Issue 145 - January 2026
ISSN 2315-0017
Spotlight on the von der Leyen II Commission and Cyprus
On 1 December 2024, the second von der Leyen Commission took office with a clear commitment: to make Europe more independent, more competitive and more secure. In our January newsletter, we are looking back on the first year of the von der Leyen II Commission’s mandate.
In January 2025, the Commission presented the competitiveness compass, setting out a roadmap to increase Europe’s competitiveness and secure its prosperity. Under the compass, several strategies and initiatives have already been launched. The Choose Europe initiative, for example, aims to attract talent from across the globe to drive forward Europe’s research industry. The savings and investments union strategy seeks to unlock the full potential of the EU’s capital markets and connect savers in search of better investment opportunities with businesses in need of capital.
To bolster our Union’s security, the Commission presented the Readiness Roadmap 2030. It consists of an action plan that aims to ensure our defence readiness by the end of this decade. Among its key proposals are four flagship projects: the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Drone Defence Initiative, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield.
The European Democracy Shield, adopted in November 2025, sets out a series of measures to empower, protect, and promote strong and resilient democracies across the EU. Actions focus specifically on safeguarding the integrity of the information space, strengthening our institutions and boosting citizen engagement in democratic life.
The selection of publications below provides insights into these policies, along with some others from this Commission. This edition also includes publications dedicated to Cyprus, as the country has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council for the next 6 months.
Enjoy the good reads!
Highlights from the first year in office PDF
The von der Leyen Commission 2024-2029
On 1 December 2024, the second von der Leyen Commission took office with a clear commitment: to make Europe more independent, more competitive and more secure. See the highlights from this first year.
Available in all official languages of the EUState of the Union 2025 PDF
In her 2025 State of the Union address to the European Parliament, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a set of actions and initiatives the Commission would take in the year ahead. From boosting digital and clean tech investments to supporting Ukraine and tackling climate challenges, the European Union is shaping a resilient future. Find out about ambitious plans like the European Democracy Shield and affordable housing solutions, all aimed at ensuring Europe's independence and prosperity while addressing global issues.
Available in all official languages of the EUA competitiveness compass for the EU PDF
Discover how the EU boosts European competitiveness with the Competitiveness Compass, a comprehensive strategy to drive innovation, decarbonisation and economic security. Learn how the EU is reducing dependencies, increasing security and promoting sustainable growth across all sectors.
Available in all official languages of the EUEU Preparedness Union Strategy PDF
Discover the EU's plan to enhance resilience against natural disasters, human-induced crises and hybrid threats with the Preparedness Union Strategy. This comprehensive approach aims to anticipate, prevent and respond to emerging challenges, ensuring a safer future for all. Learn more about the key principles and actions being taken to protect the EU and its citizens.
Available in EnglishProtectEU PDF
A new European internal security strategy
Discover how the EU is strengthening its internal security with a new European Internal Security Strategy aiming to anticipate, prevent and respond to security threats, ensuring citizen safety and protecting democracies.
Available in all official languages of the EUCyprus
EIB investment survey 2025 PDF
Cyprus overview
Discover the latest insights into Cypriot businesses and their investment dynamics. What do they see as the main obstacles to investment? Learn how firms in Cyprus remain optimistic and confident about their own business prospects. Find out how they compare to their EU counterparts.
Available in EnglishEducation and training monitor 2025 PDF/HTML
Cyprus
Stay up to date on the latest education developments in Cyprus. Read about a comprehensive education and training reform package rolled out in the last decades and discover how Cyprus is addressing challenges like levels of digital and civic skills, early leaving from education and participation in adult learning.
Available in English and GreekUnderstanding consumer food waste behaviours PDF
Findings from Cyprus
The European Commission carried out a study to look at consumer behaviours concerning food waste and date marking. The study covered over 25 000 participants from all 27 EU countries. Discover how Cypriots deal with food waste and how they understand the concept.
Available in English and GreekResearch and innovation
What drives twin inventions? PDF
Evidence from the EU
The twin transition refers to the integration of two parallel transitions: the green transition, which aims to reduce environmental impact and achieve sustainability, and the digital transition, which involves the adoption of digital technologies to transform industries and societies. In this research paper, discover the drivers of twin technology development in the EU and find out more about the strategic priorities for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Available in EnglishYou may also like
Young people on today’s labour market PODCAST
In this episode, we're going behind the statistics to understand how Europe measures youth labour market participation and which challenges statisticians face in painting an accurate picture. We will also find out how it feels today for young people to enter the world of work that has significantly changed in recent years.
Available in EnglishEU citizenship PDF
Rights and opportunities
Did you know that EU citizenship gives you rights and benefits that are in addition to the rights you enjoy as a citizen of an EU Member State? For instance, you can live and work in another EU country without the need for a visa, work or residence permit. EU citizenship can open up a world of possibilities. Learn more about the rights you have, the ways you can use them, and how they can benefit you.
Available in all official languages of the EU except for IrishOur news
Dive into the dynamic landscape of European open data with the 2025 Open Data Maturity Report published by the Publications Office of the EU. This 11th edition provides an annual assessment of open data maturity across 36 European countries, published on data.europa.eu. The assessment evaluates progress across four dimensions: policy, national portals, data quality, and impact.
In 2025, the EU Member States achieved an average maturity score of 86%, with 23 countries improving their scores compared to last year. From the 36 participating countries, the ones with the highest increase in scores were Albania, Malta and Germany. The report also highlights inspiring use cases that demonstrate the tangible impact of open data across Europe, ranging from improvements in healthcare transparency and urban planning to the reduction of fertiliser use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Open Data Maturity assessment is a benchmarking exercise conducted by the Publications Office of the European Union and the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). Participating countries complete a self-assessment survey to track year-on-year progress in making public sector information accessible and reusable, including the implementation of national strategies, portal functionality and metadata quality, and initiatives to monitor open data reuse and societal impact.
For a hands-on experience, explore the interactive website, featuring country-specific dashboards, trends over time, tailored recommendations, and dimension-specific insights. The full report is also available for download, providing a comprehensive overview of Europe’s open data progress.
EU-funded projects
