The European Parliament and its elected Members are the citizens’ voice in the European Union. That’s why we want to make Parliament accessible to everyone. News in Brief gives you a quick overview of the day’s main topics in all official Union languages. This broadcast is brought to you by the European Parliament. You can find more programmes here:

News in Brief – 19/01/2024 – English

Il Parlamento europeo, con i suoi deputati eletti, è la voce dei cittadini nell'Unione europea. Ecco perché vogliamo che sia accessibile a tutti. Le Notizie in breve offrono una sintesi dei principali temi del giorno in tutte le lingue ufficiali dell'Unione. Questa trasmissione vi è presentata dal Parlamento europeo. Troverete ulteriori programmi ai seguenti indirizzi:

Notizie in breve – 19/01/2024 – italiano

Notizie in breve – 18/01/2024 – italiano

News in Brief – 18/01/2024 – English

In the race for global technological dominance, the EU initiated a strategy in 2020 to fortify its industry. This led to the proposal for Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), addressing substantial investment needs. STEP leverages existing EU funds, aiming to make Europe more innovative, sustainable, and self-sufficient. It's a precursor to an European Sovereignty Fund, set to further strengthen industrial capabilities.

Strategic technologies for Europe platform (STEP)

Notizie in breve – 17/01/2024 – italiano

News in Brief – 17/01/2024 – English

Since the 2014 hostilities broke out, and especially since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the conflict has not only caused thousands of casualties, a refugee crisis and an economic shock, but it has also done severe harm to the environment.

The environmental impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine

Notizie in breve – 16/01/2024 – italiano

News in Brief – 16/01/2024 – English

Notizie in breve – 15/01/2024 – italiano

News in Brief – 15/01/2024 – English

News in Brief – 12/01/2024 – English

Notizie in breve – 12/01/2024 – italiano

Notizie in breve – 11/01/2024 – italiano

News in Brief – 11/01/2024 – English

Since October 2020, the EU has&nbsp;progressively imposed restrictive measures&nbsp;against Belarus in response to the fraudulent nature&nbsp; presidential elections in&nbsp;2020, and the&nbsp;intimidation and violent repression&nbsp;of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists.&nbsp;

The democratic opposition, including the opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was awarded the&nbsp;2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The Belarusian regime has became an ally&nbsp;with Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. This includes the so-called referendum reinstating the country’s nuclear status, but also that Belarus has allowed Russian troops and weapons to move through its territory, use its airspace, refuel and store military ammunition.

Therefore, the EU has extended the sanctios package against Russia to Belarus. The EP has recently called that "all EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus and implemented appropriately".

EU - Belarus

The common agricultural policy (CAP) is one of the oldest common policies in the EU. Its significance is reflected in the proportion of the EU's budget devoted to it, representing approximately 40% of the total. Developed at a time when Europe was unable to meet most of its own food needs, it was necessary to encourage farmers to produce food by means of guaranteed prices. The policy has undergone regular reform and has evolved over the years.

As part of the preparation of the EU budget for 2021-2027, the European Commission put forward a new set of regulations to shape the future CAP on 1 June 2018. The proposal for a regulation on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAP provides the legislative framework for adapting the financing, management and monitoring rules to a new CAP delivery model.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/common-agricultural-policy-8th-parliamentary-term_6503_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Common agricultural policy (2019-2020)

<div style="padding-top: 10px;">The aim of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is to help EU Member States achieve their commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost effective way. Allowing participating compagnies to buy or sell emission allowances means that emissions cuts can be achieved at least cost. </div>

<div style="padding-top: 10px;">The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one.</div>

Green house emissions trading systems

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

As part of the European Green Deal, with the European Climate Law, the EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This requires current greenhouse gas emission levels to drop substantially in the next decades. As an intermediate step towards climate neutrality, the EU has raised its 2030 climate ambition, committing to cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

On 18 April 2023, MEPs&nbsp; adopted the reform of EU´s Emissions Trading System including for aviation and the maritime sector, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a new Social Climate fund. The&nbsp;deal on the reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS)&nbsp;increases the ambition for 2030, phases out free allowances to companies and creates a separate new ETS II for fuel for road transport and buildings that will put a price on emissions from these sectors by 2027.

