Explainers

The EU promotes sustainable and eco-friendly practices in food systems to protect the environment and people’s health while improving the food sector’s resilience.

The EU stands with the Syrian people. It supports a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria, the respect for human rights and the country’s socio-economic recovery.

The EU has taken a number of measures to support the prosecution of Russia’s international crimes committed in and against Ukraine and to ensure that Ukraine and its people receive war reparations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in February 2016 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2022. Once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved, Bosnia and Herzegovina can start accession negotiations.

VAT is crucial for EU member states' revenues and the EU budget, yet VAT losses remain significant. The EU is working to ensure a harmonised system while tackling fraud and modernising VAT through digitalisation.

The critical medicines act addresses shortages of key medicines to better meet patient needs and improve the EU’s resilience to health crises.

The EU is Brazil's second-biggest trading partner after China, accounting for over 15% of its total trade. Brazil is the EU's tenth-biggest trading partner.

Two agreements frame EU-Mercosur relations within a modernised and comprehensive partnership, covering political dialogue and trade cooperation. The EU has also introduced specific rules to protect its farming sector.

The trade relationship connects over 700 million people across Europe and South America. The EU is currently working on adopting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Coordination amongst EU countries ensures that EU citizens can transfer their social security rights when moving and working within Europe.