It’s time to vote! Between 6 and 9 June this year, millions of EU citizens will help shape the future of the European Union by voting in the European elections. The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body and the European elections are one of the biggest democratic events in the world. Join us in this episode as we take a closer look at how the seats are divided amongst member states.

The European elections explained: how are the seats divided?

At a glance: the new law to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas; Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny commemorated in Strasbourg; and the need to strengthen the EU’s security and defence.

News in Brief – 29/02/2024 - English

Today: the Committee on Budgets is set to vote on three measures that will establish the Ukraine Facility, new rules have been agreed to prevent pollution from ships in European seas, and Parliament and the Council have reached a deal to create EU Disability and Parking Cards.

News in Brief – 19/02/2024 - English

El Parlamento Europeo y sus diputados electos son la voz de los ciudadanos en la Unión Europea. Por eso queremos que el Parlamento sea accesible a todos. «Noticias breves» ofrece un rápido repaso general de los principales temas del día en todas las lenguas oficiales de la Unión. Es una emisión ofrecida por el Parlamento Europeo. Puedes encontrar más programas en:

Noticias breves – 31/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 30/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 29/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 26/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 25/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 24/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 23/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 22/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 19/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 18/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 17/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 16/01/2024 – español

Noticias breves – 15/01/2024 – español

With a landmass that stretches from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in the north to the Alps in the south, Germany has the largest population of any EU country.

Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France and Luxembourg to the southwest, and Belgium and the Netherlands to the northwest. There are 96 members of the European Parliament from Germany.

EU - Germany

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore in December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.&nbsp; The European Climate Law writes&nbsp;into law the goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and attain the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).&nbsp;After 2050 the EU will aim for negative emissions. In July&nbsp;2021 the European Commission presented its “Fit for 55 in 2030” package-the legislative tool to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate law.

The EP adopted the new Nature restoration law during its February plenary. The new law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The EU nature restoration law, agreed with member states, will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives and enhance food security.

To reach the overall EU targets, member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to&nbsp;Natura 2000 areas&nbsp;until 2030. Once in a good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member states will also have to adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets.

European Green Deal

Situated in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and to the south of Turkey, Cyprus is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean as well as being the third smallest country in the EU, after Malta and Luxembourg. 

Cyprus’s main export partners are Greece, the UK and Israel, while its main import partners are Greece, Israel and the UK. 
There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Cyprus.

EU - Cyprus

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

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

The committee of inquiry ANIT on alleged contraventions and maladministration in animal transport will primarily investigate the alleged failure of the Commission and of member states to effectively enforce numerous EU rules related to animal transport within the EU and beyond its borders.

The committee should investigate alleged violations in the application of European Union law on the protection of animals during transport - and related operations within and outside the EU, including by air, road, rail and sea.

The constituent meeting will take place on Wednesday, 23 September 2020.

ANIT - Committee of inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport

Slovenia is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 2007 and of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007. There are 8 members of the European Parliament from Slovenia.

Situated in southern Central Europe, Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Hungary to the northeast. The north of the country is dominated by the Alps, while in&nbsp;the southwest, the Karst Plateau is a region filled with limestone caves and gorges. Slovenia has a coastline of 46.6 km by the Adriatic Sea&nbsp;between Italy and Croatia.

EU - Slovenia (2019 - 2020)

The EU first unified the summer-time arrangements in 1980, in order to ensure a harmonised approach to time switching within the single market, as until then, national summer-time practices and schedules were diverging. The current summer-time arrangements directive requires Member States to switch to summer-time on the last Sunday of March and back to standard time (informally known as winter-time) on the last Sunday of October. MEPs voted to end the practice of adjusting clocks by an hour in spring and autumn from 2021 on 26/03/2019

The system of bi-annual clock changes has been increasingly questioned, by citizens, by the European Parliament, and by a growing number of Member States. The Commission has, therefore, analysed available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised rules in this area to ensure a proper functioning of the internal market. This is also supported by the European Parliament as well as other actors. In February 2020, the TRAN Committee designated Johan Danielsson (S&D, Sweden) as rapporteur.

Seasonal time change

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. The European Union has been active in promoting the sustainable use of the seas. In early 2018, the European Commission presented a strategy to address the issue of plastics pollution, including microplastics in our seas.

