The European Commission proposed to expand the scope of the existing EU rules on the deployment of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in road transport to cover new and emerging challenges and to make essential ITS services mandatory across the EU. The proposal seeks to resolve problems stemming from the lack of interoperability and continuity of the existing applications and services, but also from the low level of availability and sharing of the data supporting ITS services. Finally, it aims to ensure effective concertation and cooperation among stakeholders.

EPRS policy podcast - Intelligent road transport systems

Small farms make up the vast majority of the EU's 10 million farms. Recent studies have lowered past estimates of how much of the global food supply is produced by small farms. Notwithstanding the complex nature of such estimates and the possible under-estimation of small operators' production because of self consumption, it is clear that small farms allocate larger shares of their production to food and have a more diversified produce portfolio than larger farms. In addition to producing food, small farms are typically associated with protecting landscape features and biodiversity and the notion of providing public goods.

EPRS policy podcast - Small farms' role in the EU food system

The final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe has now been prepared, after a process spanning a year. The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission have promised to listen to the people of the EU. They have also committed to following up, wherever they can, on the proposals, which are the result of a series of debates that gave people from across the EU the chance to share their ideas.

Conference on the future of Europe

The growing importance of global supply chains has fundamentally changed the way the global economy and goods manufacturing are organised. While trade conducted through global supply chains has fallen somewhat as a share of total trade since the 2008-2010 global financial and economic crisis, more than two-thirds of international trade still involves transactions made possible by such chains. In this podcast, we’ll focus on global supply chains. We’ll analyse how dependent we are on them, the impact of the pandemic and what can be done –at the European and the global level- to make these chains more resilient in the future.

EPRS policy podcast - Resilience of global supply chains: Challenges and solutions

Part 2 This is My History and the ‘View of the Future Shaped by the Past’ series, in which we are proud to present Paul Collowald. Mr Collowald is a journalist and writer who witnessed the emergence of today’s European Union first hand. It all started when he met one of the EU’s founding fathers, Robert Schuman. He would later go on to work in many roles at the European Commission and the European Parliament, including Director-General for Information and Head of the Private Office of Parliament President Pierre Pflimlin. His story is divided into two parts. This is part two, in which he shares his experience of working with the EU’s founding fathers. In part one, he tells us about his early life in Europe during the war. This podcast is based on an interview by Valter Mavrič, Director-General for Translation at the European Parliament.

EN I witnessed the birth of Europe – interview with Paul Collowald – Part 2

I live at the crossroads of East and West My childhood and teenage years were spent under communism, and my youth and adult years under democracy. What will the future bring us? On our My House of European History platform, we invite people from all over Europe to share their personal stories. Magdalena’s story is one of great changes in Europe, the peaceful end of communism and the transition from captivity to freedom. It is a call for freedom and democracy; a rallying cry for strong women in European society. [This podcast contains an excerpt from the speech of Wojciech Jaruzelski of 13 December 1981. © Copyright "Telewizja Polska S.A. – TVP. All rights reserved."]

EN ‘Living at the crossroads of East and West’ – a story of the desire for freedom under communist oppression

This is the story of Katarina and her family. This is the story of a survivor. Katarina’s father survived the Holocaust in inhuman conditions but he lost many family members in the Auschwitz concentration camp. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Katarina wanted to share her important testimony with future generations. Even decades later, it is not easy to talk about these tragic events.

EN 75. Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp¬ - Katarina’s story

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a series of debates for people from across the EU to share their ideas on key priorities and help shape our common future. The Conference is the first of its kind: its aim is to give people living in the EU their say on what it does and how it works for them. The Citizens’ Panels are crucial elements of the Conference.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Citizens’ Panels

This is My History and the ‘View of the Future Shaped by the Past’ series, in which we are proud to present Paul Collowald. Mr Collowald is a journalist and writer who witnessed the emergence of today’s European Union first hand. It all started when he met one of the EU’s founding fathers, Robert Schuman. He would later go on to work in many roles at the European Commission and the European Parliament, including Director-General for Information and Head of the Private Office of Parliament President Pierre Pflimlin. His story is divided into two parts. This is part one, in which he tells us about his early life in Europe during the war. In part two, he shares his experience of working with the EU’s founding fathers. This podcast is based on an interview by Valter Mavrič, Director-General for Translation at the European Parliament.

