The European Parliament and its elected Members are the citizens’ voice in the European Union. That’s why we want to make Parliament accessible to everyone. News in Brief gives you a quick overview of the day’s main topics in all official Union languages. This broadcast is brought to you by the European Parliament. You can find more programmes here:

News in Brief – 26/05/2023 – English

Das Europäische Parlament und seine gewählten Mitglieder sind die Stimme der Unionsbürger. Deshalb wollen wir das Parlament allen zugänglich machen. Unsere Kurznachrichten bieten Ihnen einen raschen Überblick über die wichtigsten Tagesthemen, und zwar in allen 24 Amtssprachen der EU. Diese Sendung wird Ihnen präsentiert vom Europäischen Parlament. Mehr finden Sie hier:

Kurznachrichten – 26/05/2023– Deutsch

V Európskej únii je Európsky parlament a jeho volení poslanci hlasom občanov a chce byť dostupný pre všetkých. Krátke správy vám ponúkajú stručný prehľad hlavných tém dňa vo všetkých úradných jazykoch Únie. Toto vysielanie vám prináša Európsky parlament. Ďalšie programy nájdete na našich webových stránkach:

Krátke správy – 26/05/2023 – slovenčina

O Parlamento Europeu e os respetivos deputados eleitos são a voz dos cidadãos na União Europeia. É por este motivo que pretendemos que o Parlamento seja acessível a todos. As notícias breves oferecem uma visão rápida dos temas principais do dia em todas as línguas oficiais da União. Esta transmissão é disponibilizada pelo Parlamento Europeu. Para mais programas, vá a:

Destaques do dia – 26/05/2023 – português

Il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Membri eletti tiegħu huma l-vuċi taċ-ċittadini fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Huwa għalhekk li rridu li l-Parlament ikun aċċessibbli għal kulħadd. L-aħbarijiet fil-qosor jagħtuk ħarsa fil-qosor tas-suġġetti ewlenin tal-ġurnata fil-lingwi uffiċjali kollha tal-Unjoni. Din ix-xandira titwassallek mill-Parlament Ewropew. Tista' ssib aktar programmi hawnhekk:

L-Aħbarijiet fil-Qosor – 26/05/2023 - Malti

Het Europees Parlement en de verkozen parlementsleden zijn de stem van de burgers in de Europese Unie. Daarom willen wij het Parlement voor iedereen begrijpelijk maken. Nieuws in het kort biedt een snel overzicht van de belangrijkste onderwerpen van de dag, in alle officiële EU-talen. Deze uitzending wordt u gebracht door het Europees Parlement. Hier kan u nog meer programma’s van ons vinden:

Nieuwsflits – 26/05/2023 – Nederlands

Parlamentul European și deputații săi aleși sunt vocea cetățenilor în Uniunea Europeană. De aceea, dorim ca Parlamentul să fie accesibil pentru toți. Știrile pe scurt vă prezintă succint principalele subiecte ale zilei în toate limbile oficiale ale Uniunii. Acest program vă este prezentat de Parlamentul European. Puteți găsi mai multe programe aici:

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 26/05/2023 – română

Parlament Europejski i europosłowie to głos obywateli w Unii Europejskiej. Dlatego chcemy, żeby informacje o pracy Parlamentu były dostępne dla każdego. Wiadomości w skrócie to najważniejsze tematy dnia we wszystkich językach urzędowych Unii. Parlament Europejski przygotował je specjalnie dla Ciebie. Więcej programów znajdziesz tutaj:

Wiadomości w skrócie – 26/05/2023 – polski

Europos Parlamentas ir išrinkti jo nariai yra Europos Sąjungos piliečių balsas. Todėl norime, kad Parlamentas būtų prieinamas visiems. Visomis oficialiomis Sąjungos kalbomis pateikiamose žiniose trumpai apžvelgiamos svarbiausios dienos naujienos. Šias transliacijas rengia Europos Parlamentas. Daugiau programų rasite čia:

