On Thursday, the Committee on Petitions will host an interinstitutional event to launch a call for applications for the 2026 European Capitals of Small Retail Award.

When: Thursday, 3 July 2025, 15:00 - 16:00 CET

Where: European Parliament, Brussels – Antall 4Q1

Register via this link for in-person participation.

Follow the webstreaming of the event (live interpretation available).

 
The event, organised by the Committee on Petitions, marks the opening of the application period for cities across Europe to compete in the first edition of the European Capitals of Small Retail (ECoSR) Award.

It will be chaired by Bogdan Rzońca (ECR, PL), Chair of the Committee on Petitions, and moderated by Vice-Chair Dolors Montserrat (EPP, ES). Speakers will include representatives from the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee.

From 2026, the ECoSR Award will annually recognise three European cities - one small (5,000-50,000 inhabitants), one medium (50,000-250,000), and one large (over 250,000) - for the support they give to small retailers and their efforts to sustain vibrant city centres.

 
Next steps

The application deadline is 9 October 2025 at 14:00 CET. A panel of experts will evaluate the candidates, and publish a shortlist of selected cities by the end of November. The official award ceremony will take place in Brussels in January 2026.

 
Background

In 2023, following a petition submitted to the European Parliament, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for the creation of the ECoSR. The initiative was subsequently included in the 2024 EU Budget.

The ECoSR initiative aims to promote the value of small retailers across Europe. These businesses are not only central to local economies and employment, but also play a vital role in maintaining the social fabric of urban and rural communities.

The winning cities will benefit from non-financial rewards such as increased recognition at EU level, year-round promotional support, access to networking events, and participation in exchange programmes for small businesses. They will also receive assistance in organising workshops and webinars, professional video production, and enhanced city branding to boost tourism visibility.

Contacts:

• Alessio INCORVAIA

  Press Officer

  • (+32) 2 28 32864 (BXL) 
  • (+32) 470 68 84 61 
  • alessio.incorvaia@europarl.europa.eu 
  • peti-press@europarl.europa.eu 
  • @EP_Petitions 

Ref.: 20250630IPR29283

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Dmytro Lubinets has published a Special Report on the situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.

The report is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic.

Queja número 25/4939

Recibimos un escrito en el que la interesada nos exponía que la definición de unidad económica de convivencia regulada por el Ayuntamiento de su localidad en la provincia de Málaga no permite incluir en su familia al menor que tiene en acogimiento familiar permanente y por ello su hijo discapacitado no puede acceder a la convocatoria de ayudas para personas con diversidad funcional convocadas por el ayuntamiento.

Tras admitir la queja a trámite expusimos el caso al Ayuntamiento y solicitamos que nos fuera remitido un informe al respecto. En respuesta a nuestro requerimiento el Ayuntamiento viene a reconocer los indeseados efectos que dicha regulación viene causando a su familia y hace patente la voluntad del gobierno municipal de modificar dicha normativa para equiparar, a efectos de cómputo de miembros de la unidad familiar, a los hijos con otros menores en acogimiento familiar.

Valoramos que el problema planteado en la queja se encuentra en vías de solución por lo que damos por concluidas nuestras actuaciones.

Support for human rights systems and defenders Civil society

When 01 July 2025

Where Online, Austria

FRA event

FRA will present and discuss the key findings of its annual Fundamental Rights Report 2025 during an online event on 1 July that addresses the organisations participating in its Fundamental Rights Platform as well as the Ombuds institutions, Equality Bodies and National Human Rights Institutions.

The presentation will be followed by an exchange of views with participants. 

The report provides a snapshot of the state of play of fundamental rights in the EU and highlights selected critical developments and trends in 2024. It also includes dedicated chapters on inclusive elections, gender-based violence, and the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

The report is complemented with FRA Opinions on how the EU and Member States should follow up in these fundamental rights issues. 

The Commissioner for Education within the Office of the Ombudsman, Chief Justice Emeritus Vincent De Gaetano, was invited by Pepperdine University’s Benjamin Caruso School of Law to deliver a short presentation during the 2025 Religious Freedom Conference held at the Château d’Hauteville in Vevey, Switzerland, between the 11^th and 13^th June. The international event brought together legal scholars, jurists, practitioners, and human rights advocates to discuss contemporary issues and challenges surrounding religious freedom mainly in the United States and in Europe.

Chief Justice De Gaetano participated in the Friday morning plenary session titled "Antisemitism and Higher Education: Concerns and Challenges." In his presentation, he reflected on his initial surprise at the invitation, believing that antisemitism was largely under control in Europe due to strong legal protections like the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, he acknowledged more recent reports by the Council of Europe highlighting rising antisemitic narratives -- particularly in connection with conspiracy theories, the war in Ukraine, and wider geopolitical tensions.

Drawing on a number of legal and philosophical sources, including Deuteronomy, Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, and St Augustine, the Commissioner referred to the role of education, especially at the compulsory level, in cultivating a proper understanding of human dignity. He questioned whether antisemitism and other forms of hate speech in higher education warrant special legislative responses or whether such issues are better addressed through a robust, principled application of general human rights law.

The Commissioner cautioned against hasty administrative or legislative measures that may erode the rule of law, noting that such responses can often exacerbate the problem rather than mitigate it. He concluded by emphasising the foundational importance of justice, human dignity, and the responsible use of democratic tools to combat discrimination in all its forms.

The full text of the Commissioner’s presentation can be downloaded below.