European Commission

📵 Off the clock? Stay off the clock.   We know the feeling: that late-night ping or the Sunday email that pulls you back into ‘work mode’. We are moving to fix this, working with employers and trade unions on an EU-wide Right to Disconnect.   What we’re putting forward for discussion: 📴 Clear boundaries, ending the "always-on" work culture to protect your private life. 🛡️ Fair treatment, ensuring digital workplaces respect your rights without career drawbacks. 🧠 Worker well-being, safeguarding physical and mental health through true work-life balance.   Check out our latest progress to making the EU-wide Right to Disconnect a reality 👉https://lnkd.in/eAZTiQS2

New AI transparency protections are officially in force in the EU. What changes:   1️⃣ Chatbots must inform you that you are interacting with AI. 2️⃣ AI content must carry machine-readable marks for detection. 3️⃣ Deepfakes and AI media must be visibly labelled. 4️⃣ Biometric and emotion tracking must notify you when used. Watch our quick breakdown to see how this works in practice 👇

More of what we all want. Less of what we don’t.    💡 More clean energy  We are accelerating the clean energy transition with massive investments into homegrown, renewable energy: https://lnkd.in/dku6ekH5    💧 More water resilience  We are restoring and protecting Europe’s water systems so rivers, drinking water and water supply are more resilient to floods, droughts and pollution: https://lnkd.in/dsp8ctnr    🌿 More heat-resilient cities  We are helping cities bring nature back into streets and neighbourhoods to reduce heat and improve air quality: https://lnkd.in/dfbUXFgZ 

Waiting days for a bank transfer is a thing of the past. With the Instant Payments Regulation now in force, all banks in the EU must process Euro transfers within 10 seconds, at no extra cost, 24/7. Banks based in non-euro countries have until 2027 to comply. We have also mandated a ‘Verification of Payee’ system to help stop fraudsters from getting your money. Your bank transfers, now instant. Here's how we’re transforming the EU payment market to work at the speed of life. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eM4HqrzV 

How easy is filing a tax return considered in your country?📄     Our new 2026 Annual Report on Taxation shows that EU citizens find filing a tax return:     ✅ Easy (52%)  ❌ Difficult (22%) 👔 while 8% leave it to professionals     Full report 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_aCKp7n

🌡️ It’s hot across Europe right now.    Millions of us are feeling it - in cities, towns, and villages across the continent.     When heatwaves hit, small actions matter: water, shade, rest, watching out for each other – particularly more vulnerable people. 🏛️ And if you can, visit a museum near you, cool, safe places to pause and enjoy Europe’s rich cultural heritage. 

Does anyone remember the ‘hoovergate’ of 2014?    In that year, there was a lot of talk about the EU allegedly “banning powerful vacuum cleaners”. But the reality was different.   We required vacuum cleaners to stop cleaning with brute force and start cleaning more efficiently.   Manufacturers adapted. Designs improved. Efficiency increased. Noise decreased. Performance stayed the same. A win-win.    And this is how the vacuum cleaner got better because of a law that only had one scary side – the regulation number.   — Regulation (EU) 666/2013 on ecodesign requirements for vacuum cleaners. In force since 1 September 2014.

From now on, AI transparency is the law in the EU:     🙌 AI-generated content must carry a machine-readable mark. 🙌 Deepfakes and AI text on public interest topics must be visibly labelled. 🙌 When you chat with a bot or virtual agent, it must make clear it’s not a human. 🙌 When AI is actively analysing you, companies must tell you.    We are building a system of trust and supporting companies with clear guidance.       While you get the protection you deserve.     This is how AI works for people in Europe 👉 https://lnkd.in/enSiCDqz * Updated to better clarify the marking and labelling obligations under the AI Act.

Japan has now joined Horizon Europe, our flagship research and innovation programme.    Japan is the 23rd country to partner with the EU-27, and by far the most populous. It is also bringing one of the world’s most advanced research ecosystems into our scientific network.    Japanese researchers can now work with teams from the EU to tackle global challenges in health, digital transition, and climate neutrality.    Science thrives when talent, ideas and innovation cross borders.    More 👉 link.europa.eu/YP7MtB 

Did your working week feel long?    In 2025, 20–64-year-olds in the EU worked on average, 35.9 hours a week in their main job.     Working hours may vary, but certain rights don't.  Because every EU worker is guaranteed:    ✅ Health and safety at work  ✅ Equal opportunities for women and men  ✅ Protection against discrimination  ✅ Fair working conditions    Take a look at the latest data here: https://lnkd.in/eSqfD72w