The need for accountability and increased scrutiny of the European Council has been a constant theme in the European Parliament's resolutions throughout the 2019-2024 legislative term. The increased need to scrutinise the European Council also results from the changing role of the institution over recent years. In this podcast, we analyse the need for democratic oversight of the European Council and outline the different tools at Parliament's disposal to do so. We also look at the content of Parliament's resolutions addressing the European Council and the messages it sends to the EU leaders.

EPRS policy podcast - European Parliament's scrutiny of the European Council: The use of Parliament resolutions

Cestovní ruch je jedním z nejrozvinutějších odvětví v EU: spojuje lidi, přispívá ke kulturnímu porozumění a hospodářský růst. Pojďme se podívat na to, jak Unie cestovní ruch podporuje a jak se stará o to, aby cestování bylo udržitelnější, všem dostupnější i prospěšnější.

Co dělá Evropská unie pro cestovní ruch

At a glance: during the plenary session, Parliament approved 35 billion euro of financial aid to Ukraine; MEPs welcomed the pro-EU results of the constitutional referendum in Moldova; and tomorrow, Parliament will announce the winner of the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Krátké zprávy  – 23/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: during this week’s plenary session, MEPs will vote on the EU’s budget for 2025 and debate the migration pact; Parliament will also award the 2024 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Krátké zprávy  – 22/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: the European Parliament will call for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon; the 35 billion euro aid package for Ukraine as part of a G7 initiative; and MEPs are set to approve airspace reforms to reduce flight delays and boost environmental efficiency.

Krátké zprávy  – 21/10/2024 - čeština

Rostoucí ceny, životní náklady a ekonomická situace. To jsou hlavní důvody, které letos v červnu přivedly více než 40 % občanů k evropským volbám. Třetina voličů uvedla, že je k účasti ve volbách přiměla mezinárodní situace. Podobný podíl voličů zmínil v této souvislosti obranu demokracie a právního státu. Tyto informace patří k hlavním zjištěním povolebního průzkumu, který v EU v roce 2024proběhl.

Eurobarometr – Povolební průzkum Evropské unie 2024

At a glance: European Parliament President Metsola addresses the heads of state or government at the European Council; the agenda for Parliament’s next plenary session; and MEPs shortlist the three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Krátké zprávy  – 18/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: an exceptional macro-financial assistance loan of up to EUR 35 billion to Ukraine; EUR 2.7 million in EU aid for 365 Belgian workers through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers; and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Krátké zprávy  – 17/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: the vote to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought; a public hearing on the role of simplified tax policy; and the discussion about the authorisation of several genetically modified products.

Krátké zprávy  – 16/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: political groups of the European Parliament are preparing for the next plenary session; Roberta Metsola visits Vienna and World Food Day.

Krátké zprávy  – 15/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: the future of EU agriculture; the vote on a financial assistance package in support of Ukraine; and the schedule of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate.

Krátké zprávy  – 14/10/2024 - čeština

Ahead of the autumn 2024 Commissioners-designate hearings, Parliament has adapted the rules for the process, which will apply for the members of the second von der Leyen College. Since the 2004 investiture, Parliament has used its role in appointing the Commission to replace certain controversial candidates and force adjustments to certain portfolios, although according to the Treaties Parliament can only reject or accept the College as a whole. Confirmation hearings have become critical for Parliament to hold the Commission accountable, and have gained prominence as a tool for Parliament to take a greater role in EU agenda-setting.

EPRS policy podcast -  Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate

At a glance: the rise of religious intolerance across the EU; a resolution on current democratic backsliding in Georgia; and a resolution on Russia’s interference in Moldova.

Krátké zprávy  – 11/10/2024 - čeština

At a glance: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented the programme for his country’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU; MEPs approved over EUR 1 billion euro in EU Solidarity Fund aid to support five EU countries; Parliament debated affordable housing in Europe.

