In July 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the EU toy safety legislation. This proposal pursues two main objectives: a) achieving a higher level of child protection, including from the most harmful substances; and b) reducing the number of non-compliant and unsafe toys on the EU market.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Toy safety regulation

Euroopa Liit teeb tööd maailma esimeste tehisintellektireeglite kallal. Euroopa Parlament tahab selles valdkonnas innovatsiooni edendada, aga kaitsta samal ajal ka inimõigusi ja põhivabadusi. Uue määrusega tahetakse keelustada tehisintellektisüsteemid, millega kaasneb liigne oht inimeste turvalisusele, ning kehtestada reeglid ka teistele süsteemidele.

Euroopa Liidu tehisintellektimäärus - eesti keel

‘Innovation’ is often used as a shorthand for improved technical, economic and social processes. However, any specific innovation involves the redistribution of costs and benefits, creating winners and losers. For some, regulation of technology should be avoided in case it hinders innovation, while, for others, regulation is an essential measure to mitigate risks. However, regulation and innovation are not a zero-sum game. Debates about regulatory (in)action and its impact on innovation would benefit from greater specificity about which innovation paths are considered desirable, for whom, and how policy choices would help to achieve them.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if AI regulation promoted innovation?

On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules governing shipments of waste. The proposed regulation aims at easing shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensuring that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and stepping up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

The FuelEU Maritime regulation seeks to steer the EU maritime sector towards decarbonisation. The proposal sets up a fuel standard for ships and introduces a requirement for the most polluting ship types to use onshore electricity when at berth. It puts the responsibility for compliance on the shipping company. The legislative outcome of this proposal will be closely linked to the simultaneously proposed rules on including the maritime sector in the EU emissions trading system, as well as those on alternative fuels infrastructure, energy taxation and renewable energy. Moreover, some of the proposed rules do not concern EU shipping only but have wider implications for international maritime shipping, which is regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

EPRS policy podcast - Sustainable maritime fuels - 'Fit for 55' package: the FuelEU Maritime proposal

On 20 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals in the area of anti-money-laundering efforts and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The package includes a proposal for a regulation on preventing the use of the financial system for money laundering or terrorist financing. The proposed regulation would be the central element of what is commonly referred to as an EU 'single rulebook' on AML/CFT. Its detailed and directly applicable provisions would replace the minimum rules of the EU AML directives currently in force. In this podcast, we’ll examine the European Commission proposal to strengthen the EU's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules, which is vital to ensure financial stability and security in our continent.

EPRS policy podcast - Fighting money laundering and counter terrorist financing

On 30 June 2021, the Commission adopted a proposal for a general product safety regulation, which would replace the current General Product Safety Directive, as part of the regulatory fitness-check programme (REFIT). The proposal seeks to address the challenges of product safety of emerging technologies, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) and connected devices, and to establish clear obligations for online marketplaces, which consumers increasingly use for their online purchases. In this podcast, we'll talk about the new general product safety regulation with which the EU wants to address challenges linked to new technologies and online sales.

EPRS policy podcast - General product safety regulation

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

Press conference on Parliament's vote on the Late Payments regulation

Press conference on the adoption of the Forced Labour Regulation

EP Plenary session - Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation

LIBE Committee - Trilogue on the Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Transfer of judicial proceedings in criminal matters

BUDG CONT - Exchange of views on the implementation of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation and the release of cohesion funds for Hungary under the Common Provisions Regulation

EP Plenary session - Implementation of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation in fisheries and aquaculture

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Markets in financial instruments regulations

ITRE - Vote on ' Establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations '

Trilogue on Regulation on automated data exchange for police cooperation (Prüm II)

Press conference on The Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

ENVI - Euro 7 regulation for cars and vans

EP Plenary session - Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights

LIBE vote -  Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders

EP Plenary session - Ecodesign regulation

ENVI Vote on Nature restoration regulation / Ecodesign

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Regulation and directive on electronic evidence in criminal matters

IMCO Public Hearing ' Modernising the regulation of online platforms intermediating short-term accommodation rental services '

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation

Press conference by Róża THUN UND HOHENSTEIN, rapporteur on Parliament's vote on the Late Payments regulation

Press conference by Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES and Samira RAFAELA, co-rapporteurs on the adoption of the Forced Labour Regulation

