If you’re a sugar producer, you’ll already know that the EU has recently abandoned a quota system which encouraged European sugar production and self-sufficiency. It has been replaced by new measures. Here are some of them.

This is what Europe does for sugar producers

Did you know that the EU has specific rules for the protection of chickens reared for meat production?

This is what Europe does for people concerned about the welfare of meat chickens

Whatever you buy, whichever commercial service you use, you have to pay for it. Here are three examples of how the EU has made payments easier, cheaper and safer.

People paying for goods and services

If your community faces problems such as providing schooling for children in a remote area or reducing pollution, social innovation can provide solutions. The EU is supporting such efforts and here is how it is doing so:

This is what Europe does for social innovators

As a pedestrian, are you at ease walking around your home town or is crossing the road or even using the pavement something of an obstacle course? While road safety is dealt with primarily at national and local level, the EU has also done much to improve it and protect pedestrians. Here’s how.

This is what Europe does for pedestrian safety

As a European consumer you enjoy many rights and consumer friendly rules. Here are some examples.

This is what Europe does for consumers

Are you someone who eats pork but also cares about animal welfare? You’ll be glad to know that the EU has specific rules on the protection of pigs.

This is what Europe does for people concerned about the welfare of pigs

You might like a drink every now and then, but one in five people have reported drinking heavily at least once a month. Too much alcohol can cause a great deal of harm, both to yourself and to society, and alcohol is a causal factor in over 60 diseases, including cancer. Here are a few examples of how the EU gets involved:

This is what Europe does for people who drink alcohol

Did you know that sheep and goat farmers play an important role in preserving European landscapes? These farmers must produce high quality products and ensure their animals are treated well. Let’s find out how the EU supports this.

This is what Europe does for sheep and goat farmers

If you are an EU olive oil producer, you and your colleagues contribute to around three quarters of the world’s production of olive oil. Here are three ways the EU supports you.

This is what Europe does for olive oil producers

As a fruit and vegetable grower, you are part of a diverse group of farmers within the EU. Your products range from exotic tropical fruits to cabbages and potatoes, and your produce is vulnerable to many external factors. Here are three ways the EU supports you.

This is what Europe does for fruit and vegetable growers

You might remember how much it mattered to you as a child to have your voice heard by grown-ups. Here’s how the EU ensures that children’s views and opinions are taken into account.

This is what Europe does for children participating in decision making about their lives

Do you like to save money when you shop? EU laws can help you tell whether you’re getting the best deal and protect you from scams. Here’s how.

This is what Europe does for canny shoppers and bargain hunters

Bank accounts are an essential part of our everyday lives. We use them to manage our money, shop online and pay bills. Yet many EU citizens still find it difficult to change bank or open an account in another country

This is what Europe does for bank account holders

The whole family benefits when fathers take leave to look after their children. Here are three things that the EU does for fathers

This is what Europe does for fathers

Did you know that there around six million Roma in Europe? This makes the Roma population Europe’s largest ethnic minority. Here is how the EU helps those that lead non-sedentary lives.

This is what Europe does for members of non-sedentary Roma communities

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

Committee on Petitions

PETI

Committee on Culture and Education

CULT

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Regional Development

REGI

Committee on International Trade

INTA

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Committee on Foreign Affairs

AFET

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

ECON

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

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Meeting with Ľudovít ÓDOR, Slovakian Interim Prime Minister

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Solemn ceremony at the Ján Kuciak & Martina Kušnírová Memorial

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Participation to the Globsec Security Conference

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bratislava (Slovakia) - Meeting with Zuzana ČAPUTOVÁ, President of Slovakia

Launch of the 20 KM of Brussels race.

Isabel Carvalhais in the EP in Brussels

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Karoline EDSTADLER, Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal Chancellery of Austria

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Karl NEHAMMER, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Opening ceremony of the Europa Experience in Vienna

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Alexander Van der BELLEN, Federal President of Austria

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Alexander SCHALLENBERG, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Town Hall discussion with young students on the Future of Europe

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Visit to the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency

REGI - Exchange of views with Laura Kövesi, European Chief Prosecutor, on frauds linked to ESI funds and on the cooperation with EU institutions

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Chief Rabbi Jaron ENGELMAYER and Representatives of the Jewish Community

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria).- Walk in a park

Euroscola

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria) - Meeting with Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the National Council

From full body scanners to GMOs, culture and health - the concerns of the European citizen and consumer were addressed today by MEPs, who questioned the Commissioners-candidate for Transport (Kallas), Education and Culture (Vassiliou) and Health and Consu

Round-up of Thursday's hearings

Dubbed by journalists as a nationalist being close to the energy industry, Günther H. Oettinger said he wouldn't toe the line of Berlin in rhetoric of solidarity during his hearing for Energy Commissioner. He also made grand plans for a greener Europe in

An energy independent Europe for Energy Commissioner-designate

Grilling the Commissioners-designate has kept the Parliament busy this week, staff included. Exactly how much coffee is needed to keep everyone happy and alert? EuroparlTV had a look behind the scenes.

