The European Commission has initiated a Digital Fitness Check to assess the cumulative impact of EU digital regulations. This review aims to ensure that the rules remain effective, proportionate and future-proof, while supporting competitiveness, values and fundamental rights. The consultation will analyse how different regulations interact and affect businesses. Feedback is open until 11 March 2026, with the initiative forming part of the Commission’s REFIT programme.

The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings against TikTok under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), investigating potential breaches related to the platform's obligations to assess and mitigate systemic risks to election integrity. The inquiry focuses on TikTok's actions during the recent Romanian presidential elections and will examine the platform's recommender systems and policies on political advertisements. The Commission has cited possible violations of specific EU DSA articles and is empowered to impose interim measures if necessary. This action follows a retention order issued to TikTok in December 2024, requiring the preservation of relevant data.

The European Commission and a group of Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) held a roundtable on 19 May 2026 with Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines to support the launch of the first data access requests by vetted researchers under the EU Digital Services Act (EU DSA). The discussions focused on the implementation of the new mechanism enabling researchers to access platform data for studies on systemic risks and societal impacts, with DSCs reporting that 49 applications had been received, mainly relating to social media platforms and issues such as illegal content, advertising transparency and artificial intelligence features. The Commission stated that the EU DSA framework supports independent, data-driven research while protecting academic freedom and including safeguards against misuse. DSCs also confirmed that they are preparing guidance documents to assist researchers with the application process, while platforms and search engines outlined ongoing work to manage requests and comply with related obligations, including providing data catalogues. The Commission emphasised that, although DSCs assess applications and operate the vetting process, overall enforcement responsibility remains with the Commission, which said it would continue monitoring compliance and referred to previous enforcement action, including proceedings against several companies, commitments accepted from AliExpress, and a non-compliance decision and fine issued to X.

The European Commission adopted the Fertiliser Action Plan, introducing immediate support measures for farmers as well as longer-term regulatory changes designed to strengthen domestic fertiliser production.

The European Commission has launched two initiatives under its Preparedness Union Strategy: the EU stockpiling strategy and the medical countermeasures strategy. The Commission notes that these strategies are intended to improve access to essential goods and medical countermeasures for citizens, businesses and economies across the EU. They are designed to ensure continuity of supply during crises such as major energy blackouts, natural disasters, conflicts or pandemics. The strategies aim to address vulnerabilities in supply chains, reduce dependency on external sources and reinforce the EU’s ability to respond to all-hazard threats. They are informed by recent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and promote a more coordinated and anticipatory approach across Member States. Implementation is to be supported by the EU Stockpiling Network and the Preparedness Task Force, with a review scheduled for 2026.

The European Commission has launched the Hydrogen Mechanism, the first operational component of the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform. The mechanism, established under Regulation EU/2024/1789 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, aims to support the market development of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, as well as its derivatives, including ammonia, methanol and electro-sustainable aviation fuel, until the end of 2029. The online platform will host various mechanisms covering hydrogen, raw materials, natural gas and biomethane, with the potential to include additional products in the future.  Registration is now open for stakeholders, with the first supply-demand matching round scheduled for September 2025.

The European Commission has launched the first call for participation in the Raw Materials Mechanism, a platform designed to aggregate demand for critical raw materials and connect buyers with suppliers, financial institutions and storage providers. The voluntary, market-based mechanism aims to diversify supplies of critical raw materials and reduce reliance on third-country suppliers, building on the EU Energy Platform. It focuses on strategic sectors such as rare earths, defence and battery materials, covering all 17 strategic raw materials identified under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. The platform is intended to complement existing commercial relationships without intervening in negotiations. Companies interested in participating in the first round can register by the end of April 2026.

The European Commission (EC) published an Action Plan for Steel and Metals on 19 March 2025, as part of its Clean Industrial Deal initiative. The plan outlines measures to support the EU steel and metals sectors through trade protection, carbon leakage prevention, and energy cost reduction. It includes €150m from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (2026-27), €600m via Horizon Europe, and plans to mobilise €100bn through a new Industrial Decarbonisation Bank. The EC will review the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in Q2 2025, focusing on export-related carbon leakage and extending coverage to downstream products.

The European Commission has launched TraceMap, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform intended to support the detection of food fraud, contaminated food and foodborne disease outbreaks across the EU. The platform uses AI technology to analyse and interpret data from existing EU food safety management platforms, including the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). TraceMap aims to strengthen food safety risk assessments, identify links between operators and consignments and monitor the entire agri-food supply chain to enable faster recalls of unsafe or fraudulent products. A pilot version of the platform was used to support the identification and recall of infant milk formula containing contaminated ARA oil from China.

The European Commission has introduced the Union of Skills initiative to bolster EU competitiveness by enhancing human capital. The initiative aims to improve basic skills, promote lifelong learning, and attract global talent. It includes new targets for 2030 and emphasizes strong governance through a European Skills High-Level Board.

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence on the Digital Omnibus, as part of its Digital Package on Simplification, scheduled for adoption in late 2025 as a directive and a regulation. This initiative seeks to reduce administrative burdens and compliance costs while maintaining the objectives of existing legislation, addressing fragmentation, outdated rules, and inconsistent enforcement in the EU digital framework. It will introduce targeted simplification measures in five areas: the data acquis (covering the Data Governance Act, Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation, and Open Data Directive); rules on cookies and other tracking technologies under the ePrivacy Directive; cybersecurity-related incident reporting obligations; the smooth application of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act; and aspects of electronic identification and trust services under the European Digital Identity Framework, including alignment with the forthcoming EU Business Wallet and application of the ‘one in, one out’ principle. Stakeholders are invited to submit their responses by 14 October 2025.

The European Commission has launched an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying to strengthen the protection of children and young people online across the EU. The plan introduces an EU-wide reporting and support application, improves coordination among Member States, and reinforces existing legal frameworks. The Commission will develop a blueprint for an accessible app enabling victims to report cyberbullying to national helplines, receive support, and securely store and send evidence. Member States will adapt the app to national systems and adopt comprehensive strategies based on a common definition of cyberbullying, understood as repeated harmful behaviour carried out through digital technologies targeting in particular children and young people, in order to allow comparable data collection across the EU. The Commission will review and clarify obligations under the EU Digital Services Act, including guidelines on the protection of minors and trusted flaggers. It will also address cyberbullying in the evaluation of Directive (EU) 2018/1808, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and support implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, including rules on prohibited practices and transparency requirements such as labelling AI-generated content. The plan strengthens prevention through updated digital literacy guidance for educators, strengthened citizenship education, and expanded resources via Safer Internet Centres and the Better Internet for Kids platform. In parallel, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, through its Science for Digital Wellbeing programme, provides evidence on the impact of social media, cyberbullying, virtual worlds and artificial intelligence on children’s mental health, education and well-being, informing policy development, enforcement under the EU Digital Services Act, and the design and implementation of the Action Plan.