Press conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS rapporteur, Paul TANG, Hilde VAUTMANS, Patrick BREYER and Cornelia ERNST shadows on The Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

Press conference by Petri SARVAMAA, Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL, co-rapporteurs, and Moritz KÖRNER, Daniel FREUND on the Rule of Law conditionality regulation: Commission’s upcoming evaluation of the 17

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, rapporteur on Deforestation regulation

High-level conference on Brussels IIb Regulation - What’s new in EU family law? - Part 2

High-level conference on Brussels IIb Regulation - What’s new in EU family law? - Part 1

Press conference by Bas EICKHOUT,  EP Rapporteur for the Taxonomy Regulation Christophe HANSEN, Paul TANG, Emma WIESNER and Silvia MODIG on taxonomy's delegated act on nuclear and gas

Press conference by Simona BONAFÈ on Batteries and waste batteries regulation, laying down a holistic set of rules to govern the entire product life cycle

Press conference by Tomas TOBÉ, rapporteur, on “the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation”

Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies - WORKSHOP : "2030 climate target: review of LULUCF Regulation"

ENVI

Press conference by Younous OMARJEE, Chair of the Committee on Regional Development,  and Andrey NOVAKOV, and Constanze KREHL, co-rapporteurs, on “Conclusion of inter-institutional negotiations for the Common Provisions Regulation”

Information Session on the amendments to the Financial Regulation – 7th December (Brussels)

Taimekaitsevahendite määruse rakendamine

Implementation of the Plant Protection Products Regulation

ELi ja kolmandate riikide vahelised suhted seoses finantsteenuste reguleerimise ja järelevalvega

Relationships between the EU and third countries concerning financial services regulation and supervision

Kutsealasid reguleerivate uute õigusnormide vastuvõtmisele eelnev proportsionaalsuse kontroll

Proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions

Brüsseli IIa määruse I peatüki kohaldamisala laiendamine hõlmamaks registreeritud kooselu (uuesti sõnastatud) (arutelu)

Extension of the scope of Chapter I of the Brussels IIa Regulation to include registered partnerships (recast) (debate)

Róża THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (Renew, PL) holds a press conference on Parliament's vote on the Late Payments regulation

Press Conference by Róża THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (Renew, PL) on Parliament's vote on the Late Payments regulation

Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES (S&D, PT) and Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL), co-rapporteurs hold a press conference on the adoption of the Forced Labour Regulation. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES (S&D, PT) and Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL), co-rapporteurs on the adoption of the Forced Labour Regulation

The draft report of the European Parliament on EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse welcomes and shares the European Commission's proposal’s main aims. Yet the draft report includes a number of new elements. For instance, it includes in its scope search engines and other artificial intelligence systems and limits CSA scanning in E2E encryption to metadata analysis in order to detect suspicious patterns of behaviour without having access to the content of the encrypted communication. Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) Rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE), shadow rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE): Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent child sexual abuse

The new Euro 7 emission standards will ensure that cars, vans, lorries and buses are much cleaner, in real driving conditions that better reflect the situation in cities where air pollution problems are largest, and for a much longer period than under current rules. It tackles emissions from tailpipes as well as from brakes and tyres. Battery electric vehicles also still cause pollution from brakes and microplastics from tyres. In 2035, Euro 7 will lower total NOx emissions from cars and vans by 35% compared to Euro 6, and by 56% compared to Euro VI from buses and lorries. At the same time, particles from the tailpipe will be lowered by 13% from cars and vans, and 39% from buses and lorries, while particles from the brakes of a car will be lowered by 27%.This infoclip shows cars, vans, lorries and buses in city environments in Granada, Spain and Brussels, Belgium.

Infoclip: Euro 7 regulation for cars, vans, lorries and buses

MEPs vote on the following topics: Guatemala: the situation after the elections, the rule of law and judicial independence - Resolution; the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, imprisoned in Azerbaijan - Resolution; human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar - Resolution; framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials - Beer; opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals - Resolution; amending the proposed mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context - Gozi; regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights - Noichl; the future of the European book sector - Frankowski; parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy - Mituța, Nienass.

