Since the 2014 hostilities broke out, and especially since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the conflict has not only caused thousands of casualties, a refugee crisis and an economic shock, but it has also done severe harm to the environment.

The environmental impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine

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

The European Parliament launched its revised EU pharmaceutical package in the first quarter of 2023. The fragmentation of EU health research and development, a lack of transparency and a disparity between public investment and clinical output are among the weaknesses identified. Possible solutions include the creation of a large-scale European biomedical infrastructure, and a series of targeted strategies to improve the coordination of EU health research and reprioritise areas of healthcare with unmet therapeutic needs.

Towards a new EU pharmaceutical strategy - English

Covering nearly one third of the land surface of the globe, forests make a wide range of direct and indirect contributions to human well-being. Home to most of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, they also play an essential role in climate change mitigation, removing about a quarter of the CO2 that human activities add to the atmosphere. Worldwide, millions of hectares of forests and other types of vegetation burn every year. Fire dynamics are shaped by a complex set of factors, including human activity and climate.

EPRS policy podcast - Forest fires: Environmental stakes

The European Union has long been committed to protecting the environment and sets an example for the rest of the world. Here are three things the Union does for environmental protection NGOs:

This is what Europe does for environmental protection NGOs

Are you an environmentalist active locally? Here are a few examples of what the EU and its LIFE programme does for you.

This is what Europe does for environmentalists at local level.

Vous avez envie d’étudier à l’étranger? Saviez-vous qu’une grande partie des neuf millions d’étudiants qui ont participé au programme d’échanges de l’Union européenne Erasmus estiment qu’il leur a permis de s’ouvrir à la nouveauté? Ainsi, 40 % des anciens Erasmus, diplôme en poche, s’installent au moins une fois dans un autre pays. Un quart à un tiers des anciens étudiants Erasmus créent une entreprise ou prévoient de le faire. Et les étudiants Erasmus ont deux fois plus de chances de trouver un travail dans l’année qui suit l’obtention de leur diplôme.

Dans ma vie : Étudiants à l’étranger

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on the week from 27th to 31st january 2025. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate.

ENVI - Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Following the lessons learned from the pandemic and as a&nbsp;part of&nbsp;building a European Health Union, the Commission proposed a new health security framework on 11 November 2020. The package includes three pieces of legislation: a&nbsp;stronger role for the European Medicines Agency,&nbsp;extending the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control&nbsp;and a&nbsp;proposal for a regulation on serious cross-border threats to health.

The new legislation aims to strengthen the EU’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and manage communicable diseases outbreaks.The ECDC will cooperate with the European Commission, national authorities, EU bodies and international organisations to ensure their respective activities are consistent and complement each other.&nbsp;

The new rules concerning cross-border threats include improved prevention, preparedness and response planning at EU and national levels. The Commission will be able to formally recognise a public health emergency at EU level, which would trigger stronger intra-EU cooperation and allow for the timely development and stockpiling of medical countermeasures.

EU countries hold primary responsibility for organising and delivering health services and medical care. EU health policy therefore serves to complement national policies, and to ensure health protection in all EU policies.&nbsp; EU policies and actions in public health aim to protect and improve the health of EU citizens, support the modernisation of health infrastructure, improve the efficiency of Europe's health systems.

The Committee for Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety ENVI is Parliament’s main actor on health matters and is responsible for over 10% of Parliament´s total legislative activity.

EU health policy

Virginijus Sinkevičius, born on 4 November 1990 in Vilnius, is a Lithuanian politician. Commissioner-designate for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

After the hearing by the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner-designate

Frans Timmermans, born on 6 May 1961 in Maastricht, is a Dutch politician. Timmermans is Executive Vice-President and Commissioner designate for European Green Deal.

After the hearing by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate

Stella Kyriakides, born on 10 March 1956 in Nicosia, is a Cypriot psychologist and politician.

After the hearing by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Stella KYRIAKIDES, Commissioner-designate, Health

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ was the Third Deputy Spanish Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. She is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President designate, Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

Stéphane Séjourné was a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024, Chair of the Renew Europe Group of the European Parliament in 2021 and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in 2024. He is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive VIce-President designate, Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

Wopke Hoekstra was Dutch Minister for Finance from 2017 to 2022, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023 and European Commissioner for Climate Action and acting Commissioner for Transport in the von der Leyen Commission I. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth

Olivér Várhely was European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement in the von der Leyen Commission I. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designated, Health and Animal Welfare

Hadja Lahbib was Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions since 2022. She is now European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and European Commissioner-designate for Equality, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, Commissioner-designate, Preparedness and Crisis Management

Jessika Roswall was Swedish Minister for EU Affairs since 2022. She is now European Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, Commissioner-designate, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law.

Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide.

Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. They will also be required to reinstate the environment they destroyed and compensate for the damage. Companies can also face fines of up to 5% of their worldwide turnover or 40 million euro.

Background

The new legislation aims to tackle the rising number of environmental crimes in the EU. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world and is one of the main sources of income for organised crime alongside drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

Press conference -  Environmental crime directive

On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell the environmental destruction caused by Russia in its war against Ukraine. 
Russia's war has caused massive air, water, land and soil pollution, as well as significant damage to ecosystems, with the risk of spillover into neighbouring countries. Estimates based on Ukraine's environmental inspections show that Russia's invasion has inflicted roughly €52.4 billion in environmental damage.
Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, causing catastrophic flooding and  submerging thousands of hectares of land, has been condemned by the EU as an act of ‘ecocide’. 

In the debate with EU diplomacy Chief Borrell, MEPs are  set to highlight  the importance of  holding Russia accountable, , with Ukraine having stated its determination to make Russia pay reparations for the environmental damage.

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability

Commissioner and Rapporteur Nicola BEER (Renew, DE), Rapporteur, Anna-Michelle ASIMAKOPOULOU (on behalf of INTA Committee), Jessica POLFJÄRD (on behalf of ENVI Committee), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Miriam LEXMANN (on behalf of AFET Committee) and Franc BOGOVIČ (on behalf of REGI Committee) deliver opening statements and consequent MEPS  debate on the Framework for Ensuring a Secure and Sustainable Supply of Critical Raw Materials in a plenary session in Strasbourg. 

Electric cars, solar panels and smartphones - all of them contain critical raw materials. They are pivotal for the EU’s green and digital transitions, and securing their supply is crucial for the European Union's economic resilience, technological leadership, and strategic autonomy. Since the Russian war against Ukraine and an increasingly aggressive Chinese trade and industrial policy, cobalt, lithium and other raw materials have also become a geopolitical factor.

The Critical Raw Materials Act, informally agreed with Council in November, should make the EU more competitive and sovereign by cutting red tape, promoting innovation along the entire value chain, and supporting SMEs. It also aims to boost research and the development of alternative materials and more environmentally-friendly mining and production methods.The legislation will set up economic incentives and a more stable and secure business framework for mining and recycling projects, with faster and simpler authorisation procedures.

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials

Danish Presidency Ambassador Soren JACOBSEN meets with ENVI Chair Antonio DECARO

ENVI - Trilogue on the CBAM Omnibus

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety EXTRAORDINARY MEETING EXTRAORDINARY ENVI COMMITTEE MEETING

ENVI

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety EXTRAORDINARY MEETING EXTRAORDINARY CJ45 ENVI-IMCO JOINT COMMITTEE PROCEDURE (RULE 59) MEETING

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Ordinary meeting Joint Committee Procedure ENVI and AGRI (CJ14)

AGRI

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Ordinary meeting

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Ordinary meeting CJ37 DEVE-ENVI joint committee procedure (Rule 59)

DEVE

Committee on Security and Defence Ordinary Meeting – Joint Meeting with Members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Members of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health

LIBE

SEDE

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety ORDINARY MEETING

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Extraordinary meeting

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Ordinary meeting Joint committee procedure - ECON-ENVI (CJ36) - Rule 59

ECON

ENVI trilogue - One substance, one assessment package

ENVI PECH DEVE  Delegation the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice

ENVI - Exchange of views with Dr Sharon McGuinness, Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency

JURI - Inter-Parliamentary Committee Meeting - Implementation of the Directive on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law

SEDE .ENVI - Climate and Food Safety and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

ENVI - Exchange of views with Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management, as part of the structured dialogue, including an exchange of views on the EU Preparedness Union Strategy

ENVI Extraordinary meeting - Exchange of views with Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, as part of the structured dialogue

TRAN - Presentation of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report 2025

ECON ENVI - Exchange of views with Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation

ENVI.- Exchange of views with Dr Bernhard Url, Acting Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority

ENVI - Exchange of views with Jessika Roswall, Commissioner responsible for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, as part of the structured dialogue

ENVI - Exchange of views with Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, in particular on the Vision for Agriculture and Food Communication

TRAN - Presentation of the European Aviation Environmental Report 2025

ENVI - Exchange of views with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a clean, just and competitive transition, in particular in view of the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal communication

MEPs vote on the following files: Arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania, Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia, Violations of religious freedom in Tibet, Ninth report on economic and social cohesion, CO2 emission performance standards, The protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus), The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season, The screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Suspending certain parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union, Competition policy – annual report 2024, Banking Union – annual report 2024, Objection (ENVI) Genetically modified soybean, Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market.

