The European Disability Card and the European Parking Card are initiatives aimed at tackling the obstacles encountered by people with disabilities while travelling in EU countries other than their own. Designed to provide holders with recognised proof of their disability status, these cards streamline access to services, promote free movement and support equal rights within the EU.

European Disability Card

Families in the European Union (EU) are increasingly likely to move and travel between the EU Member States. Yet, given the differences in Member States' laws, parents can face difficulties in having their parenthood recognised when crossing borders within the EU. Non‑recognition in one Member State of parenthood established in another Member State can have significant adverse consequences for children and their parents who are moving to another Member State or returning to their Member State of origin.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Recognition of parenthood between EU countries

By 2050, an estimated two thirds of the world population will live in urban areas. Could vertical farming help feed this growing urban population sustainably by reducing the demand for agricultural land and shortening the travel distance between food production and consumption?

EPRS podcast - STOA: What if we grew plants vertically

The coronavirus pandemic has made it very difficult for any of us to make air travel plans without risking disappointment. If your flights have been cancelled, don’t despair, the EU can help.

This is what Europe does for air passengers affected by the coronavirus crisis

The spread of the coronavirus has hit tourism operators particularly hard. On top of the sharp decline in bookings, travel restrictions and airport closures have left some companies fighting for survival. Here are just some of the things the EU is doing to help:

This is what Europe is doing to help tourism operators facing the coronavirus crisis

It was 1989. Andrea was seven years old and lived in Forte dei Marmi on Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast. He was beginning to discover the world. Together with his family, they travelled around Italy and Europe – from East to West and from North to South – and saw the reality of borders. And then, one day in November 1989, the way they looked at Europe changed completely. As day turned to night, Europe reached a turning point. Hundreds of stories, documents, photos and videos published by people from all over Europe. This is ‘My History’, a collaborative project of the European Parliament, where history and the lives of European citizens coincide. We kindly thank Rai Direzione Teche for granting the use of their audio material.

‘We are all stars under the same sky’: how the fall of the Berlin Wall shaped a young man’s vision of Europe

Are you a keen traveller? If so, you should know that the EU helps to make your travels abroad simple and safe. Here is how:

This is what Europe does for EU citizens travelling outside the EU

Photographers in the European Union benefit not only by being able to travel easily around Europe and broaden their horizons but in other ways too.

This is what Europe does for photographers

One in six Europeans suffers from a disability and the number of those who need special assistance is growing. Air transport has become indispensable and the EU is committed to achieving better mobility in airports and on planes for those with disabilities and reduced mobility

This is what Europe does to help disabled air travellers

You probably use satellite navigation systems to find your way around in the street or in the car. The EU makes it easier to move across its internal borders during your travels. Here is how.

This is what Europe does for users of satellite navigation systems

Do you live in a peripheral or underserved region? Then you might be interested in how the EU is linking regions like yours up to the air travel network.

This is what Europe does for air travellers to and from peripheral and underserved regions

Wildlife, expansive landscapes and, increasingly, its beaches draw many travellers to Africa. You might find it interesting to learn what the EU does for those traveling there.

This is what Europe does for travellers to Africa

Do you live near an internal EU border? If so, you’re among the 150 million people who do. The Union is putting in place measures to make travelling across borders a breeze. Here are three of them.

This is what Europe does for people living in border regions

In an age where information travels fast, online disinformation is a big concern. By co-funding the InVID project, a platform to assess the reliability of videos and other files spread by social media, the EU hopes to make this task easier. This is how.

This is what Europe does for fact-checkers

Are you planning to visit the US or Canada? Here’s how the EU ensures your journey will be safe and easy.

This is what Europe does for travellers to North America

From the Caribbean to Patagonia, Latin America is popular among European tourists. You’ll be pleased to hear there are various EU development programmes which allow you to make the most of your travels to the southern hemisphere. Let’s discover three.

This is what Europe does for travellers to Latin America

If you have a disability or reduced mobility, you’ll be happy to hear that the EU ensures you have the same right to free movement and non-discrimination as all other citizens. Here’s how this works for rail travel.

This is what Europe does for train passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility

Are you 18 years old? Fancy the chance to travel across Europe for free? Then here’s some good news: in 2018, the European Union (EU) launched the DiscoverEU travel pass programme. In the first round, more than 100 000 people applied. The 15 000 successful applicants were given a free travel pass. How does it work?

This is what Europe does for 18-year-olds who want to travel

Diplomatic relations between the EU and the U.S. date back to 1953. Many important questions between EU and the U.S. are being discussed at the moment, such as withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the need to strenghten EU's strategic autonomy and defence capabilities or economic cooperation.