EN I witnessed the birth of Europe – interview with Paul Collowald

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a series of debates that will give people from across the EU the chance to share their ideas and help shape our common future. The conference is the first of its kind: as a major pan-European democratic exercise, it provides a public forum for an open, inclusive, and transparent debate with citizens focusing on a number of key priorities and challenges. Its aim is to give Europeans a bigger say in what the EU does and how it works for them.

Conference on the Future of Europe

The aim of the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. In doing so, this would open up the possibility for further investments towards carbon removal activities and increased deployment.

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

Organised crime is a growing threat to the EU and its citizens. And new digital technologies, combined with open borders and free trade, only make it easier for criminals… But the EU is stepping up police and judicial cooperation, as well as information-sharing, in order to stay one step ahead of them and make sure that crime does not pay!

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding the EU response to organised crime

‘What does it mean to be European? And for me, what does it mean to be Dutch? Is it to have been born in the Netherlands? To have Dutch parents?’ On our My House of European History platform, we invite people from all over Europe to share their personal stories. Ingrid’s story is about identity, about Dutch identity. She talks about how her passion for history helped her in the search for her own identity.

“What does it mean to be Dutch?” - A quest through history for one’s own identity

Like many Europeans, you probably regularly use online social networks such as Facebook or Twitter, to keep in touch with friends and family, circulate documents at work, share photos, or just join in with a discussion. This involves disclosing personal info such as data about your habits, preferences or location. You might feel you do not have complete control over your data and what it is used for. The EU has a long tradition of adopting stringent data protection rules. Here is what Europe does to give you more control over your data.

This is what Europe does for users of online social networks

Education systems and schooling are very different across the EU. There are many challenges though that schools from different parts of Europe share.

This is what Europe does for secondary school students

Poland is a member of the EU since 1st of May 2004 and member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Poland is a parliamentary republic with a Head of government - the Prime Minister - and a Head of state - the President. The government structure is centred on the council of Ministers. The country is divided into 16 provinces, largely based on the country’s historic regions. Administrative authority at provincial level is shared between a government-appointed Governor, an elected regional Assembly and an executive elected by the regional Assembly.

There are 51 members of the European Parliament from Poland.

EU - Poland

The progress of&nbsp;digital transformation&nbsp;has inevitably led to new cybersecurity threats.&nbsp;Also the COVID19 crisis has again exposed the cyber vulnerabilities of some critical sectors, in particular healthcare, while teleworking and social distance has increased our dependency on digital technologies and connectivity.

As&nbsp; a consequence, in December 2020 the European Commission launched a new EU Cybersecurity Strategy&nbsp;to make physical and digital critical entities more resilient.

The European Parliament and the Coucil reached a deal on&nbsp;May 2022 on the new rules to&nbsp;strengthen EU-wide resilience

The agreed text&nbsp;sets tighter cybersecurity obligations in terms of risk management, reporting obligations and information sharing. The requirements include incident response, supply chain security, encryption and vulnerability disclosure, among other provisions.

Cybersecurity

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

In December 2023 , MEPs and national governments reached a long-sought agreement to revamp the EU’s asylum and migration legislation. Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on the final form of five separate EU regulations, establishing 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, EP President Roberta Metsola 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

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.

Asylum

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

The policies of the EU on climate and energy are described, as well as the challenges that must be faced in order to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping the increase in global temperature well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to achieve 1.5°C.

The EU faces major challenges from the increased threats of climate change, with serious consequences in the energy sector, where urgent issues are arising concerning the national production mix of each Member State. The renewable energy share needs to be increased, and energy efficiency needs to be improved.

Climate change (2019-2020)

The Conference on the Future of Europe was a citizen-led series of debates and discussions enabling&nbsp;people from across Europe to share their ideas and help shape a common European future.
This one-year journey of discussion, debate and collaboration between citizens and politicians on the future of Europe culminated in a report submitted on 9 May to the Presidents of the EU institutions. The report outlines 49 proposals and more than 320 measures including concrete objectives. It is now up to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission to follow up, each according to their own area of competence.

Compared to the rest of the world, Europe has the best levels of social protection and also ranks highly in terms of quality of life and wellbeing. However, it faces a wide range of challenges, including impact of the COVID situation.

The EU has only limited competence when it comes to social issues as most of it is up to national governments. The responsibility for employment and social policies lies mostly with the member states and their governments. This means that national governments - and not the EU - decide on issues such as wage regulations, including minimum wage, the role of collective bargaining, pensions systems and retirement age, and unemployment benefits.

