On 11 December, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov announced his resignation and that of his government following 3 weeks of unprecedented protests in the country over the draft budget for 2026. The government is expected to manage current affairs until his successor is appointed. If no governmental agreement is reached, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will have to appoint an interim government to run the country until new elections are held.

On 10 December, the European Commission presented measures to simplify environmental legislation in the areas of industrial emissions, the circular economy, environmental assessments and geospatial data. This initiative is part of a wider effort aligned with the Union's competitiveness compass.

On 12 December, the economy and finance ministers agreed on a temporary measure to apply a fixed customs duty of €3 on small parcels worth less than €150 entering the European Union, from 1 July 2026. They discussed the simplification of financial services legislation and the positive externalities this could generate, particularly in terms of competitiveness. Finally, they reached agreement on a lasting legal basis for the freezing of Russian assets, an essential condition for the launch of a reconstruction loan to Ukraine.

On 11 and 12 December, the agriculture and fisheries ministers stressed that innovation and access to new technologies are essential to ensure competitiveness and generational renewal under the Common Agricultural Policy after 2027. They reached a political agreement on fishing opportunities for 2026. This agreement sets authorised fishing catch rates for the most important fish stocks. Some species have benefited from drastic reductions, notably mackerel, which has seen its fishing quotas cut by 70% for the first half of 2026.

On 11 December, the Greek Minister for the Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, was elected President of the Eurogroup for a two-and-a-half-year term. At the meeting, the ministers issued a statement on the draft budget plan for 2026. They deemed the budgetary target of 2% inflation to be appropriate. They launched the process for appointing a new ECB vice-president by mid-2026.

On 11 December, the Court of Justice clarified the law that applies to the employment contract of a cross-border employee when his habitual place of work changes during the course of his employment. The Court ruled that if the employee's activity gradually becomes concentrated in another country, the first connecting factor (the habitual place of work) no longer applies. The ruling interprets the Rome Convention by specifying that the examination must be based on all the circumstances to identify the country with the closest links to the contract, in the absence of a single habitual place of work.

Until 4 May 2026, the Watts Gallery in Compton is hosting the exhibition 'Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters'. This exhibition brings to life the legacy of seven Anglo-Indian sisters whose influence has marked the worlds of art, literature, photography and society. Although photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879) is the most famous of the seven Pattle sisters, this exhibition reveals their collective impact through artistic experimentation, intellectual exchange and the creation of a unique cultural salon at Little Holland House in Kensington.

Until 28 February 2026, the Thaddaeus Ropac gallery in Milan is hosting an exhibition featuring an original dialogue between Valie Export and Ketty La Rocca, two of Europe's most visionary feminist conceptual artists of the 1960s. Both used the body as a tool to challenge the patriarchal function of language and reveal the dichotomy between its role in public and private space. Aware of the need for a broader field of action to convey their ideas, they present photographs, videos, sculptures and performances.

On 15 December, Czech President Petr Pavel appointed the members of the government led by Andrej Babiš (ANO). It comprises 15 ministers, two of whom are women. ANO holds 8 ministerial portfolios, the Automobile Party 4 and the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) 3.

Since 2023 the Schuman Network has been working with 22 organisations from 13 European countries. With more than 192 shared publications, the Schuman Network strives to promote cooperation between European research centres in order to share reliable and quality analyses. Through this work the Schuman Network affirms its role as an essential platform for strengthening intellectual cooperation and supporting democratic resilience in Europe.

On 9 December, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin. They exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between their two countries and signed a declaration aimed at strengthening their diplomatic and political relations.

On 11 December, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Berlin, where he was hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to discuss the strengthening of NATO. At a press conference, Friedrich Merz stressed that a strong and united Europe and the implementation of NATO's commitments were essential for freedom, security and peace in Europe. He also reiterated that Germany and its partners would continue to support Ukraine while increasing the pressure on Russia to negotiate a genuine ceasefire.

On 11 December, the Irish Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, announced the launch of the Defence Development Plan. The €1.7 billion plan will be phased over 4 years, from 2026 to 2030. This represents a 55% increase in Irish investment in defence. This plan represents a record investment that will enable the Irish army to modernise its land, sea, air and cyber capabilities.

Europol has published a report entitled 'Organised crime online - how Europol is stopping cybercrime in its tracks', which identifies cybercrime as a major threat in the European Union, including cyber attacks, online fraud and the sexual exploitation of children. In response to the sophistication of cybercrime through social engineering and artificial intelligence, Europol and its partners are conducting major targeted operations to dismantle the key infrastructures of these networks.

On 11 December, Members of the European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement to update European rules on screening foreign investment, to better prevent security risks. Investments in sensitive sectors such as defence, semi-conductors, artificial intelligence, critical raw materials and financial services will now be subject to compulsory screening by Member States to identify and address potential risks to security or public order.

On 11 December, EU ministers approved the 6th disbursement of €2.3 billion to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility programme, which supports the country's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation. This rapid provision of funds reflects Ukraine's speed and commitment to implementing reforms in line with the country's EU accession objectives.