It’s something we find more or less everywhere: in our cars, in our homes and on our phones. What is it? The radio, of course! And 13 February is World Radio Day. Let’s take a look at a trusty media format that even saved the Eiffel Tower from being torn down.

World Radio Day

The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. Rates of repair depend on the type of a product, with the cost of repair being the most important reason consumers avoid repair. Research shows that consumers favour products that are easily repaired, but their willingness to pay for such products depends on the type of product and the way information on the reparability is presented to them...

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

Organ donation and transplantation saves lives… thousands of lives! And while some countries have seen encouraging increases in donation rates, in others transplantation rates have been stagnating or even decreasing…Responsibility for heath policies lies primarily with the Member States, but how can the EU bolster cooperation to save even more lives?

EPRS policy podcast - Organ donation and transplantation: Facts, figures and European Union action

Do you like to save money when you shop? EU laws can help you tell whether you’re getting the best deal and protect you from scams. Here’s how.

This is what Europe does for canny shoppers and bargain hunters

More and more lives are being saved or improved thanks to organ transplants. But it’s a complicated business. Here are three things Europe is doing to improve this vital procedure.

This is what Europe does for transplant patients

When a bank fails, savers are usually the last to find out. If you’re a saver, you can’t constantly monitor your bank in the hope of withdrawing your savings before it fails. The EU is finding ways to protect your money and improve the stability of the banking system. But how?

This what Europe does for people with bank savings

Did you know that a simple test can diagnose diabetes and spare you a lot of health problems, or even save your life? The EU supports prevention and research into diabetes. Here are some examples.

This is what Europe does for diabetes sufferers

Over the course of a two-day summit, EU leaders&nbsp;discussed continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, security and defence, the unfolding situation in the Middle East, enlargement, external relations, migration, agriculture and the European Semester.&nbsp; Concerning Ukraine&nbsp;the European Union and Member States will speed up and intensify the delivery of all the necessary military assistance.

The European Council welcomes all recent initiatives in this regard, including the one launched by Czechia to urgently procure ammunition for Ukraine, which will enable the swift fulfilment of the EU’s commitment to provide Ukraine with one million rounds of artillery ammunition.

The European Council discussed the latest developments in the Middle East. It is appalled by the unprecedented loss of civilian lives and the critical humanitarian situation. The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The European Council is deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza. Full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip via all routes is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance and basic services at scale.

European Council, 21 and 22 March 2024

Emergency call devices that automatically alert rescue services to car crashes will have to be fitted to all new models of cars and light vans as of 31 March.

With eCall, emergency services' response time will be reduced by 50% in rural areas and 40% in urban areas, leading to a reduction of fatalities estimated at up to 1,500 saved lives per year. The legislation has made the system based on a public emergency call using the European emergency number 112 and operating across borders

eCall system

Since the Law and Justice party (PiS) won both the presidential and parliamentary elections in Poland in autumn 2015, the new government has undertaken a series of reforms that critics say restrict democracy.

Freedom and pluralism: President Schulz of Parliament, and Commission vice-president Timmermans have voiced concern for the freedom and pluralism of Poland’s public-service television and radio and for the status of the Constitutional Court. On 13 January the Commission decided to start the first stage of the "Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of Law" in Poland.

Women’s rights in Poland: the current sexual and reproductive health law in Poland is among the most restrictive in the EU but it does reflect a political consensus reached by all the parties years ago. This consensus has recently been put at risk by the pro-life movements calling for a total ban on abortion. Their “Pro- Right to Life” proposal (“citizen initiative”) and the restrictive act on IVF have been passed on for further work in the Polish parliament while a “Save the Women” proposal (a rival bid to liberalise access to legal abortion and introduce a large package of sexual and reproductive health services”) has been rejected despite earlier assurances that citizens’ initiatives will not be rejected without consideration in committees.

Rule of law in Poland - 8th parliamentary term

The Drinking Water Directive sets quality standards for drinking water and requires that Member States ensure monitoring and compliance with these standards.

The plans aim to increase citizens’ confidence in the water supply and increase the use of tap water for drinking, which could contribute to reducing plastic usage and litter.