Krátké zprávy  – 10/10/2024 - čeština

EPRS policy podcast - Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate

Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

The European Parliament has repeatedly advocated press freedom and media pluralism in the EU and abroad.&nbsp; World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the&nbsp;Declaration of Windhoek&nbsp;is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

Already in 2018 the EP adopted a resolution on media pluralism and media freedom in the EU, noting the political developments in various members states, that have led to increased pressures on and threats against journalists.&nbsp; The European Parliament has also&nbsp;launched the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.&nbsp;

The prize commends outstanding journalism revolving around the principles and values of the European Union. On the field of legislation, Parliament wants to reinforce protection of journalists and activists in the EU against unfounded and abusive lawsuits aimed to silence them.&nbsp;

MEPs also gave their final green light to new legislation to protect EU journalists and media from political or economic interference during the March Plenary session.

Under the new law, adopted by 464 votes in favour to 92 against and 65 abstentions, member states will be obliged to protect media independence and all forms of interventions in editorial decisions will be banned.

More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19014/media-freedom-act-a-new-bill-to-protect-eu-journalists-and-press-freedom">https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19014/media-freedom-act-a-new-bill-to-protect-eu-journalists-and-press-freedom</a>

Press freedom

Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

On the 16th October 2017, the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion. Ms Caruana Galizia gave to the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) evidence about her work on the Panama Papers at a meeting in February 2017 in Malta.

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed. Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in Malta

MEPs elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) on January 2022 as President of the European Parliament until 2024.

Roberta Metsola won the election in the first voting round, where she received an absolute majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote, among three candidates.&nbsp;

President Metsola is leading the Parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new Parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections.

Born in Malta in 1979,&nbsp; Roberta Metsola who has been an MEP since 2013, is the youngest EP President ever elected. She became First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022.

She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999- 2002).

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2022-2024

In July 2024&nbsp; MEPs re-elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) as President of the European Parliament until 2027, with 562 votes in the first round. Roberta Metsola won the election in the first round of voting, where she received an absolute majority of 562 votes cast out of 699 by secret paper ballot, among two candidates. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.

Born in Malta in 1979, Roberta Metsola has been an MEP since 2013.&nbsp;She was elected First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022. On 18 January 2022,&nbsp;she was elected President&nbsp;for the second half of the 9th legislative term. She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after&nbsp;Simone Veil&nbsp;(1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).

Addressing the House after she was elected, President Metsola said: “Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.”

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2024-2027

Mario&nbsp;Draghi, formerly the President of the European Central Bank and Prime Minister of Italy, was tasked by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with presenting ideas on the future of European competitiveness. The report calls the challenge facing policy makers an “existential” one and warns that procrastination will lead to hard choices having to be made. It proposes far-reaching changes to numerous areas such as an “unprecedented” boost to public investment, including through the issuance of new EU common debt, a reform of the EU’s cohesion policy, an overhaul of competition policy, and a new industrial policy with at its core a strategy for reducing Europe’s high energy prices.

European competitiveness

On 24 February Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Shortly before&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized&nbsp;two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine&nbsp; as independent.&nbsp;The Conference of Presidents of the EP condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. "Ukraine is an independent and sovereign nation and its territorial integrity is non-negotiable. The invasion is unjustified and illegal. It is a threat to European and regional stability, as well as to the rules-based world order. The attack targets our model of democratic society. It cannot go unanswered, " says declaration of the COP.

"The Russian invasion into Ukraine is part of President Putin’s destabilisation agenda. It is a path that will bring the Kremlin in direct confrontation with Europe and the rule-based world-order. It is a path that pits authoritarianism against democracy. It is a path that we cannot allow him to walk unchallenged," said EP President Roberta Metsola.

European Union leaders met for a special European Council in Brussels on 24 February&nbsp;and adopted a set of sanctions related to the the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors,dual-use goods, exports, Russian individuals etc.&nbsp;

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union (EU). The EU supports Ukraine in ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for its citizens and is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Association Agreement (AA), including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) signed in 2014, is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together. Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process in the country, with strong conditionality on continued progress.

