European Parliamentary Research Service

🧰 Do you know what is in the EU's trade defence toolbox? The EU's trade defence arsenal can be divided into two categories: 1️⃣ EU trade defence instruments 2️⃣ EU autonomous trade instruments Recent US tariff policies are likely to divert trade flows to other markets, including the EU, and drive a further increase in the global use of trade defence measures. In this context, the relevance of the EU's trade defence toolbox is expected to grow in the future. 📝 Read more about key trade defence tools in our briefing ↓ https://lnkd.in/eFSD4-SH #EUTrade

📊 The latest infographic on US economic indicators and trade with the EU is out. It provides insight into the US economic performance and examines trade relations with the EU in 2024. 🔎 Here are some key facts: - The US GDP growth rate was 2.8%, compared to 1.1% for the EU. - Both EU and US inflation rates remain stable and continue to decline. - EU-US trade continues to grow, but EU imports of goods from the US is in decline since 2022. ❓What other insights is available? 📥 Explore the full infographic ↓  https://lnkd.in/eTdAbtZE

❓ What are the relationships between the Commissioners and the European Parliament committees? Committees oversee the work of the European Commission by inviting Commissioners to discuss their portfolios. This includes policy areas from the Commission's annual work programme that fall under their responsibility. 🔎 The table below shows: - the College of Commissioners and their portfolios - the corresponding parliamentary committee(s) covering those areas - the number of Commissioners each committee work with 📊 Want to learn more facts and figures about the #EuropeanCommission? Check out our infographic → https://europa.eu/!nX3fhg 

🔎 What happened during this week European Parliament's plenary session? Read our #EPlenary round-up ⤵️

🎓 Ever heard of the European Universities alliances? This initiative helps build transnational alliances between higher education institutions to develop cooperation in education, with links to research and innovation. 🔎 Let's take a look at the figures! As of January 2025, the European Universities initiative includes 65 alliances from 35 countries, including all EU countries. 📈 Together, the alliances include: - more than 570 higher education institutions - education provided collectively to more than 11 million students 📍 This week in plenary, MEPs adopted a resolution noting that the initiative has surpassed expectations for participation and providing recommendations on the future of the European Universities initiative. Read more in our briefing ↓ https://europa.eu/!vBCNbN

🔜 Mid-September, the Council of the European Union is expected to formally adopt its position on the draft 2026 EU budget and forward it to the European Parliament. This week, the Council presented its position in plenary session on the draft 2026 general budget. 📆 What are the next steps in the 3 key EU budgetary procedures until the end of the year? Save this timeline for later ↓ 📝 Read more on the 2026 EU budget in our article ↓ https://lnkd.in/erky3gGP

🔒 Where are Russia's €289.5 billion in frozen assets? Most assets held in the EU are managed by Euroclear, a large international securities depository and clearing house registered in Belgium, and therefore subject to Belgian and EU law. A smaller part is held in a similar organisation, Clearstream, registered in Luxembourg. 🔎 However, determining the exact value of assets under each jurisdiction is not straightforward, as official data remain inconsistent. The debate on how to use those immobilised assets to sustain Ukraine's reconstruction efforts has evolved, a cost estimated at US$524 billion as of December 2024. A growing number of international legal experts and prominent political figures have defended the lawfulness of confiscating Russian central bank assets to sustain Ukraine, both for financing reconstruction efforts and military expenses, despite those assets being protected by state immunity under international customary law. Read more in our briefing on frozen Russian assets ↓ https://europa.eu/!qyFpF7