According to the European Commission, lower consumption of bottled water could help EU households save more than €600 million per year. If confidence in tap water improves, citizens can also contribute to reducing plastic waste from bottled water, including marine litter. Plastic bottles are one of the most common single use plastic items found on European beaches. With the update of the Drinking Water Directive, the Commission takes an important legislative step towards implementing the EU Plastics Strategy presented on 16 January 2018.

Water quality - 8th parliamentary term

The REPowerEU Plan is the EU's response to the global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is a double urgency to transform Europe's energy system: ending the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis.

The measures in the REPowerEU Plan&nbsp;respond to this ambition, through energy savings, diversification of energy supplies, and accelerated roll-out of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in homes, industry and power generation.

MEPs reached a deal with Council on the inclusion of REPowerEU measures in national recovery plans to support independence from Russian fossil fuels and the green transition on 14 Decembre 2022.&nbsp;

The deal provides that EU countries applying to receive additional funds through an amended recovery and resilience plan will be required, after the entry into force of this proposal, to include measures to save energy, produce clean energy and diversify energy supplies, as foreseen in the EU’s REPowerEU plan.

Negotiators agreed that the new rules will cover measures retroactively from 1 February 2022, with some limited exceptions. MEPs made sure that these measures are designed to support investments to tackle energy poverty for vulnerable households, SMEs and micro-enterprises.

REPowerEU

Two decades ago, euro notes and coins entered into circulation, bringing tangible benefits to people and companies across the EU.

The single currency has made it easier for people to compare prices across borders, to shop and travel and to make savings in a stable currency. It also opened up more opportunities for businesses, as the costs and uncertainty of dealing with fluctuating exchange rates disappeared.

The February 2022 plenary session started with a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Euro, followed by a debate with ECB President Lagarde.

20th Anniversary of the Euro

EP Plenary session - European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without animal testing

ENVI AGRI PETI joint hearing ' Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics '

Opening ceremony of the exhibition 'Saving Ukrainians in War Times – Evacuation and Emergency Supplies by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, with the support of the European Commission' with Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP Plenary session - The need for a European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy

EP Plenary session - European Citizens’ Initiative Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment

EP Plenary session - Deaths at sea: a common EU response to save lives and action to ensure safe and legal pathways

ENVI-AGRI-PETI joint committee - Public hearing ' Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment '

Conference on the Right to Save - ' Droit de Sauver '

Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal KHASHOGGI -speaking during a news conference in Manama, Bahrain. Jamal Khashoggi was Katherine Roth's friend and mentor when she was a young reporter in Yemen in the mid-1990s. He was a perceptive guide and a much-needed bridge between political Islam and the West, Roth said. She said he changed her life and may even have saved it.

Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal KHASHOGGI

Summer-time change.

Earth Hour 2018: the European Parliament switches off its lights. Global environmental initiative to raise awareness of the need to act to fight climate change. Night view of EP Headquarters in Brussels.

Plenary session week 46 2017 in Strasbourg- Saving lives: boosting car safety in the EU - Report: Dieter-Lebrecht Koch

Conference on How to save trade policy - New ideas for a globalised world

EPRS discussion - In defence of Europe: Can the European Project be saved ?

Debate - Saving the Eurozone: What might a Franco-German initiative look like ?

Reception to mark the closing of the  Let‚Äôs Save Lives  campaign

Conference on Child Alerting in the EU - Saving the lives of endangered missing children

Tove R WANG - CEO of Save the Children Norway

Nobel Peace Prize Center in Oslo. Portraits of the Laureates.

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of Parliament

Verification of credentials

Request for waiver of immunity

Composition of committees and delegations

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

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

Corrigendum (Rule 241)

Proposals for Union acts

Announcement

Order of business

Resumption of the sitting

Industrial Emissions Directive - Industrial Emissions Portal - Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure - Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative) - Energy efficiency (recast) (joint debate - Fit for 55 and Industrial Emissions)

Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (debate)

European Citizens' Initiative Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing' (debate)

Management, conservation and control measures in the area covered under the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) (debate)

Protection of workers from extreme heat and other extreme weather phenomena resulting from the climate crisis (debate)

Implementation of passerelle' clauses in the EU Treaties (short presentation)

