The European Union (EU) enters 2026 facing numerous challenges stemming from the multi-layered crises of 2025: internal fractures, the burden of providing financial and military support to Ukraine, and security pressures, among others. With a number of major elections set to take place in 2026 — widely seen as shaping Europe’s geopolitical position — the bloc is placing greater emphasis on strengthening its internal resilience and strategic autonomy.

The European Union (EU) has recently announced that it will increase food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) inspections on imports from non-EU countries by 50%, and step up audits at member states’ border control posts by 33%.

In 2025, strategic autonomy has become an urgent requirement for the European Union (EU) across multiple fields, from security and defence to economics, trade, and technology. Amid a world marked by volatility, the EU’s desire to reduce dependence, strengthen internal capacity, and enhance its standing is understandable. However, the path to autonomy is not an easy one, as a gap remains between ambition and actual capability.

In an effort to strengthen the European Union’s (EU) energy self-sufficiency, the European Parliament (EP) has just approved a plan to completely eliminate imports of Russian gas. However, this decision has met with opposition from some member states, who fear that “shutting off” the flow of gas from Russia could trigger a price surge in the energy market, harming the economy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina highly values Viet Nam’s dynamic development achievements and its increasingly prominent position in the region and the world, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić while receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Le Thai, who presented his credentials on December 12 in the capital city of Sarajevo.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has warned that the European Union’s pursuit of a green agenda and its enforcement of regulations against American technology companies are undermining the transatlantic alliance.

The European Union (EU) has recently issued a Joint Communication on its strategic approach to enhancing the economic security of its 27 member states.

The “Pact for the Mediterranean: One Sea, One Pact, One Future” has just been officially launched, marking a historic step forward in the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the countries of the southern Mediterranean. The Pact is considered an important foundation for creating a cohesive, peaceful, and prosperous Mediterranean space.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has authored an article on the overview and development prospects of the Viet Nam-European Union (EU) relations on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties (November 28).

Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang called for strengthened information exchange to support the prevention and combat of crime and legal violations, particularly in economic, trade and investment activities in Viet Nam, while meeting with Jens Rubbert, Chairman of the EU–ASEAN Business Council (EU–ABC), in Ha Noi on November 27.

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has warned that Europe is becoming increasingly vulnerable to shocks such as US tariffs, and is falling behind in future growth drivers such as artificial intelligence (AI). She has proposed a series of bold reforms to help the European Union (EU) maintain its position as one of the world’s leading economic hubs.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Canadian PM Mark Carney and President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22 afternoon (local time) to discuss directions for strengthening connectivity and promoting trade and investment cooperation between member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union (EU).

On November 13, in Ha Noi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the workshop “Promoting the Export of Vietnamese Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products to the EU Market,” chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

The European Film Festival 2025 in Viet Nam, hosted by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Viet Nam in collaboration with the embassies and cultural institutions of EU member states, will be held in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City from November 20 to December 6, 2025.

Statistics from the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance show that Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports to the EU reached 233.2 million USD in the first six months of 2025, up 44.1% year-on-year.

The European Union’s (EU) climate target for 2040 is regarded as a turning point in global efforts to tackle climate change, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to taking the initiative, strengthening cooperation, and pursuing a future in which development is harmonised with the protection of the shared planet.

The European Union (EU) is racing against time to adopt its new climate target ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), scheduled for this November.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on National Defence, Security and External Relations Nguyen Manh Tien has proposed that Germany actively support and accelerate the Federal Parliament’s ratification of the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) at the earliest possible time, turning it into a true symbol of the long-term and sustainable partnership between the EU and Viet Nam.

Deputy Prime Minister Son praised Belgium’s active role within the EU and urged its parliament to soon ratify the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in 2025, saying it would encourage Belgian businesses to expand investment in Viet Nam’s key sectors such as logistics, seaports, and renewable energy.

The European Union (EU) has unveiled detailed measures to protect farmers across the bloc, aiming to ease concerns over its trade agreement with the four South American nations of the MERCOSUR group.