According to the&nbsp;agreement with EU countries, an EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be set up to ensure that importers of goods covered by the EU ETS would have to pay any price difference between the price paid for carbon in the country of production and the price of carbon allowances in the EU ETS. This will incentivise non-EU countries to increase their climate ambition and ensure that EU and global climate efforts are not undermined by production being relocated from the EU to countries with less ambitious policies.

A separate deal with member states&nbsp;sets up an EU Social Climate Fund to ensure that the climate transition will be fair and socially inclusive. Vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users who are particularly affected by energy and transport poverty will benefit from the fund. When fully in place, it will be funded from auctioning ETS II allowances up to an amount of €65 billion, with an additional 25% covered by national resources (amounting to an estimated total of €86.7 billion).

As part of the "Fit for 55 " package, thePArliamnet has also adopted during MArch 2024, plans, already agreed upon with Council, to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector.

The proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to progressively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. It also aims to have more worst-performing buildings renovated and improve information-sharing on energy performance.

More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19003/energy-efficiency-of-buildings-meps-adopt-plans-to-decarbonise-the-sector">https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19003/energy-efficiency-of-buildings-meps-adopt-plans-to-decarbonise-the-sector</a>

Fit for 55

The European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg in France where the 12 monthly part-sessions, including the session at which the decision on the annual EU budget is taken, should be held.

Find in this package, audiovisual content of the activities of the European Parliament in Strasbourg such as atmosphere inside and outside the buildings and parliamentary work..

The European Parliament in Strasbourg

The EU’s 2021-2027 long-term budget, together with NextGenerationEU, amounts to €1.8 trillion. This unprecedented response will help repair the economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic and aid the transition towards a modern, more sustainable Europe.

The package consists of the long-term budget (the 2021-2027 MFF multiannual financial framework) of €1.074 trillion, combined with the temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU of €750 billion.

It was adopted by the European Parliament on 16 December 2020.

MEPs negotiated major top-ups for EU flagship programmes like Health, Horizon (Research), Erasmus+ and supported also a roadmap introducing new sources of EU revenue. This roadmap is part of the ‘Interinstitutional Agreement’, a legally binding text. In addition to the contribution made as of 2021, based on how much unrecycled plastic a country has, the roadmap includes an ETS (Emissions Trading System)-based Own Resource (from 2023, possibly linked with a carbon border adjustment mechanism). It also includes a digital levy (from 2023) and a Financial Transaction Tax-based Own Resource, as well as a financial contribution that the corporate sector must make or a new common corporate tax base (from 2026).

Parliament also approved in its February 2024 session, the revision of the EU’s long-term budget.

This includes the €50 billion Ukraine Facility and the “Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform” (STEP), which aims to make the EU more strategically independent and to foster innovation. It also enables the EU budget to respond more effectively to evolving needs and unforeseen circumstances. In particular, it bolsters the EU’s budget to deal with migration and external challenges as well as the EU's crisis preparedness and budgetary flexibility. In line with Parliament’s demands, the revision introduces a mechanism to tackle escalating costs linked to the repayment of the NextGenerationEU recovery plan amid rising interest rates.

EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027

Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2024.&nbsp;

The Kingdom of Belgium has announced that it will be working&nbsp;to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion;&nbsp;whilst acting as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States.

Belgian Presidency

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

Parliament has condemned Hamas’&nbsp; attacks against Israel while expressing serious concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In the resolution adopted in October 2023 with 500 votes in favour, 21 against and 24 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemn the brutal attacks, express their support to Israel and its people and underline the need to “eliminate the terrorist organisation Hamas” .

They also call for the immediate release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas and recognise Israel’s right to self-defence “as enshrined in and constrained by international law” . As such, any actions by Israel must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, the text states.

Parliament also stresses that both the attacks by Hamas and the Israeli response risk reinforcing a cycle of violence in the region. MEPs therefore call for a “humanitarian pause” of the fighting and stress that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, including UN workers, medical workers and journalists, is a serious violation of international law.

