On the fifth of June, we celebrate World Environment Day. Over the past five decades, that day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day. Tens of millions of people take part, along with governments, companies, cities and community organisations. This year the host is Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands, and they will focus on solutions to counter plastic pollution with the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.

World Environment Day 2023 - English

We are proud to invite you to listen to a Transpoesie literary event. In this podcast, you will hear Slovenian poet, essayist, composer, and recipient of the title Dame of Poetry Nina Dragičević performing in the company of poets Pelumi Adejumo (Netherlands), Ondře Macl (Czech Republic), Else Tölli (Finland) and Sara Herrera Peralta (Spain). They invite us to a poetic journey and discuss about the future of living. The event was recorded on the 23st of September 2021 by Europarl Audio.

Transpoésie - Festival opening night

‘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

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

The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union.
The Netherlands is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

The Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch. There are 26 members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands.

EU - Netherlands

Environment Committee MEPs assessed&nbsp;the skills, experience and suitability of Commissioner-designate for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra on 2 October. He is set to replace Frans Timmermans, who resigned on 22 August to run as a candidate in the forthcoming general elections in the Netherlands.

During his&nbsp;introductory speech, Mr Hoekstra stressed that the Green Deal lays the foundation for the EU’s green transition and underlined that it is of utmost importance to maintain continuity in the EU’s climate ambitions. He hopes to ensure this by swiftly concluding pending climate negotiations and by proposing an ambitious climate target for 2040 in the first quarter of 2024, he said. Mr Hoekstra emphasised that the EU “cannot reach climate neutrality alone”. Global cooperation and climate finance are key during the upcoming UN climate change conference&nbsp;COP28, he stressed, vowing to work “non-stop for success in Dubai”.

He underlined that building a global “Loss and Damage coalition” is crucial to raise finance for developing countries and build trust. Finally, Mr Hoekstra stressed the importance of phasing out fossil fuels, as well as fossil fuels subsidies. “The sooner fossil fuels become history, the better”, he said, as they are “counterproductive for the EU’s energy transition”.

Based on the committee’s recommendations and the assessment by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the Conference of Presidents will conduct the final evaluation and decide whether to close the hearing process and hold a plenary vote.

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA 2023

LUX – The European Audience Film Award is presented every year by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas. A symbol of the European Parliament’s commitment to culture, the Lux award continues to build cultural bridges across Europe, by putting the spotlight on films that go to the heart of the European public debate.

The award aims to strengthen ties between politics and citizens, by inviting European audiences to become active protagonists and cast their vote for their favourite films.

Close” by Belgian director Lukas Dhont won the 2023 LUX European Audience Film Award on Tuesday, in a ceremony in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Brussels. The film, co-produced by Belgium, France and Netherlands, tells the story of an intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi. When their friendship is suddenly disrupted, Leo approaches Sophie, Remi’s mother, struggling to understand what has happened. “Close” is a film about friendship and responsibility.

The other four films shortlisted for the award were:&nbsp;“Alcarràs”&nbsp;by Spanish director Carla Simón,&nbsp;“Burning Days”&nbsp;by Turkish director Emin Alper,&nbsp;“Will-o'-the-Wisp”&nbsp;by Portugese director João Pedro Rodrigues and&nbsp;“Triangle of Sadness”&nbsp;by Swedish director Ruben Östlund.

Lux award 2023

The Schuman Declaration was presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950.

It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and steel production.
The ECSC (founding members: France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of a series of supranational European institutions that would ultimately become today's "European Union".
On 9 May 1950, the Salon de l’Horloge in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on Quai d’Orsay in Paris was transformed into a press room and Robert Schuman gave his speech. Since 1985, Europe Day has been celebrated on 9 May every year.

Schuman Declaration - 9 May 1950

The lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Frans Timmermans, 57, was nominated by the members’ congress in Lisbon on 7-8 December 2018.

Frans TIMMERMANS (PvdA, Netherlands) currently serves as First Vice-President of the European Commission. He was first elected to the second chamber of the Dutch Parliament in 1998. From 2007 to 2010 he served as Secretary of State for European Affairs, and from 2012 to 2014 as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mark Rutte’s cabinet. Mr Timmermans holds a degree in French language and literature from Radboud University.

#EUelections2019 - Frans TIMMERMANS, lead candidate for the PES

Henk Jan ORMEL official portrait - 9th Parliamentary term.