Trumposios žinios – 26/05/2023 – lietùvių kalba

Il Parlamento europeo, con i suoi deputati eletti, è la voce dei cittadini nell'Unione europea. Ecco perché vogliamo che sia accessibile a tutti. Le Notizie in breve offrono una sintesi dei principali temi del giorno in tutte le lingue ufficiali dell'Unione. Questa trasmissione vi è presentata dal Parlamento europeo. Troverete ulteriori programmi ai seguenti indirizzi:

Notizie in breve – 26/05/2023 – italiano

Az Európai Unióban a polgárok az Európai Parlamenten és választott képviselőiken keresztül hallathatják hangjukat. Ezért szeretnénk a Parlamentet mindenki számára elérhetővé tenni. A „Hírek röviden” gyors áttekintést nyújt a nap fő témáiról az Unió valamennyi hivatalos nyelvén. Ezt az adást az Európai Parlament készítette. További műsorokat itt talál:

Hírek röviden – 26/05/2023 – magyar

Европейският парламент и неговите членове са гласът на гражданите в Европейския съюз. Ето защо искаме Парламентът да бъде достъпен за всички. Новините накратко Ви дават поглед към основните теми за деня на всички официални езици на Съюза. Това предаване се осъществява от Европейския парламент. Тук можете да намерите повече програми:

Кратки новини – 26/05/2023 – български

Evropský parlament a zvolení poslanci a poslankyně, kteří v něm zasedají, jsou hlasem občanů Evropské unie. Proto nám záleží na tom, aby byl Parlament lidem skutečně nablízku. Krátké zprávy vám přinášejí letmý přehled hlavních témat dne. Vysílání připravuje Evropský parlament a je dostupné ve všech úředních jazycích Unie. Více programů naleznete zde:

Krátké zprávy – 26/05/2023 – čeština

Evropski parlament in izvoljeni poslanci so glas državljanov Evropske unije. Zato želimo, da bi bil Parlament ljudem res blizu. V kratkih novicah vam v vseh uradnih jezikih Unije na kratko predstavljamo najpomembnejše dnevne teme. Oddajo pripravlja Evropski parlament. Več prispevkov in vsebin najdete na naslednjih spletnih mestih:

Kratka poročila – 26/05/2023 – slovenščina

Europaparlamentet och dess folkvalda ledamöter är medborgarnas röst i EU. Därför vill vi göra parlamentet tillgängligt för alla. Nyheter i korthet ger dig en snabb överblick över dagens viktigaste händelser på alla officiella EU-språk. Sändningen kommer till dig från Europaparlamentet. Du hittar fler program här:

Nyheter i korthet – 26/05/2023 – svenska

Європарламент та його депутати є голосом громадян Європейського Союзу. Саме тому ми хочемо, щоб Європарламент став доступним для всіх. Короткі новини - це огляд головних новин дня на всіх офіційних мовах ЄС. Ця трансляція надається Європарламентом. Більше доступних програм тут:

Короткі новини – 26/05/2023 – укрaïнською

Europa-Parlamentet og dets folkevalgte medlemmer er borgernes stemme i Den Europæiske Union. Derfor vil vi gøre Parlamentet tilgængeligt for alle. Vores korte nyheder giver dig et hurtigt overblik over dagens vigtigste emner på alle EU's officielle sprog. Udsendelsen præsenteres af Europa-Parlamentet. Du kan finde flere programmer her:

Korte nyheder – 26/05/2023 – dansk

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο και οι εκλεγμένοι βουλευτές του είναι η φωνή των πολιτών στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Γι’ αυτό θέλουμε να κάνουμε το Κοινοβούλιο προσιτό σε όλους.

Σύντομο δελτίο ειδήσεων – 26/05/2023 – ελληνικά

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

Valdis Dombrovskis, born on 5 August 1971 in Riga, is a Latvian politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009. Dombrovskis is Executive Vice-President-Commissioner designate for&nbsp;An Economy that Works for People

After the hearing by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President-designate

On 5 April Ursula von der Leyen announced in the European Parliament that EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn had&nbsp;informed the Hungarian authorities about the Commission’s plans to “move on to the next step” and formally “launch the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220304IPR24802/rule-of-law-conditionality-commission-must-immediately-initiate-proceedings" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">rule of law conditionality mechanism</a>” to protect the EU budget, mainly over corruption concerns.

Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

EU leaders met&nbsp;for a European Council summit on 23-24 March 2023. The main items on the agenda were&nbsp;the ongoing war in Ukraine, the competitive of the European single market and the economy, as well as energy prices and logistics.

In the conclusions the leaders stated that the European Union stands firmly and fully with Ukraine and will continue to provide strong political, economic, military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes.

The European Union and Member States are increasing their efforts to help meet Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs. The European Council welcomed&nbsp;the agreement in the Council to urgently deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles, including through joint procurement and the mobilisation of appropriate funding including through the European Peace Facility.

“We need to strengthen our solidarity with Ukraine, and boost Europe’s investments and competitiveness”, said&nbsp;&nbsp;European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at the European Council.&nbsp;Peace must remain the ultimate goal and the EU is uniquely placed to help that. But in order for there to be peace there must be a Ukraine. And there will not be without our support.”, she added.

European Council, 23-24 March 2023

The Republic of Ireland covers five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The north-eastern part of the island is Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. There are 11 members of the European Parliament from Ireland.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;plenary is&nbsp;commemorating&nbsp;the 25th anniversary of the Northern Ireland peace agreement on 29 March.&nbsp;&nbsp;Presidents Metsola, Michel and von der Leyen will take the floor, followed by a round of political groups interventions.

EU - Ireland

Dubravka Suica, born on 20 May 1957 in Dubrovnik, is a Croatian politician who has been a member of the European Parliament since 2013.

After the hearing by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) 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 Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demograp

Full gender equality is far from being achieved, and this has implications for the lives and life chances of individual women, girls, boys and men, the communities they live in and the EU as a whole. The European Parliament has consistently taken a strong, proactive stance on advancing gender equality, stressing the need to deliver on EU commitments.

The EP´s Committee of Women´s rights and Gender equality (FEMM) is in the heart of these discussions.

Options for further EU involvement could include better implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, moves to modernise it, fill gaps in protection and address emerging issues, and non-legislative measures such as data collection and monitoring, awareness-raising, and support for national and grassroots initiatives.

Promoting equal economic independence for women and men, closing the gender pay gap, advancing gender balance in decision making, ending gender based violence and promoting gender equality beyond the EU are the concrete areas of interest for the EU.

Gender balance

The GFA, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was signed on 10 April 1998 by the British and Irish governments, and confirmed by referendums in Ireland and Northern Ireland in May the same year. The agreement established devolved political power-sharing structures for the nationalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland, and brought the 30-year period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles, to an end.

On Wednesday, Presidents Metsola, Michel and von der Leyen&nbsp;participated in a ceremony in plenary to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and address MEPs, followed by one round of interventions from political group speakers.

25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

Sylvie Goulard, born on 6 December 1964 in Marseille, is a French politician.

After the hearing by the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Sylvie GOULARD, Commissioner-designate, Internal Market

On 6 April, during the plenary session, MEPs assessed the application of asylum rules in the EU and the allegations of breaches of the right to asylum and non-refoulement. MEPs referred to reports of pushbacks at different EU borders such as the Greek-Turkish border and the Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish borders with Belarus. Besides insisting on the need to guarantee decent reception conditions for people seeking international protection in the EU, they called&nbsp;for the principle of international law in Article 33 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the return of refugees to countries where their lives may be threatened, to be respected.

Europe has a duty to respect the need for international protectoin of people in need, in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The EU has put in place a Common European Asylum System in 2013. It sets minimum standards for the treatment of all asylum seekers and applications across the EU.

The migration crisis highlighted the&nbsp;need to reform&nbsp;EU asylum rules.Under current rules, asylum seekers are not treated uniformly across the EU and the proportion of positive asylum decisions in different countries also varies greatly. As a result of this asylum seekers travel around Europe and apply for asylum in the countries where they believe they will have a higher chance of receiving international protection.

