EU Regulatory Roundup – June 2025

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of EuroLaw Hub’s monthly roundup — your digest of key legal and policy developments across the European Union. This month has seen significant activity in digital regulation, democracy protection, and fundamental rights. Here's what you need to know:

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⚖️ Digital Regulation & AI

1. AI Act: Countdown to Implementation Begins

After formal adoption earlier this year, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act has officially entered into force. June marked the start of the transitional period, with key compliance deadlines looming in 2026.

The European Commission launched the AI Office this month, tasked with overseeing enforcement and guidance.

Member States began designating national supervisory authorities.

Civil society remains watchful of enforcement gaps, especially concerning biometric surveillance and transparency.

2. Digital Services Act (DSA): Enforcement Expands

The DSA continues rolling out across Member States. In June:

Several Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), including TikTok and Amazon, faced formal investigations into algorithmic transparency and content moderation.

The European Commission released additional guidelines on recommender systems, pushing platforms to offer meaningful user choice.

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🗳️ Democracy & Rule of Law

3. European Democracy Defence Package – New Draft Measures

The Commission circulated a working draft of the long-awaited Democracy Defence Package, including proposals on:

Foreign influence transparency for NGOs and media

Safeguards for investigative journalism and protection from SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation)

Revisions to the European Electoral Act, focusing on cross-border campaigning

Stakeholders are invited to contribute to the public consultation process, running through August 2025.

4. Concerns Over Rule of Law in Several Member States

The EU Rule of Law Mechanism published preliminary updates, flagging concerns in:

Hungary: Continued use of emergency powers and media capture

Slovakia: Judicial independence under pressure

Spain: Contentious reforms in the General Council of the Judiciary

The final 2025 Rule of Law Report is expected in mid-July.

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📚 Justice & Rights

5. Proposal for Common Minimum Standards on Legal Aid

The Commission unveiled a new directive proposal to harmonize minimum standards for legal aid in criminal proceedings, including:

Access to free legal counsel at early stages

Minimum budget allocations per capita

Transparent complaint mechanisms

This is part of the broader push toward judicial equity and access to justice in the EU.

6. Migration & Fundamental Rights Update

After the adoption of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, NGOs raised alarm over potential rights violations at borders. In June, the Fundamental Rights Agency called for:

Independent monitoring at border facilities

Data transparency on pushbacks and detention practices

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🧭 Looking Ahead

European Court of Justice is expected to rule in July on landmark cases involving algorithmic discrimination and data portability.

The Digital Euro legislative proposal enters trilogue negotiations — stay tuned for financial rights implications.

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At EuroLaw Hub, we continue to track these developments and create tools that make EU law transparent and actionable for citizens, legal professionals, journalists, and civic groups.