Banking Union - annual report 2022 (short presentation)

Fostering and adapting vocational training as a tool for employees' success and a building block for the EU economy in the new industry 4.0 (short presentation)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Opening of the sitting

The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)

Voting time

Energy storage (debate)

Safeguarding labour mobility and social rights of striking lorry drivers from third countries (debate)

Announcement by the President

Adoption of the Cyber package proposals (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - Legacy of the European Year of Youth

Situation in Peru (debate)

Guidelines for the 2024 budget - Section III (debate)

The need for European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy (debate)

EU relations with Iraq (debate)

EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, EU Battlegroups and Article 44 TEU: the way forward (debate)

Explanations of vote

Council position at first reading (Rule 63)

European Citizens' Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment" (debate)

Advancing the 2022 Bridgetown Agenda (debate)

Lack of actions taken by the Commission in the context of the duty of sincere and loyal cooperation (debate)

Long term commitment to animal welfare (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Adjournment of the session

Composition of a new subcommittee

Conclusions of the Special European Council meeting of 9 February and preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March 2023 (debate)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71)(action taken)

(International Women's Day)

More Europe, more jobs: we are building the competitive economy of tomorrow for the benefit of all (topical debate)

Failure of the Silicon Valley Bank and the implications for financial stability in Europe (debate)

Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)

Deaths at sea: a common EU response to save lives and action to ensure safe and legal pathways (debate)

Need for immediate reform of the internal rules of the Commission to ensure transparency and accountability in light of alleged conflicts of interests (debate)

Combatting organised crime in the EU (debate)

Women activism - human rights defenders related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) (debate)

The EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (debate)

Cross-border adoptions from third countries (debate)

Combating discrimination in the EU - the long-awaited horizontal anti-discrimination directive (debate)

Iran: in particular the poisoning of hundreds of school girls

Tunisia: Recent attacks against freedom of expression and association and trade unions, in particular the case of journalist Noureddine Boutar

Cambodia: the case of opposition leader Kem Sokha

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - The outcome of EU-UK negotiations (debate)

First voting session (continuation)

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - The outcome of EU-UK negotiations (continuation of debate)

2019 Discharge (52 reports) (debate)

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) 2021-2027 (debate)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken): see Minutes

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

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme 2021-2027 (debate)

Justice programme 2021-2027 (debate)

Justice programme 2021-2027 (continuation of debate)

Council positions at first reading (action taken): see Minutes

Extension of the mandate of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (action taken): see Minutes

Second voting session

Saving the summer tourism season - EU support to the hospitality sector (debate)

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme (debate)

Programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed and European statistics (Single Market Programme) 2021-2027 (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

What needs to be one to address the biodiversity crisis to save the planet ?

Saving lives: boosting car safety in the EU (debate)

Taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments: repealing the Savings Directive - EU-Switzerland agreement on the automatic exchange of financial account information - Mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation (debate)

Access to life-saving medicines in Europe (debate)

System of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States - Compatibility of the German and British tax agreements with Switzerland with the EU savings tax directive (debate)

Taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments - Common system of VAT as regards tax evasion linked to import and other cross-border transactions (debate)

How can the EU reform its economic model to benefit consumers and the planet? Aimilios in Belgium and Laetitia in France have (part of) the answer!

Aimilios and his Watt4Ever team recondition old electric car batteries to make new energy storage systems, effectively giving batteries a second life and saving precious raw materials and energy while avoiding additional pollution.

Laetitia and “Halte à l'Obsolescence Programmée”, or HOP (“Stop Planned Obsolescence”), campaign for everyday products to last longer and be more repairable.

The European Parliament backs EU-wide measures to promote a circular economy, a right to repair and better recycling of raw materials, to avoid polluting the planet and to benefit your wallet.

EU programmes such as Horizon Europe plus rural and regional development funds make sure such projects get the resources they need.

Making the economy work for you and the planet: meet Aimilios and Laetitia - 9:16 EE24

Making the economy work for you and the planet: meet Aimilios and Laetitia - EE24

MEPs debate on an initiative to protecting and strengthening the ban on animal testing, transforming the EU Chemicals Regulation and making a transition to non-animal science. Nearly 1.5 million people signed the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing” in one year. A public hearing in the Environment, Agricultural and Petitions committees was held on 25 May. Closing statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission.

