The European Audience Film Award – superseding the former EFA People’s Choice Award and the Lux Prize – is a newly configured European audience award, jointly created and launched in September 2020 by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas.

The three nominated films were&nbsp;announced on 11 December 2021 at the European Film Awards.&nbsp;

“Flee” by Danish director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, produced by Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway. In this animation, Amin recounts his journey as an Afghan child refugee who arrived in Denmark on his own. He tries to make peace with the past but also with himself and the secrets he has been hiding.

“Great Freedom” by Austrian director Sebastian Meise, produced by Austria and Germany. In post-war Germany, Hans ends up imprisoned time and again for being gay. He is denied freedom systematically for breaching paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code. The one constant in his life becomes his long-time cellmate, Viktor, a convicted murderer.

“Quo vadis Aida?” by Bosnian director Jasmila Žbanić, produced by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Netherlands, France, Poland, Norway, Germany, Romania, and Turkey. Aida is a translator for the peacekeeping forces in the summer of 1995, in Srebrenica. Her family is among the thousands of civilians seeking shelter in the UN camp. Aida learns that a terrible fate awaits her family and people, but can she do anything to stop it?

The three nominated films will now be subtitled in the 24 official EU languages and screenings across EU cinemas will be promoted and supported.

EU citizens will be able to vote on these films starting from 12 December. The winner will be selected jointly by the members of the European Parliament and the public, each making up 50% of the vote.

Voting will conclude on 25 May 2022, with the winning film announced on 8 June 2022 in the European Parliament plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Lux award 2022

The European Citizen’s Prize recognises initiatives that contribute to European cooperation and the promotion of common values.

Awarded every year by the European Parliament, the prize goes to people or organisations that encourage: mutual understanding and closer integration between people in the EU; cross-border cooperation that builds a stronger European spirit; and EU values and fundamental rights

European Citizen’s Prize 2021

Worldwide, forests are being lost at the alarming rate of 800 football fields per hour. With deforestation being a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation and taking measures to protect- and sustainably manage forests. In November the European&nbsp;Commission adopted three new initiatives that are necessary for making the&nbsp;European Green Deal&nbsp;a reality.

The Commission is proposing new rules to curb EU-driven deforestation, as well as new rules to facilitate intra-EU waste shipments to promote circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste and waste challenges to third countries. The Commission also presented&nbsp;a new Soil strategy to have all European soils restored, resilient, and adequately protected by 2050.

The tools should help to move to a circular economy, protect nature, and raise environmental standards in the European Union and in the world. Just counting from 1990 to 2020 the world has lost lost 420 million hectares of forest – an area larger than the European Union. The proposed new rules would guarantee that the products that EU citizens buy, use and consume on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation. The main driver of these processes is agricultural expansion linked to the commodities soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee, and some of their derived products.

The Regulation sets mandatory due diligence rules for companies which want to place these commodities on the EU market with the aim to ensure that only deforestation-free and legal products are allowed on the EU market.

MEPs have already called for strengthening the overall climate benefits from forests and the forest-based value chain, namely CO2 absorption and carbon storage in wood-based products. Parliament also emphasises the need to increase funding for research into the substitution of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel materials. Forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to further develop of the circular bio-economy, which delivers important climate change mitigation and adaptation services.Parliament wants binding targets to protect and restore forest ecosystems, especially primary forests (those that have not been been affected by people's actions in recent times).

Forest protection

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million in Europe, some 6 million live in the EU, and most of them are citizens of an EU country. &nbsp;The estimated share of the Roma in EU countries in 2012 ranges from 10.3% in Bulgaria, 9.1% in Slovakia, 8.3% in Romania, 7% in Hungary, 2.5% in Greece, 2% in Czechia and 1.6% in Spain, to less than 1% in most of the other countries.

Excessive force, police brutality and misconduct against Romani people continue to be reported across the EU, in line with the&nbsp;2020 findings&nbsp;of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

The FRA report also revealed that Romani people are subject to widespread poverty, inadequate living conditions, poor health, exclusion from the labour market and harassment.

In its resolution of September 2020,&nbsp;Parliament condemned&nbsp;the persisting social exclusion and anti-gypsyism that lead to the disproportionate criminalisation of Romani people. During a recent&nbsp;debate in the Civil Liberties Committee, MEPs called on the Commission and the member states to put forward better legislation and specific policy measures to prevent such incidents and ensure justice for victims, while placing the fight against anti-gypsyism at the heart of EU policies.

Romani people in the EU

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According to latest resolution of the EP, Taiwan represents&nbsp;a key EU partner and democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific, one that contributes to maintaining a rules-based order in the midst of an intensifying rivalry between the major geopolitical actors in the region.

