The European Parliament and its elected Members are the citizens’ voice in the European Union. That’s why we want to make Parliament accessible to everyone. News in Brief gives you a quick overview of the day’s main topics in all official Union languages. This broadcast is brought to you by the European Parliament. You can find more programmes here:

News in Brief – 26/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 25/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 24/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 23/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 20/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 19/10/2023 – English

Recent events have multiplied concerns about potential fragmentation of the internet into a multitude of non-interoperable and disconnected 'splinternets'. Composed of thousands of compatible autonomous systems, the internet is by definition technically divided. Yet, the internet was also designed to be an open and global technical infrastructure. The unity and openness of the internet appear to be under great pressure from political, commercial and technological developments. This report explores the implications of the EU's recent policies in this field as well as the opportunities and challenges for EU Member States and institutions in addressing internet fragmentation. It underlines how recent EU legislative proposals – on the digital services act, digital markets act, artificial intelligence act, and NIS 2 Directive – could help to address patterns of fragmentation, but also have limitations and potentially unintended consequences.

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast - 'Splinternets': Addressing the renewed debate on internet fragmentation

The democratic information sphere is facing unprecedented strategic and systemic threats. The 'infosphere' - the online public space for debate where people not only express, but also inform themselves to make democratic decisions - is being eroded by foreign and domestic anti-democratic forces with a (geo-) strategic agenda. According to a flash Eurobarometer survey published in July 2022, 28% of respondents said they had been exposed to disinformation and 'fake news' very often or often in their recent past.

EPRS Policy podcast - Future shocks 2023: Strategic and systemic threats to the democratic information sphere

News in Brief – 18/10/2023 – English

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is not only reshaping the security architecture of Europe, but is also influencing the EU’s position as a global actor. With rising tensions between the US and China, the EU will find itself in an increasingly bipolar world. The rules-based global order is challenged and strategic relations around the world are being redefined. Key states from the so-called ‘Global South’ are becoming more important for ‘the West’ in its move to isolate Russia and to address global challenges.

EPRS Policy podcast - Future shocks 2023: Forging new partnerships in a polarised world

The EU is an open economy, reliant on global supply chains to a higher extent than the US and China. At the same time, these complex chains are subject to increasing disruptions and uncertainties with many areas of fragility. De-risking Europe’s global critical supply chains (particularly in the context of relations with China), points towards a more nuanced way of ensuring Europe's ambitions for increased resilience and strategic autonomy. It can be achieved by increasing domestic production, greater autonomy in the critical raw materials, use of trade tools and cooperation on a global stage.

EPRS Policy podcast - Future shocks 2023: De-risking Europe's global critical supply chains

News in Brief – 17/10/2023 – English

News in Brief – 16/10/2023 – English

Diets tailored to our individual characteristics could bring about health benefits but require data on our most personal features, such as our DNA. The promises are many, but so are open questions about the interactions between genes, nutrients, environment and health, and the role of socioeconomic factors behind our food choices. Governance of precision nutrition advice, services and products will include various legislation and policies because of its position between lifestyle and health, or food and medicine.

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast Podcast - What if algorithms decided what we should eat by looking at our DNA?

Gender-balanced representation among the decision-makers of the European Union is an important step towards full realisation of the principle of equality between women and men enshrined in the EU Treaties. The Union has made steady and significant progress, starting from a very low presence of women among EU Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament at the time when those institutions were created. The European Parliament is today one of the world's most gender-balanced representative assemblies, but there are still significant divergences between EU countries.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Towards gender balance in the European elections: Electoral quotas

Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in the EU and causes significant damage to ecosystems. As part of the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the Commission tabled a proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives. The proposed directive would set air quality standards for 2030 that are more closely aligned with the Word Health Organization's recommendations, as updated in 2021. It would also include a mechanism for the standards' regular review based on the latest scientific information. To achieve them on time, the Member States would have to establish air quality plans ahead of 2030.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Revision of EU air quality legislation: Setting a zero pollution objective for air

EMPL CULT -  Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, European Commissioner-designate forPeople, Skills and Preparedness

ITRE IMCO ENVI ECON -  Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, European Commissioner-designate for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

Euroscola

REGI-  Confirmation hearing of Raffaele FITTO, European Commissioner-designate for Cohesion and Reforms - Press point

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ITRE

Subcommittee on Human Rights

DROI

Committee on Culture and Education

CULT

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO

Press conference by Manfred WEBER, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Norbert LINS, Herbert DORFMANN on EPP vision for agriculture in Europe

ECON Monetary Dialogue Preparatory Meeting

ECON

Committee on Transport and Tourism

TRAN

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Committee on Legal Affairs

JURI

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Committee on International Trade

INTA

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

EMPL

Subcommittee on Public Health

SANT

REGI-  Confirmation hearing of Raffaele FITTO, European Commissioner-designate for Cohesion and Reforms

AFET -  Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, European Commissioner-designate for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Press point

AFET -  Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, European Commissioner-designate for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Last minute briefing

Portraits of Dietmar KOSTER in the EP in Brussels

Vlad GHEORGE in the EP in Strasbourg

Samira RAFAELLA in the EP in Strasbourg

Niels GEUKING in the EP in Strasbourg

Irene TINAGLI in her office in Brussels

Adam BIELAN in the EP in Brussels

Bronis ROPE in the EP in Brussels

Emma WIESNER in the EP in Brussels.