However, over the years, the EU has been working on social issues throughout the European integration process and come up with a series of instruments in the social sector. These include EU laws, funds and tools to better coordinate and monitor national policies. The EU also encourages countries to share best practices on issues such as social inclusion, poverty and pensions.

One of the supporting tools is the European Social Fund+, with a total budget of €88 billion for next 7 years. It will play an important role in the implementation of the action plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights and in countering the socio-economic effects of the pandemic. It integrates the former European Social Fund, the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) and the EU programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) into one fund.

Social Europe

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 partnership between the EU and The Gambia is guided by the principles and objectives found in the Cotonou Agreement, which governs the relationship between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The Agreement covers areas such as political dialogue, trade and development cooperation.

Regular political talks between the EU and The Gambia for sharing information and fostering mutual understanding take place under this Agreement and also under the EU's Treaty of Lisbon. The talks aim to promote economic, cultural and social development in The Gambia with a view to promoting stable and democratic political development.

EU - The Gambia

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

Between 1991 and 2017, and especially after 2000, the EU witnessed substantial improvements in terms of road safety, whether measured in terms of fatalities, accidents or injuries.&nbsp; Over a shorter period, between 2001 and 2010, the number of deaths on EU roads decreased by 43 %, and by around another 20 % since 2010.The most recent figures, however, show that progress in reducing the fatality rate is stagnating.

Specific road users or demographic groups are not witnessing the same improvements as the rest of the population.&nbsp;Despite being the safest region in the world, and despite sustained efforts to tackle road safety,&nbsp;around 22 700 people die on EU roads annually, with around 120 000 seriously injured.&nbsp;

Road safety is a shared competence, implying that many measures are primarily dealt with by Member States. However, the EU, has&nbsp;significantly developed the acquis in this area, with the Commission adopting several policy frameworks on road safety.

In 2003, the EU set itself a target in terms of reducing road fatalities, and regularly monitors progress towards this goal. In June 2017, the Council endorsed the Valletta Declaration, which reasserted commitments and targets in the area of road safety. In May 2018, within the context of the third and last 'mobility package', the Commission presented a common framework for road safety for the 2021-2030 period, recalling the EU’s long-term goal of moving as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050 ('Vision Zero').

The European Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions regarding or covering road safety, calling notably for more detailed and measurable targets, more account taken of vulnerable users as well as of the safety challenges emerging from the development of connected and automated mobility.

Road safety

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

The work of CONT committee&nbsp;involves controlling and monitoring the correct, targeted use of the budget (some EUR 166 billion in 2019). The main responsibility for budget management lies with the European Commission, which distributes the lion's share of the funds. Some 80% of the money goes to the Member States, around 13% is invested around the world, and roughly 7% is spent on administration.

The Committee on Budgetary Control is supported in its work by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in Luxembourg. The remit also covers the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). CONT is also involved in all legislative procedures concerning issues relating to the proper management of the budget and the safeguarding of the EU's financial interests. The Committee is also committed to having a robust European Public Prosecutor's Office.

CONT - Committee on Budgetary Control

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million in Europe, some 6 million live in the EU, and most of them are citizens of an EU country. &nbsp;The estimated share of the Roma in EU countries in 2012 ranges from 10.3% in Bulgaria, 9.1% in Slovakia, 8.3% in Romania, 7% in Hungary, 2.5% in Greece, 2% in Czechia and 1.6% in Spain, to less than 1% in most of the other countries.

Excessive force, police brutality and misconduct against Romani people continue to be reported across the EU, in line with the&nbsp;2020 findings&nbsp;of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

The FRA report also revealed that Romani people are subject to widespread poverty, inadequate living conditions, poor health, exclusion from the labour market and harassment.&nbsp;

Romani people in the EU

In September 2018, the Article 7(1) TEU procedure was triggered. In this case, the European Parliament voted a resolution calling the Council to determine the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values in relation to Hungary. This resolution was preceded by numerous others adopted by the Parliament between March 2011 and May 2017, and it made reference to concerns related mainly to judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees in Hungary.

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights (DRF). Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctions) to enforce EU values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them.

See also the previous <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/rule-of-law-in-hungary-8th-parliamentary-term_5702_pk">package</a> on the rule of law in Hungary.

Rule of law in Hungary (2019-2020)

MEPs discuss and vote on Wednesday on ten new bills updating the EU asylum and migration rules, emphasising cooperation and mandatory but flexible solidarity. 

Plenary wraps up this term’s legislative work in the field of migration and asylum with a debate with the Belgian Council Presidency and the Commission on the outcome of negotiations over the Migration and Asylum Pact. The already agreed texts aim to improve cooperation among European states and enhance the EU’s response in case of crises. 

