After election of Donald Trump as the US President, there are many challenges and questions in EU-US mutual relations, including future EU-US cooperation, on Russia, China, the Middle East and climate change.

On security and military cooperation, Members of the Republican Party have been calling for a reduction in US military assistance to Ukraine and the future US president has criticised Europe for not spending enough on defence. Trade between the US and EU is also expected to be debated as the president-elect has indicated his intention to impose new tariffs on certain products from Europe.

EU - USA

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

Plastics are everywhere in our daily life: they are used in packaging, buildings, cars, electronics, agriculture and other sectors. On 3 July 2021, the EU ban on disposable plastics comes into effect. This will concern straws, cups, cutlery, plates, but also balloon rods.

Single-use plastic products are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away. The impacts of this plastic waste on the environment and our health are global and can be drastic. Single-use plastic products are more likely to end up in our seas than reusable options.

The 10 most commonly found single-use plastic items on European beaches, alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all marine litter in the EU. According to the directive on single-use plastics where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. This applies to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and sticks for balloons.

It will also apply to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic. The EU aims to become a forerunner in the global fight against marine litter and plastic pollution. EU rules aim to reduce the volume and impact of certain plastic products on environment.

Plastics production is 20 times higher than in 1960s, and is forecast to almost quadruple by 2050. Although there are thousands of types of plastics, 90% of plastics are derived from virgin fossil fuels. About 6% of global oil consumption is used to produce plastics; by 2050, this share could reach 20%. In Europe, about 40% of post-consumer plastic waste is incinerated with energy recovery, and the rest is either landfilled or recycled. About half of the plastic waste collected and recycled is treated in the European Union; the other half is exported, mainly to China.

EU Strategy for Plastics and packaging

The problem of disinformation is globally recognised as disruptive to the normal functioning of democratic societies, economies and political systems. In recent years, ‘fake news’ and coordinated disinformation campaigns have an instrument of geopolitical influence.

They have afflicted elections in both established and new democracies, and undermined social and political solidarity in response to global challenges. It is with these and other instances in mind that the European Union (EU) identified ‘the exposure of citizens to large scale disinformation’ as ‘a major challenge for Europe’ in 2018, undertaking an increasingly ambitious programme of action to counter this evolving threat since. The outbreak of the coronavirus has led to disinformation that hampers efforts to contain the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said false claims “are spreading faster than the virus” and has already termed it an “infodemic of planetary proportions”. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is also a source of many disinformation.&nbsp;

Special Committee for foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (INGE) was created in the European Parliament to tackle these challenges

Fight against disinformation

Euroscola

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Verona (Italy) - G7 Speakers conference

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Verona (Italy) - G7 Speakers conference - Bilateral Meeting with Mike JOHNSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Drone views - Buildings in Brussels by night

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Use your vote

President Sassoli once addressed the EP staff saying that every single person is crucial to building a healthy democracy. He embodied this principle not only in his political activity, but also in his daily relationship with people, by gifting everyone with the same care, warmth and regard. The tribute film to President Sassoli was the occasion for the EP staff to respond with the same warmth and to remember him beyond his political persona. Through a series of anonymous interviews, the staff depicts President Sassoli’s portrait, dwelling on his extraordinary warmth and humanity. Beyond remembering him, the film presents President Sassoli as an inspiration and an example for the present (some of his words on Ukraine were prophetic) and the future.

A beloved President - David Sassoli through the eyes of EP staff

This stockshot shows external views of the European Parliament's building in Brussels during spring. Views of the crowd passing by the Solidarność esplanade and the passerelles during rainy days.

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Exterior views of the EP in Brussels during spring (rainy weather)

This stockshot shows external views of the European Parliament's building in Brussels during spring. Views of the crowd passing by the Solidarność esplanade and the passerelles during sunny days.

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Exterior views of the European Parliament in Brussels during spring (sunny weather)

This stockshot shows MEPs voting during the plenary session in the hemicycle in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Voting is by show of hands or by roll call (electronic voting system).

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Brussels - Votes and ambiance shots in the hemicycle

This stockshot shows several debates taking place in the hemicycle in the European Parliament in Brussels. During the debates in plenary session, Political group speakers are invited to give a speech in an order determined by the relative size of those political groups (European People's Party (EPP), Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Renew Europe (RE), Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), Identity and Democracy (ID), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)).

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Brussels - Internal shots and leaders of Political groups

This stockshots shows the election of David SASSOLI, as President of the European Parliament on 3rd July 2019. He was invited to make his first address as EP President in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. As part of his duties, he undertook several official visits abroad, welcomed guest and attending various European events.

9th parliamentary term

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