European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics: closing statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs debate on an initiative to protecting and strengthening the ban on animal testing, transforming the EU Chemicals Regulation and making a transition to non-animal science. Nearly 1.5 million people signed the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing” in one year. A public hearing in the Environment, Agricultural and Petitions committees was held on 25 May. Opening statements by Maria SPYRAKI (EPP, EL), Mazaly AGUILAR (ECR, ES), Ana MIRANDA (Greens/EFA, ES) and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission.

European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics: opening statements by Maria SPYRAKI (EPP, EL), Mazaly AGUILAR (ECR, ES), Ana MIRANDA (Greens/EFA, ES) and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Closing statements by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport and Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Petar VITANOV (S&D, BG), Rapporteur, Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Closing statements by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport and Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Petar VITANOV (S&D, BG), Rapporteur, Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. MEPs debate (part 2)

Joint debate - Fit for 55: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. MEPs debate (part 1)

Joint debate - Fit for 55: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Opening statements by Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI Committee; Bas EICKHOUT - ENVI Committee; Michael BLOSS - ITRE Committee; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN Committee; Niklas NIENASS - REGI Committee; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM Committee; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statements by the Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI; Bas EICKHOUT- ENVI; Michael BLOSS - ITRE; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN; Niklas NIENASS - REGI; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package.The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Opening statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur on Industrial Emissions Directive and on Industrial Emissions Portal, Petar VITANOV (S&D, BG), Rapporteur on Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur on Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative), Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur on Energy efficiency (recast), Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur on Energy efficiency (recast), Tiemo WÖLKEN - ENVI Committee, Rasmus ANDRESEN - ITRE Committee, Benoît LUTGEN - AGRI Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statements by the Rapporteur on Industrial Emissions Directive and on Industrial Emissions Portal; Rapporteur on Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure; Rapporteur on Sustainable maritime fuels

European citizens have repeatedly demanded an end to the harmful use of animals in cosmetics and other chemical tests, as well as an ambitious plan to bring all experiments on animals to an end. The Save cruelty free cosmetics European Citizens' Initiative closed on 31 August 2022 with 1,413,383 signatures collected in one year. This is the second ECI on this issue that has surpassed the one million signature mark, the first being Stop Vivisection in 2015. This infoclip shows cosmetics and cruelty free logos in a make-up store and a drugstore, close-ups of different types of cosmetics and a professional make-up artist at work.

Infoclip: Cruelty free cosmetics

MEPs from the EP Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and on Petitions (PETI) debate animal testing in cosmetics with the initiators of a citizen’s initiative to secure better animal welfare and environmental protection, in a public hearing. The European Citizens’ Initiative on “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics”, with nearly 1.5 million signature collected in one year, wants the EU to strengthen its animal testing ban

European Citizens’ Initiative - "Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing": extracts from the event and statements - ENVI, AGRI and PETI Committees

MEPs debate on the current situation in Italy regarding the management of migrants who arrived in Italy through the Central Mediterranean route from Northern Africa. Closing statements by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs.

The need for a European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy: closing statements by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

MEPs debate on the current situation in Italy regarding the management of migrants who arrived in Italy through the Central Mediterranean route from Northern Africa. Second part of the debate.

The need for a European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the current situation in Italy regarding the management of migrants who arrived in Italy through the Central Mediterranean route from Northern Africa. First part of the debate.

The need for a European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the current situation in Italy regarding the management of migrants who arrived in Italy through the Central Mediterranean route from Northern Africa. Opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Commission and by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The need for a European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget

MEPs debate on a European citizens’ initiative on phasing out synthetic pesticides and creating bee-friendly agriculture. Closing statement Mairead MCGUINNESS, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Union.

European Citizens’ Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment": closing statement by Mairead MCGUINNESS, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Union

MEPs debate on a European citizens’ initiative on phasing out synthetic pesticides and creating bee-friendly agriculture. MEPs debate (part 2)

European Citizens’ Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment": MEPs debate (part 2)

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