Europe is experiencing a demographic shift like never before. By 2050, nearly one third of the EU’s population will be aged 65 and over. The EU’s ageing population will have profound implications across various areas, including healthcare, social welfare, the labour market and the economy. EU policies for older people focus on several key areas: active ageing, social inclusion, health and long-term care, and financial security. What the EU needs now is a comprehensive strategy for older persons.

Towards a European strategy for older persons

At a glance: Parliament’s committees are holding the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, which will conclude on 12 November 2024; a workshop has been held on the post-2027 EU long-term budget.

Nieuwsflits – 08/11/2024 - Nederlands

At a glance: The European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, has congratulated the newly elected US President, Donald Trump; Parliament’s committees are holding the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, which will conclude on 12 November 2024.

Nieuwsflits – 07/11/2024 - Nederlands

At a glance: the European Parliament’s committees are holding confirmation hearings for the candidates for the new Commission. The hearings will conclude on 12 November.

Nieuwsflits – 06/11/2024 - Nederlands

At a glance: the European Parliament’s committees are carrying out confirmation hearings for the candidates for the new Commission; European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has congratulated Maia Sandu on her re-election as President of Moldova.

Nieuwsflits – 05/11/2024 - Nederlands

At a glance: European Commissioner to present annual Anti-Fraud report to Budgetary Control Committee; Parliament hearings underway for proposed candidates for the new Commission; experts convene in Brussels to shape priorities for Post-2027 EU budget.

Nieuwsflits – 04/11/2024 - Nederlands

The need for accountability and increased scrutiny of the European Council has been a constant theme in the European Parliament's resolutions throughout the 2019-2024 legislative term. The increased need to scrutinise the European Council also results from the changing role of the institution over recent years. In this podcast, we analyse the need for democratic oversight of the European Council and outline the different tools at Parliament's disposal to do so. We also look at the content of Parliament's resolutions addressing the European Council and the messages it sends to the EU leaders.

EPRS policy podcast - European Parliament's scrutiny of the European Council: The use of Parliament resolutions

Het Verdrag van Maastricht, officieel het Verdrag betreffende de Europese Unie, werd op 7 februari 1992 in Maastricht ondertekend door de twaalf leden waaruit de Europese Gemeenschappen toen bestonden. Het verdrag trad op 1 november 1993 in werking, nadat het door alle leden was geratificeerd.
Met het Verdrag van Maastricht werd de Europese Unie formeel opgericht, waardoor de Europese Economische Gemeenschap een nauwere en meer omvattende unie werd. Ook is toen het burgerschap van de EU ontstaan.

Het Verdrag van Maastricht en wat er sindsdien is gebeurd

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) is a committee of the European Parliament which is responsible for the regulation of financial services, the free movement of capital and payments, taxation and competition policies, oversight of the European Central Bank, and the international financial system. It is currently chaired by Irene Tinagli.

ECON - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs

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.

Since he is already a member of the Commission, Mr Dombrovskis only has to answer questions on whether he is suitable for the portfolio assigned to him. He has been responsible for trade matters since the resignation of Phil Hogan.

Mr Dombrovskis will be heard by the International Trade Committee. The Committees on Foreign Affairs, on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on Development and on Budgets will be invited to participate and can ask one oral question each.

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President-designate, Trade

&nbsp;The hearings of Commissioners-designate started&nbsp;on 4 November and take place until 12 November.&nbsp;

The European Parliament invites Commissioners-designate to appear before the appropriate committees for hearings in order to scrutinise if they are suitable for the posts they have been assigned to.&nbsp; Ahead of the hearings, Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs scrutinised&nbsp;the declarations of interests of the Commissioners-designate.&nbsp;

The hearings are&nbsp;followed by meetings in which the committee chair and group representatives (coordinators) of the various committees&nbsp;assess whether a Commissioner-designate is qualified both to be a member of the College and to carry out the particular duties they have been assigned.

Once all hearings are completed, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of the confirmation hearings and forward its conclusions to the Conference of Presidents. The latter will conduct the final evaluation and decide whether to close the hearings. After the hearings have been concluded, Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen will present the full College of Commissioners and its programme in plenary.

Confirmation hearings

The EU’s recent report on strengthening Europe’s civilian and defense preparedness addresses the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, and climate impacts. It emphasizes a unified approach to crisis management, with stronger cooperation across EU member states and greater integration of civilian and military roles. To enhance security across Europe, the report recommends improving cross-border coordination, speeding up crisis response, and increasing public awareness and engagement. It also stresses the importance of partnerships, particularly with NATO and allies like Ukraine, in facing multifaceted threats. Citizens and private sectors are crucial in building resilience, whether through voluntary involvement or the provision of critical infrastructure. The EU must also balance efficiency with readiness, ensuring resources are in place for future crises. By investing in crisis-resilient supply chains and security infrastructure, the EU aims to create a stronger, unified front for enduring security.