EPRS Book Talk - Capitalism Reconnected - Towards a Sustainable, Inclusive and Innovative Market Economy in Europe

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Jan Peter BALKENENDE, Former Dutch Prime minister and Govert BUIJS

Anja HAGA official portrait - 9th Parliamentary term

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with  Wopke HOEKSTRA, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Audience with His Majesty the King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Opening by the Co-Chairs and agenda as proposed by the Executive Board

Health

European democracy

Migration

Values and rights, rule of law and security

Youth, Education and Sport

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary (with Metadata)

Migration - Presentation of the Recommendations by European Citizens’ Panel 4 and related National Panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 5: Migration

Digital transformation - Presentation of the Recommendations by European Citizens’ Panel 1 and related National Panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 4: Digital transformation

Education, culture, youth, and sport - Presentation of the Recommendations by European Citizens’ Panel 1 and related National Panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 1: Youth, education and culture

Press point by Guy VERHOFSTADT, co-Chair of the CoFoE on Conference on the Future of Europe - Panel 4 : "EU in the World / Migration" in Maastricht, Netherlands

Opening and agenda as proposed by the Executive Board

Health – Presentation of the recommendations by the European and national citizens’ panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 4: Health - Presentation of the recommendations by the European and National Citizens' Panels followed by a debate

Climate change and the environment – Presentation of the recommendations by the European and national citizens’ panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 3: Climat Change &  Environement - Presentation of the recommendations by the European and National Citizens' Panels followed by a debate

European democracy – Presentation of the recommendations by the European and national citizens’ panels

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary 2: European Democracy - Presentation of the recommendations by the European and National Citizens' Panels followed by a debate

European Citizens’ Panels - presentation by the Co-Chairs and the representatives from the European Citizens’ Panels followed by discussion

Amendment of the agenda 

Report by the Representatives from National Panels and Events on the National panels and events being held

Report from the European Youth Event

Multilingual Digital Platform - presentation by the Co-Chairs of the interim reports and state of play followed by discussion

Closing of the Conference Plenary meeting

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary

Purpose and expectations of the Conference including European Citizens' Panels, National Panels/events and Multilingual Digital Platform: presentation and general discussion

Calendar of Conference Plenaries, European Citizens’ Panels and European Citizens’ Event, and Co-chairs proposal on the organisation of thematic working groups: presentation and discussion

Inaugural plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe

Debate with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, on the Future of Europe (debate)

Formal sitting - Netherlands

Jan Philipp ALBRECHT, Marju LAURISTIN - LIBE rapporteurs, Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands and Věra Jourová, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality

UNKN

M. SCHULZ - EP President - M. RUTTE - Prime Minister of the Netherlands - and JC. JUNCKER - EC President

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: Noord Holland ICT/Netherlands (A7-0353/2010, Barbara Matera) (vote)

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: Sweden-Volvo; Austria-Steiermark; Netherlands-Heijmans (debate)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Participation in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Bilateral meeting with Mark RUTTE, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Town Hall Discussion with Young Students

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Meeting with Karim KHAN KC, Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Piotr HOFMAŃSKI, President Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague) - Trilateral meeting with Vera BERGKAMP, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Jan Anthonie BRUIJN, President of the Senate

Opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the “Prominent and Promising Women in the EU” exhibition, at the Netherlands Permanent Representation to the EU

"Embrace Ukraine" - charity rally #StrivingTogether: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

REGI mission to the Flood-affected areas in the Netherlands - Round table - Maastricht

REGI mission to the Flood-affected areas in the Netherlands - Exhibition European Heritage Label - Maastricht

REGI mission to the Flood-affected areas in the Netherlands - Working lunch with the King’s Commissioner in Maastricht

REGI mission to the Flood-affected areas in the Netherlands - Meeting with the Mayor of Valkenburg

Conference on the Future of Europe - Panel 4 : EU in the World / Migration in Maastricht, Netherlands

In times of polarised ideas, widespread disinformation and cross border conflicts, how are we protecting the integrity of European institutions and democracy? Researchers and NGOs all over Europe are studying ways to make societies more resilient to crises and to foreign actors trying to interfere in our democratic processes.  

Two such researchers are Julia from the Clingendael Institute for International Relations in the Netherlands and Katarina from the Centre for Democracy & Resilience at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute in Slovakia. They specialise in the Western Balkan states and EU accession countries like Ukraine. 

The European Parliament backs legislation helping promote this kind of research and recognises the importance of independent bodies. Learn more about how Parliament is fighting the threats to EU democracy here: https://europa.eu/!rg6kY7.

Maintaining EU independence and democracy: meet Julia and Katarína EE24

Maintaining EU independence and democracy: meet Julia and Katarína 9:16 EE24

JOEP VAN LIESHOUT (*The Netherlands) presented in the exhibition Art in democracy his work MEDICIJNKASTJE , 1992. Find more information and a pedagogical kit for teachers on our website: https://art-collection.europarl.europa.eu/en/

Art in democracy exhibition

On 29 August 2023, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, decided to propose to the Council and the European Parliament the appointment of Wopke Hoekstra to the post of European Commissioner from The Netherlands, following the resignation of Frans Timmermans. He will be in charge of climate action, under the guidance of the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič. Wopke Hoekstra has been Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2022, and Minister for Finance from 2017 to 2022.

