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The European Union's enlargement policy is based on established criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality. 

Progress along the European path is an objective and merit-based process which depends on the concrete results achieved by each individual country, with the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights being an utmost priority. A credible enlargement perspective requires sustained efforts and irreversible reforms. The EU Enlargement is an investment in peace, security and stability in Europe: a prospect of EU membership has a powerful transformative effect on the partners in the process, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change.

Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are candidate countries.The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova in June 2022.

Negotiations are held with each candidate country to determine their ability to apply EU legislation (acquis) and examine their possible request for transition periods.

Enlargement

During the&nbsp;meeting on 23-24 June 2022, the European Council discussed&nbsp;the wider Europe, Ukraine, EU membership applications from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, economic issues, the Conference on the Future of Europe and external relations.

The European Council recognised&nbsp;the European perspective of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. The future of these countries and their citizens lies within the European Union.&nbsp;The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova. &nbsp;he Commission is invited to report to the Council on the fulfilment of the conditions specified in the Commission’s opinions on the respective membership applications as part of its regular enlargement package. The Council will decide on further steps once all these conditions are fully met. &nbsp;The European Council is ready to grant the status of candidate country to Georgia once the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on Georgia’s membership application have been addressed.

European Council, 23-24 June 2022

MEPs elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) on January 2022 as President of the European Parliament until 2024.

Roberta Metsola won the election in the first voting round, where she received an absolute majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote, among three candidates.&nbsp;

President Metsola is leading the Parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new Parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections.

Born in Malta in 1979, Roberta Metsola who has been an MEP since 2013, is the youngest EP President ever elected. She became First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January.

She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999- 2002).

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

Have a look at the latest stockshots of 2021 and 2022 with illustrative pre-edited broadcast quality video footage. These editable stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), produced to illustrate priority EU dossiers and parliamentary work. They are intended to help audiovisual media produce their own programs, for example, editing of news reports or documentaries.

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Infoclips - Illustrative footage

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;On 1&nbsp;March&nbsp;the European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels to assess Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk spoke live from Kiev.&nbsp;

The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv on 1 April&nbsp;to express the European Union´s support of&nbsp;the Ukrainian people and to condemn the unjustified Russian attack. She travelled on the invitation of the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Since the beginning of the invasion, the EU has adopted several&nbsp;packages of restrictive measures to Russia’s unprecedented and unprovoked military attack against Ukraine.

On Wednesday 8 June, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk adressed Parliament in the Strasbourg hemicycle.

Russian aggression against Ukraine

Eurobarometer surveys are the official polling instrument used by the European Parliament, the European Commission and other EU institutions and agencies to regularly monitor the state of public opinion in Europe on issues related to the European Union, as well as attitudes on subjects of political or social nature. The Eurobarometer provides quality and relevant data for experts in public opinion, researchers, media and the public. The Eurobarometer project was initiated in 1974 by the European Commission as a means to “reveal Europeans to themselves”. Since then, it has evolved and expanded significantly with different survey tools. In 2007, the European Parliament started its own regular series of Eurobarometer surveys, focussing on topics specific to the European Parliament, including the European elections.

The European Parliament’s spring 2022 Eurobarometer evidences a stronger public support for the EU.&nbsp;Almost two thirds (65%) of Europeans see EU membership as a good thing. This is the highest result since 2007, when it was at 58%. Also,&nbsp;52% of Europeans today have a positive image of the EU, against 12% negative.&nbsp;

Recent events have also shaped the&nbsp;image Europeans have of other major actors on the international scene.&nbsp;Russia is seen positively only by 10% of respondents, down from 30% in 2018. Most citizens perceive the war in Ukraine as fundamental change:&nbsp;61% of Europeans are not confident that their life will continue unchanged.&nbsp;

Eurobarometer

Plans to refill Europe’s gas reserves more quickly to ensure supply during the cold season are discussed&nbsp;by MEPs on Thursday, in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The new regulation,&nbsp;already agreed upon with EU ministers, sets a mandatory minimum level of gas in storage facilities of 80% by 1 November 2022, but member states and operators should strive to reach 85%.