Following Hamas’ deadly attack against Israel on 7 October 2023, which claimed the lives of around 1 200 people and resulted in more than 200 people being taken hostage, Israel declared war against the terrorist group. It began striking the Gaza Strip from the air, later sending ground forces into the sealed-off coastal enclave. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 14&nbsp;000 Palestinians have so far been killed.

EP President Metsola visited&nbsp;Israel on Friday 13 October to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership. The EP held&nbsp;a solemn ceremony on 11 October in solidarity with victims of the attacks.

Situation in Israel and Gaza

Pollution harms our health and our environment. It is the largest environmental cause of multiple mental and physical diseases and of premature deaths, especially among children, people with certain medical conditions and the elderly. It&nbsp;is also one of the main reasons for the loss of biodiversity.

The&nbsp;zero pollution vision for 2050&nbsp;is for air, water and soil pollution to be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. It includes a series of 2030 targets to speed up reducing pollution at source.

On 12 May 2021, the European Commission adopted the&nbsp;Zero Pollution Action Plan: "Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil"&nbsp;- a key deliverable of the European Green Deal.&nbsp;

Air pollution

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

EMPL - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Plastics are everywhere in our daily life: they are used in packaging, buildings, cars, electronics, agriculture and other sectors. On 3 July 2021, the EU ban on disposable plastics comes into effect. This will concern straws, cups, cutlery, plates, but also balloon rods.

Single-use plastic products are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away. The impacts of this plastic waste on the environment and our health are global and can be drastic. Single-use plastic products are more likely to end up in our seas than reusable options.

The 10 most commonly found single-use plastic items on European beaches, alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all marine litter in the EU. According to the directive on single-use plastics where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. This applies to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and sticks for balloons.

It will also apply to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic. The EU aims to become a forerunner in the global fight against marine litter and plastic pollution. EU rules aim to reduce the volume and impact of certain plastic products on environment.

Plastics production is 20 times higher than in 1960s, and is forecast to almost quadruple by 2050. Although there are thousands of types of plastics, 90% of plastics are derived from virgin fossil fuels. About 6% of global oil consumption is used to produce plastics; by 2050, this share could reach 20%. In Europe, about 40% of post-consumer plastic waste is incinerated with energy recovery, and the rest is either landfilled or recycled. About half of the plastic waste collected and recycled is treated in the European Union; the other half is exported, mainly to China.

EU Strategy for Plastics and packaging

Minimum wages in all EU countries should allow for decent living and working standards, and member states should promote collective bargaining for pay.&nbsp; With 505 votes in favour, 92 against and 44 abstentions, Parliament adopted&nbsp;new legislation&nbsp;on adequate minimum wages in the EU during September plenary.

The EU law, agreed with the Council in June, aims to improve working and living conditions for all workers in the EU, as well as promoting economic and social progress. To this end, it establishes minimum requirements for the adequacy of statutory minimum&nbsp;wages as provided by national law and/or collective agreements, and enhances the effective access of workers to minimum wage protection.

The new directive will apply to all EU workers who have an employment contract or employment relationship. The EU countries in which the minimum wage is already protected exclusively via collective agreements will not be obliged to introduce these rules nor to make these agreements universally applicable.

EU wants to improve workers’ rights and working conditions across Europe, from working hours and parental leave to health and safety at work. The EU has put in place a set of labour rules to ensure strong social protection. They include minimum requirements on working conditions - such as working time, part-time work, workers’ rights - to information about important aspects of their employment and the posting of workers. They have become one of the cornerstones of Europe's social policies.&nbsp;

Working conditions

Oceans need to be managed sustainably in order to conserve our fragile marine ecosystems.

Although oceans are essential to us in many ways, the state of marine biodiversity remains little known. What we do know, however, is that human activities create a number of pressures such as (over-)exploitation, carbon emissions, and pollution, including marine litter.

It is estimated that there are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world's seas and that, without significant action, there may be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the sea by 2050. Some marine litter consists of microplastics; these originate from the breaking down of larger plastic pieces or are released directly into the environment.