The Pact encompasses a new framework for a comprehensive asylum and migration policy based on solidarity, fair responsibility sharing, and updated rules on criteria and mechanisms to determine the member state responsible for examining an application for international protection (formerly known as the Dublin rules). Member states will be able to choose between relocating asylum applicants to their territory, making financial contributions or providing operational and technical support to member states under migratory pressure. 

There will be specific rules for crisis situations, and the rules on reception standards for asylum applicants will be updated. The amended qualification rules will set uniform standards across the EU to recognise people applying for international protection, as well as their rights. There will be a faster common procedure –including provisions on inadmissible claims and more expedited returns- across the EU to grant and to withdraw international protection, following an initial pre-entry screening and registration of fingerprints and facial images in a common database (Eurodac). Finally, a new EU framework for resettlement will regulate the opportunities for refugees in third countries to come to the EU, based on member states’ voluntary participation

Plenary debate - EU migration and asylum rules

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector are debated by plenary. 

The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved.
New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035.

Member states also have to adopt measures to decarbonise heating systems and phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling with fossil fuel boilers being completely phased e out by 2040.

Plenary Debate - Energy performance of buildings

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

Opening of the sitting

Announcement by the President


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

Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023

Resumption of the sitting

Address by Yulia Navalnaya

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia (debate)

Regaining our competitive edge - a prosperous EU in a fragmented global economy (topical debate)

Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2023 (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations

Report on the Commission’s 2023 Rule of Law report (debate)

Preventing work-related deaths following the Florence tragedy (debate)

Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement (debate)

Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services (debate)

Need for an urgent Council decision in favour of amending the protection status of wolves in the Bern Convention (debate)

Improving the Union’s protection against market manipulation on the wholesale energy market (debate)

European Digital Identity framework (debate)

The extradition and prosecution of Julian Assange and implications on freedom of the press  (debate)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Plenary session

Statements by the President

Verification of credentials

Composition of political groups

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 72)

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

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

Order of business

Energy performance of buildings (recast) (debate)

Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2021 (debate)

Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States (Effort Sharing Regulation) - Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) - Revision of the Market Stability Reserve for the EU Emissions Trading System (debate)

Policy Coherence for Development (short presentation)

The functioning of the EEAS and a stronger EU in the world (debate)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Closure of the sitting

Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System - Social Climate Fund - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation - Notification under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States (Effort Sharing Regulation) - Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) - CO2 emission standards for cars and vans

Corrigendum (Rule 241)(action taken)

The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF) (debate)

The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (debate)

Security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy (debate)

Resumption of the session 

Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings : see Minutes

Composition of political groups 

Composition of committees and delegations 

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

Order of business 

Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU

Disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches (debate)

The European Education Area: a shared holistic approach

An intellectual property action plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience (short presentation)

One-minute speeches (Rule 172)

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting 

Religion and Human Rights within the EU: A shared responsibility

EYE 2018 - What ever happened to equality: A fair share in the age of globalisation

UNKN

Long-term shareholder engagement and corporate governance statement (debate)

Improving data sharing and the use of European information systems and databases in the fight against serious transnational crime and terrorism (debate)

Long-term shareholder engagement and corporate governance statement

Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization in the Union (debate)

Risk sharing instruments for Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (debate)

Subscription to additional shares in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (debate)

Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment (short presentation)

Shared effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (debate)

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - EU2040 climate target

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Gas emissions

Press conference rapporteur on CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles

EP Plenary session - Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles

EP Plenary session - Union certification framework for carbon removals

IMCO -  Vote on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

CONT Committee - Possibilities to increase the reliability of audits and controls by national authorities in shared management

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

TRAN Committee - Presentation by the EC on the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

Conference ' From so far to SO-CLOSE: sharing the cultural heritage of forced migrations '

EMPL Committee - The Uber files, lobbying and workers’ rights

Working conditions of platform economy workers

EP Plenary session - The European Education Area: a shared holistic approach

Religion and Human Rights within the EU : A Shared Responsibility

Food delivery staff

TRAN Committee meeting - Exchange of view with EC Director-General DG MOVE

Ylenia is a dedicated student of European studies in Malta who was born on the 1st of May 2004. On that same day, Malta joined the European Union. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. In this news item young Ylenia shares her testimony on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Malta