As part of a more general reform of EU migration and asylum rules, on 23 September 2020 the European Commission proposed a&nbsp;new pact on migration and asylum. The proposal provides for a comprehensive common European framework for migration and asylum management, including several legislative proposals.&nbsp;

There are also previous legislative proposals from 2016 that have not been affected by the new Commission's proposal, and on which progress has already been achieved.

Concerning the budget, in July the European Parliament adopted two funds for asylum and border policies- the&nbsp;&nbsp;Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (€9.88 billion) and the&nbsp;Integrated Border Management Fund (€6.24 billion) -&nbsp;intended to strenghten EU´s common asylum policy, develop legal migration, fight&nbsp;against irregular&nbsp;migration&nbsp;and&nbsp;strengthen EU&nbsp;external border management.

Asylum

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 Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) have two main goals: to create a safer digital space in which the fundamental rights of all users of digital services are protected and to establish a level playing field to foster innovation, growth, and competitiveness, both in the European Single Market and globally.

The&nbsp;Digital Services Act (DSA)&nbsp;aims to create a safer digital space in which users rights are protected, including rules to tackle illegal content online, enhance the accountability and transparency of algorithms, and dealing with content moderation and targeted advertising.

Digital Markets Act&nbsp; (DMA) sets rules on what big online platforms will be allowed to do and not do in the EU. It&nbsp;blacklists certain practices of large platforms acting as “gatekeepers” and enables the Commission to carry out market investigations and sanction non-compliant behaviour.

Digital Services and Digital Markets Act

Josep Borrell Fontelles, born on 24 April 1947 in La Pobla de Segur, is a Spanish politician. He was Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007. Borrell is High Representative/Vice-President designate for foreign affairs and security policy.

After the hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Josep BORRELL, EU´s High Representative

Vĕra Jourova, born on 18 August 1964 in Třebíč, is a Czech politician and lawyer.

After the hearing by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President-designate, Values and Transparency

Thierry Breton, born on 15 January 1955 in Paris, is a French businessman and former Finance Minister.

After the hearing by the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Thierry BRETON, Commissioner-designate, Internal Market

Mariya Gabriel, born on 20 May 1979 in Gotse Delchev, is a Bulgarian politician. She has been a European Commissioner since 2017.

After the hearing by the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Mariya GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate, Innovation and Youth

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Participation to the Globsec Security Conference

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Meeting with Zuzana ČAPUTOVÁ, President of Slovakia

Launch of the 20 KM of Brussels race

Debate with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Ingrida ŠIMONYTĖ, Lithuanian Prime Minister, Eduard HEGER, Former Slovak Prime Minister and Kevin BARON, Executive Director "Defense One" at Globsec Security Conference - "Pesky populists: Who is winning the battle of ideas?"

ING2 - AFET

Committee on Regional Development

Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

AFET - INTA

Committee on Budgetary Control - Item 11

Committee on Budgetary Control

Address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the Plenary sitting of the Austrian National Council, Official visit to Vienna (Austria)

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Euroscola

Committee on Transport and Tourism - Interparliamentary Committee Meeting

ENVI in association with AGRI and PETI

Committee on Culture and Education

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Committee on International Trade

Committee on Petitions

AFET - DEVE

Following the recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria, EU, French and Austrian flags are put at half-mast in solidarity with the victims, in front of the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU, French and Austrian flags at half-mast in solidarity with the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria

This video presents views of several regions of France; airports, train stations, hospitals with views of empty streets due to containment.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - France

In honour of Simone VEIL, former EP President, the French and EU flags are put at half-mast at the European Parliament in Brussels.

French and EU flags at half-mast at the European Parliament in Brussels following the passing away of Simone VEIL, former EP President

In honour of Simone VEIL, former EP President, the French and EU flags are put at half-mast at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

French and EU flags at half-mast at the European Parliament in Strasbourg following the passing away of Simone VEIL, former EP President

French&nbsp;and European flags at half mast in front of the EP buildings&nbsp;following the terrorist attacks in Nice.

French flag at half-mast in the European Parliament following the Nice attack

French flags at half-mast following the yesterday's terrorist attacks in Brussels with European and Belgian flags already at half-mast