If you are a producer of food products that are typical of a region or a tradition, you’ll be pleased to know that the European Union protects your know-how. Here’s a quick overview.

This is what Europe does for producers of regional and traditional products

Women have proved they can perform the same police, military and civilian roles as men. Women are increasingly engaged in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions around the globe. And research shows that they play a key role in the processes of mediation and conflict resolution, and act as role models for local communities.

This is what Europe does for women in the military and in peace-keeping and peace-making.

Are you a poultry farmer? If so, you are one of around 500 000 such farmers whose activities are supported by the EU.

This is what Europe does for poultry farmers

Whether you brew your own beer or just like to drink it, you’ll be pleased to know that the EU supports beer enthusiasts. Here are a few things you stand to benefit from as an EU citizen:

This is what Europe does for beer enthusiasts

If you are one of the many among us who have already tried all sorts of diets in order to lose weight, you don’t need anyone telling you to ‘just eat less and exercise more’. As we all know, it’s much more complicated than that. Here are three ways the EU makes things a bit simpler:

This is what Europe does for weight-loss dieters

Are you concerned about the effect of waste on the environment? Single-use plastics, for instance, can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. In Europe, more than 8 billion plastic bags are used every year. Here are three things the EU does to tackle this problem.

This is what Europe does for people who want to avoid plastic bags

If you are a foodie and love European specialities, you may have come across products bearing logos such as ‘protected designation of origin’. Examples include Scottish Wild Salmon and Cornish Sardines. These logos mean that the Union protects the products’ names and their unique qualities.

This is what Europe does for consumers of regional and traditional products

If you dedicate your working time to helping others or working for a non-profit organisation, then you are one of the millions of people that stand up for a cause. In fact, nearly 30 % of Europeans and one in ten European businesses are involved in the social economy. Here’s how the EU gives them a helping hand.

This is what Europe does for people working for a cause

Are you an industry representative involved in the policy-making process? If so, then Europe wants to hear your point of view, but it also regulates your activities.

This is what Europe does for interest group representatives

The internet has changed the way many of us book our holidays. That’s why the EU decided to adapt the rules protecting package holiday makers. Here’s how you benefit from this!

This is what Europe does for package holiday makers

A very high number of children – 25 million – are at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union. Here’s how the EU is helping to reduce this number.

This is what Europe does for children in poverty

Most Europeans say that they are religious, but there are a vast number who actively participate in philosophical and humanist movements. The spiritual landscape is very diverse.

This is what Europe does for members of religious and non-confessional organisations

Value added tax is an important source of revenue for national treasuries and the EU budget, but it is also vulnerable to fraud. Here’s how the EU is reducing that risk.

This is what Europe does for opponents of VAT fraud

Music styles are diverse, just like Europe. The EU is supporting artists from all types of backgrounds. Here’s how to get involved.

This is what Europe does for young music fans

As a local or regional civil servant, you play a crucial role for the EU and its policies. Here’s how the EU is supporting you.

This is what Europe does for local and regional civil servants

Did you know that the dairy sector is the EU’s second biggest farming sector by output? Farms of all sizes produce milk, from small family-run farms to specialised large-scale farms. The EU’s common agricultural policy supports the dairy sector in a variety of ways. Here are some examples.

This is what Europe does for dairy farmers

ITRE EMPL - Confirmation hearing of Dan JØRGENSEN, European Commissioner-designate for Energy and Housing

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean

BUDG - ECON

BUDG

ECON

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT

Committee on Culture and Education

CULT

Committee on International Trade

INTA

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

EMPL

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Foreign Affairs

AFET

Committee on Petitions

PETI

Global Youth Leadership Forum - “Europa, un futuro de esperanza” - statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and by Felipe VI King of Spain

EMPL - FEMM

First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform - Ukrainian language

First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform

ECON - FISC

FISC

LIBE IMCO JURI - Confirmation hearing of Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law

ITRE - Confirmation hearing of Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA, European Commissioner-designate for Startups, Research and Innovation

ING2 Committee - Vote on the recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption

EP Plenary session - Sexual harassment in the EU and MeToo evaluation

EP Plenary session - Oral questions - Strengthening social dialogue in the European Union

EP Plenary session - Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Social-economic cost of climate change, floods in Emilia Romagna, Marche, Toscana - urgent need EU solidarity

EP Plenary session - Threat to democracy and the rule of law in Poland, in particular the creation of an investigative committee

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds

EP Plenary session - Resumption of session and order of business

Lex Signing ceremony - Signature of Four COD LEX texts

EP Plenary session - Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

EP Plenary session - 10 year anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

Othmar KARAS welcomes Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia.