Maxette PIRBAKAS in the EP in Strasbourg

Pacific Day in the EU – Strengthening Partnerships between European Union and the Pacific ACP States

Abir AL SAHLANI in the EP in Brussels

IMCO trilogue on the Right to Repair

Special European Council - Press Conference

Special European Council

IMCO trilogue on Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI)

EP New Year Reception

Beatrice COVASSI in the EP in Strasbourg

The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoe) plenary meets in Strasbourg. It debates draft proposals prepared following the exchanges of nine Plenary Working Groups.These drafts are grouped by themes and based on recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels and input from national panels. Statements with Deirdre CLUNE (EPP, IE) Radka MAXOVÁ (S D, CZ) Marc ANGEL (S D, LU) Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE). Illustrations of Working groups: Europe in the world, Health, Migration, Democracy. Illustrations of the plenary CoFoE. Ambiance shots with press briefing by Guy VERHOFSTADT, Clément BEAUNE, and Dubravka ŠUICA, co-Chairs of the executive board of the Conference on the Future of Europe

Conference on the Future of Europe: ambiance shots and statements

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit Warszawa Wschodnia Railway Station and the facilities placed to receive Ukrainian refugees.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit Warszawa Wschodnia Railway Station

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, Chair of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) of the European Parliament, visit the reception centre of Ukrainain refugees Punkt pobytowy Wołoska 7.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit a reception centre of Ukrainain refugees in Poland

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, participate in the Committee of Regions event “Regional and local dimension of the Ukrainian War" in Rzeszów, Poland to discuss the impact of the Ukrainian war on EU's regional and local authorities, aid available to refugees from the EU budget, and support offered by regions and cities in the EU.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, participate in the Committee of Regions event “Regional and local dimension of the Ukrainian War"

Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean - handover of the presidency from the European Parliament to the Parliament of Morocco. DMED members, headed by President Roberta Metsola, meet in Strasbourg with the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami. EP President Metsola addresses the members on the repercussions of the Ukrainian war on the Mediterranean region.

EP Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean: opening address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in presence of Rachid TALBI ALAMI, President of the Moroccan House of Representatives

Statements by Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA,FR) and by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D,ES), rapporteurs. In a plenary debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs take stock of EU action to counter the democratic backslide in Hungary and Poland.

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: extracts from the debate and statements by the rapporteurs

8th Union Environment Action programme , Regional economic accounts for agriculture , Roaming, Macro-financial assistance to Moldova, Cohesion's action for refugees in Europe (CARE) / Amending Regulation Home Affairs Funds, Vehicles hired without drivers

Lex signing ceremony - signature of the seven COD LEX by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and by Clement BEAUNE, French Minister of State for European Affairs

DMED members, headed by President Roberta Metsola, meet in Strasbourg with the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives of Morocco, Rachid Talbi Alami, who will intervene in his capacity as new President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM).

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Rachid TALBI ALAMI, President of the Moroccan House of Representatives and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

MEPs review the spring European Council and its outcomes with Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, and EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. EU leaders held an extensive discussion during their meeting on 24-25 March about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the international sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime, and the overall consequences for the EU’s economy. During the debate, representatives qualify "war crimes" the latest attacks in Bucha by Russian soldiers ; call on a strict stop of the gas importation from Russia and demand more support to the people of Ukraine.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022; including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation: extracts from the debate

MEPs have identified among their priorities for next year’s budget the recovery, health, youth and climate action, and addressing the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine. Statement by Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ (Renew, RO), extracts from the debate and result of the vote.

EU's budget for 2023: statement by Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ (Renew, RO), rapporteur, extracts from the debate and results of the vote

Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, travels with Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee to Poland to discuss with national and regional authorities and civil society organisations EU’s support for Member States’ efforts in receiving and accommodating refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, notably the initiatives recently proposed by the Commission under the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe. Commissioner Elisa FERREIRA and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee visit the reception centre in Hala Kijowska in Młyny, Poland.

Visit to the reception centre in Hala Kijowska in Młynym, Poland, of Commissioner Elisa FERREIRA in Poland and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee

Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, travels with Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee to Poland to discuss with national and regional authorities and civil society organisations EU’s support for Member States’ efforts in receiving and accommodating refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, notably the initiatives recently proposed by the Commission under the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe. They meet zith Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and visit the border crossing in Korczowa.

Visit at border crossing in Korczowa by Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and by Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee

MEPs quiz President Ursula von der Leyen on the achievements of the European Commission in the first two years of its current mandate, in a one-hour-long series of brief questions and answers in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Several questions were on the Rule of Law situation in Hungary and the need to move on the next step. European Commission President Von der Leyen responded that Commissioner Hahn had spoken to the Hungarian authorities to inform them that the letter of formal notification to start the conditionality mechanism had been sent.

Question time with the Ursula von der LEYEN, European Commission President: extracts of the debate on Rule of law and the situation in Hungary

Plenary debates and votes in Strasbourg on new guidelines for selecting energy projects for EU funding in order to better align them with the EU’s Green Deal objectives. MEPs also decide whether to apply the urgent procedure process to a recent proposal by the Commission setting an obligatory 80% gas storage level ahead of next winter to ensure security of supply.

Trans-European energy infrastructure: statement by Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI (ECR,PL), rapporteur, extracts from the debate and results of the vote

MEPs discuss with Council and Commission what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine -which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market-, the Commission and the French Presidency of the Council are working on a 10-point plan to enhance the European common response.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: extracts from the debate

Illustrations of EP Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg. External shots with flags, EP buildings, arrival of civil servants and members. Internal shots, ambiance shots, corridors and chamber

EP Plenary session 4-7 April 2022: editing shots

EP President Roberta Metsola, together with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, meet with Ukrainians having fled the war at the Otwock school in the region of Warsaw.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, visit the Otwock School hosting Ukrainians fleeing war (Warsaw region)

The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visites Kyiv to express European Union´s support and hope to the Ukrainian people and condemn the unjustified Russian attack. During her stay in Kyiv, Roberta Metsola meets the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Footage courtesy Volodymyr.com.

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