To step up cooperation, a first EU-Taiwan relations report adopted by MEPs in October 2021 stresses the urgent need to launch an “impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise” for an EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA). Members highlight the importance of trade and economic relations between the EU and Taiwan, including on matters relating to multilateralism and the World Trade Organization, technology such as 5G, public health, and essential cooperation on critical supplies like semiconductors.

The European Parliament has called for closer relations with Taiwan guided by the EU’s One China Policy, while issuing warnings over the continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait. MEPs wish to address these tensions, to protect Taiwan’s democracy, and the island’s status as an important EU partner.

Relations with Taiwan

The&nbsp;Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)&nbsp;is an intergovernmental institution bringing together all EU countries and 15 countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation. Relations centre on six main areas and include research.

The EU established its privileged partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood in 1995 with the launch of the&nbsp;Euro-Mediterranean Partnership&nbsp;at the Barcelona Conference, aiming to establish an area of peace, stability, economic prosperity, upholding democratic values and human rights.

As a continuation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,&nbsp;the Union for the Mediterranean&nbsp;was launched In 2008. This inter-governmental partnership promotes cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region and brings together all 27 EU Member States and 15 countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine*, Syria – suspended, Tunisia and Turkey; Libya is an observer

&nbsp;Climate change, renewable energies and health are the priorities for stronger regional collaboration in research and innovation for the coming years.

EU - Mediterranean

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing&nbsp;(2 February 1926 - 2 December 2020) was a French politician and President of the French Republic from 1974 to 1981.

He served as a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1993, being a Member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group. He was also the President of the European Convention from 2002 to 2003.

On 2nd of December 2021, the European Parliament organised&nbsp;a ceremony in Strasbourg as a tribute to&nbsp;Valery Giscard d'Estaing. This date commemorates the 1st anniversary of his death.

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European tribute to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

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The European Union's&nbsp;cooperation with Ghana is being adapted to the specific needs of an aspiring middle income country (MIC).

The development cooperation focuses on 4 priority areas:&nbsp;security,&nbsp;migration,&nbsp;climage change/resilienceand&nbsp;private sector development.&nbsp; Gender equality remains a transversal priority. Our aim is to help Ghana implement an achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).&nbsp;The EU also aim to pursue a strong, long-term partnership with Ghana and promote its role as a beacon of stability in the West African region.

EU - Ghana

From the 1st of July 2021, Slovenia is holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. However, the country&nbsp;has also been the subject of discussions about the “rule of law” within the EU, a concept referring to respect for due process, plurality in politics and media and the upholding of civic freedoms such as free speech.

In its last 2021 Rule of Law report the EC mentioned that the situation of media in the country has been deteriorating.&nbsp;Online harassment of and threats against journalists are a growing source of concern, and several lawsuits against journalists with intimidating effects have been reported as well as&nbsp;instances of political interference in media.

Attacks on media&nbsp;have been criticized by international, European and national journalists and editors associations. The European Commission intervened various times to express its concerns.

A delegation of the Civil Liberties Committee travelled&nbsp;to&nbsp;Slovenia between 13 and 15 October to&nbsp;take stock of the latest developments in the country as regards the situation of the rule of law, media freedom and the fight against corruption including the question of Slovenian delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutors Office.

Their agenda included&nbsp;exchanges with: NGOs; the Human Rights Ombudsman; academics; journalists and press freedom organisations;the Supreme State Prosecutor and former president of the Association of Public Prosecutors of Slovenia; the Data Protection Commissioner; officials of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Culture; representatives from the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption; members of the National Assembly; the President of the National Council; and the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors.

At the end of the mission, Sophie in ‘t Veld, the Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee delegation, said: "“We observed that the public institutions overall work well. At the same time, the delegation experienced a climate of hostility, distrust and deep polarisation in the country, which erodes trust in and between various public bodies."

Rule of law in Slovenia

EU rules on product safety&nbsp;are defined in the&nbsp;General Product Safety Directive&nbsp;(GPSD). Under the directive a&nbsp;product is safe if it meets all&nbsp;statutory safety requirements under European or national law.

If there are no&nbsp;regulations&nbsp;or EU standards referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union, the product's compliance is determined according to other reference documents such as other European standards, national or international standards, Commission recommendations, or codes of practice.

The General Product Safety Directive applies to consumer products when there are no specific provisions with the same objective in the rules of EU Law governing the safety of the products concerned. That means it applies totally to products such as child care articles or certain COVID-19 related products, such as sanitising gels and certain type of face masks and only residually to products where sectorial legislation exists such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Businesses must: only place&nbsp;products which are safe on the market, inform consumers of any risks associated with the products they supply, make sure any dangerous products present on the market can be traced so they can be removed to avoid any risks to consumers.