Press conference - Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds

Ceremony to mark the naming of the meeting room after Witold PILECKI

High-level Roundtable European TVs and the future of Europe.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with  Wopke HOEKSTRA, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

The PHARMA package aims to put a stop to counterfeit medicines. MEPs are increasingly concerned by the health risk posed by the rise of internet sales of products such as viagra. Counterfeit medicines are easy to come by and far easier to manufacture. It'

Pharmaceuticals - no more faking it

A reflective end to a busy plenary. Beginning the week with Commissioner hearings, the political group leaders had their say on the on how it went, and some were less than pleased. Copenhagen one month on: MEPs looked at how to move on from the disappoint

The News: Commissioner hearings review - Copenhagen outcome - Grass-roots green initiatives

Though the votes are not in, the opinions certainly are. MEP Joseph Daul (EPP) attacked the manner in which Bulgarian candiate Rumiana Jeleva's hearing played out. However, MEP Martin Schulz (S&D) praised the performances of socialist candidates Ashton an

Commissioner hearings: farce or fair?

What a difference a month makes, in December the world's hopes shone on the Danish capital, but within a matter of weeks the summit collapsed without a legally binding agreement. During the Strasbourg plenary MEPs dissected the outcome of Copenhagen, and

Copenhagen one month on

MEPs voted for a safe pair of hands by re-electing Nikiforos Diamandouros to be the man who helps citizen combat poor administration in the EU institutions. With the right to good administration a legally-binding fundamental right, Diamandouros says he is

Diamandouros wins second mandate as European ombudsman

Fighting off the competition from Vittorio Bottoli and Pierre-Yves Monette, the bookies' favourite Nikiforos Diamandouros won over a large majority of MEPs during the Strasbourg plenary vote. He will remain the defender of citizens' rights against EU inst

Citizens' rights are safe in the hands of Diamandouros

Looking for the light at the end of the economic crisis tunnel, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero outlined his plans before MEPs during the Strasbourg plenary today. Energy independence, sustainable development and investing in the information society were amo

Spanish PM Zapatero to the rescue

A Greek Cypriot priest has incurred the wrath of the island’s pimps by offering women a way out of prostitution. Duped into coming to the island with promises of work as dancers and waitresses, the mainly Eastern European women are forced into conditions

Protecting Prostitutes

Female Commissioners-designate were under fire today: Cecilia Malmström and Maria Damanaki held their hearings, whilst the news broke that Rumiana Jeleva had withdrawn her candidacy as International Cooperation Commissioner. Klaus-Heiner Lehne joins us af

The News: Malmström stands firm - Damanaki fishes for approval - Jeleva withdraws candidacy

What can the EU do to promote biodiversity where it's threatened by human activities such as farming or tourism? EuroparlTV went to investigate along the banks of the Danube.

Reconnecting rivers for LIFE

The last day of hearings sees two women go before MEPs in Strasbourg. Swede Cecilia Malmström (Home Affairs) and Greek Maria Damanaki (Maritime Affairs) stood the test. The Christmas bomb attempt came to the fore in discussions on terrorism for Malmström,

Female Commissioners face their inquisitors

Barroso's dream team will have to wait longer than expected to enter their posts as Bulgarian Commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeleva withdraws her candidacy. Her replacement is vice-president of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva which keeps the precious

Commission confirmation on ice as Jeleva withdraws

Commissioner-designates haven’t yet landed their coveted posts, but they are already clocking up overtime hours. MEPs quizzed Antonio Tajani, the Italian who wants to head European business, and Maroš Šefčovič, the Slovak who could be responsible for ensu

Would-be Commissioners on late-night grill

Arguably the most important dossier, with the largest share of the budget pie, Agriculture Commission-designate Dacian Cioloş should have struggled during his hearing. However, with a background in horticulture he was quick to dismiss the controversy of R

Green-fingered Romanian Minister set to take agriculture post

Having presided the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009 Dane Connie Hedegaard certainly has a solid background in her proposed area of responsibility,  Action against  Climate  Change. Some MEPs have expressed concerns over her track record - n

Presenting Danish climate star

The first plenary of 2010 will set the tone for the rest of the year. The hearings for Barroso's new Commission continue with Cecilia Malmström's hearing, covering the controversial issue of immigration. Plus, the disappointment of 2009 will be revisited

Flash: Commission hearings move to Strasbourg

The Maltese candidate for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli, though a veteran of his country's politics, failed to impress Corinne Lepage, Vice-Chair of the Environment and Public Health Committee.

Liberal MEP: Commissioner's statement lacked straight answers

Six under fire on day 4. Commissioners-designate for Energy, Transport, Health and Consumers, as well as Education and Digital Agenda were put to the test. Oettinger received top marks from some MEPs for his vision of an energy independent Europe, and Kal

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