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 - EN - 210309

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In her first State of the Union speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) in areas such as sanctions and human rights. The crises and security challenges accumulating in and around the European Union have added to the urgency of having a more effective and rapid decision-making process in areas pertaining to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

EPRS policy podcast - Qualified majority voting in foreign and security policy: Pros and Cons

The arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines marks a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. According to estimates, coverage of at least 60 % to 75 % is needed to establish population immunity through vaccination. But, as regards Covid-19 vaccination, surveys suggest that Europeans are among the most sceptical in the world.

EPRS policy podcast - Covid-19 vaccination campaigns: The public dimension

Efforts to curb carbon emissions are falling short. As climate change impacts become all too clear, geoengineering is again in the spotlight. Some see it as a last-resort option to fight climate change. Detractors highlight the risks and uncertainties. Will governments end up ‘tinkering with Earth's thermostat’?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if we could engineer the planet to help fight climate change?

News in Brief - EN - 210304

The dramatic consequences of climate change and environmental degradation have brought the need for a more sustainable economy to the top of the agenda. Transforming the EU economy to make it more sustainable requires large investments, especially for enabling a green and low-carbon transition. Given that the public sector alone cannot cover this financial need, solutions have been sought to bring the private sector on board.

EPRS policy podcast - Green and sustainable finance

News in Brief - EN - 210303

News in Brief - EN - 210302

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Solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic are more effective when they are developed and adopted at European level. This is what the Parlemeter 2020 survey, which was conducted last November and December, tells us. Confidence in the European Union is rising and the desire for the European Parliament to play a greater role in decision-making is becoming stronger. However, fears are growing about the crisis looming on the horizon.

Eurobarometer Parlameter 2020_EN

News in Brief - EN - 210223

EP Plenary session - Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize

EP Plenary session - Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia

Press conference on European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024

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

Press briefing Greens/EFA

EP Plenary session - Ousting of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with students at G.F. Abela Junior College

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Meeting with Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic

Official visIt By Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Bilateral Meeting with Yaël BRAUN-PIVET, President of the French Assemblée Nationale

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Inauguration of the Europa Experience

AFCO Committee and Ad Hoc Delegation Mission to the U.S.A and Canada

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Speech ‘Roberta Metsola à la Sorbonne : un discours fondateur’ and Q&A with Students

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Bilateral Meeting with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris ( France ) - Visit to Pantheon, paying tribute to Former President of the European parliament Simone Vieil

European Council - Press Conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Oliver VARHELYI, Europen Commissioner meets with Anita DEMETRIOU, Speaker of the Cyprus House of Representatives

European Council - Roundtable

Online Press Briefing ' The Directive on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence  '

STOA workshop ‘ Future of Space - the sustainable path ’

European Council - Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Press conference on The Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

Renew Pre-summit

S&D Pre-summit

Practicing What We Preach - Gender Equality in the EP management

The European Parliament has acted to ensure the EU economy and society are stronger and fairer in the aftermath of unprecedented challenges.  

The Covid-19 pandemic damaged the EU’s social and economic fabric, while the war in Ukraine sparked an energy crisis and saw the cost of living rise.  

Find out more about how Parliament is ensuring decent pay for workers and equal opportunities, while supporting businesses and making sure the EU is better prepared for future crises.

How has the European Parliament acted to strengthen the EU economy? - 9:16 EE24

Have you ever read a social media post that made you really angry or sad? Or seemed too good to be true? Did you stop to think if it was true?
People who post disinformation use strong emotions to manipulate us and spread their message.
The European Parliament’s communications team helps you understand how they do this and how you can avoid falling into their trap.

How disinformation works | Episode 1: playing on emotions - 9:16

How disinformation works | Episode 1: playing on emotions

This infoclip shows footage of the Cukrarna Gallery opened in September 2021 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) with the contribution of the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF). The Slovenian capital has gained a new space that serves both as a venue for exhibiting contemporary art and as a place where thoughts can be explored and contemporary art projects of all kinds – visual, intermedia, performance, sound, music and more – can be created and presented. The financial contribution from the EU ERDF is of 10,7 million euros for a total estimated value of 24,6 million euros.

Infoclip: "Cukrarna" Gallery - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

This infoclip shows the Ljubjana main train station and its ongoing renovation financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that will increase the efficiency of rail transport for end users, especially by eliminating the existing bottleneck in Ljubljana. In particular, the renovation of the railway station in Ljubljana will increase the capacity for freight and passenger traffic in the wider city area with the aim of reducing the use of cars by daily migrants by enabling a 15-minute frequency of passenger trains in the Ljubljana area from all five directions in the morning and afternoon rush hours. The Recovery and Resilience Facility contributes EUR 214 million to the investment worth EUR 260 million in total. The works started in December 2023 and should be finalised by mid-2026.

Infoclip: Upgrade of the railway station - Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate in the voting process. President Metsola holds a round-table discussion with young people at the EU House of Nicosia during her official visit to Cyprus. This news item delivers external shots of European Union House, where the discussion is taking place, arrival of President Metsola, and discussion with young people. The main topics of the discussion were upcoming European Elections and the campaing.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cyprus - participation to a round-table discussion with young people

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate in the voting process. President Metsola visits the House of Representatives of Cyprus in Nicosia and meets the Speaker, Annita Demetriou, during her official visit to Cyprus.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cyprus - Visit at the House of Representatives of Cyprus: arrival, meeting with Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus and extracts from the press conference

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, President Metsola intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate in the voting process. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and Nikos CHRISTODOULIDES, President of Cyprus, hold a press point during her official visit to Cyprus. The topics that resonated were the news of the deaths of humanitarian aid workers of World Central Kitchen in Gaza, the need to protect this organisation, and the two-State solution between Israel and Palestine. Another topics were migration and European elections in June 2024. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Nikos CHRISTODOULIDES, President of Cyprus

Leading up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, intends to tour all EU Member States, urging citizens to participate and to vote. She hold a press point with Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, after their meeting in the House of Representatives during her official visit to Cyprus.

Press statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus

This memoclip shows, in order, the extracts from: Pope Francis' visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in 2014, the awarding of the Charlemagne Prize to Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2016, EP President David SASSOLI's visit to the Vatican and his meeting with Pope Francis in 2021.

Memoclip: Pope Francis and the European Parliament

How does Europe affect our everyday lives? How does it impact on our jobs, our families, our health care, our journeys and our consumer choices? And how is Europe present in our towns, cities and regions? As European citizens, no matter where we live, how we make our living, or how we spend our time, the EU has an impact on our daily lives. The website 'What Europe does for me' presents a wide range of short, easy-to-read texts drawn up by the European Parliamentary Research Service, focusing on what the European Union does and the impact it has on us all. It explores EU actions from the individual’s point of view, with many examples of projects and support.

EPRS - What Europe does for me: Supporting people with disabilities - German (subtitles)

EPRS - What Europe does for me: Supporting people with disabilities - Estonian (subtitles)

EPRS - What Europe does for me: Supporting women in the workplace - Danish (subtitles)

EPRS - What Europe does for me: Supporting women in the workplace - Estonian (subtitles)

Global challenges – including climate change, geopolitical conflict, erosion of democratic principles and social inequalities – affect people's daily lives and future prospects.A collective European response over the next 10 years could help to address these challenges – and offer benefits worth up to €3 trillion a year. This represents around 18 % of EU gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to €6 700 per citizen per year. Referring to the European Parliament's work during the 2019-2024 term, our research has identified action in 10 policy areas that could unleash Europe's potential – without the need for Treaty change.

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