As a result of the cooperation with Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada in the field of democracy support, European Parliament launched on 11 March the website “<a href="https://ukraine.europarl.europa.eu/en/home.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">The EU stands with Ukraine</a>” (in English and Ukrainian) provides the latest news, videos and podcasts, relevant legislation and resolutions to show how the EU is helping Ukraine. Content from the Ukrainian Parliament could also be shared on the site. Actively supporting EU efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the world is one of Parliament's core responsibilities.

EU - Ukraine

On 24 February 2022,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;began a&nbsp;military invasion&nbsp;of Ukraine, in a major escalation of the conflict that had begun in 2014. Shortly before, on 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.&nbsp;

Since then, the EU and its international allies have rallied firmly behind the Kyiv government. This support has resulted in unprecedented levels of financial aid, assistance, weapons deliveries to Ukraine, sweeping sanctions against Moscow, and the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

On 1&nbsp;March&nbsp;the European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels to assess Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk spoke live from Kiev.&nbsp;The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv on 1 April&nbsp;to express the European Union´s support of&nbsp;the Ukrainian people and to condemn the Russian attack. On&nbsp;8 June&nbsp;Stefanchuk adressed Parliament in the Strasbourg hemicycle.

Following the atrocities carried out by Vladimir Putin’s regime against Ukrainian civilians, the European Parliament has&nbsp;recognised Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in a resolution on November 2022.

On 9th February 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;addressed the European Parliament during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels.

In March 2024, &nbsp;MEPs voted to to amend the Commission’s proposal to suspend import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU for another year, from 6 June 2024 to 5 June 2025.&nbsp;

Russian aggression against Ukraine

The European Parliament in April 2024 adopted ten legislative texts to reform European migration and asylum policy as agreed with EU member states. Five separate EU regulations, establishe&nbsp;how to share the management of asylum and migration flows among member states and what to do in cases of sudden migratory crisis.

The rules also regulate how to deal with people arriving at the EU’s external borders, the processing of asylum claims, and the identification of those arriving.

Following the deal in trilogue in December 2023 ,&nbsp;EP President Roberta Metsola&nbsp;said: “”Today is a truly historic day, as we have delivered on the Migration and Asylum Pact, possibly the most important legislative package of this mandate. Europe will now get a robust legislative framework that is the same in all Member States. That functions and that protects, an approach that is humane and fair with those seeking protection, that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable &nbsp;

Refugee movements and migration are at the centre of global attention.&nbsp; The European Parliament is actively involved, in the adoption of new laws on irregular and regular immigration. It is a full co-legislator together with the Council representing member states on these matters since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

Migration

Worldwide, forests are being lost at the alarming rate of 800 football fields per hour. With deforestation being a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation and taking measures to protect- and sustainably manage forests.&nbsp; The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)&nbsp;estimates&nbsp;that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. It is estimated that&nbsp;EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation.

&nbsp;In October 2020, Parliament made use of its&nbsp;prerogative in the Treaty&nbsp;to ask the Commission to&nbsp;come forward with legislation to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

MEPs have already called for strengthening the overall climate benefits from forests and the forest-based value chain, namely CO2 absorption and carbon storage in wood-based products. Parliament also emphasises the need to increase funding for research into the substitution of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel materials. Forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to further develop of the circular bio-economy, which delivers important climate change mitigation and adaptation services.Parliament wants binding targets to protect and restore forest ecosystems, especially primary forests (those that have not been been affected by people's actions in recent times).

Forest protection

The European Parliament supports media professionals reporting on parliamentary activities, providing both content and technical facilities for video, radio, multimedia and photo production. The EP Audiovisual teams coordinate state of the art studios for TV broadcast, multimedia, and radio in Strasbourg and in Brussels.

EP Audiovisual Services

Hungary officially joined the EU on 1 March 2004 and the Schengen Area in December 2007.

The Hungarian EU accession negotiations started on 31 March 1998. Hungary had successfully concluded negotiations on its accession at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002. Hungary has 22 MEPs, 12 votes in the Council and has chaired the Council of the European Union from January to June 2011.