The target will rise to 90% in subsequent years, to protect Europeans from possible supply shocks. The text urges EU countries to diversify gas supply sources and boost energy efficiency. Under the rules, gas storage facilities will become critical infrastructure. All storage operators will have to undergo new mandatory certification to avoid risks of outside interference and those who fail to secure it will have to give up ownership or control of their EU gas storage facilities. The legislative proposal was tabled by the Commission on 23 March, in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Parliament&nbsp;decided on 5 April to fast-track&nbsp;it and two days later&nbsp;backed it&nbsp;and set its negotiating position. The energy union strategy aims at building an energy union that gives EU consumers - households and businesses - secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy.

Energy union

Moldova formally applied for EU membership on 3 March. The European Commission concluded&nbsp;that the country has a solid foundation in place to reach the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; macroeconomic policies have been reasonably sound and progress has been made in strengthening the financial sector and business environment but key economic reforms remain to be undertaken; the country has established a solid basis to further alignment with the EU acquis. On this basis, the Commission recommended&nbsp;that Moldova be given the perspective to become a member of the European Union.&nbsp;The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country&nbsp; to the Republic of Moldova in June 2022.

Moldova's application for EU membership

The European Council received Ukraine's application for EU membership on 28 February. It has asked the European Commission to prepare an Opinion, which will assess the merits of the applications against the EU accession criteria, notably the Copenhagen criteria [focusing on the political and economic criteria].

The European Commission has found that Ukraine overall is well advanced in reaching the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; has continued its strong macro-economic record, demonstrating a noteworthy resilience with macroeconomic and financial stability, while needing to continue ambitious structural economic reforms; and has gradually approximated to substantial elements of the EU acquis in many areas.

On this basis, the Commission recommended that&nbsp;Ukraine be given the perspective to become a member of the European Union. The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine in June 2022.

Ukraine's application for EU membership

As part of the European Green Deal, with the European Climate Law, the EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This requires current greenhouse gas emission levels to drop substantially in the next decades. As an intermediate step towards climate neutrality, the EU has raised its 2030 climate ambition, committing to cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

During June plenary MEPs agreed to increase ambition for emissions reduction in the international aviation sector to achieve EU and global climate goals. Parliament also adopted its position on the effort sharing regulation which sets binding annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions for EU member states and currently regulates roughly 60 % of EU emissions. Parliament supported also a revised CO2 emissions standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

During June II plenary session MEPs&nbsp;adopted their position on the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System.&nbsp;To incentivise industries to further reduce their emissions and invest in low-carbon technologies, the Emissions Trading System should be reformed and its scope enlarged.

Fit for 55

The European Parliament has launched a new series of invitations to EU heads of state and governments under the theme, This is Europe. These exchanges and discussions&nbsp;focus on EU actions. The various topics are being&nbsp;adapted primarily to current events and in close cooperation with the individual leaders.

This is Europe Debates

The EU Digital COVID Certificate aims to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.The certificate should&nbsp;be available in either digital or paper format. It attests that a person has been vaccinated against coronavirus or has a recent negative test result or has recovered from the infection.

&nbsp;A common EU framework is&nbsp;allowing member states to issue certificates that will then be accepted in other EU countries. The EU Digital Covid Certificate regulation should be&nbsp;in place for 12 months. The certificate should&nbsp;not be a precondition to exercise the right to free movement and is&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered a travel document.