Voting session, including the Regulation of prostitution in the EU, Resolution on situation in Guatemala, and other topics

The Environment Committee adopted its position in June on revising the EU’s ecodesign framework for sustainable products. MEPs request several changes to the Commission proposal, including a specific ban on destroying unsold textiles and electrical and electronic equipment. They also want the Commission to prioritise setting minimum sustainability requirements for a number of product groups in upcoming ecodesign measures, such as steel, aluminum, textiles, furniture, tires and chemicals. Extracts from the debate (11/07); extracts from the vote; and statement by Alessandra MORETTI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur.

Ecodesign Regulation Law: extracts from the debate (11/07); extracts from the vote and statement by Alessandra MORETTI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur

MEPs vote on the following topics: Ecodesign regulation - Alessandra Moretti; Fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency - Report: Cristian-Silviu Buşoi; Fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area - Ladislav Ilčić; Digital information exchange in terrorism cases - Patryk Jaki; Exchange of information and cooperation concerning terrorist offences: alignment with Union rules on the protection of personal data - Patryk Jaki.

Voting session on Ecodesign regulation and other topics

The new Ecodesign Directive for Sustainable Products (ESPR) will replace the current Ecodesign Directive, introducing more Ecodesign criteria for a broader range of products. The revised legislation would apply to almost all products on the internal market (except food, feed, medicinal products and living organisms). MEPs request several changes to the Commission proposal, including a ban on destroying unsold textiles and electrical and electronic equipment. They also want the Commission to prioritise setting minimum sustainability requirements for a number of product groups in upcoming ecodesign measures, such as steel, aluminium, textiles, furniture, tyres and chemicals. This infoclip shows steel production, textiles such as clothes and footwear, tyres, paint and detergents.

Infoclip: Ecodesign regulation

MEPs from the ENVI (Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) Committee vote on nature restoration regulation. Extracts from the vote. The vote lasts several hours and due to the large number of amendments it is not possible to finalise the vote before the members needed to go to vote in the plenary session. The rest of the vote is suspended until the next ENVI meeting on 27th of June.

Nature restoration regulation: extracts from the vote

Signature of Five COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and by Jessika ROSWALL, Minister for EU Affairs, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council: Machinery Products / MFA Moldova / Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures / Tarrif Rate Quotas / Medicinal Products for Human Use

Lex signing ceremony: signature of Five COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and by Jessika ROSWALL, Minister for EU Affairs, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation. The new law obliges companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.The new regulation, already agreed with EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Before such products can be placed on the EU market, companies must verify and issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that the products have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation

MEPs vote on the following subjects: Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning question time, the central rostrum, the blue-card procedure, the explanations of votes, the transparency register and the Ombudsman; Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization; Deforestation regulation; Methods and procedure for making available own resources based on the Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and reallocated profits and on the measures to meet cash requirements; Combating discrimination in the EU - the long-awaited horizontal anti-discrimination directive - Motions for resolutions; Challenges facing the Republic of Moldova- Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Greece - Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Spain - Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Malta - Motions for resolutions

Voting session, including the vote on Deforestation regulation

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.The new regulation, already agreed with EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Before such products can be placed on the EU market, companies must verify and issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that the products have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world. Extracts from the debate and statement by Christophe HANSEL (EPP, LU), Rapporteur.

Deforestation regulation: statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Closing statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

Deforestation Regulation: closing statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper.

Deforestation Regulation: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Opening statements by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), ITRE Committee; Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), INTA Committee, Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), DEVE; Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) AGRI Committee.

Deforestation Regulation: opening statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), Stella KYRIAKIDES, EU Commissioner for Health, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI)

MEPs from the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) Committee adopt the Revision of the Regulation on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). Extracts from the vote and statements by Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Dominique RIQUET (Renew, FR), Co-rapporteurs. They explain the main changes that the European Parliament brings to the new TEN-T rules (more sustainable, affordable and efficient transport links by 2030), th importance to implement these new rules by 2030. Both rapporteurs also explain how important the new regulation is regarding the military mobility and the support to Ukraine.

Vote on Revision of the Regulation on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T): extracts from the vote and statements by Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Dominique RIQUET (Renew, FR), Co-rapporteurs

MEPs debate on an agreement on new rules to ensure that products in the EU, whether sold online or in traditional shops, comply with the highest safety requirements. The new law includes more effective procedures for product recalls and the removal of dangerous goods online. Closing statements by Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, and by Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

General Product Safety Regulation: closing statements by Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Renew, CZ), Rapporteur, and by Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

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