In a resolution on future EU-US relations adopted in the plenary in October, MEPs advocate the EU’s strategic autonomy and call for better EU-US coordination on China to avoid tensions. MEPs welcome the US’s support for rules-based multilateralism, as this provides an important opportunity to re-engage, as an equal partner.

The report stresses that, in deepening transatlantic cooperation, the EU should strive to lead alongside the US, while fostering its strategic autonomy in defence and economic relations as a means to pursue its own legitimate diplomatic, security and economic interests. MEPs also called for reflection on the lessons learnt from the situation in Afghanistan.

A new EU-US agenda for global change adopted by the Commission in December 2020 identified scope for cooperation on the pandemic,the climate, trade,security and democracy.

But progress in some areas has been slow: a US travel ban on foreign visitors was lifted only on 20 September 2021, months after the EU eased restrictions on US travellers; tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on EU steel and aluminium exports on national security grounds remain in place; and talks on a new cross-border data agreement have not yet concluded. Moreover, the US has appeared not to consult the EU on major foreign policy decisions: such as support for a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The exodus of NATO forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 also drew criticism from some European US allies.

EU - USA

Since the beginning of the pandemic COVID-19, the EU has developed a wide range of health policy responses, exemplified by the common approach to vaccines through the EU Vaccines Strategy and initiatives across a range of other policies.

A common approach to assessing infection rates in different regions made testing and quarantining much more consistent. EU Digital COVID Certificates were agreed on and implemented in record time, paving the way for the safe resumption of tourism and travel during summer, and beyond.

At the same time, the EU took decisive action to tackle the economic fallout of the pandemic with funds and special economic aid for&nbsp;Member states, entreprises and citizens.

The EU Health Union is underway with&nbsp;reinforcing the mandates of the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, addressing cross-border threats to health and creating a future-proof EU pharmaceutical policy. MEPs obtained better support for the EU4Health programme in the 2022 EU budget, with an additional €51 million to build up a strong Health Union and to make national health systems more resilient.

Effective coordination of national measures as well as solidarity among member states together with the importance of&nbsp;making national health systems more sustainable and resilient are the main challenges of the EU, learned from&nbsp;the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

EU's response to COVID-19

The EU's passport-free travel space, known as the Schengen area, is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration. The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project.

The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).

Free movement of persons enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without special formalities. Schengen underpins this freedom by enabling citizens to move around the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks.

Currently, all EU member states except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are part of the Schengen area. MEPs have called for Bulgaria and Romania to be fully admitted into Schengen on multiple occasions,

Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

During&nbsp;the pandemics and in order to slow down the spread of the virus some temporary travel restrictions were&nbsp;necessary to establish in the EU.

Schengen area

Raif Badawi is a Saudi writer, dissident and activist, and creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals, He has been awarded the laureate of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2015

Badawi was arrested in 2012 on a charge of "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and brought to court on several charges, including apostasy. In 2013, he was convicted on several charges and sentenced to seven years in prison, torture and 600 lashes. In 2014 his sentence was increased to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine.

On 11 March 2022, his family had reported that he had been released from prison after 10 years.&nbsp;However, he is still subject to a 10-year-travel ban.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.&nbsp;

Raif Badawi, Sakharov Prize laureate 2015

Europe is faced with a significant influx of migrants: hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from war and poverty are travelling to Europe in search of safety and a better life. 

The increase in migration to Europe requires a response from the EU on a number of levels. Firstly, policies to handle regular and irregular immigration, and secondly, common EU-wide rules on asylum. The migrant crisis of late has also resulted in a need for additional measures and reforms to ensure border security as well as a fairer distribution of asylum seekers among EU countries.

Migration - 8th Parliamentary term

The free movement of persons is a fundamental right guaranteed by the EU to its citizens. It entitles every EU citizen to travel, work and live in any EU country without special formalities.

Schengen cooperation enhances this freedom by enabling citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks. The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, as well as to many non-EU nationals, businessmen, tourists or other persons legally present on the EU territory.

Future of Schengen - 8th parliamentary term

Pakistani campaigner for girls' education Malala Yousafzai has been awarded the laureate of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2013, following the decision of the Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) on 13th October 2013. She was invited to receive the award at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 20 November 2013.

Ms Yousafzai was a student from the town of Mingora in Swat District, Pakistan, known for her women's rights activism in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban regime has banned girls from attending school.

On October 9, 2012, on her way home from school, a gunman fired at her, hitting Malala on the left side of her head; the bullet then traveled down her neck. She survived. Malala continued to speak out about her rights, and the rights of all women, to an education.

