At a glance: the political groups are preparing for the constitutive session of Parliament’s 10th legislative term, MEPs will assess the outcome of the EU summit of 27 June in Strasbourg next week, and the saving rate in the euro area has risen.

News in Brief – 09/07/2024 - English

At a glance: new EU rules on ecodesign for sustainable products; Canada is now part of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme; and what you need to know about consular protection in case of emergency in a third country .

News in Brief – 08/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the newly elected European Parliament will meet from 16 to 19 July in Strasbourg; the EU is working to reduce plastic waste; and the anniversary of the European Customs Union.

News in Brief – 05/07/2024 - English

At a glance: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola presided over the Conference of Presidents meeting; Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid a visit to Ukraine; and the EU and Egypt held an investment conference to team up to mobilise private sector investments

News in Brief – 04/07/2024 - English

At a glance: President Metsola’s visit to Portugal, the EU Youth Strategy survey and a competition for the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe.

News in Brief – 03/07/2024 - English

At a glance: Hungary takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council until the end of the year; Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, is trying to create a new group at the European Parliament and the International Day of Parliamentarism.

News in Brief – 02/07/2024 - English

At a glance: Ursula von der Leyen, EU leaders’ proposed candidate for a second term as President of the European Commission, will meet Parliament’s group leaders to discuss her political programme; the European Council’s strategic agenda for 2024-2029; and the EU security agreement with Ukraine.

News in Brief – 01/07/2024 - English

How does the EU regulate the post term activities of members of the EU institutions, as for example, Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament, as opposed to staff members? The European Ombudsman has looked the phenomenon, also called ‘revolving doors’ in the context of several individual cases; on a few occasions this has ended in an unsatisfactory outcome for the institution or body under investigation and prompted the European Ombudsman to make specific recommendations to avoid a repeat of maladministration in future cases.

EPRS policy podcast - Rules on 'revolving doors' in the EU

On Its first and constituent plenary sitting of the new parliamentary term (16-19 July 2024), the European Parliament will elect its 32nd President, to hold office for the first half of the 10th parliamentary term, until January 2026. The President has an important and increasingly visible function in the EU institutional and international setting, mirroring Parliament's influential role as shaper of EU policies and as co-legislator.

EPRS policy podcast - How is the European Parliament's President elected?

At a glance: Mark Rutte confirmed as new NATO Secretary General; the meeting between European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini; and the drop in agricultural prices in the EU.

News in Brief – 28/06/2024 - English

At a glance: Parliament’s political groups hold their constitutive meetings, the EU officially opens accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and the world marks International MSME Day.

News in Brief – 27/06/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of Parliament’s political groups; EU organic agricultural production is continuing to expand; and the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

News in Brief – 26/06/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of Parliament’s political groups; the agenda for this week’s European Council meeting; and the Olympic torch will pass by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

News in Brief – 25/06/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of Parliament’s political groups; the agenda for this week’s European Council meeting; and the deadline to submit your story for the Multilingualism Day competition is fast approaching.

News in Brief – 24/06/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of Parliament’s political groups; the draft laws that have yet to be finalised by the new Parliament; and the deadline to submit your story for the Multilingualism Day competition is fast approaching.

News in Brief – 21/06/2024 - English

At a glance: negotiations on EU top jobs are ongoing; today is World Refugee Day; and the deadline to submit your story for the Multilingualism Day competition is fast approaching.

News in Brief – 20/06/2024 - English

On 24 February 2022,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;began a&nbsp;military invasion&nbsp;of Ukraine, in a major escalation of the conflict that had begun in 2014. Shortly before, on 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.&nbsp;

The Russian aggression has brought destruction to Ukraine and its people, but also a wide range of economic and social consequences across Europe and the European Union. MEPs regularly debate on how to respond to the current cost of living crisis,&nbsp;bolstered by&nbsp;inflation and&nbsp;hikes in energy prices.

In the annual&nbsp;&nbsp;2022 report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy, MEPs called the EU and its member states need to increase their military, political and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and strengthen their defence in countering Russian threats to European security.

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Consequences of the war in Ukraine on the EU

On 29 March 2017, Theresa MAY, British Prime Minister, triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The right of a Member State to withdraw from the European Union was introduced for the first time with the Lisbon Treaty; the possibility of withdrawal was highly controversial before that. The Article 50 provides for the negotiation of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the withdrawing state, defining in particular the latter's future relationship with the Union. If no agreement is concluded within two years, that state's membership ends automatically, unless the European Council and the Member State concerned decide jointly to extend this period.

Brexit - 8th Parliamentary term

Tax measures must be adopted unanimously by the Member States. The European Parliament has the right to be consulted on tax matters, except on budgetary-related issues, for which it is co-legislator.

The power to tax is in the hands of the Member States, with the EU having only limited EU competences. As EU tax policy is geared towards the smooth running of the single market, the harmonisation of indirect taxation was addressed before direct taxation. The fight against harmful tax evasion and tax avoidance has become a recent policy priority.

Fight against tax fraud and evasion - 8th parliamentary term

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

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

EU - Cyprus

Nearly all European countries have been affected by terrorism in one form or another and tackling it has never been easy.

 
The attacks in Nice, Brussels and Paris demonstrated once again the challenge of finding a rapid and effective response to those who would destroy us, while safeguarding our freedom and way of life. In the unfolding battle against terror, Parliament has an active role to play.

Fight against terrorism - 8th parliamentary term

<div style="padding-top: 10px;">House of European History - a place to debate, question and reflect on Europe's history: opening on 6 May. 
Its exhibits are available in all 24 official European Union languages and entrance is free. Tailored resources are available for schools, families and groups, offering a fascinating experience for all. </div>

&nbsp;

The House of European History is located in Parc Léopold, in the heart of the European district, close to the European Parliament in Brussels. The 25-acre park is on the site of the former Royal Zoological Garden and was opened to the public in 1880. The building itself has been painstakingly renovated in line with its 1930s origins, when it was a dental clinic for disadvantaged children.

House of European History

European food safety policy aims are twofold: to protect human health and consumers’ interests, and to foster the smooth operation of the single European market.

The EU ensures that control standards are established and adhered to in the areas of feed and food-product hygiene, animal health, plant health and the prevention of food contamination from external substances. The Union also regulates labelling for food and feed products.

Food safety - 8th parliamentary term

The Digital Single Market strategy aims to open up digital opportunities for people and business and enhance Europe's position as a world leader in the digital economy. In this framework, a new legislative package for the modernisation of the EU copyright rules is presented by the Commission in September 2016.

A Digital Single Market (DSM) is one in which the free movement of persons, services and capital is ensured and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. 
The European Commission has identified the completion of the Digital Single Market (DSM) as one of its 10 political priorities. 
Among its directives, a new directive on copyright in the digital single market. The purpose is to adapt EU copyright legislation to the digital environment, which is quickly changing the way copyright-protected works and content are created, produced, distributed and exploited in the European Union.

Digital single market - Copyright directive - 8th parliamentary term

The CETA negotiations were launched in May 2009 and concluded in September 2014. The EU and Canada signed the agreement on 30 October 2016. In 2015 the EU imported goods from Canada worth €28.3 billion and exported goods to it worth €35.2 billion, a figure that is expected to rise by more than 20% when the agreement is implemented in full.

The CETA will remove customs duties, end restrictions on access to public contracts, open-up the services market, offer predictable conditions for investors and help prevent illegal copying of EU innovations and traditional products. 
In response to parliamentary pressure, the controversial investor-state-dispute settlement mechanism was replaced by the Investment Court System so as to ensure government control over the choice of arbitrators and enhance transparency.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

Volkswagen, the German car manufacturer, has acknowledged that many millions of its cars sold worldwide have been specially equipped to trick emission tests, so as to appear less polluting.

Long before VW’s emissions test-cheating software was revealed, MEPs repeatedly urged that car emissions testing should take account of real-world driving conditions, so as to end obvious discrepancies between official and real consumption and emissions figures.

Car emissions - 8th parliamentary term

From July to December 2017, Estonia holds the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time, following the Maltese and preceding the Bulgarian Presidency.

The&nbsp; Presidency of the Council rotates among the EU Member States every 6 months. During the 6-month period, the presidency chairs meeting at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's&nbsp; work in the Council.

Estonian Presidency

Since the onset of the economic crisis, the EP has strongly supported the creation of a Youth Guarantee scheme, which was finally adopted in April 2013 as the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

The Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, traineeship, within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

The Youth Guarantee has become a reality across the EU and has helped to improve the lives of millions of young Europeans.

Youth Employment

EU citizens are becoming increasingly concerned that all kinds of production systems and other activities should be sustainable.Animal welfare is an important aspect of sustainability,and also of product quality, and may result in consumers refusing to buy products. 

The welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment. Welfare includes feelings and health and can be measured scientifically. It is a biological concept, quite different from rights, and refers only to living animals.

Animal welfare (2019 - 2020)

<center>Image: ©Clara</center>

 

International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team, which won the 2023 World Cup addressed the EP Plenary in Strasbourg on 12 March 2024.

President Metsola said International Women’s Day is not only a moment to recognise the achievements of women and girls across the world. It should also be a call to action to strengthen gender equality across all spheres of our society. Seeing it as an invitation for societies to do better, President Metsola said: “The time is now for the European Union to lead by example - to set standards in criminalising violence against women, to improve access to justice, and to ratify the Istanbul Convention before the end of this term.

International Women’s Day

Hungary officially joined the EU on 1 March 2004 and the Schengen Area in December 2007.

The Hungarian EU accession negotiations started on 31 March 1998. Hungary had successfully concluded negotiations on its accession at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002. Hungary has 22 MEPs, 12 votes in the Council and has chaired the Council of the European Union from January to June 2011.

EU - Hungary

Until the UK withdraws from the EU, all rights and obligations deriving from EU membership continue to apply in the UK.

 
The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK is not a member of the Schengen Area. There are 73 members of the European Parliament from the UK.

EU - United Kingdom

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting.

European Elections 2024 - One Month to Go, illumination of landmark buildings across the EU

Elections campaign/”One month to go”. On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day of voting.

Europe Day commemorates the signing of the 'Schuman Declaration' on 9 May 1950. This was an ambitious plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe that is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union. In 2024, Europe Day takes on even greater significance as it comes exactly one month ahead EE2024. The EU institutions propose a wide range of activities across the EU Member States, as well as in the home of the EU institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg.

Europe Day 2024 - Event in Brussels

Europe Day commemorates the signing of the 'Schuman Declaration' on 9 May 1950. This was an ambitious plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe that is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union.  

In 2024, Europe Day takes on even greater significance as it comes exactly one month ahead EE2024. The EU institutions propose a wide range of activities across the EU Member States, as well as in the home of the EU institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg.

Europe Day 2024 - Brussels

Briefing for media on the 2024 European Elections. Parliament’s Press Service will organise a briefing for media on the practical details for covering the elections. It will cover Parliament’s main legislative achievements during its ninth term, as well as unfinished business to be dealt with by the new Parliament. Media will also be provided with practical information on the three key events in the run-up to the elections: One month to go (9 May); Eurovision debate with the lead candidates for the EU Commission Presidency (23 May); and Election night (9 June). (Monday 29 April, from 10.00-11.00).

Briefing for media on the 2024 European Elections

Europe Day 2024 - Strasbourg

Press conference by Elisabetta GUALMINI, rapporteur on the Platform Work Directive.

Press conference on Platform work directive

Press conference by Lara WOLTERS rapporteur on the first EU due diligence rules for companies

Press conference on first EU due dilligence rules for companies

EP Plenary- Voting session

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago.

During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

Formal sitting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EU's biggest enlargement

MEPs discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response and vote on a resolution on Thursday.

EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East.

Plenary debate- Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel

In a plenary debate, MEPs discuss the EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza.

In March, Parliament adopted a resolution warning about the desperate food insecurity and impending starvation in Gaza. MEPs deplored the catastrophic impact of attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries and civilians in Gaza, particularly on children, urged all parties to immediately cease these attacks, and demanded an independent international investigation.

More than 33 000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October 2023 as part of Israel’s response to the attack during which Hamas militants killed some 1 200 people, mainly civilians, in southern Israel and kidnapped around 250 others.

Plenary debate -   EU’s response to the continuous killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip

Following the final vote on the new rules promoting the right to repair for consumers, rapporteur René Repasi briefs media on its scope and answer questions.

Press conference on the right to repair

Following a final plenary vote, rapporteurs Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (S&D, PT) and Samira Rafaela (Renew, NL) discuss new rules banning products made with force labour.

Press conference on Forced labour regulation

MEPs evaluate the results of the most recent European Council meetings, including the Special European Council of 17-18 April 2024.

Plenary debate- Outcome of European Council meeting

MEPs debate on Monday evening and vote on Tuesday on the provisional agreement reached with member states on the so-called “right to repair” for consumers, which aims to promote the repair of goods within and beyond the legal guarantee period. Beyond the legal guarantee, consumers will have a new right to claim repair for products that are technically repairable under EU law (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones). To encourage repair and to revitalise the EU repair market, the rules put in place a European online platform to find local repair shops or sellers of refurbished goods. They also allow access to spare parts, tools, and maintenance information, and ban the use of hardware and software practices that obstruct repairs.

Plenary debate on Right to Repair

Parliament’s Spokesperson will hold a press briefing on the plenary session, which starts at 17.00

Last minute briefing

Heritage Days 2024 at the European Parliament in Brussels

Pre-session briefing

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT

Joint committee on Budgets and committee on Budgetary Control

BUDG

Committee on Petitions

PETI

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Committee on Budgets

Committee on Transport and Tourism

TRAN

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

EMPL

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Culture and Education

CULT

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

AFCO

Committee on Development

DEVE

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ITRE

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Committee on Foreign Affairs

AFET

Committee on Fisheries

PECH

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

ECON

Ana MIGUEL PEDRO in the EP in Brussels

Rosa Maria SERRANO in the EP in Brussels

Cristina MAESTRE MARTIN in the EP in Brussels

Tobias CREMER in the EP in Brussels

Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR in the EP in Brussels

Leire PAJIN in the EP in Brussels

Stine BOSSE in the EP in Brussels

Evin INCIR in the EP in Brussels

LIBE Committee meeting

CCC constitutive meeting

SEDE Committee constitutive meeting

SANT Committee constitutive meeting

FISC Committee constitutive meeting

DROI Committee constitutive meeting

PECH Committee constitutive meeting

PETI Committee constitutive meeting

FEMM Committee constitutive meeting

CONT Committee constitutive meeting

Five candidates for the European Commission presidency gathered in the European Parliament, in Brussels, to debate issues that affect everyone in the European Union, from jobs and migration to climate, innovation and security.

The Eurovision debate was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and moderated by Martin Řezníček (Czech TV) and Annelies Beck (VRT, Belgium).

The following candidates took part:

Walter Baier (Austria, European Left)
Sandro Gozi (Italy, Renew Europe Now)
Ursula von der Leyen (Germany, European People’s Party)
Terry Reintke (Germany, European Greens)
Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg, Party of European Socialists)

The position of each candidate on the stage, the first speaker on each topic and the order of the ‘spotlight’ interviews were decided on 16 May by a draw organised by the EBU in the European Parliament.

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.  

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! 

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 9:16

Maintaining EU independence and democracy: meet Julia and Katarína

For many of us, being able to vote for our national representatives in Europe seems like a given. But this has not always been the case. Let's go on a journey together through the history of European elections.

Shaping Europe_FR

Shaping Europe_DE

Shaping Europe_EN

A collection of GIFs capturing the essence of the European elections is now available for download here to be used in your election products. This is an alternative and amusing way to remind people of how important it is to "use your vote, or others will decide for you."

7,490 results

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!

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

Maintaining EU independence and democracy: meet Julia and Katarína

Shaping Europe_FR

Shaping Europe_DE

Shaping Europe_EN

EE24 - Infinite loop star signature (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 5 (GIF)

EE24 - Dog voting (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 2 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 3 (GIF)

EE24 - European flower (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 6 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 1 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 4 (GIF)

EE24 - Infinite loop star 'I voted' (GIF)

7,490 results

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! - 9:16

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!

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

Maintaining EU independence and democracy: meet Julia and Katarína

Shaping Europe_FR

Shaping Europe_DE

Shaping Europe_EN

EE24 - Infinite loop star signature (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 5 (GIF)

EE24 - Dog voting (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 2 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 3 (GIF)

EE24 - European flower (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 6 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 1 (GIF)

EE24 - Time to vote 4 (GIF)

EE24 - Infinite loop star 'I voted' (GIF)

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! 