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Consumer product safety

European political parties were established before the first direct European elections and have since gradually developed their infrastructure and influence. They represent transnational political federations of national political parties from several Member States sharing a political affiliation.

Since 2004, European parties have been entitled to funding from the EU general budget&nbsp;to finance their activities, albeit under strict conditions.

In September 2020, the Commission&nbsp;announced the revision of the Regulation on the statute and funding of the European political parties and European political foundations as one of the key initiatives in 2021.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;its Communication&nbsp;on the European democracy action plan, Commission will propose a review of the legislation on the funding of European political parties with a&nbsp;view to addressing the financing of European political parties from outside the EU, revising the audit requirements, strengthening the links between European financing and national&nbsp;campaigns, and facilitating transparency and auditing. The goal is to have the new rules in&nbsp;place in sufficient time ahead of the May 2024 European Parliament elections.

In November Parliament proposed several ways to strengthen European democracy in a report assessing the existing rules on the statute and funding of European political parties.&nbsp;MEPs suggest improved donation monitoring, withholding funds when member parties do not comply with EU values, and reducing unnecessary administrative obstacles.

Funding of European political parties

The EU's passport-free travel space, known as the Schengen area, is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration. The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project.

The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).

Free movement of persons enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without special formalities. Schengen underpins this freedom by enabling citizens to move around the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks.

Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania. However, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area and already applying the Schengen acquis to a large extent. Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

Since the start of the pandemics and in order to slow down the spread of the virus some travel restrictions have been necessary in the EU.

Schengen area

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Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. It has been a Member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group since 2000, despite not being a signatory of the Cotonou Agreement. The country is immersed in a process of reforms, as outlined in the Lineamientos, the Cuban government's economic and social policy guidelines.

Relations between the European Union and Cuba are based on a political dialogue that promotes cooperation, respect for human rights, the modernisation of the Cuban economy, and the development of joint responses to global challenges.&nbsp;

Several Cuban personalities became laureates of the EP Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought:&nbsp;the founder of the Varela Project, Oswaldo Payá -fighter&nbsp;for civil rights, free pluralist elections, the release of political prisoners, and economic and social reform in Cuba; the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White); and doctor in psychology, journalist and political dissident Guillermo Fariñas.

The EP has also voted a number of resolutions on the human rights and political situation in the country. In June 2021 MEPs condemned the existence of political prisoners, the persistent and permanent political persecution, acts of harassment and arbitrary detentions of dissidents in Cuba.

EU - Cuba

The European Investment Bank (EIB) furthers the objectives of the European Union by providing long-term project funding, guarantees and advice. It supports projects both within and outside the EU. Its shareholders are the Member States of the EU.

The EIB is the majority shareholder in the European Investment Fund (EIF) and the two organisations together make up the EIB Group.

Every year, a Parliament committee reviews the EIB’s activities and presents a report in plenary, to which the EIB President is invited. The EIB and the Commission have a number of reporting obligations towards Parliament, such as annual reports, ad hoc hearings and requests for information. Parliament was involved, as a co-legislator, in the adoption of the EFSI and InvestEU initiatives.

In the context of the COVID 19- pandemic the Bank has supported the health sector and vaccine research as well as financing BioNTech, one of the vaccine makers. It has joined the EU-backed Team Europe effort to tackle the pandemic in the European Union’s neighbouring countries and in fragile states around the world. Together with the European Investment Fund the EIB has given support to hard-hit SMEs. Now the Bank is investing in a green and inclusive recovery in Europe and in developing countries (source EIB).

Annual Report on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank

Recent rise of COVID-19 cases across the EU pose additional challenges that should be discussed at the EU level. The discovery of a new variant of coronavirus-Omicron also raises concerns across the bloc.

As the crisis started unfolding, the EU 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.&nbsp; A common approach to assessing infection rates in different regions made testing and quarantining much more consistent.&nbsp;

EU Digital COVID Certificates were agreed on and implemented in record time, paving the way for the safe resumption of tourism and travel during&nbsp;summer, and beyond.&nbsp;At the same time, the EU took decisive action to tackle the economic fallout of the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Work is also 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.

However, worsening of the epidemiological situation, new variant Omicron,&nbsp;low vaccination rates linked to vaccine hesitancy in several EU countries, the impact of the EU digital COVID certificate,effective coordination of national measures as well as solidarity among member states&nbsp;are the topics that become&nbsp;again prominent.&nbsp;

EU's response to COVID-19

The European Solidarity Corps is the European Union programme which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. It brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn and develop.

The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (MFF) proposal follows through a number of issues that the European Parliament had highlighted. The Commission proposes that the European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 would be a stand-alone programme, with its own budget, and no longer depend on the budget of Erasmus and other EU programmes. The European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 regulation absorbs the European Voluntary Service, which currently falls under the 'Youth' section of the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 programme.

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