 
In 2014, she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala Yousafzai, Sakharov Prize laureate 2013

Observing Election Day is one of the principal ways the European Parliament supports democracy.

Because MEPs are the EU's only directly elected representatives, their contribution is essential. With personal experience of campaigns, issues of financing and the work of representing citizens, MEPs bring political legitimacy to observation missions.

Over more than three decades, the European Parliament has observed several hundred elections. Every year, MEPs travel to as many as a dozen countries across the world.
Observing Election Day is one of the principal ways the European Parliament supports democracy.

Election Observation Missions

Thanks to the Roaming Regulation roaming charges ended on 15 June 2017. Europeans travelling within the EU only pay domestic prices for calls, SMS and data. The scheme was due to expire on 30 June 2022.
The EU will renew the “Roam Like At Home” scheme for another ten years, under plans adopted by Parliament during March mini-session.
The legislation, a follow-up to the 2017 elimination of roaming surcharges and agreed between Parliament and Council in December means consumers will continue to be able to use their mobile phones when travelling abroad in the EU with no additional fees on top of what they already pay at home. In addition, they will enjoy the same quality and speed of mobile connection abroad as at home. Roaming providers will be obliged to offer the same roaming quality to that provided domestically, if the same conditions are available on the network of the visiting country. In negotiations with Council, MEPs secured a provision in the new rules to prohibit practices that reduce the quality of roaming services (e.g. by switching the connection from 4G to 3G).

Roaming

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

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

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

20th Anniversary of the Euro

From the 1st of July 2021, Slovenia is holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. However, the country&nbsp;has also been the subject of discussions about the “rule of law” within the EU, a concept referring to respect for due process, plurality in politics and media and the upholding of civic freedoms such as free speech.

In its last 2021 Rule of Law report the EC mentioned that the situation of media in the country has been deteriorating.&nbsp;Online harassment of and threats against journalists are a growing source of concern, and several lawsuits against journalists with intimidating effects have been reported as well as&nbsp;instances of political interference in media.

Attacks on media&nbsp;have been criticized by international, European and national journalists and editors associations. The European Commission intervened various times to express its concerns.

A delegation of the Civil Liberties Committee travelled&nbsp;to&nbsp;Slovenia between 13 and 15 October to&nbsp;take stock of the latest developments in the country as regards the situation of the rule of law, media freedom and the fight against corruption including the question of Slovenian delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutors Office.

Their agenda included&nbsp;exchanges with: NGOs; the Human Rights Ombudsman; academics; journalists and press freedom organisations;the Supreme State Prosecutor and former president of the Association of Public Prosecutors of Slovenia; the Data Protection Commissioner; officials of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Culture; representatives from the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption; members of the National Assembly; the President of the National Council; and the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors.

At the end of the mission, Sophie in ‘t Veld, the Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee delegation, said: "“We observed that the public institutions overall work well. At the same time, the delegation experienced a climate of hostility, distrust and deep polarisation in the country, which erodes trust in and between various public bodies."

Rule of law in Slovenia

The country was the first Western Balkan nation to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, which entered into force in April 2004.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was granted candidate country status for EU membership in December 2005. In February 2008, the EU adopted the Accession Partnership for the country, which updated the previous European Partnership agreement of January 2006. Citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen area in December 2009.

In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece resolved the conflict with an agreement that the country should rename itself Republic of North Macedonia. This renaming came into effect in February 2019.

EU - North Macedonia (2019-2020)

Greta THUNBERG, climate activist from Sweden, came to prominence for starting the school strikes for climate in November 2018.

Her protests grew and other strikes started around the world. The hashtag #FridaysForFuture went viral. By December 2018, thousands of students around the world had joined her in several countries. She joined strikes around Europe, choosing to travel by train to limit her impact on the environment.

On 16 April 2019, Greta THUNBERG came for the first time to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Visit by Greta THUNBERG, young climate activist, to the EP

The European Union and Georgia enjoy a very close and positive relationship.

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration between the EU and Georgia. The EU and Georgia have also entered into a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), while Georgian citizens have benefitted from visa free travel to the Schengen area since 28 March 2017.

Georgia is an important partner for the European Union both within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its eastern dimension under the Eastern Partnership (EaP).

EU - Georgia (2019-2020)

On 16 December 2021, EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss COVID-19, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence and external relations.

The European Council discussed the current epidemiological situation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of a new variant. In this regard, EU leaders discussed continued coordinated efforts to respond to the developments, keeping in mind that any restrictions should not undermine the functioning of the single market or hamper travel between EU member states and to Europe.