Memoclip: Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner-designate for Climate Action

During her official visit to the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with His Majesty Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Netherlands (The Hague): audience with H. M. Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands

During her official visit to the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister and participates to the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to The Netherlands (The Hague): bilateral meeting with Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister and participation in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

During her official visit in the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister. They hold a joint press point with journalists. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please, check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. During her official visit to The Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, goes to the International Criminal Court (ICC). She meets with Piotr HOFMAŃSKI, President Judge of the ICC and Karim A. A. KHAN KC, ICC Prosecutor.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to The Netherlands (The Hague): meeting with Piotr HOFMAŃSKI, President Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Karim A. A. KHAN KC, ICC Prosecutor

During her official visit to the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with students at Leiden University. She has an open discussion with students about the multiple challenges to peace, security, and democracy in Europe and the world, and the role the European Parliament plays in protecting the rights of European citizens and giving them the voice to shape our common European future.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to The Netherlands (The Hague): extracts from the Town Hall Discussion with Young Students

During her official visit to the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Vera BERGKAMP, Speaker of the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) and Jan Anthonie BRUIJN, President of the Senate (Eerste Kamer) in the Binnenhof in The Hague.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to The Netherlands (The Hague): trilateral meeting with Vera BERGKAMP, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Jan Anthonie BRUIJN, President of the Senate

A Civil Liberties Committee delegation go to Brussels (Belgium) before Calais (France) and Ter Apel (Netherlands) to look into irregular crossings to the UK and the implications for reception facilities. MEPs meet with government officials and agencies in charge of migration policy as well as NGO representative, and they will visit reception facilities. The delegation exchanges with various NGOs active in supporting migrants and refugees, meet with Nicole De Moor, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration and visits a local registration centre.

Asylum and Migration: visit of a Delegation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Delegation to Brussels (Belgium)

What if you could easily get from home to work using two different bikes and a train? What if such a trip was simple and hassle-free? This is already a reality in the Netherlands with train-bike schemes at many railway stations. The European Parliament is calling for the rollout of an EU Cycling Strategy to encourage more people to use this healthy, quiet and carbon neutral mode of transport.

Towards an EU Cycling Strategy

Voting session regarding on the following topics: Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece - Henrike HAHN (Greens/EFA,DE); Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Georgia - Sven MIKSER (S&D,EE); Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) - Markus PIEPER (EPP,DE); Prospects for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine and Implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations - Salima YENBOU (Renew,FR).

Voting session

Active since April 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) has commissioned studies, held hearings with experts, and organised three fact-finding visits (to Israel, Poland and Greece), with more to follow. In a statement, the Committee’s rapporteur Sophie IN'T' VELD (Renew, Netherlands) presents a summary of the draft report, summarising their key findings and providing recommendations for the future. Later, she holds a press conference in the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Draft findings of EP spyware inquiry: statement by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL), rapporteur and atmosphere shots from the press conference

As part of the 'fit for 55' package, the Regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans) raise the contribution of the road transport sector to the EU's climate targets, the proposal sets more ambitious 2030 targets for reducing the CO2 emissions of new cars and vans and allows only zero-emission vehicles from 2035. In the European Parliament, the proposal has been referred to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), with Jan Huitema (Renew, the Netherlands) as rapporteur. The Parliament adopted its position during the June I 2022 plenary session, and the Council adopted its general approach on 29 June 2022. Then the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission starts a trilogue.

Fit for 55 - CO2 emissions for cars and vans trilogue: arrivals, roundtable and atmosphere shots

On 14 July 2021, as part of the 'fit for 55' package, the Commission presented a legislative proposal for a revision of the Regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans). To raise the contribution of the road transport sector to the EU's climate targets, the proposal sets more ambitious 2030 targets for reducing the CO2 emissions of new cars and vans and allows only zero-emission vehicles from 2035. In the European Parliament, the proposal has been referred to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), with Jan Huitema (Renew, the Netherlands) as rapporteur. The Parliament adopted its position during the June I 2022 plenary session, and the Council adopted its general approach on 29 June 2022, and trilogue negotiations commenced on 27 October 2022. This infoclips shows technical inspection of exhaust pipes of vehicules and busy street with lots of cars and vans.

Infoclip: Fit for 55 package - CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to "Embrace Ukraine #StrivingTogether, a charity rally in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on the 21st June 2022. Cultural figures, activits, political leaders and artists gather for the special event. Roberta METSOLA delivers a speech on stage.

This infoclip aims to illustrate the inclusion or non-inclusion of gas and nuclear in the list of environmentally sustainable activities covered by the EU taxonomy. The complementary Taxonomy Delegated Act put forward by the Commission on 9 March 2022 proposes the inclusion of specific nuclear and gas energy activities in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the EU taxonomy. The Taxonomy regulation is part of the Commission’s action plan on financing sustainable growth and aims to boost green investments. The footage shows the arrival of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, household gas consumption in Belgium, and a nuclear plant in Forsmark, Sweden.

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