The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, warned that it could impose bloc-wide tariffs on major US tech companies, including digital service providers, if negotiations with Washington fail. This move is presented as a retaliatory measure against policies seen as overly coercive, particularly those from the Trump administration.

On 2025-04-09, the European Commission announced its AI Continent Action Plan, which includes initiatives to streamline AI regulations and build infrastructure such as AI factories, gigafactories, and specialized labs to boost the EU’s competitive edge in artificial intelligence. The plan also introduces an AI Act Service Desk to assist startups and entrepreneurs in navigating compliance requirements.

In response to Trump’s threat of imposing additional tariffs on China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would pivot its trade focus towards alternative global markets. This move aims to reduce dependence on US trade channels and counter what is viewed as an authoritarian economic tactic.

An audit report by the European Court of Auditors criticizes the European Commission for not clearly disclosing the details of EU funding allocated to NGOs, particularly regarding funds that may support lobbying activities. Although the Commission later issued guidance that EU grants should not be used for lobbying, the lack of transparency raises concerns about potential misuse of public funds to influence EU policymaking.

The European Commission unveiled ProtectEU, a comprehensive internal security strategy designed to enhance legal frameworks, improve intelligence sharing, and foster closer cooperation among citizens, businesses, researchers, and civil society in the face of terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, and hybrid threats.

On April 1, 2025, the European Commission presented its new Internal Security Strategy, outlining a comprehensive plan to harness emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, quantum computing, and blockchain to enhance EU internal security. The strategy emphasizes ethical oversight, transparency, and stronger public-private collaboration to mitigate potential abuses while bolstering resilience against threats.

The European Commission has issued guidelines under Regulation (EU) No. 2021/821 to strengthen export controls on cyber-surveillance items that may be used in internal repression and serious human rights violations. The measure is aimed at preventing the misuse of such technologies by ensuring exporters notify authorities when these items are intended for repressive uses.

The European Commission, together with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, enforces a mandatory Transparency Register that requires the publication of scheduled meetings with lobby groups and interest representatives. This initiative aims to increase accountability and open up political decision-making processes by making interactions between EU institutions and external entities visible to the public.

The European Commission has introduced new guidelines for cyber-surveillance exporters. The guidelines aim to ensure that export controls on dual-use cyber-surveillance items effectively screen for risks of internal repression and serious human rights violations. Exporters must conduct due diligence and report potential risks to national authorities, reinforcing protective measures within the EU's economic security strategy.

On June 13, 2024, the European Commission issued a call to action to strengthen a pluralistic European civic space, combat digital disinformation, address structural inequalities, and counter authoritarian populism, emphasizing the protection of democratic institutions.

The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies, an independent body appointed by the European Commission, issued a statement on June 7, 2024, defending democratic values in Europe and addressing the threat of authoritarian populism. The statement outlined recommendations to strengthen democratic practices ahead of the European Parliament elections and other 2024 electoral processes.

On June 5, 2024, the European Commission received a new Statement from its independent advisory body, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE). The statement emphasizes defending democratic practices, countering authoritarian populism, and promoting civic engagement and European pluralism in response to rising far-right movements.

On April 24, 2024, the EU Parliament approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which mandates that companies operating in the EU must address human rights and environmental risks across their supply chains. This initiative aims to foster responsible corporate behavior by ensuring that only companies respecting human rights and environmental standards can operate within the EU.

On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament approved the proposed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, a law aimed at holding large companies accountable for human rights and environmental abuses in their global supply chains. This move echoes the European Commission’s earlier pledge five years ago to adopt legislation that ensures corporate accountability, reinforcing progressive policy-making focused on protecting vulnerable communities.

The European Commission unveiled a proposal for a foreign influence law that requires organizations and individuals lobbying for non-EU entities to publicly register their activities and funding. The measure, presented in Strasbourg and set to take effect across the 27 EU countries, emphasizes transparency without imposing criminal sanctions, aiming to protect democratic processes amid growing concerns of foreign interference.

The European Commission announced a new set of measures aimed at increasing transparency of foreign interest representation in the EU decision-making process. These measures, which include the establishment of common accountability standards and a Transparency Register, are intended to protect European democracy and electoral integrity ahead of the 2024 European elections.

A recent briefing paper details enhancements to the EU Dual-use Regulation 2021/821, introducing a catch-all clause for cyber-surveillance items. This measure requires exporters to conduct due diligence and notify authorities when such items risk being used for internal repression or human rights abuses, thereby reinforcing the EU’s commitment to democratic accountability and human rights protection.

On March 28, after extensive interinstitutional negotiations, the European Commission along with the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on a new anti-coercion regulation. This instrument is designed to protect EU member states from economic coercion tactics by third countries, particularly in response to rising authoritarian economic pressures exemplified by recent events involving China and Lithuania.

The European Commission has increased funding and collaboration with authoritarian regimes, including Chad, Niger, Belarus, Libya, and Sudan, to support border control measures amid the migrant crisis. This policy has raised concerns about reinforcing repression and undermining human rights in targeted regions.