Behind the scenes at the Commissioner hearings

Day 3 of the Commissioners hearings provided less drama than yesterday, but more contented MEPs. Barnier's entry was the hot topic of the day, and he didn't disappint. The remaining candidates were united in their wish to regenerate Europe via green initi

The News: Barnier confirms his stature - Potočnik's green vision - Andor faces his past

Heavy-weight contender for the Commission Michel Barnier was up for scrutiny for the key internal market post and has already made an impression on many MEPs. Hungarian social affairs candidate Andor fielded MEPs questions on his communist past, whilst Ir

Commissioner hearings in brief - Andor, Barnier, Geoghegan-Quinn

Janez Potocnik Environment Commissioner-designate made a green pledge for Europe's future. He said that Europe's survival hinges on a sustainable green economy.  After a failed Copenhagen summit, many MEPs were happy to see a strong line from Potocnik on

Environment Commissioner-designate sees green

France's Michel Barnier is the man who is to take up the job of regulating Europe's financial markets. Not an easy task by any account, but then again Barnier, at 59, is an old hand at politics. He has already proved himself as the European Commissioner f

Cleaning up after the crisis - Commissioner-designate for Internal Market and Services

On the second day of Commissioners' hearings upsets and triumphs were the order of the day. Commissioner-designate Reding sailed through, while Bulgaria's candidate Rumiana Jeleva faced criticism for a conflict of interests. The ride proved bumpy for othe

The News: Super Tuesday for Commission Hearings - De Gucht, Füle, Jeleva, Reding, Šemeta, and Almunia

Rumiana Jeleva faced challenging questions over an alleged conflict of interest during her hearing before MEPs today as they inquired her on her responsibility to take the portfolio of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. We he

Bulgaria's Commission candidate has a tough time with MEPs

MEPs scrutinised the Commissioners for Enlargement (Füle), International Cooperation (Jeleva), Justice (Reding), Tax (Šemeta) and Competition (Almunia) during the hearings today. No skeletons were exorcised from closets. However, Jeleva faced close scruti

Today’s Chosen Five - Füle, Jeleva, Reding, Šemeta, and Almunia

Outgoing Development Commissioner, Belgian Karel De Gucht is up for the Trade post. MEPs forced him to clarify his stance on the Doha round, as well as his social priorities during an intense exchanges for the Commissioner hearings today.

Trading places with Karel De Gucht

Facing her first crisis due to a potential conflict of interests, Bulgarian Commissioner Jeleva will try to convince MEPs of her suitability to take up the role of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response today. Having already colle

Rumiana Jeleva: Meteoric rise of Bulgarian Commissioner-designate

Such was the verdict on the hearing of Catherine Ashton, nominated by the Member States as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. MEPs had three hours to examine her mastery of international politics through questions on anything from nuclear disarmamen

Baroness Ashton - Not always convincing, but never caught out

Does Catherine Ashton, would-be foreign affairs chief, have what it takes to negotiate with the Chinese and the Americans? Is Poland’s Janusz Lewandowski the best candidate to control the purse strings of the world’s premier economic bloc? It’s up to MEPs

The News: Commissioner Hearings – Spotlight on the candidates for external affairs and budget

With a strong background in both economics and EU politics, Poland’s Janusz Lewandowski is arguably a perfect fit for the post of Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming. EuroparlTV sketches out the profile of the former Chairman of the EP's Bud

Janusz Lewandowski: The perfect choice for Budget?

As MEPs return from their Christmas break, they will be greeted with an in-box rivalling the height of the new Burj Dubai. However large their workload, the new streamlined EU post-Lisbon should help MEPs to tackle the burning issues of energy security, g

2010 - Six month preview

The hearings in which MEPs assess the abilities of the 26 candidates for President José Manuel Barroso's new Commission start on 11 January. The stakes are high, as the Parliament cannot reject single candidates, only the entire Commission. But would many

Winning hearts and minds in the Parliament

Brussels welcomes the Spanish presidency of the EU. Working in trio with Belgium and Hungary to bring continuity to presidencies Spanish PM Zapatero has set out his priorities for 2010. Jobs and the economic crisis are among the priorities, but gender equ

2,878 results