The European Commission has launched a consultation on its new European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in science and accompanying guidelines for responsible AI use in research. The strategy aims to coordinate AI adoption across EU Member States while establishing a European AI research council. The initiative includes detailed guidelines for researchers, research organisations and funding bodies on using generative AI responsibly, covering transparency requirements, data protection and research integrity. The consultation will be open until 5 June 2025.

The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation and a workshop series to seek input from stakeholders on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector. The initiatives cover use cases, benefits, barriers, risks and stakeholder needs. The input received will enable the Commission to provide sectoral guidance for the implementation of the Regulation laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (AI Act), which is in the process of being formally adopted and translated. Responses to the consultation are sought by 13 September 2024.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to assess the impact of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and explore options for its review. The review, planned in the Commission work programme for 2026, aims to simplify and adapt audiovisual media rules to a rapidly shifting media landscape, as highlighted in the European Democracy Shield. Core priorities include streamlining advertising rules, improving the level playing field between traditional and new digital players, and strengthening protections of minors on video-sharing platforms. The Commission also aims to secure prominence of media services of general interest while improving coherence with other EU laws, notably the Digital Services Act. The consultation is organised in four distinct pillars: scope and enforcement, audiovisual commercial communications, protection of viewers and strengthening of media diversity in the internal market. Feedback is invited from citizens, Member State authorities, companies, consumer organisations, non-governmental organisations, media freedom organisations, associations of journalists, and academic institutions. The consultation runs from 10 February 2026 to 1 May 2026.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on upcoming legislation covering carbon dioxide markets and infrastructure in the EU. The consultation will inform a Commission initiative planned for 2026 aimed at developing competitive markets and transportation infrastructure for CO2 as part of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The consultation builds on the 2040 Climate Target Communication and Industrial Carbon Management Strategy, recognising the role of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. The consultation is open until 9 January 2026.

The European Commission launched a consultation on 11 March 2025 on its draft Clean Industrial Deal State aid Framework (CISAF). The framework, planned for adoption in June 2025, will replace the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and operate until 31 December 2030. CISAF outlines conditions for state aid in renewable energy, industrial decarbonisation, clean technology manufacturing and investment de-risking. Under the previous framework, the Commission approved €47bn in aid by June 2024, with €2.4bn granted by member states. The consultation remains open until 25 April 2025.

The European Commission has proposed a draft implementing regulation establishing the operational arrangements for the Digital Product Passport Registry under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, defining its technical structure, governance, and user obligations. The registry is designed as a secure, central system to store and manage digital product passport data, including unique identifiers and compliance information, supported by components such as a user interface, application programming interface, verification mechanisms, semantic repository, and logging system to ensure interoperability, traceability, and accountability. Access is limited to verified economic operators and other value chain actors who must undergo electronic identity verification, with responsibilities to register and maintain accurate data, while national and customs authorities access the system through designated national administrators. The regulation establishes procedures for registering passports, including automated validation, assignment of unique identifiers, and issuance of proof of registration, alongside rules on data versioning and retention. It also provides for standardised data models via a semantic repository, technical support services, and comprehensive logging to support oversight and enforcement. The Commission is responsible for managing, securing, and maintaining the registry in compliance with data protection rules, while Member States oversee national access and systems, with measures included to ensure cybersecurity, prevent misuse, and support market surveillance and customs controls. The consultation closes on 27 May 2026.

The European Commission has launched a consultation as part of a stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives (the EU Nature Directives) and Commission adoption planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The initiative forms part of the Commission’s wider simplification agenda aimed at improving EU competitiveness while safeguarding economic, social and environmental objectives. The Commission stated that the stress test will examine opportunities to achieve the EU Nature Directives’ objectives more cost-effectively, identify potential areas for simplification and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens without changing the EU Nature Directives’ overall aims. The consultation seeks views on the implementation of the EU Nature Directives and is expected to be of particular interest to businesses, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, academic institutions, nature users, public authorities and environmental regulators. The consultation closes on 4 August 2026.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on revising EU public procurement directives. The proposed revision aims to enable preference for European products in public procurement to secure supply of vital technologies and services, while modernising and simplifying procurement rules. Commission adoption is planned for the second quarter of 2026. The consultation ends on 26 January 2026.

The European Commission has published a draft implementing regulation establishing the operational framework for the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Board under Regulation (EU) 2025/327. The draft sets out the Board’s governance arrangements, its cooperation with the eHealth Network during the transition period, and the actions it may take to ensure consistent application of the EHDS rules. These include issuing technical implementation guides, non-binding guidelines, and other written contributions to support the exchange and use of electronic health data, as well as facilitating cooperation, peer learning, and the sharing of best practices among Member States, the Commission, and invited bodies.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW H4) has launched a consultation to support the revision of the New Legislative Framework (NLF) for product legislation, aiming to ensure that the reform reflects stakeholder perspectives on digitalisation, circularity and regulatory efficiency. Feedback will inform an impact assessment and the legislative proposal, with a factual summary published eight weeks after the consultation closes. A comprehensive synopsis report will accompany the impact assessment, explaining how stakeholder input shaped the initiative. Adoption of the proposal is planned for the third quarter of 2026. The consultation closes on 4 February 2026.

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the New Legislative Framework (NLF) for EU product legislation, following an evaluation that identified the need for enhanced digital integration and improved performance of notified conformity assessment bodies. The revised framework aims to modernise the legal framework to better support the EU’s digital and circular economy objectives. The proposal introduces updates to the rules governing notified bodies, particularly to address inconsistencies in their practices and to strengthen the quality and credibility of conformity assessments. A key feature of the revision is the integration of digital tools, such as the Digital Product Passport, to improve product traceability and regulatory compliance across the Single Market. The consultation closes on 11 August 2025.

The European Commission has unveiled its Quality Jobs Roadmap, a strategic plan to ensure high-quality, future-proof employment across the EU. The initiative aims to boost productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and protect workers from in-work poverty amid rising living costs and global challenges. Key priorities include creating and maintaining quality jobs, modernising working conditions, supporting employers and employees through green and digital transitions, reinforcing social dialogue, and guaranteeing effective access to rights and public services. The roadmap reflects extensive engagement with social partners, involving around 200 organisations and over 50 discussions across Member States.