Enhancing Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness and readiness

MEPs discuss intensifying the EU's fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, with a focus on Russia’s designation as a high-risk third country. This classification highlights Russia’s involvement in financial practices that pose a significant threat to the EU’s security and financial stability. MEPs also address the enforcement of sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting its so-called "shadow fleet" used to circumvent existing restrictions.

Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing: listing Russia as a high-risk third country in the EU

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) takes place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, gathering world leaders and climate experts to define a new global goal for climate finance and advance climate action. A delegation from the European Parliament will participate from 18 to 22 November to contribute to discussions on the EU's climate commitments and financial support for sustainable development worldwide.

COP29’s key objective is to establish a post-2025 framework for climate finance as nations update their commitments under the Paris Agreement, due in early 2025. On Monday, 21 October, Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee adopted a resolution with 54 votes in favor, 23 against, and four abstentions, outlining the EU's stance. MEPs call on all countries to set a socially fair and equitable climate finance goal, aligned with the polluter-pays principle and incorporating diverse public, private, and innovative financial resources.

The resolution further urges the EU to create a stable finance mechanism to ensure reliable support for its climate finance obligations, reinforcing the EU's leadership role in global climate action and the importance of predictable funding for effective climate policies. Parliament will soon vote on the resolution during the plenary session, setting the EU’s expectations and priorities for COP29.

UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)

Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which sees Donald Trump and JD Vance defeating Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the European Parliament debates the future of EU-U.S. relations under the new administration. With Trump set to be inaugurated in January 2025, MEPs assess how this shift affects shared priorities. As the EU seeks stable transatlantic relations, MEPs consider how to engage with the new administration to address challenges and leverage opportunities for both regions.

EU-US relations in the light of the outcome of the US presidential elections

Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government in Budapest, Hungary

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.
s
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

Euroscola

ECON JURI - Confirmation hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, European Commissioner-designate for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification.- Press point

BUDG CONT - Confirmation hearing of Piotr Arkadiusz SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration - Press point

ECON JURI - Confirmation hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, European Commissioner-designate for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification

BUDG CONT - Confirmation hearing of Piotr Arkadiusz SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration

Stockshot of the hearings of the European Commissioner-designate

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement.- Press point

ENVI ITRE ECON - Confirmation hearing of Wopke Bastiaan HOEKSTRA, European Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth.- Press point

Meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary

Raffaele Fitto was a Member of the European Parliament (1999-2000, 2014-2022) and became Co-Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) of the European Parliament in 2019. He was the Italian Minister for European Affairs, Southern Italy, Cohesion Policy and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) from 2022 to present, and he is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, for the von der Leyen Commission II. This stockshot contains footage of Raffaele Fitto in the EP in Strasbourg from 1999 to 2022 and in his office in Charlemagne, filmed on 29/10/2024.

Memoclip: Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms

Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish Member of the European Parliament since 2014. She is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, for the von der Leyen Commission II. This stockshot shows Henna Virkkunen in the EP from 2014 to 2015 and in her office in Charlemagne on 18/10/2024.

Memoclip: Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, participates in the Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State or Government in Budapest. This news item highlights key moments from her arrival, including a handshake with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, her doorstep statement, and the roundtable discussions. During the meeting, EU leaders focused on a new competitiveness agenda for Europe, engaged in a strategic debate on EU-US relations, and addressed key issues such as the situation in Georgia and the implications of recent Israeli legislation affecting UNRWA.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government in Budapest (Hungary): arrival, doorstep and roundtable

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, arrives at the Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government in Budapest, Hungary. Before the start of the meeting, she gives a doorstep and explains the main priorities and stakes of this event: a new competitiveness deal for Europe, foreign affairs issues, including transatlantic relations, the latest developments in Georgia and the recently adopted Israeli legislation against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament at Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government in Budapest, Hungary

EP President Roberta METSOLA, participates to the Fifth European Political Community in Budapest. EPC is a political platform designed to foster cooperation among European countries that share the European Union's fundamental values. On this occasion she meets with Jakov MILATOVIĆ, President of Montenegro and Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence).

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the Meeting of the European Political Community, in Budapest (Hungary): Family photo, bilateral meetings with Jakov MILATOVIĆ, President of Montenegro and Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo

Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), Chair of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG), and Niclas HERBST (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) hold a press point after the Confirmation hearing of Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Press point by Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), Chair of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG), and Niclas HERBST (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)

Press point with Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration after his confirmation hearing. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Press point by Piotr Arkadiusz SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration

Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration of the VON DER LEYEN Commission, is heard by the Budgets (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) Committees. Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Legal Affairs (JURI) are also invited to participate as joint committees. Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration: Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration of the VON DER LEYEN Commission, is heard by the Budgets (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) Committees. Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Legal Affairs (JURI) are also invited to participate as joint committees. Questions and answers.

Confirmation hearing of Piotr SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration: Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order)

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