EU - Hungary

The EU and China are two of the biggest traders in the world, with China being the EU's second trading partner.&nbsp; The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was launched in 1995.&nbsp;Parliament strongly condemns the Chinese government-led system of forced labour – in particular the exploitation of Uyghur, ethnic Kazakh and Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minority groups – in factories within and outside internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Over the past year, EU-China bilateral relations have deteriorated, notably related to a growing number of irritants (i.e., China’s counter-measures to EU sanctions on human rights, economic coercion and trade measures against the single market, and China’s positioning on the war in Ukraine).

During his recent visit to China, Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis told his counterparts that “competition must be fair” and urged Beijing to address the lack of reciprocity in economic relations, as the EU’s trade deficit with China in 2022 reached almost 400 billion euro. Mr Dombrovskis said that the EU and China are at a significant political and economic crossroads, and warned that China’s stance on the war in Ukraine could jeopardise its relationship with the EU.

His visit came after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her State of the European Union address that the Commission would launch a probe into whether China's electric vehicle industry is receiving unfair subsidies

EU - China

In June 2023 Parliament adopted its position for negotiations with member states on rules to integrate human rights and environmental impact into companies’ governance. Companies will be required to identify, and where necessary prevent, end or mitigate the negative impact of their activities on human rights and the environment such as on child labour, slavery, labour exploitation, pollution, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

They will also have to monitor and assess the impact of their value-chain partners including not only suppliers but also sale, distribution, transport, storage, waste-management and other areas.

The European Parliament has consistently called for more corporate accountability and mandatory due diligence legislation. The European Commission proposal was introduced on 23 February 2022. It complements other existing and upcoming legislative acts, such as the deforestation regulation, conflict minerals regulation and draft regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour.

Corporate Responsibility

Defying international criticism, Iran has sentenced many protestors to death, and continues to execute people arrested during recent demonstrations.

The demonstrations started in mid-September after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the ‘morality police’ for, they claimed, breaking the strict hijab rules. Hundreds of people have been killed in the protests that have followed and thousands arrested because of their brutal repression by the government.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called these death sentences “state sanctioned killing”, and said that the Iranian government is using executions to intimidate the population and stamp out dissent.

While the EU is discussing a fourth round of sanctions because of the regime crackdown and Iran's military support for Russia, some member states have called for the classification by the EU of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

EU - Iran

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA, Executive Vice-President designate, Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President designate, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President designate, People, Skills and Preparedness

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive VIce-President designate, Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President designate

Confirmation hearing of Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President-designate, Cohesion and Reforms

Confirmation hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President-designate, Economy that works for People, and Commissioner for Trade

Confirmation hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate, Climate Action and acting Commissioner for Transport

Confirmation hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designated, Health and Animal Welfare

Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, Commissioner-designate, Defence and Space

Confirmation hearing of Jozef SÍKELA, Commissioner-designate, International Partnerships

Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, Commissioner-designate, Preparedness and Crisis Management

Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, Commissioner-designate, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

Confirmation hearing of Dan JØRGENSEN, Commissioner-designate, Energy and Housing

Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate, Mediterranean

Confirmation hearing of Christophe HANSEN, Commissioner-designate, Agriculture and Food

Confirmation hearing of Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, Commissioner-designate, Sustainable Transport and Tourism

Confirmation hearing of Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner-designate, Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

EP Plenary session - The findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.


The number of MEPs elected varies between countries: bigger countries get more seats than smaller ones. Due to changes in the size of the population, some EU countries will get extra seats in the upcoming elections compared to the outgoing Parliament. In total 15 seats will be added.


There are also differences in other aspects of voting, for example regarding the minimum voting age or the rules about voting from abroad.

EU Elections 2024

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.

Map European elections 2024

Online shopping, take-away food, coffee to go... Packaging waste is growing. Find out how much is being produced and how the EU wants to reverse the trend

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Discover key figures about the repatriation of migrants and proposed changes to EU law.
The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum includes new rules and the revision of existing legislation, such as the Return Directive.
In a draft resolution on the Return Directive adopted in December 2020, MEPs stressed the importance of protecting individual fundamental rights as well as respect for procedural safeguards.