Ocean protection

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

ITRE - Vote on EU Cyber Resilience Act

EP Plenary session - Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Rome (Italy) -  President’s receipt of the Premio Biago Agnes, Premio Internazionale di Gionalismo e Informazione

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Rome (Italy) - Meeting with Antonio TAJANI, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Rome (Italy) - ANSA Forum - Town Hall discussion with Young People and visit of the Europa Experience

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Rome (Italy) - Meeting with Giorgia MELONI, Italian Prime Minister

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs - Mission on Search And Rescue in Lampedusa (Sicily), Italy, 20 June 2023.

EU flags at half mast inside and outside the EPLO building in Milan, Italy, following the death of Silvio BERLUSCONI, former Italian Prime Minister and former MEP.

EU flags at half mast at the EPLO building in Roma, Italy, following the death of Silvio BERLUSCONI, former Italian Prime Minister and former MEP.

EU flags at half mast at the EP buildings in Brussels following the death of Silvio BERLUSCONI, former Italian Prime Minister and former MEP

EU flags at half mast at the EP buildings in Strasbourg following the death of Silvio BERLUSCONI, former Italian Prime Minister and former MEP

EPRS Book Talk ' Europe’s coming of age, wasn’t it meant to be '

Delegation for relations with Mercosur Inter-parliamentary meeting - Exchange of views on the political, economic and social situation in the EU and Mercosur, with particular reference to the war in Ukraine and its effects on the European Union and Mercosur States

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Raffaele FITTO, Italian Minister of European affairs

ITRE Committee - Public Hearing on the Net Zero Industry Act

ITRE Committee - Energy Community Parliamentary Plenum

ITRE Committee - Public Hearing on Critical Raw Materials

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Antonio TAJANI, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Statements by Pascal CANFIN and by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, ITRE Chair on "COVID 19 vaccine production and delivery"

ENVI - ITRE  Joint meeting

ITRE

ENVI

Opening of the sitting

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change (debate)

OLAF cooperation with EPPO and the effectiveness of its investigations (debate)

First voting session (continuation)

OLAF cooperation with EPPO and the effectiveness of its investigations (continuation of debate)

Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions 2019 (debate)

The deteriorating situation of human rights in Egypt, in particular the case of the activists of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

Forced labour and the situation of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Iran, in particular the case of 2012 Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh

Announcement

Resumption of the sitting

Amendment of the agenda : see Minutes

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

Second voting session

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

Plenary Session

Ludwig van Beethoven 250th anniversary celebration

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 – MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources – Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 – Proposal for an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources – Regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (debate)

Award of the Sakharov Prize (formal sitting) 

Negotiations ahead of Parliament&#39;s first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

First voting session

Preparation of an EU Strategy on COVID-19 vaccination, including its external dimension (debate)

EU Security Union Strategy (debate)

The need for a dedicated Council configuration on gender equality (debate)

Statement by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings : see Minutes

Composition of Parliament : see Minutes

Composition of political groups : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament&#39;s first reading (Rule 71): see Minutes

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business

The establishment of an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights (debate)

Rule of Law conditionality in the framework of the MFF 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU (debate)

20201005-0900-PLENARY

Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget - 2021 financial year (debate)

Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee (B9-0310/2020)

Closure of the sitting

ENVI-ITRE Joint Hearing on "How to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines for EU citizens: clinical trials, production and distribution challenges"

Announcement of voting results

Emergency Legislation in Hungary and its impact on the Rule of Law and fundamental rights (debate)

Emergency Legislation in Hungary and its impact on the Rule of Law and fundamental rights (continuation of debate)

70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (debate)

Use of contact tracing apps in the fight against the coronavirus (debate)

Vaccines and therapeutics in the context of Covid-19 (debate)

Corrigendum (Rule 241) (action taken): see Minutes

Third voting session

Plenary session

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes

Calendar of part-sessions

EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences (debate)

EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences (continuation of debate)

Fourth voting session

ITRE-IMCO Joint meeting

IMCO

Resumption of the session

Negotiations ahead of Council's first reading (Rule 72): see Minutes

Devastating Bushfires in Australia and other extreme weather events as a consequence of Climate Change (debate)

Cross-border organised crime and its impact on free movement (debate)

Common charger for mobile radio equipment (debate)

Gender pay gap (debate)

Housing First as urgent action to address the situation of homeless people in Europe (debate)

