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:

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In May 2020, the European Commission published its 'farm to fork' strategy – 'for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system' – along with the EU biodiversity strategy, as part of the implementation of the European Green Deal. In those strategies the Commission set a target of 25 % of the EU's agricultural land to be under organic farming by 2030, as well as a significant increase in organic aquaculture. In this podcast, we’ll decorticate the Commission’s new plan to promote organic production in Europe.

EPRS policy podcast - Development of organic production in the EU: 2021-2027 action plan

In this episode, we’ll focus on one organisation that has become a pillar of the modern European security order: the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE. The OSCE lacks the legal powers and the resources needed to live up to its ambition of becoming a platform for pan-European/trans-Atlantic cooperation. But OSCE agreements, such as the Vienna Document, help to promote military transparency, and election observation missions have advanced democratic reforms in several countries.

EPRS policy podcast - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): A pillar of the European security order

In the European Union, 78 % of native flora and 84 % of crops are either partially or fully dependent on insects for pollination. But significant pollinator loss has been documented over time across the EU. According to the European Red List of Bees, around 9 % of all bee species are threatened in the EU. In this episode, we’ll talk about the key role pollinators play in nature, the threats they face and EU action to protect them.

EPRS policy podcast - Protecting pollinators

Since its early development in the 1960s, Internet infrastructure has become almost as important as electricity and transport infrastructures in contemporary societies. More and more key services such as banking, food retail, and health care, rely on Internet connections. Despite its original resilient decentralised design, the increasing importance of a few central players and centralising developments have made the Internet more vulnerable to failure. What repercussions would that entail? Listen to our podcast to know more!

EPRS STOA podcast - What if the Internet failed?

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News in Brief - EN - 210927

This is the story of Katarina and her family. This is the story of a survivor. Katarina’s father survived the Holocaust in inhuman conditions but he lost many family members in the Auschwitz concentration camp. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Katarina wanted to share her important testimony with future generations. Even decades later, it is not easy to talk about these tragic events.

75. Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp - Katarina’s story

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a series of debates for people from across the EU to share their ideas on key priorities and help shape our common future. The Conference is the first of its kind: its aim is to give people living in the EU their say on what it does and how it works for them. The Citizens’ Panels are crucial elements of the Conference.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Citizens’ Panels

News in Brief - EN - 210924

News in Brief - EN - 210923

AFET ITRE - Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, European Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space

ENVI AGRI -  Confirmation hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare

Committee on International Trade

INTA

Panel for the Future of Science and Technology

Delegation for Northern cooperation and for relations with Switzerland and Norway and to the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee and the European  Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committe

DEEA

Committee of inquiry to investigate the use of the Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware

PEGA

Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo

Opening of the sitting

Council position at first reading (Rule 63)

Composition of Parliament

European Citizens' Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment" (debate)

Advancing the 2022 Bridgetown Agenda (debate)

Lack of actions taken by the Commission in the context of the duty of sincere and loyal cooperation (debate)

Resumption of the sitting

Voting time

Composition of committees and delegations

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Long term commitment to animal welfare (debate)

Explanations of vote

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Closure of the sitting

Adjournment of the session

Plenary session

Press conference by Jens GEIER, rapporteur, on the directive on the internal markets for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen

Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, including the EU-Morocco, EU-Tunisia and EU-Algeria Joint Parliamentary Committees

DMAG

Press point by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) by Josef ASCHBACHER, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and by Samantha

Composition of a new subcommittee

Conclusions of the Special European Council meeting of 9 February and preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March 2023 (debate)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71)(action taken)

(International Women's Day)

More Europe, more jobs: we are building the competitive economy of tomorrow for the benefit of all (topical debate)

Failure of the Silicon Valley Bank and the implications for financial stability in Europe (debate)

Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)

Deaths at sea: a common EU response to save lives and action to ensure safe and legal pathways (debate)

Need for immediate reform of the internal rules of the Commission to ensure transparency and accountability in light of alleged conflicts of interests (debate)

Combatting organised crime in the EU (debate)

Women activism - human rights defenders related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) (debate)

The EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (debate)

Cross-border adoptions from third countries (debate)

Combating discrimination in the EU - the long-awaited horizontal anti-discrimination directive (debate)

Iran: in particular the poisoning of hundreds of school girls

Tunisia: Recent attacks against freedom of expression and association and trade unions, in particular the case of journalist Noureddine Boutar