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

Over the past 30 years the single market has brought unity and opportunities to Europeans.

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Find out about the top cyber threats in 2022, the most affected sectors and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The digital transformation has inevitably led to new cybersecurity threats. During the coronavirus pandemic, companies had to adapt to remote working and this created more possibilities for cybercriminals. The war in Ukraine has also affected cybersecurity.

In response to the evolution of cybersecurity threats, Parliament adopted a new EU directive introducing harmonised measures across the EU, including on the protection of essential sectors.

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Find out about the economic inequalities that continue to persist between women and men in the EU.

It has been more than 25 years since the adoption of the UN’s Beijing Declaration, which aims to promote equality between men and women. The same goal lies behind the creation of UN Women - dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women - and the inclusion of gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals.
s
So where do we stand? Progress has been made, but inequality between men and women persists, including on the labour market. On average, women in the EU are paid less than men.

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

Znovu využít, recyklovat, kompostovat, spálit nebo skládkovat: způsobů, jak se vypořádat s komunálním odpadem, je několik. Země EU se v tom značně liší. Přehledně v naší infografice.

Ročně vznikne v EU 2,5 miliard tun odpadu, a ačkoliv odpad komunální na tom má podíl z jedné desetiny, je velice viditelný. Háček s komunálním odpadem je v tom, že má různé zdroje (zejména domácnosti), stojí za ním různé chování spotřebitelů a má velmi pestrou skladbu. Hledat jednu odpověď na to, jak jeho objem snížit, není snadné.

Přečtěte si více o opatřeních EU pro lepší nakládání s odpady a dosažení oběhového hospodářství do roku 2050.

Nakládání s odpadem v EU: fakta a čísla

Euroscola

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Commissioner-designate, Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

AGRI

IMCO

ITRE

EMPL

ECON

REGI

ENVI

TRAN

Confirmation hearing of Henna Maria VIRKKUNEN, Commissioner-designate, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

JURI

LIBE

CULT

AFCO

SEDE

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Commissioner-designate, Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

BUDG

INTA

Conference ' The European Parliament as an actor in EU external policies '

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mr Barna Pál ZSIGMOND, State Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of European Union Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency

EP Plenary session - Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report 2023

Press conference  on the adoption of Parliament's position on the 2025 EU budget

EP Plenary session - U-turn on EU bureaucracy: the need to axe unnecessary burden and reporting to unleash competitiveness and innovation

EP Plenary session - Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Tackling the steel crisis: boosting competitive and sustainable European steel and maintaining quality jobs

EP Plenary session - Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns

EP Plenary session - Situation in Tunisia

EP Plenary session - State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the recent attacks in Europe

EP Plenary session - People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan

EP Plenary session - Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia

Quaestors new mandate ceremony

EP Plenary session - Guidelines for employment policies in member states

Conference of Committee Chairs meeting

EP Plenary session - Situation of animal health in Europe: how to prevent and prepare for future sanitary crises in agriculture

Seven years after the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the European Parliament discusses the state of the rule of law in Malta. Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. MEPs assess the country's recent developments in upholding European values, focusing on media freedom and anti-corruption efforts. Daphne Caruana Galizia, who exposed corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was murdered in a car bomb attack in 2017. Her assassination sparked widespread outrage, leading to political upheaval and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. In the same session on Wednesday, the winner of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be announced, honoring her legacy in the fight for transparency and justice.

Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Seventeen COD LEX texts are signed by President Metsola and Mr Barna Pál ZSIGMOND, State Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of European Union Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency.