Voting session

MEPs suggest urgent measures to alleviate the impact of droughts, such as higher wastewater reuse, increased water savings in the buildings and industrial sectors and enhanced water efficiency in agriculture. Investments in water storage techniques are also critical to sustaining water supplies during dry periods. Closing statements

The European Water Resilience Strategy: closing statements by Thomas BAJADA (S&D, MT), rapporteur, and Jessika ROSWALL, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

MEPs suggest urgent measures to alleviate the impact of droughts, such as higher wastewater reuse, increased water savings in the buildings and industrial sectors and enhanced water efficiency in agriculture. Investments in water storage techniques are also critical to sustaining water supplies during dry periods. Opening statements by Thomas BAJADA (S&D, MT), rapporteur, and Jessika ROSWALL, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The European Water Resilience Strategy: opening statements by Thomas BAJADA (S&D, MT), rapporteur, and Jessika ROSWALL, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

This infoclip shows illustrative footage on water resilience. Announced by the Commission for the second quarter of 2025, the European Water Resilience Strategy aims to address, inter alia, growing water scarcity by improving water management practices, increasing water efficiency and promoting sustainable water use.The European Parliament has taken several initiatives calling for sustainable water policy as strategic priority. Following the public hearing "The way to a European Water Resilience Strategy - an EU Blue Deal" organised in January 2025, ENVI has prepared a report ahead of the upcoming Commission's Strategy. The report aims to deliver a basis for a comprehensive strategy, including binding legislation, and addresses water resilience through six key pillars: water efficiency, pollution mitigation, climate adaptation, funding, digitalisation and innovation, and cross-border cooperation.

Infoclip: Water resilience

MEPs vote on the following topics: JURI Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements; (A10-0029/2025) SMISZEK JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová; (A10-0030/2025) TARCZYNSKI JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron; (A10-0031/2025) FURORE JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wasik; (A10-0032/2025) FURORE JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kaminski; (A10-0039/2025) ZDECHOVSKÝ CONT Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors - Lucian Roma.canu; (A10-0018/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0019/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0020/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0038/2025) IMART INTA Macro-financial assistance to Jordan; (A10-0037/2025) IMART INTA Macro-financial assistance to Egypt; and (A10-0034/2025) LANGE INTA Customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the USA.

BALLARÍN CEREZA IMCO Discontinuation of the European ODR Platform SCHNEIDER ENVI Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application (Vote: 14/11/2024) VRECIONOVÁ AGRI Specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for Member States affected by natural disasters VRECIONOVÁ AGRI Forest reproductive material of the ‘tested’ category NEMEC BUDG Mobilisation of the European Globalisation AdjustmentFund: application EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper - Belgium BUŁA, OMARJEE EMPL/REGI

Voting Session

MEPs outline proposals to improve the protection of EU citizens against exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols, including from electronic cigarettes. In Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission has previously announced its intention to update the current Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments, which dates back to 20019. A revision was needed to extend its scope to certain emerging products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco, due to the rapid market growth and appeal of such products in recent years, especially among young people. The Commission recommends EU countries reduce the risk of second-hand exposure by banning the use of all tobacco products in certain outdoor spaces, such as public playgrounds and amusement parks, areas related to restaurants/cafés, public transportation, healthcare and education establishments, as well as workplaces.

Smoke and aerosol-free environments: Closing statements

Smoke and aerosol-free environments: MEPs debate

Smoke and aerosol-free environments: Opening statements

MEPs vote on the following topics: Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 and Regulation (EU) 2021/1057; AGRI - Specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters; ENVI - Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application; (A10-0012/2024) LALUCQ ECON - Electronic value added tax exemption certificate; (A10-0011/2024) DORFMANN ECON - Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes (Vote: 28/02/2024); and (A10-0013/2024) STREIT BUDG - Amendment of the EIB's Statute.

Voting session part 1

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

Press point by Antonio DECARO (S&D, IT), ENVI Committee Chair, Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), ECON Committee Chair, and by hold a press point after the Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Press point by Antonio DECARO (S&D, IT), ENVI Committee Chair, Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), ECON Committee Chair, Tsvetelina PENKOVA (S&D, BG), ITRE Vice-Chair

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions and answers

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 4 - Invited committees)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 3).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 3)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 2).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 2)

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators)

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