Ema and Lejla are young Slovenians that were born in May 2004. The same month Slovenia joined the European Union. Along with their daily life, sporting, and studying they share testimonies on the feelings about this historical event and the EU in this news item. Meanwhile, Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Slovenia

Veronika is a communicative and active young student of bilingual gymnasium from Slovakia. She was born on the 1st of May 2004, which is the same day the country she is from joined the European Union. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. This news item shows young Veronika studying in Slovakia, spending time with her friends and sharing her testimony on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Slovakia

Maciej and Aleksandra are young people and students from Poland that were born in May 2004. In the same month, Poland joined the European Union. In this news item both Maciej and Aleksandra shows their daily student life and share personal testimonies on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement as well. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union - Poland

Every five years, EU citizens elect their representatives to the European Parliament, the directly-elected body that advocates for their interests in EU decision-making. The TV advertising spot for the European Elections 2024 compiles experiences and testimonies from EU citizens of various generations, grandparents and grandchildren, sharing their perspectives on European democracy to emphasize the significance of voting.

Interviews with the cast of the TV advertising spot for the European Elections 2024

This infoclip is a part of the series of videos "How does the European Parliament work? (2019-2024)", illustrating the powers of the European Parliament by focusing on budgetary and co-decision procedures. The Parliament acts as a co-legislator, sharing with the Council, the power to adopt and amend legislative proposals and to decide on the EU budget. During the 2019 - 2024 parliamentary term, unexpected crises influenced the Union. In 2021, Parliament approved the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the biggest building block of the Next Generation EU recovery package designed to help EU countries tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the Parliament approved the first-ever revision of the EU's long-term budget, establishing predictable and stable financial support for Ukraine. This info clip illustrates how the EU budget is used and how the Parliament engages with other EU institutions.

How does the European Parliament work? (2019-2024) - Powers of the European Parliament: budget and co-decision procedures

Parliament gives its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules ensure responsibility sharing among Member States in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life, Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR), Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES), Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE), Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI), and Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteurs

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: Closing statements by Rapporteurs and Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

Parliament gives its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules ensure responsibility sharing among Member States in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. Second part of MEPs debate.

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: MEPs debate (part 2)

Parliament gives its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules ensure responsibility sharing among Member States in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. First part of MEPs debate.

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: MEPs debate (part 1)

Parliament gives its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules ensure responsibility sharing among Member States in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. Opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR), Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES), Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE), Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI), Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteurs, and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: Opening statements by Rapporteurs

The European Parliament give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This news item includes extracts from debate, from the final votes, and from press point with the EU Council Presidency, and the Presidents of the European Parliament and Commission.

Migration and Asylum package: extracts from the debate, from the votes and from the press point

Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), rapporteur for the Asylum and migration management regulation, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur for the Crisis and force majeure regulation, Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur for the Screening regulation, and Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE), rapporteur for the Union resettlement framework speak to the press on Migration Pact files. Parliament is set to give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs will review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE) and Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE) rapporteurs on Migration Pact files

Sophie IN ’T VELD (RE, NL), rapporteur for the Reception conditions directive, Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), rapporteur for the Asylum procedure regulation, Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI), rapporteur for the Qualification regulation, and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES), rapporteur for Eurodac speak to the press on Migration Pact files. On Wednesday, Parliament is set to give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs will review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Sophie IN ’T VELD (RE, NL), Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI) and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES) rapporteurs on Migration Pact files

EP Plenary session - Voting session, including the resolution regarding the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries, the resolution regarding the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women, and the resolution about the adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023. It also includes the vote on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, the subscription by the European Union to additional shares in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and amending the Agreement establishing the EBRD, financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, the return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia, the creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children and the ohesion policy 2014-2020 – implementation and outcomes in the Member States

EP Plenary session - Voting session, including the resolutions about Gaza, Afghanistan and Tunisia

MEPs debate on the following topics: The subscription by the EU to additional shares in the capital of the EBRD; Regulation (EU) No 2022/869 of the EP and of the Council; Industrial Emissions Directive; Industrial Emissions Portal; Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures; Amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating; Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area; Amending certain financial services and investment; Energy performance of buildings; Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; Green Claims Directive; Liability for defective products; Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products; European Maritime Safety Agency; Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention; and Extending Rule 168 of EP's rules.

Voting session, including the final vote on the Energy performance of buildings Directive

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. Closing statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur.

Energy performance of buildings: Closing statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035. Second part of MEPs debate.

Energy performance of buildings: MEPs debate (part 2)

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. First part of MEPs debate.

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EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services