everyone

The past few years have been difficult for many European households. High inflation, rising housing costs, and pressure on family budgets have affected communities across our Union. Addressing these challenges is not only a matter of social justice, but also central to Europe’s competitiveness.

Addressing the rising cost of living

Across the European Union, one in five people remains at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The first-ever EU anti-poverty strategy sets out a long-term roadmap to eradicate poverty by 2050, while the strengthened European Child Guarantee ensures that every child has access to the services and support they need to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Nowhere is affordability felt more directly than in housing. A safe and affordable home is the foundation on which people build their lives, which is why affordable housing is a priority for the EU. To address this challenge the Commission

Households are also continuing to be hit by the impact of an energy crisis originating beyond our borders. Through the citizens energy package, the European Union is strengthening protections for vulnerable consumers, helping prevent disconnections, improving transparency and giving households greater control over their energy choices and bills.

Protecting consumers

While European consumers enjoy some of the highest levels of protection worldwide, the rise in digital services and the explosive growth of e-commerce have created new challenges. Through the 2030 consumer agenda, Europe is strengthening consumer protection, including online, with a particular focus on children and vulnerable consumers by

Meanwhile new customs rules, including a €3 duty on packages from outside the EU valued at less than €150, help create a level playing field between online platforms and traditional retailers and ensure that products sold in Europe meet the standards consumers expect.

Making train travel easier

Travelling by rail across borders can still be unnecessarily complicated. A journey involving several train operators often requires multiple tickets, purchased through different systems, with limited protection if a connection is missed. The Commission’s new One Journey, One Ticket initiative will

A more inclusive Union

Everyone in the European Union should be able to feel safe and live with dignity and respect. We are working to create a union of equality. Equality is not only about protecting rights. It is also about creating societies where everyone can participate fully and feel they belong. Over the last year, the Commission has presented a number of important new strategies

This page lists only a selection of accomplishments achieved during the past year. 
For more, download the brochure (PDF).