Lex Signing: extracts from the ceremony

Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO), general rapporteur for the EU budget 2025, gives a press conference on the adoption of Parliament's position on the 2025 EU budget. In his recent working document on the Council’s position on next year’s EU budget criticises the Council for cutting EUR 1.52 billion from the Commission’s draft budget. Parliament’s priorities for the 2025 EU budget, the first annual budget after the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, include more support for the green and digital transitions, competitiveness, and ensuring prosperity, inclusiveness and security, as outlined in its guidelines adopted in March. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO), general rapporteur for the EU budget 2025, on the adoption of Parliament's position on the 2025 EU budget

MEPs debate on Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war. Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs debate on Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war

Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war: one round of political groups speakers

MEPs debate on continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war. Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on 68th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising. The Hungarian uprising of 1956 was a 12-day uprising against the Soviet-backed Hungarian People's Republic. The revolution began on October 23 and was brutally crushed by Soviet forces on November 4, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries. An estimated quarter of a million Hungarians fled the country in the aftermath. This event remains a significant milestone in Hungarian history, symbolizing the struggle for freedom and independence from Soviet domination.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on 68th Hungarian uprising anniversary

MEPs discuss with the European Commission potential changes to EU legislation on the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a common approach to returns and stresses the importance of cooperation with third countries on readmitting their nationals. As the EU prepares to implement the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the debate focuses on securing external borders, strengthening screening processes, and improving return procedures. Poland’s proposal to temporarily suspend asylum requests and Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania are also discussed. Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

MEPs discuss with the European Commission potential changes to EU legislation on the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a common approach to returns and stresses the importance of cooperation with third countries on readmitting their nationals. As the EU prepares to implement the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the debate focuses on securing external borders, strengthening screening processes, and improving return procedures. Poland’s proposal to temporarily suspend asylum requests and Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania are also discussed.

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: MEPs debate (part 2)

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: MEPs debate (part 1)

This news items shows extracts from the Parliament's debate on the topic "Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns". MEPs discuss with the European Commission potential changes to EU legislation on the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a common approach to returns and stresses the importance of cooperation with third countries on readmitting their nationals. As the EU prepares to implement the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the debate focuses on securing external borders, strengthening screening processes, and improving return procedures. Poland’s proposal to temporarily suspend asylum requests and Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania are also discussed.

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss with the European Commission potential changes to EU legislation on the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a common approach to returns and stresses the importance of cooperation with third countries on readmitting their nationals. As the EU prepares to implement the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the debate focuses on securing external borders, strengthening screening processes, and improving return procedures. Poland’s proposal to temporarily suspend asylum requests and Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania are also discussed. Opening statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: opening statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

The Parliament discusses China’s military provocations close to Taiwan, and vote on a resolution. China’s military exercises around Taiwan have become increasingly frequent in recent years. MEPs criticise the recent manoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait and express their solidarity with Taiwan as a regular victim of foreign information manipulation and interference by China. In a resolution adopted in December 2023, MEPs said the EU’s ‘One China policy’ has not changed and that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, particularly by means of force or coercion, is not acceptable. Closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan: closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

The Parliament discusses China’s military provocations close to Taiwan, and vote on a resolution. China’s military exercises around Taiwan have become increasingly frequent in recent years. MEPs criticise the recent manoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait and express their solidarity with Taiwan as a regular victim of foreign information manipulation and interference by China. In a resolution adopted in December 2023, MEPs said the EU’s ‘One China policy’ has not changed and that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, particularly by means of force or coercion, is not acceptable. They also opposed China’s constant distortion of UN Resolution 2758 by demanding that Taiwanese passport holders, including journalists, NGO workers and political activists be barred from accessing tours and events in the UN.

People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan: MEPs debate

The Parliament discusses China’s military provocations close to Taiwan, and vote on a resolution. China’s military exercises around Taiwan have become increasingly frequent in recent years. MEPs criticise the recent manoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait and express their solidarity with Taiwan as a regular victim of foreign information manipulation and interference by China. In a resolution adopted in December 2023, MEPs said the EU’s ‘One China policy’ has not changed and that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, particularly by means of force or coercion, is not acceptable. Opening statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan: opening statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

MEPs debate the situation of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: one round of political group speakers

Closing statement by Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke HOEKSTRA, after the plenary debate on the protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: closing statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission

Statement by Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission, ahead of the plenary debate on the Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: opening statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission

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