The European Council also touched upon the importance of vaccination in the fight against the pandemic, including the importance of rolling out vaccines to all and to deploy booster doses.

Participants exchanged views on how best to tackle vaccine hesitancy and disinformation, and on the effectiveness of various measures and strategies in this respect.

Leaders also discussed the situation at the EU’s border with Belarus and Russia's military build-up at the border with Ukraine.

European Council, 16 December 2021

European measures for consumer protection are intended to protect the health and safety and economic and legal interests of European consumers, wherever they live, travel or shop in the EU.

EU provisions regulate both physical transactions and e-commerce, and contain rules of general applicability together with provisions targeting specific products, including medicines, genetically modified organisms, tobacco products, cosmetics, toys and explosives.

Consumer protection (2019-2020)

IMCO public hearing on ' Performance of the Package Travel Directive and Consumer Protection '

Opening of the sitting

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

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

EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (debate)

First voting session (continuation)

EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (continuation of debate)

Resumption of the sitting

One youth, one Europe

The Rule of Law and the consequences of the ECJ ruling (debate)

Announcement of voting results

The Rule of Law and the consequences of the ECJ ruling (continuation of debate)

The EU priorities for the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate)

Second voting session

The EU priorities for the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (continuation of debate)

Harmonised EU approach to travel measures (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations

Charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS): Europol tasks (debate)

Travel restrictions following US President executive orders (debate)

Travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals (debate)

Package travel and linked travel arrangements (debate)

Package travel and assisted travel arrangements (debate)

Visa-free travel to Canada for all EU citizens and the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (debate)

Transatlantic relations: USA travel fee (debate)

Rights of passengers in bus and coach transport - Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway (debate)

Revision of the Package Travel Directive (debate)

Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway - Rights of passengers in bus and coach transport (debate)

Security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents (debate)

TRAN Committee- Public Hearing on ‘Delivering multimodal ticketing for smarter travel’

EP Plenary session - Harmonised EU approach to travel measures

EU Digital COVID certificate

Press Webinar - The return to free movement - The EU Green Digital Certificate

Stockshot picture showing what could be a COVID-19 Green Certificate for traveling

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with stakeholders from Travel & Tourism globally and in Europe

Travel agency of the EP

Plenary session - European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

Ocean Plastics Lab. Travelling exhibition

Illustration Plane and Airport

Jussi HALLA-AHO in plenary session week 37 2016 in Strasbourg.  ' Travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals '

SCHMIT, Nicolas - Luxembourg Minister for Labour and Social Economy; SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE) - EP President; LA VIA, Giovanni (EPP, IT); GRZYB, Andrzej (EPP, PL)

LEX Signing  ITRE Measures concerning the European single market for electronic communications and to achieve a Connected Continent, and amending Directives 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC and 2002/22/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1211/2009 and (EU) No 531/2012. ITRE Programme on interoperability solutions for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2) Interoperability as a means for modernising the public sector.  ENVI Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods.  IMCO Package travel and assisted travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004, Directive 2011/83/EU and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC.   LIBE EU agency for law enforcement training (Cepol), repealing and replacing the Council Decision 2005/681/JHA.   AGRI fixing of the maximum level of erucic acid in oils and fats and Council Regulation (EC) No 320/2006 establishing a temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry

TRAN committee's tourism task force and the European travel commission, roundtable discussion on the Visa Package

Plenary session in Strasbourg - Week 44  2015 - Package travel and linked travel arrangements

Official visit of the President of the European Parliament to China

Martin SCHULZ President of the European Parliament travelling by high speed train from Beijing to Tianjin for a meeting with SAN Guojun during an official visit to China.

Plenary session week 6 2014 - Promoting free movement by simplifying the acceptance of certain public documents

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. Opening statements by Lucia ĎURIŠ NICHOLSONOVÁ (Renew, SK), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Alice KUHNKE (Greens/EFA, SE), Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint Debate - Disability cards: Opening statements by Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. MEPs debate

Joint Debate - Disability cards: MEPs debate

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Lucia ĎURIŠ NICHOLSONOVÁ (Renew, SK), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Alice KUHNKE (Greens/EFA, SE), Rapporteurs

Joint Debate - Disability cards: Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Lucia ĎURIŠ NICHOLSONOVÁ (Renew, SK), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Alice KUHNKE (Greens/EFA, SE), Rapporteurs

As a European Union citizen, you are free to live, work and travel across 27 EU countries. The EU supports the economy and protects your rights, ensuring fairer workplaces, safer products and a clean environment.   
   
