Strong mental health and well-being are crucial for everyone to live fulfilling lives, reach their full potential, actively contribute to their communities and cope with stress and challenges. The European Union strives to ensure that no one is excluded and that people have equal access to mental health prevention and services across EU countries. However, a lot more still needs to be done to help everyone achieve the best possible standard of mental health and well-being.

Europe is experiencing a demographic shift like never before. By 2050, nearly one third of the EU’s population will be aged 65 and over. The EU’s ageing population will have profound implications across various areas, including healthcare, social welfare, the labour market and the economy. EU policies for older people focus on several key areas: active ageing, social inclusion, health and long-term care, and financial security. What the EU needs now is a comprehensive strategy for older persons.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, with a budget of 95.5 billion euro for the 2021-2027 period. It is more than just a funding programme: it represents the EU’s commitment to driving scientific excellence, fostering innovation and tackling societal challenges across EU countries. This ambitious programme supports researchers, businesses and policymakers in promoting Europe as a global leader in research and innovation.

European Mobility Week is an annual event that takes place from 16 to 22 September. It aims to improve public health and quality of life by promoting clean mobility and sustainable urban transport. For 2024, the theme is ‘Shared Public Space’. Shared public space is very beneficial to society. It is a place where people, transport modes and activities all have their own space, which in turn leads to more social equity, more road safety, less noise and air pollution, and a better quality of life.

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area to make studies and courses more transparent. The ECTS makes it easier for qualifications to be recognised throughout Europe and helps students to move between countries.

Water is essential for life. It sustains our ecosystems, supports agriculture and is vital for human beings to meet our most basic needs. Water pollution remains a significant challenge worldwide. Contaminants such as industrial waste, agricultural run-off and plastic pollution are degrading our bodies of water, leading to severe ecological and health issues. Tune in to understand why being #WaterWiseEU is essential for our planet’s future and what the EU is doing to address this issue.

We all depend on the ocean to survive. Yet, most of us take it for granted and we often forget that it provides us with the food we eat and generates much of the oxygen we breathe. However, until now, most of the ocean has been ungoverned and its marine biodiversity has been unprotected, which has facilitated unsustainable practices, illegal fishing, pollution and the loss of marine habitats. The EU aims to strengthen collective efforts to address these issues.

There were more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide at the end of April 2024 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations. This equates to more than 1 in every 69 people. Among them are more than 43 million refugees. There are also millions of stateless people who have been denied a nationality. The refugee crisis is one of the biggest challenges which the European Union is trying to address.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, like bakeries, hairdressers, florists and bookshops, are the backbone of Europe's economy. They make up 99% of all businesses in the EU contributing to more than half of Europe's gross domestic product. However, SMEs often face a range of challenges that put their survival in the market at risk.

Food safety aims to ensure a high level of protection for human health and life. It covers several aspects, such as food hygiene, labelling, packaging and product traceability. Every year, 600 million people in the world fall ill with 200 different types of illnesses that can be transmitted by food. The European Union tries to prevent these illnesses by having some of the highest food safety standards in the world.

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June. Over the past five decades, it has become one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Every year, tens of millions of people along with governments, companies, cities and community organisations get involved. In 2024, Saudi Arabia is hosting the celebrations with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the #GenerationRestoration campaign.

Everyone should be free to be themselves and love who they want to love without fear. Yet lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people still face discrimination in many parts of the world, including Europe. The EU is strongly committed to fighting against discrimination. Listen to find out more about how the EU is trying to build a more inclusive society where everyone can feel safe.

Pollinating insects play a fundamental role in our ecosystem, but all over the world they are facing a number of threats: climate change, habitat loss, pests and intensive single-crop farming. These threats are leading to the dramatic decline of both wild and managed pollinator species, in spite of how vital they are to our well-being and nature. The EU is working to protect all pollinators.

The COVID-19 global pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine had a significant impact on the European Parliament’s agenda during its ninth parliamentary term. In the wake of a health crisis and geopolitical challenges, during its ninth legislative term, Parliament focussed on the green and digital transitions to enhance the EU’s resilience while also strengthening democratic values.

Europe is one of the most forest-rich regions in the world: around 40% of its land area is covered by this ecosystem. Forests are essential for our health and wellbeing, and the health of the planet. They are rich in biodiversity and are hugely important in the fight against climate change. The EU is aware of the role forests can play in our future. That is why - in 2021 - the new Forest Strategy for 2030 was adopted.

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 to recognise women’s achievements and shine a spotlight on women’s rights. It is an occasion to raise awareness of issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence and abuse towards women. Equality between women and men has always been one of the European Union’s core values and objectives, but this goal has still not been fully achieved.

The European Disability Card and the European Parking Card are initiatives aimed at tackling the obstacles encountered by people with disabilities while travelling in EU countries other than their own. Designed to provide holders with recognised proof of their disability status, these cards streamline access to services, promote free movement and support equal rights within the EU.

Ever since Russia launched an illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has supported Kyiv by condemning Russia’s aggression, sanctioning those responsible and providing financial and material support.

Female genital mutilation includes all procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is carried out for cultural, religious and sometimes social reasons, but has no health benefits and can have serious immediate and long-term effects on health and wellbeing. What is being done to put a stop to this practice?

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in EU countries after cardiovascular diseases. Every year, nearly 3 million people are diagnosed with the disease, and 1.2 million lose their lives to it. Even though responsibility for health policies lies primarily with EU countries, fighting cancer is one of the priorities of the European Union.

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states, but a number of countries have applied to join the Union. Currently there are nine candidate countries. However, the process to finally become a member state is long and not straightforward.

The EU is committed to the continuous improvement of learning opportunities, and addressing educational challenges. In this context, the European Education Area (EEA) initiative aims to create a more interconnected education system. The EEA’s primary goals include enhancing cooperation and mobility in education and building inclusive education systems. One of the main focuses is on removing barriers to learning mobility for students and educators.  

Against the backdrop of the race for global technological dominance, the EU launched a strategy in 2020 to strengthen its industry. This led to the proposal for the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), aimed at addressing substantial investment needs. STEP would leverage existing EU funds and aims to make the EU more innovative, sustainable and self-sufficient. It’s a precursor of a European Sovereignty Fund, set to further strengthen industrial capabilities.

Since the 2014 hostilities broke out, and especially since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the conflict has not only caused thousands of casualties, a refugee crisis and an economic shock, but it has also done severe harm to the environment.