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The EU's new Entry/Exit System for border control is operational since12 October 2025. It applies to non-EU travellers entering or leaving the EU and will replace passport stamping with digital records. Phased in progressively over six months, it will make travelling smoother and safer for all.

Electronic devices will become more energy efficient, less harmful for the environment and more consumer-friendly thanks to updated ecodesign requirements for chargers. Chargers for laptops, smartphones, and computers will have to meet higher energy efficiency standards and be more interoperable.

The EU has taken further steps to shield children from online risks. It has asked Snapchat, YouTube, Apple App Store and Google Play to disclose the measures they have in place to protect minors on their services. Smaller platforms will also be contacted to see if they comply with EU digital rules.

New rules on political advertisements in the EU come into effect on 10 October. They make it easier for you to recognise political advertisements, understand who is paying for them and whether you were targeted to receive the ad. This will help you make more informed choices.

The EU issued a statement welcoming the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict, which secures an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, and commits to supporting its full implementation.

Thanks to new EU rules on instant payments, people and businesses can now transfer money in euro within seconds, anytime – day or night – whether within their own country or across the euro area. Your money is available immediately, making it far easier to deal with emergencies or splitting bills.

Use of the EU Ecolabel has hit a record high: more than 109,000 products covered by over 3,300 licences across Europe now carry this trusted eco-friendly logo. Italy tops the rankings in terms of products certified under the scheme, followed closely by Spain, France and Germany.

The Commission has put forward two strategies to help Europe stay ahead in AI industry and science. They set out how to speed up the use of AI in key industries and put the EU at the forefront of AI-driven scientific innovation.

The EU’s new LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030 sets out measures that will simultaneously protect and empower LGBTIQ+ people as well as engage everyone in helping to advance equality. It targets hatred online and in real life and looks to ban ‘conversion’ practices.

European supervisory authorities have issued a warning to consumers that crypto-assets can be risky. EU rules recommend you check the provider of crypto-asset services is authorised in the EU and, make sure wallets used to store your crypto-assets are sufficiently secured.

More than 1 million litres of beverages and 11 million kilograms of food were taken off the market during this year’s Europol-coordinated crackdown on counterfeit and substandard food. The checks revealed a rise in criminals relabelling expired food before reintroducing them into the supply chain.

In 2027, Heilbronn (Germany) will be the European Green Capital, and the European Green Leaf Awards, for smaller cities, will go to Assen (the Netherlands) and Siena (Italy). Heilbronn got top scores for its work on air quality, water, noise, climate change adaptation and the circular economy.

New measures have been introduced to EU chemical rules that will restrict the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in firefighting foams. They will protect people and the environment, especially soil and water, from the risks posed by PFAS.

The European Commission has proposed to provide close to €1.6 billion in funds to support recovery from the destructive October 2024 floods in Valencia, Spain. The funds will help repair infrastructure, provide temporary accommodation, carry out clean-up operations as well as rebuild roads.

At an informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen, EU leaders discussed how to strengthen Europe's defence, including defence capacities, support for the Eastern flank and governance. They also spoke about continued support for Ukraine.

The EU’s annual campaign promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations kicks off today and will run throughout October. It brings together hundreds of partners in a series of conferences, workshops, trainings, webinars, presentations to raise awareness and share good practices.

The New European Bauhaus prizes 2025 has awarded 22 winners from around Europe for their skill in fusing sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics in their designs. Winning projects include Pollino in Hungary, which transforms urban signage into habitats for pollinators, and Portugal's Edible School.

The Commission has proposed two initiatives to improve financial literacy at all stages of life and make investing simpler and more accessible for everyone. Through investing, citizens can grow their wealth while also helping finance EU businesses, driving economic growth and job creation in the EU.

Every part of the ocean is now under threat from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, according to a report by Copernicus, the EU Earth observation system. The findings show that ocean warming is accelerating, and marine biodiversity hotspots are at increasing risk.