Cambodia: the case of opposition leader Kem Sokha

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Press conference by Pilar del CASTILLO VER rapporteur and Thierry BRETON, Commissioner for the Internal Market, on the Data Act

Read-out of the College meeting by EC Vice-President Margaritis SCHINAS and Ylva JOHANSSON, Commissioner for Home Affairs on European integrated border management and mutual recognition of return deci

Press conference by Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy on the revision of the EU’s electricity market design

Press conference by Ciarán CUFFE, rapporteur, on energy performance of buildings

Briefing The Left by Manon AUBRY and Martin SCHIRDEWAN, Co-Presidents

;ENVI AGRI -  Confirmation hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare

Silvia SARDONE in the EP in Strasbourg

Lydie MASSARD in the EP in Strasbourg

Alessandra MORETTI in the EP in Strasbourg

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel: visit in Kibbutz Re'im and visit and briefing by the YEZEHA Unit (National Unit in Kfar Azza)

Lucia DURIS NICHOLSONOVA in the EP in Strasbourg

ENVI - Euro 7 regulation for cars and vans

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents.

AGRI IMCO PETI public hearing - European Citizen's Initiative ' Fur Free Europe '

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2023 Candidates - Statements

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2023 Candidates

Event for the donation of the original document: Proposal of a Manifesto for a Federal Europe: sovereign, social and ecological

Coming Out Day - creating an inclusive workspace

Irene TINAGLI in the EP in Strasbourg

Paolo BORCHIA in the EP in Strasbourg

Gathering in support to Israel in front of the European Parliament in Brussels in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Members

Ramona STRUGARIU in the EP in Strasbourg

IMCO - Trilogue on political advertising

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Alexander STUBB

MEPs debate common criteria for lower skilled workers entering the EU for seasonal work. New controls enforce the EU's policy of zero tolerance on overfishing.

The News: Selective Immigration - Catch Controls

MEPs discuss common EU-wide conditions to protect the seasonal workers coming to the Union from outside Europe and define the details of their stay.

Seasonal Worker Regulation

A new EU regulation will now make it harder for fishermen to get away with illegal fishing through a comprehensive system of control and enforcement.

Tougher Action against Illegal Fishing

After the unprecedented financial crisis, MEPs want to prevent one recurring in the future by strengthening budgetary discipline in the Member States.

Budgetary Discipline

MEPs discuss the six-pack set of laws to revamp economic governance through fines and sanctions. Are our human rights suffering in the fight against terrorism?

The News: Fines and Sanctions Vs Deficit - Intrusive Counter Terrorism?

The war on terrorism could count human rights among its casualties, but MEPs want to protect EU citizens from both attacks on their lives and their liberties.

Freedom and Terrorism

MEPs are exploring the idea of an EU-wide electoral list from which an extra 25 Members could be chosen in the next European elections.

Votes across borders?

Food labelling rules as voted by MEPs in Committee on Tuesday should help consumers make healthier and more environmentally friendly choices.

Essential things to know about your food

The ENVI Committee votes for clearer and more comprehensive food labelling rules. Citizens might get to vote across borders in the next European elections.

The News: Food labelling - Truly European elections?

MEPs want European enterprises to lead by example, by respecting the rights of their employees no matter where in the world the work takes place.

Corporate social responsibility

The EU should hone its disaster response capabilities and European companies should behave in socially responsible ways abroad, MEPs stress.

The News: EU Civil Protection - Company ethics

MEPs have doubled the compensation for the Commission's proposed investor compensation scheme but many thought it already went too far.

Safer Investments

Post-Lisbon Treaty the EU's intelligence agency, SitCen has taken on new powers. Its chief, Ilkka Salmi, was interrogated by MEPs on its lack of transparency.

An EU CIA?

In the wake of the banking crisis MEPs double compensation in an investor protection scheme. EuroparlTV examines the EU intelligence service's growing powers.

The News: Investor Protection - EU Intelligence Service

Hot topics include the EU's emergency response capabilities, food labelling, economic governance and the idea of transnational electoral constituencies.

Next week in Brussels

MEPs give their verdicts on the 12 key initiatives proposed by Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier to spur on EU economic growth.

The 12 Re-launch Priorities

MEPs comment on Michel Barnier's Single Market proposals and the Japanese Ambassador to the EU asks the Union to start negotiations on a free trade agreement.

The News: Boosting EU Growth - EU-Japan Trade Relations

Following the South Korean free trade agreement and the recent events which gripped Japan, MEPs discuss Tokyo's ambitions to open up its markets to the EU.

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