Plenary

ITRE Committee meeting

The Turkish military operation in northeast Syria and its consequences (debate)

Election of the European Ombudsman – applications received

Welcome

Voting time

Explanations of vote

Corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes

Climate and ecological emergency (topical debate) (debate)

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report - 2018 (debate)

Search and rescue in the Mediterranean (debate)

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (debate)

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (continuation of debate)

The situation in Iraq, in particular the violent suppression of young people’s and students' protests (debate)

High-level UN political declaration on Universal Health Coverage (debate)

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of polling stations in Italy

EP Plenary session - Commission Statement - Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society

During her visit to Kyiv (Ukraine), on the occasion of Europe Day, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, speaks at the International Summit of Cities and Regions. She expresses the continued support of the European Parliament to Ukraine on its European path.

Address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the International Summit of Cities & Regions in Kyiv (Ukraine)

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Ukraine on 9 May 2024, on the occasion of Europe Day. The aim of her visit is to show the European Parliament’s continued support and commitment to Ukraine and its European path. During her visit, President Metsola meets with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and gives a statement at the International Summit of Cities & Regions. Cameraman: Noel Zammit

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, in Kyiv (Ukraine) on Europe Day: attendance and address at the International Summit of Cities & Regions, with Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Ukraine on 9 May 2024, on the occasion of Europe Day. The aim of her visit is to show the European Parliament’s continued support and commitment to Ukraine and its European path. At her arrival, President Metsola meets with Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk. With him she visits a damaged power plant and a bombed school. Cameraman: Noel Zammit

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, in Kyiv (Ukraine) on Europe Day: arrival and meeting with Ruslan STEFANCHUK, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, visit to a damaged power plant, visit to a bombed school

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting. This new item shows illuminations of the Arco della Pace and Sforza Castle in Milan (Italy).

European Elections 2024 - "One month to go": Illuminations in Milan (Italy)

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting. This new item shows illuminations on the W Barcelona Hotel, popularly known as the Hotel Vela (Sail Hotel) due to its shape, in the Barceloneta district of Barcelona, the Arc of Triumph and on the skyscraper Torre Glòries in Barcelona (Spain).

European Elections 2024 - "One month to go": Illuminations in Barcelona (Spain)

Have you ever felt like shying away from a discussion because the tone was too aggressive and your opinion seemed to get lost between extreme statements?

This is what usually happens when the most extreme points of view are artificially boosted.

By polarising the debate, disinformation spreaders want to make us believe that the differences between us are much greater than they really are and make it difficult to make compromises and reach solutions.

Watch this video to see how this is done and how you can avoid falling into this trap.

You can read more about the European Parliament and European Elections here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en

How disinformation works Ep2: Sowing division - EE24

EP President Roberta METSOLA participates in the ceremony of the Partnership Agreement in the framework of European Elections 2024. The European Parliament is working with more than 500 civil society organisations to increase and widen its messaging to different audiences, to promote EU values and the importance of the European elections.

European Elections 2024 - Partnership Agreement: extracts of the ceremony with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Commemorating the signing of the Schuman Declaration on 9 May 1950, the European Union celebrates its achievements of unity and long-term peace. A month ahead of the European elections, the EU institutions invite citizens to visit their buildings, listen to and participate in debates, live performances, games and other activities. The European Parliament opens its doors on Saturday 27 April in Strasbourg, Saturday 4 May in Brussels, and Thursday 9 May in Luxembourg. This news items shows the celebration of Europe day in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Europe day in the European Parliament in Brussels: extracts from the open day

In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 3 Dubbed 16:9 - Swedish (Finland)

In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

© ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders.

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 4 Dubbed 16:9 - Swedish (Finland)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 3 Dubbed 16:9 - Galician

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 4 Dubbed 16:9 - Dutch (Belgium)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 3 Dubbed 16:9 - Luxembourgish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 3 Dubbed 16:9 - English (Malta)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 3 Dubbed 16:9 - German (Austria)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 4 Dubbed 16:9 - Turkish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 1 OV 16:9 - Basque

"In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

© ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders."

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 1 Dubbed 9:16 - Basque

1,079 results