Member states should not impose additional travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as quarantine, self-isolation or testing, “unless they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health”. Member states must accept vaccination certificates issued in other member states for persons inoculated with a vaccine authorised for use in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

It is&nbsp;up to the member states to decide whether they also accept vaccination certificates that have been authorised by other Member States following national authorisation procedures or for vaccines listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. The Regulation entered&nbsp;into force on&nbsp;1 July 2021.
 Parliament and EU member states’ negotiators have agreed to keep the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework in place for another year, until June 2023

EU Digital COVID certificate

Georgia applied for EU membership on 3 March. The European Commission is set to issue an Opinion, which will assess the merits of the applications against the EU accession criteria, notably the Copenhagen criteria, focusing on the political and economic criteria.

Georgia's application for EU membership

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) takes part four times a year in a monetary dialogue with Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) to report on monetary policy and answer question from MEPs.&nbsp;Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable for its actions towards the European Parliament, and more precisely the ECON Committee.

The European Central Bank is the central institution of the Economic and Monetary Union and has been responsible for conducting monetary policy for the euro area since 1 January 1999 The ECB and the national central banks of all EU Member States constitute the European System of Central Banks.

Monetary dialogue

The European Parliament supports media professionals reporting on parliamentary activities, providing both content and technical facilities for video, radio, multimedia and photo production. The EP Audiovisual teams coordinate state of the art studios for TV broadcast, multimedia, and radio in Strasbourg and in Brussels.

EP Audiovisual Services

The EU strategy related to food security aims to build resilience to food crises in the production chain. The EU is working towards increasing the resilience of individuals, communities and countries to cope with, adapt and recover quickly from the impact of a disaster, violence or conflict. A resolution on the need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security in and outside the EU following the Russian invasion of Ukraine was adopted during March plenary session. In the text, MEPs call for immediate help in the form of food supplies for Ukraine, and for a reboot of the EU’s food production strategy. Given the severe impact the Russian attack on Ukraine will have on food security for Ukrainians, Parliament calls for robust long-term humanitarian food aid for Ukraine from both the EU and at the international level. MEPs say the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have made it apparent that the EU needs to reduce its dependence on imports from too few suppliers. They call for a diversification of supply from third countries, and demand in the short term that the Commission assess how to cushion the impact of high fertiliser prices on farmers. To reduce the dependence on fertiliser imports in the long term, Parliament proposes a switch to alternative organic sources of nutrients for agriculture and support for agricultural innovation.

Food security

Czechia will hold the Presidency of the EU Council From July to December 2022, following the French Presidency and preceding the Swedish Presidency.
The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.
Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme.
The current trio is made up of the presidencies of the France, Czechia and Sweden.

Czech Presidency

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore, on 11 December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.&nbsp;

The European Climate Law writes&nbsp;into law the goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and attain the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).&nbsp;After 2050 the EU will aim for negative emissions.

On 14 July 2021 the European Commission presented its “Fit for 55 in 2030” package-the legislative tool to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate law. These proposals&nbsp;combine: application of emissions trading to new sectors and a tightening of the existing EU Emissions Trading System; increased use of renewable energy; greater energy efficiency; a faster roll-out of low emission transport modes and the infrastructure and fuels to support them; an alignment of taxation policies with the European Green Deal objectives; measures to prevent carbon leakage; and tools to preserve and grow our natural carbon sinks.

In a joint meeting of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee on 14 June 2022, MEPs adopted an objection to the Commission’s proposal to include specific nuclear and gas energy activities in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities covered by the so-called EU Taxonomy, with 76 votes to 62 votes and 4 abstentions.

European Green Deal

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.


Work is ongoing to strengthen the EU Health Union following lessons learned from the pandemic: reinforcing the mandates of the&nbsp;European Medicines Agency&nbsp;and the&nbsp;European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, addressing&nbsp;cross-border threats to health&nbsp;and creating a future-proof&nbsp;EU pharmaceutical policy. MEPs recently&nbsp;obtained better support for the EU4Health programme&nbsp;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.

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.

Healthcare safety

Visit the European Parliament and discover how your voice is represented at the highest levels of European Union governance as the mobile Parliamentary centre tours seven cities across Portugal. Experience the EU’s only directly elected institution through virtual reality and talk with one of your 21 Portuguese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

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