Ocean protection (2019-2020)

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference

European Parliament and Council joint public hearing for hosting the seat of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA)

ECON

LIBE

20240115-0900-PLENARY

Statements by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of Parliament

Composition of Parliament's political bodies

Request for waiver of immunity

Composition of committees and delegations

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

Proposal for a Union act: see Minutes

Order of business

Resumption of the sitting

Ozone depleting substances - Fluorinated gases regulation

Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) - Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR) (joint debate - Markets in financial instruments regulations

The need for an EU and international response to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and for continued support to the Yemeni peace process (debate)

Revision of the European Labour Authority mandate (debate)

The role of social award criteria in public procurement in strengthening social rights, good working conditions and inclusive labour markets (debate)

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

Composition of the European Parliament (debate)

Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires (debate)

EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy (debate)

Voting time

Single market emergency instrument (debate)

Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (debate)

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Situation in West and Central Africa in the light of the recent coups d’état

Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini (debate)

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

Corrigendum (Rule 241)(action taken)

New Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean in the aftermath of the EU-CELAC Summit (debate)

50 years since the murder of Allende and the Coup in Chile: democracy and sovereignty (debate)

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

2022 Report on Türkiye (debate)

Relations with Belarus (debate)

Sustainable aviation fuels (ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative) (debate)

Combating the normalisation of far-right and far-left discourses including antisemitism (debate)

Explanations of vote

Press point by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the LIBE delegation on LIBE delegation to Sicily (Lampedusa), Mission on Search And Rescue

Opening of the sitting

Composition of political groups

European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning - Stop the trade" (debate)

Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries - Agreement of the IGC on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (High Seas Treaty) (debate)

Towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector (debate)

Prohibiting chick and duckling killing in EU law (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

Resilience of critical entities (debate)

Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges (debate)

Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament

2023 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)

System of own resources of the European Union (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - Future legislative reform of the Economic Governance Framework in times of social and economic crisis

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6))(action taken)

Question Time (VPC/HR) - The impact on third countries of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in relation to the “Black Sea Grain Initiative” agreement

EU-China relations (debate)

EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran (debate)

Promoting regional stability and security in the broader Middle East region (debate)

New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)

Situation in Libya (debate)

Council position at first reading (Rule 63)

Cultural solidarity with Ukraine and a joint emergency response mechanism for cultural recovery in Europe (debate)

Commission implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1614 of 15 September 2022 determining the existing deep-sea fishing areas and establishing a list of areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems are known to occur or are likely to occur (debate)

Voting time 

European support to the Ukrainian research community (debate)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Czech Presidency (debate)

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

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Czech Presidency (continuation of debate)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022 (debate)

Welcome

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022 (continuation of debate)

The UK government’s unilateral introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill and respect for international law (debate)

Facilitating export of Ukrainian agricultural products: key for Ukrainian economy and global food security (debate)

The Three Seas Initiative: challenges and opportunities (topical debate)

Financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2021 - Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2020 (debate)

The relations of the Russian government and diplomatic network with parties of extremist, populist, anti-European and certain other European political parties in the context of the war (debate)

Taxing windfall profits of energy companies (debate)

The Post-Cotonou Agreement (debate)

Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2020 (debate)

The arrest of Cardinal Zen and the trustees of the 612 relief fund in Hong Kong

The situation of indigenous and environmental defenders in Brazil, including the killing of Dom Philips and Bruno Pereira

The situation in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province

Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings

Composition of political groups: see Minutes

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

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

Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (debate)

Urgent need to adopt the minimum tax directive (debate)

Revision of the Market Stability Reserve for the EU Emissions Trading System (debate)

Use of vehicles hired without drivers for the carriage of goods by road (debate)

Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean (debate)

Protection of the rights of the child in civil, administrative and family law proceedings (short presentation)

Agenda for next sitting: see Minutes

The right of information of the Parliament regarding the ongoing assessment of the national recovery and resilience plans (debate)

Revised Industrial Strategy for Europe (debate)

Recent deaths in the Mediterranean and search and rescue at sea (debate)

First voting session

Recent deaths in the Mediterranean and search and rescue at sea (continuation of debate)

Human rights protection and the EU external migration policy (debate)

2019-2020 Reports on Turkey

EU strategy towards Israel-Palestine (debate)

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro (debate)

Announcement of voting results

The effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental defenders on this matter

Business Taxation (debate)

Second voting session

Business Taxation (continuation of debate)

Creative Europe Programme (debate)

Erasmus&#43;: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

European Solidarity Corps Programme (debate)

Artificial intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes

Delegated acts (Rule 105(6)): see Minutes

Announcement by the President : see Minutes

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU (debate)

Debate with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, on the Future of Europe (debate)

Common rules for the internal market for natural gas (debate)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (debate)

Multiannual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea (debate)

Strengthening the security of identity cards and of residence documents issued to Union citizens (debate)

EU-China trade relations (debate)

Establishing the 'Customs' programme for cooperation in the field of customs - Establishing the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment (debate)

Road infrastructure safety management (debate)

High-level conference oceans: Panel 2 - Achieving healthy, clean seas and oceans

Resumption of the session

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes: see Minutes

Composition of Parliament : see Minutes

Request for waiver of immunity: see Minutes

Composition of political groups : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 69c): see Minutes

Signature of acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 78)

Energy efficiency - Governance of the Energy Union - Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (debate)

Multiannual plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks (debate)

Floods in Europe (debate)

Minimum standards for minorities in the EU (short presentation)

Plenary

3,934 results

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference

Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference