New EU rules to reduce emissions from passenger cars, vans, buses, trucks and trailers is debated and voted by MEPs.

The regulation governing the type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles (Euro 7), provisionally agreed with the Council in December 2023, aims to support the EU’s transition towards clean mobility and improve air quality.

For passenger cars and vans, the current Euro 6 exhaust emissions limits and test conditions will be maintained, while stricter limits would be applied for buses and trucks. The Euro 7 standards also tackle non-exhaust emissions (microplastics from tyres and particles from brakes) and include requirements concerning battery durability.

Plenary Debate - Euro 7

The impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption is debated with Commission and Council. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations. Prime Minister Robert Fico wants the draft law to be adopted under the urgency procedure. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has already said she would veto the law. Critics have warned that dismantling the special prosecutor’s office could have an impact on the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018.

Debate - Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law

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

EP Plenary session - Type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7)

Media seminar - Safeguarding Democracy: the role of the media - European Elections 2024

EP Plenary session - Union-wide effect of certain driving disqualifications

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Rule of Law and Media freedom in Greece

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Review of the economic governance framework

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a permanent ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Keeping commitments and delivering military assistance to Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the green transition

This clip presents the highlights moments of the 9th Legislative Term in photos and videos

Clip: Democracy in Action - Highlights of the 9th Legislative Term

EP President Roberta METSOLA participates in the ceremony of the Partnership Agreement in the framework of European Elections 2024. The European Parliament is working with more than 500 civil society organisations to increase and widen its messaging to different audiences, to promote EU values and the importance of the European elections.

European Elections 2024 - Partnership Agreement: extracts of the ceremony with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

With lessons learnt from the pandemic and the recent geopolitical and energy crisis, lawmakers focus on Europe’s green and digital transition to build a resilient economy and strengthen democratic oversight and fundamental rights. This video showcases extracts from debates, press conferences, trilogues and votes highlighting the European Parliament's strides in policy domains pledged by the Parliament, Council, and Commission to fulfill under the Digital Agenda before the 2024 European Elections. These areas include the Digital Market Act, Digital Service Act and Artificial Intelligence Act, reflecting the collective dedication to digital innovation and regulatory coherence.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Safe and competitive digital environment

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives an opening remark on the last voting session of this legislature before elections. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the Portuguese Carnation Revolution 50th anniversary and on the conclusion of the 9th legislative term

This infoclip shows how the European Parliament responded to COVID pandemic from March 2020 with distancing activities of the European Parliament held by David SASSOLI, EP President until the press conference to present the results of the work of the Committee on collecting the evidence and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to give answers on the impact it had on citizens and their fundamental rights, the businesses, the health sector and international community in June 2023. This infoclip shows illustrations of EP buildings used in the fight against COVID-19, the Green corridor at the Belgium-Dutch border, digital COVID certificates, trilogue on the EU COVID-19 certificate, meetings of the Special COVI Committee, vaccines production and distribution, COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Response to COVID pandemic

This infoclip illustrates the daily work of the European President, David SASSOLI from 30/07//2019 until 18/01/2022, and Roberta, METSOLA from 18/01/2022 until 15/07/2024.

How does the European Parliament work? (2019-2024) - The European Parliament Presidents

Following European elections in May 2019, the Parliament held its constituent session on 2 July 2019. Parliament, Council, and the Commission identified common priorities and committed to deliver on before the 2024 European Elections. With the series of videos "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", have a look back at the different legislative and political achievements reached by the EP. Since February 2022 and the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the European Parliament always fought for democratic freedom and self-determination. It had strongly and repeatedly condemned Russia’s war of aggression and called for tough sanctions on Russia and Belarus as of the first days of the military attacks. It continuously pushes for the EU to provide defensive weapons, humanitarian aid and democratic support to the institutions of Ukraine.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): European Parliament stands with Ukraine

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

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