Belgium is a founding member of the European Union

Belgium is member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995 and of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.

The country's capital, Brussels, is together with Luxembourg City and Strasbourg, one of the three official seats of the European institutions. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

EU - Belgium

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,&nbsp; 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 2022.

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

Until the UK withdraws from the EU, all rights and obligations deriving from EU membership continue to apply in the UK.

 
The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK is not a member of the Schengen Area. There are 73 members of the European Parliament from the UK.

EU - United Kingdom

On 29 March 2017, Theresa MAY, British Prime Minister, triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The right of a Member State to withdraw from the European Union was introduced for the first time with the Lisbon Treaty; the possibility of withdrawal was highly controversial before that. The Article 50 provides for the negotiation of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the withdrawing state, defining in particular the latter's future relationship with the Union. If no agreement is concluded within two years, that state's membership ends automatically, unless the European Council and the Member State concerned decide jointly to extend this period.

See also our previous package on <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/brexit-8th-parliamentary-term_1603_pk">Brexit</a>.

Brexit

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected.Elections take place every five years. 

The next elections will be from 6 to 9 June 2024. EU countries have elections on different days.

European Elections 2024

The Eurovision debate between the lead candidates for the Commission presidency takes place on Thursday 23 May from 15.00-16.45 in Parliament’s plenary chamber in Brussels.

Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Ukraine on 9 May 2024, on the occasion of Europe Day. The aim of her visit is to show the European Parliament’s continued support and commitment to Ukraine and its European path. During her visit, President Metsola meets with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addresses the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and meets its Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, as well as meets and discusses with young Ukrainians. Presidents Zelenskyy and Metsola speak to the press present after their meeting.

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Kyiv (Ukraine) for Europe Day

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting.

European Elections 2024 - One Month to Go, illumination of landmark buildings across the EU

Launch of the 20 KM of Brussels race

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.


The number of MEPs elected varies between countries: bigger countries get more seats than smaller ones. Due to changes in the size of the population, some EU countries will get extra seats in the upcoming elections compared to the outgoing Parliament. In total 15 seats will be added.


There are also differences in other aspects of voting, for example regarding the minimum voting age or the rules about voting from abroad.

EU Elections 2024

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.

Map European elections 2024

Online shopping, take-away food, coffee to go... Packaging waste is growing. Find out how much is being produced and how the EU wants to reverse the trend

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Discover key figures about the repatriation of migrants and proposed changes to EU law.
The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum includes new rules and the revision of existing legislation, such as the Return Directive.
In a draft resolution on the Return Directive adopted in December 2020, MEPs stressed the importance of protecting individual fundamental rights as well as respect for procedural safeguards.

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

Over the past 30 years the single market has brought unity and opportunities to Europeans.

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Find out about the top cyber threats in 2022, the most affected sectors and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The digital transformation has inevitably led to new cybersecurity threats. During the coronavirus pandemic, companies had to adapt to remote working and this created more possibilities for cybercriminals. The war in Ukraine has also affected cybersecurity.

In response to the evolution of cybersecurity threats, Parliament adopted a new EU directive introducing harmonised measures across the EU, including on the protection of essential sectors.

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Find out about the economic inequalities that continue to persist between women and men in the EU.

It has been more than 25 years since the adoption of the UN’s Beijing Declaration, which aims to promote equality between men and women. The same goal lies behind the creation of UN Women - dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women - and the inclusion of gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals.
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So where do we stand? Progress has been made, but inequality between men and women persists, including on the labour market. On average, women in the EU are paid less than men.

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

Meet Mireya, a together.eu volunteer whose main goal in the last few months has been to spread the word on EU elections!

Everyone’s voice counts in the upcoming vote, this is why, with her teammates, she organised an event to let people air their concerns, hopes and dreams for the EU.

Together.eu is a community of people who care about the EU and its future. By meeting, discussing and organising, people like Mireya and other together.eu volunteer can exchange views with like-minded people.

Getting the vote out in Madrid with Mireya, a together.eu volunteer! - 9:16 EE24

The 44th edition of the 20km of Brussels takes place on Sunday 26 May. The race starts with six starting boxes based on one’s estimated time. It’s is also open to walkers, with a maximum finishing time of five hours. The event starts in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, in Brussels. Alessandro Chiocchetti, Secretary General of the European Parliament, gives the start for the 3rd box. 1300 runners wear the "Running for Europe" t-shirt.

20 km of Brussels 2024: Ambiance shots from the event

A global pandemic, war in Ukraine and a cost-of-living crisis: the 2019-2024 European Parliament stepped up as people faced unprecedented challenges.

Parliament responded with measures that strengthened the EU and its economy while standing up for European values.

June’s European elections will decide how Parliament will deal with the challenges of the future.

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years - 9:16

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years

Five candidates for the European Commission presidency gathered in the European Parliament, in Brussels, to debate issues that affect everyone in the European Union, from jobs and migration to climate, innovation and security.

The Eurovision debate was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and moderated by Martin Řezníček (Czech TV) and Annelies Beck (VRT, Belgium).

The following candidates took part:

Walter Baier (Austria, European Left)
Sandro Gozi (Italy, Renew Europe Now)
Ursula von der Leyen (Germany, European People’s Party)
Terry Reintke (Germany, European Greens)
Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg, Party of European Socialists)

The position of each candidate on the stage, the first speaker on each topic and the order of the ‘spotlight’ interviews were decided on 16 May by a draw organised by the EBU in the European Parliament.

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency - 9:16 EE24

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.  

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! 

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

Walter BAIER, Lead Candidate for the European Left speaks to the press following the Eurovision Debate 2024. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

23 144 rezultāti

Tēmas (790)

EU - Belgium

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

EU - United Kingdom

Brexit

Pasākumi (121)

European Elections 2024

Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Kyiv (Ukraine) for Europe Day

European Elections 2024 - One Month to Go, illumination of landmark buildings across the EU

Videos (22 223)

Getting the vote out in Madrid with Mireya, a together.eu volunteer! - 9:16 EE24

20 km of Brussels 2024: Ambiance shots from the event

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years - 9:16

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency - 9:16 EE24

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

Press points following the Eurovision Debate 2024 - Press point by Walter BAIER, Lead Candidate for the European Left

Infografika (10)

EU Elections 2024

Map European elections 2024

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

23 144 rezultāti

Tēmas (790)

EU - Belgium

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

EU - United Kingdom

Brexit

Pasākumi (121)

European Elections 2024

Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Kyiv (Ukraine) for Europe Day

European Elections 2024 - One Month to Go, illumination of landmark buildings across the EU

Videos (22 223)

Getting the vote out in Madrid with Mireya, a together.eu volunteer! - 9:16 EE24

20 km of Brussels 2024: Ambiance shots from the event

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years - 9:16

Six big issues the European Parliament dealt with in the last five years

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency - 9:16 EE24

2024 Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency – EE24

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! - 9:16

Press points following the Eurovision Debate 2024 - Press point by Walter BAIER, Lead Candidate for the European Left

Infografika (10)

EU Elections 2024

Map European elections 2024

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! 

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16