The EU promotes values like equality, peace and democracy at home and abroad.    
   
Find out more about the benefits the EU brings.

The benefits of the European Union -16:9 EE24

The benefits of the European Union - 4-5 -EE24

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visits Israel to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership. She travels with Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President. President Metsola visits Kibbutz Re'im, close to Gaza, where Hamas killed several hundreds of people during a music festival.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel: visit in Kibbutz Re'im

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visits Israel to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership. She travels with Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President. After landing in Tel Aviv, both Presidents are being briefed by the National Rescue Unit in Kfar Azza, closest kibbutz to the border with Gaza.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel: visit and briefing by the YEZEHA Unit (National Unit in Kfar Azza)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visits Israel to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership. She travels with Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President. Both Presidents meet with Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel to address the situation.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President to Israel: meeting with Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel

MEPs ask the Commission about allegations that Member States are issuing visas in return for bribes in the Schengen area. In a debate with the European Commission, MEPs discuss recent allegations that Polish overseas consulates are accepting bribes in return for issuing Schengen visas, and their impact on the EU’s common visa policy and the Schengen free-travel area. Closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

Commission statement - Corrupt large scale sale of Schengen visas: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

MEPs ask the Commission about allegations that Member States are issuing visas in return for bribes in the Schengen area. In a debate with the European Commission, MEPs discuss recent allegations that Polish overseas consulates are accepting bribes in return for issuing Schengen visas, and their impact on the EU’s common visa policy and the Schengen free-travel area. Second part of the debate.

Commission statement - Corrupt large scale sale of Schengen visas: MEP's debate (part 2)

MEPs ask the Commission about allegations that Member States are issuing visas in return for bribes in the Schengen area. In a debate with the European Commission, MEPs discuss recent allegations that Polish overseas consulates are accepting bribes in return for issuing Schengen visas, and their impact on the EU’s common visa policy and the Schengen free-travel area. First part of the debate.

Commission statement - Corrupt large scale sale of Schengen visas: MEP's debate (part 1)

MEPs ask the Commission about allegations that Member States are issuing visas in return for bribes in the Schengen area. In a debate with the European Commission, MEPs discuss recent allegations that Polish overseas consulates are accepting bribes in return for issuing Schengen visas, and their impact on the EU’s common visa policy and the Schengen free-travel area. Opening statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Commission statement - Corrupt large scale sale of Schengen visas: opening statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

The benefits of the European Union

The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is a temporary instrument that is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU funds - the EU’s plan to emerge stronger and more resilient from the current crisis. Denmark has has received 1.551 million euros from these funds. Out of these, 26.8 million euros will be invested in the conversion of municipal ferries into electric ferries. This will allow cleaner travel among the Danish islands and a considerable reduction in the local CO2-emissions.This infoclip illustrates an example of an electric ferry bus currently operating in central Copenhagen and the Agersø Omø ferries that are to be become electric by 2030.

Infoclip: Electric ferries - Recovery and Resilience Facility - Copenhagen (Denmark)

This infoclip illustrates the extension of tramway line no. 41 in Bucharest (Romania), thanks to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Twelve new, 36 m long, modern trams were purchased, leading to lowering the travel times for commuters, raising the average speed of local public transport during rush hours and transferring a part of private car transport to the public transport sector. The total amount awarded to Romania through ERDF was 363.97 million euros, out of which 25.3 million were used for the acquisition of the trams.

Infoclip: Extension of tramway - European Regional Development Fund - Bucharest (Romania)

MEPs debate the decision by the Council to not extend the travel-free Schengen area to Romania and Bulgaria. Extracts from the debate in plenary.

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: extracts from the debate

Plenary back Croatia’s Schengen accession. MEPs agree that the country already fulfils the necessary conditions to join the free-travel zone, and the Council must now take a unanimous decision to lift the remaining border controls between the Schengen area and Croatia. Extracts from the debate in the plenary.

Council decision on Schengen acquis in Croatia: extracts from the debate and the vote

MEPs vote on Specific provisions for the 2014-2020 cooperation programmes supported by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and under the European territorial cooperation goal, following programme implementation disruption - Michael GAHLER (EPP,DE), Proposal for a Decision on the non-recognition of Russian travel documents issued in occupied foreign regions, Motions for resolutions - The Rule of Law in Malta, five years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Motion for resolutions - Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia, Motions for resolutions - UN Climate Change Conference 2022 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27), Motions for resolutions - Cultural solidarity with Ukraine and a joint emergency response mechanism for cultural recovery in Europe and Motions for resolutions - The situation in Burkina Faso following the coup d’état (Debate: 04/10/2022).

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