Legal assistants Ugnė Kačergytė and Viktorija Markovaite compiled the material.
Technology
Commission presents guidelines on the protection of minors and a prototype of an age-verification app under the Digital Services Act (DSA)
Published: 15 July 2025
The Commission has presented guidelines on the protection of minors, as well as a prototype of an age-verification app under the Digital Services Act (DSA). They will ensure that children and young people can continue to enjoy the opportunities the online world offers, such as learning, creativity and communication, while minimising the risks they face online, including exposure to harmful content and behaviour.
Commission publishes guidelines for providers of general-purpose AI models to meet AI Act obligations
Published: 18 July 2025
The European Commission has published its guidelines on the obligations of providers of general-purpose AI models under the EU AI Act, which will take effect on 2 August 2025. The aim of the guidelines is to provide legal certainty for actors across the AI value chain by clarifying when and how these obligations apply. They form part of a broader implementation package, and complement the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice received from independent experts on 10 July.
Environment
Commission published the fourth Environmental Implementation Review
Published: 7 July 2025
The European Commission has released the fourth Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) to strengthen the enforcement of EU environmental legislation. The EIR emphasizes that better implementation of these laws not only safeguards the environment and public health but also promotes prosperity and competitiveness across the EU. The cost of not enforcing environmental laws, stemming from pollution, nature degradation, and waste, is estimated at €180 billion annually, equivalent to about 1% of the EU’s GDP.
EU publishes Nature Credits Roadmap to boost private investment in nature-positive actions
Published: 7 July 2025
The European Commission published a Roadmap towards Nature Credits, outlining a strategic approach to stimulate private investment in nature-positive actions across the EU. The initiative aims to complement public funding by creating market-based incentives to protect and restore nature. It seeks to reward those who actively contribute to ecosystem restoration and conservation (including farmers, foresters, fishers, landowners, and local communities) and to encourage investors to support these efforts.
Anti-fraud
Commission launches overhaul of anti-fraud system to safeguard budget
Published: 17 July 2025
The European Commission has initiated a comprehensive review of the EU’s Anti-Fraud Architecture, aiming to strengthen the protection of the Union’s financial interests in the face of evolving threats such as transnational fraud, organized crime, and the misuse of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.
Tax
A simpler tax architecture to benefit EU firms and citizens
Published: 15 July 2025
MEPs on Tuesday adopted suggestions for reforms to the tax architecture to boost competitiveness while continuing to address tax avoidance and evasion. The report presents a host of ideas for simplifying tax compliance and eliminating administrative hurdles in the internal market. This would reduce the financial cost of compliance – notably for SMEs, which, the report says, is a cost of 30% of the taxes they pay. The suggestions would also make it easier for governments to administer and collect taxes, contributing to reduced tax evasion and avoidance and mobilising more resources for states to invest elsewhere.
VAT: Council formally adopts new rules simplifying tax collection for imports
Published: 18 July 2025
The Council today formally adopted new value added tax (VAT) rules for distance sales of imported goods. The directive will improve collection of VAT on imported goods by ensuring suppliers are always liable for VAT paid on imports, rather than the EU consumer as is currently usual practice. This should encourage suppliers outside the EU to use the VAT import one-stop-shop (IOSS) for VAT reporting and collection.
Defence
Council activates flexibility in EU fiscal rules for 15 member states to increase defence spending
Published: 8 July 2025
The Council today activated the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) for 15 member states to help facilitate their transition to higher defence spending at national level while ensuring debt sustainability. The member states concerned are Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Mobility and transport
Commission adopts milestones for the completion of Rail Baltica
Published: 9 July 2025
The European Commission has today adopted an implementing decision setting out key milestones and deadlines for the completion of Rail Baltica, a flagship cross-border railway infrastructure project that will significantly enhance connectivity within the European Union. Unanimously supported by all Member States, this decision marks a major step toward fully integrating Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the European railway network by 2030.
