40 years since the EU flag was raised in front of our headquarters in Brussels for the very first time.Twelve stars.A single market.Four decades of standing together for unity, solidarity, and diversity.The symbol that fosters Europeans’ sense of community.

An EU budget for peace and prosperity will be one of the central topics at the Annual EU Budget Conference 2026 🌍On 2 July, the event will open an important debate on the role of the EU budget in an increasingly complex and unpredictable global landscape.💡Far beyond just figures and frameworks, high-level speakers will address how the EU budget can concretely remain a stabilising force for peace, economic resilience, and long-term prosperity. From stronger coordination with national budgets to the smarter use of financial instruments, the challenge is clear: how can Europe upgrade its financial architecture to meet today's realities and tomorrow’s demands?➡️A timely and necessary debate for Europe’s future.

Opting for a better energy deal by switching to another provider can help you save a significant amount of money 👛⚡ At the same time, energy contracts can be overwhelming. Important details are often buried in long documents, making it difficult to understand what you are signing up for.Before signing a new energy contract, make sure you👇 ✅ Ask for a summary of the key contractual terms and conditions ✅ Check the total price for your estimated annual consumption, not only the advertised discount✅ Look out for other costs, like network charges, taxes and levies, monthly fees and one-off payments✅Identify the price type – is it fixed, variable, dynamic, indexed, or mixed?

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive focuses on 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔, particularly for the worst-performing buildings. 🏗️ 🏚️ The Commission have published a series of fact pages, explaining per topic what is new in the directive – simple language, short texts, and possible to translate in a click! The most recent fact page covers 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Improving a building’s energy performance brings many benefits, such as 💶 Reduced energy bills - renovating buildings can generate yearly savings of up to €881 for each household.⚡ Energy renovations will reduce our gas consumption and our reliance on imports. It's estimated that the energy efficiency measures in buildings between 2020 - 2024 achieved savings equivalent to the cumulative gross inland consumption of Hungary in 2024.🌱 Lower emissions through decreased energy consumption, especially of energy produced with fossil fuels and increased climate resiliance thanks to better insulation, making buildings less prone to overheating.

💶 Public and private investment must go hand in hand to build a stronger European economyAt the upcoming Annual EU Budget Conference, experts will dig into how the EU budget can help mobilise private capital, reduce investments risk and strengthen the Savings and Investments Union.The exchange will also examine what is needed to make Europe a stronger destination for long-term investment, from better use of financial markets to reinforcing the Euro’s global role. Voices from different backgrounds will come together to discuss how Europe can scale investment and finance its strategic priorities – offering a closer look at one of the key economic debates shaping Europe’s future.

Europeans are among the world's top savers. 💶 Our latest newsletter explores how the EU plans to build on this strength through the savings and investments union, showcasing reads on investment, growth and new opportunities across Europe.This plan involves a series of steps, including the creation of a savings and investments union, giving more opportunities for savers and businesses. See good reads from the European Central Bank, various Commission departments, the European University Institute and the Publications Office of the European Union. We also showcase some other good publications products out recently such as the 'EU funding and me' app.

#PublicProcurement has vast potential to foster innovation, sustainability and transparency. Want to help us unleash that potential? The EU Publications Office is looking for two assistants in our ‘TED and EU Public Procurement’ unit at the EU Publications Office. See the specs and apply!Follow their page for more job opportunities and other updates about EU information.

Here's a fun fact: the Cyrillic alphabet (yes, the one used across much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia) was actually created in Bulgaria! 🖊️ The monks Cyril and Methodius developed it in the 9th century, and Bulgaria has been a cradle of culture and learning ever since. From the ancient Thracian ruins to the rose-scented Valley of Roses 🌹, Bulgaria is a country full of surprises. Want to connect with its rich history and warm people? Learn Bulgarian with OLS, A1 & A2 courses available at your own pace.

Over 75% of the world’s food crops need pollinators.Yet, bee populations are declining due to:🔸habitat loss🔸climate change🔸excessive use of pesticidesThe EU's fertiliser plan promotes healthier ecosystems vital for bees’ survival.#WorldBeeDay

Understanding energy policy just got easier⚡The European Commission's energy fact pages turn complex topics into short, accessible explainers. So far, they cover📑 citizens’ energy rights♻️ energy efficiency awareness🏡 energy performance of buildings⚛️ small modular reactors and more!Expand your understanding of EU energy rules and policy with this growing resource

New call: the exchangeEU programme is now open! European coal, lignite, peat and oil shale (“coal+”) regions are invited to apply to the Coal regions in transition's peer‑learning programme that helps regions turn ambition into real, on‑the‑ground action by learning directly from each other through tailor‑made exchanges. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗘𝗨 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿? ✅ Peer‑to‑peer and mentor‑to‑mentee exchanges ✅ Hands‑on learning on project development, governance, skills, funding and partnerships ✅ Facilitated visits, expert input, site visits and structured follow‑up 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆? Public authorities from coal+ regions across the EU, together with local stakeholders such as industry, social partners, civil society and research organisations. 🚀 Ready to accelerate your region’s transition? Connect with other European regions facing similar challenges, and shape practical solutions for a clean energy future - apply by 23 June 2026

🌍 On the agenda of the Annual EU Budget Conference 2026: Global Partnerships Europe doesn’t operate in isolation and its priorities are increasingly shaped in dialogue with partners worldwide. This theme looks at how cooperation beyond our borders actually takes place, and what role the EU budget can play in supporting it in practice and in turning shared ambitions into mutual benefits. Experts will dig into this during the event on 2 July, bringing real-world perspectives into the conversation.

💶 The EU has issued €10 billion in EU-Bond in yesterday’s syndicated transaction! The fifth syndicated transaction of 2026 marks another successful EU-bond issuance and will finance key EU policy priorities, such as: 🌱 Europe’s green and digital transition 🤝 Continued support for Ukraine 🛡️ Strategic investment to strengthen Europe’s defence and resilience 📊 Ensuring a stable and transparent presence on capital markets The Commission has now secured €77.3 billion of its €100 billion funding target for the first half of 2026. The EU unified funding approach enables the European Union to leverage its strong credit profile to raise funds efficiently, supporting Member States and partner countries while advancing shared European priorities.

🚀 One of the key themes of the Annual EU Budget Conference 2026: Europe's Competitive edgeIn a context of changing times and shifting global priorities, Europe faces key questions on how to stay strong, invest smarter, and reinforce strategic autonomy - while fully leveraging the power of the EU budget as a driver of change.📆On 2 July, leading experts will take up these questions, bringing together a diversity of perspectives to enrich and broaden the exchange of ideas.

Happy Europe Day! 🎉 Europe is home to 24 official languages and dozens more spoken across its communities, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Today we celebrate not just a continent, but a shared project built on openness, curiosity and connection. 🌍✨ What better way to mark Europe Day than by exploring one of its languages? With OLS, you can access A1 & A2 courses for 29 languages plus Ukrainian. Whether it's German 🇩🇪, Lithuanian 🇱🇹, Bulgarian 🇧🇬 or Norwegian 🇳🇴, your European language adventure starts here.

72% of you see the EU's value.The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that protecting democracy is why you trust us most. Optimism for the EU’s future is at 60% and satisfaction with the way democracy works in the EU is at 57%.