At a glance: the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine commemorated in Strasbourg; revising the EU’s long-term budget; and the plenary debate with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

News in Brief – 28/02/2024 - English

At a glance: Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny commemorated in Strasbourg; reforms before the next round of EU enlargement; and new rules to enhance geographical indications.

News in Brief – 27/02/2024 - English

Today: the EU nature restoration law, new EU rules to protect journalists and activists, and Frankfurt’s selection as the seat of the AMLA, the EU’s new Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism.

News in Brief – 26/02/2024 - English

Ever since Russia launched an illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has supported Kyiv by condemning Russia’s aggression, sanctioning those responsible and providing financial and material support.

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Відколи Росія розпочала незаконне повномасштабне вторгнення в Україну в лютому 2022 року, ЄС підтримує Київ, засуджуючи російську агресію, запроваджуючи санкції проти винних та надаючи фінансову і матеріальну підтримку.

Війна Росії проти України

Today: Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week; Parliament’s Conference of Presidents expressed its outrage following the murder of the 2021 Sakharov Prize winner Navalny; and a preview of some of the topics on next week’s plenary session agenda.

News in Brief – 23/02/2024 - English

Today: MEPs are hearing testimonies from the Russian opposition after Alexei Navalny’s death; new rules to improve air quality in the EU; and International Mother Language Day.

News in Brief – 22/02/2024 - English

Today: the overhaul of the EU customs system; a briefing for the media on how to cover the European elections; and the vote to decide the city that will host the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Agency.

News in Brief – 21/02/2024 - English

Today: Parliament President’s reaction to Navalny death; Parliament political groups prepare for the next plenary session; and the rule of law in Slovakia.

News in Brief – 20/02/2024 - English

Today: the Committee on Budgets is set to vote on three measures that will establish the Ukraine Facility, new rules have been agreed to prevent pollution from ships in European seas, and Parliament and the Council have reached a deal to create EU Disability and Parking Cards.

News in Brief – 19/02/2024 - English

Today: new rules to support a circular economy, the EU ban on greenwashing, and greener trucks and buses.

News in Brief – 16/02/2024 - English

Today: stricter rules to ensure the safety of children’s toys, protecting plant health in the EU and an exchange of views on developments regarding jurisdiction over the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine.

News in Brief – 15/02/2024 - English

Today: this week, parliamentary committees are meeting in Brussels. The Committees on the Internal Market and Civil Liberties voted to approve the outcome of negotiations on the world’s first AI law; the meeting with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde; and the priorities of the Belgian EU Council Presidency.

News in Brief – 14/02/2024 – English

It’s something we find more or less everywhere: in our cars, in our homes and on our phones. What is it? The radio, of course! And 13 February is World Radio Day. Let’s take a look at a trusty media format that even saved the Eiffel Tower from being torn down.

World Radio Day

Today: this week, Committees are meeting in Brussels to discuss new rules on ensuring the safety of artificial intelligence and toys in Europe, as well as textiles and food waste reduction.

News in Brief – 13/02/2024 – English

Female genital mutilation includes all procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is carried out for cultural, religious and sometimes social reasons, but has no health benefits and can have serious immediate and long-term effects on health and wellbeing. What is being done to put a stop to this practice?

Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation

The war in Syria has taken 400 000 Syrian lives, thousands more have been injured and millions have been displaced

The conflict in Syria has its roots in structural and economic problems that were already widespread in Syria in the early 2000s. The Syrian regime, and its allies Russia and Iran are responsible under international law for the heinous crimes they continue to commit in Syria and the economic consequences of their military interventions.&nbsp;

Repeated regional and international attempts to end the war have failed. Efforts to find a political solution through the UN-led Geneva process must be renewed.

At the same time, the discussion about the future of Syria revolves around questions linked to the future of the Assad regime, territorial integrity of Syria, political accountability, the creation of safe zones, and the reconstruction work that will follow a potential peace agreement.

&nbsp;

 
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Situation in Syria

A new set of rules for Audiovisual media services, including digital platforms, will be approved by the EP after an agreement reached by the EU institutions in April this year.

The revised legislation will apply to broadcasters, but also to video-on-demand and video-sharing platforms, such as Netflix, YouTube or Facebook; as well as to the live streaming on video-sharing platforms. EP negotiators managed to secure enhanced protection for children and at least 30% of European productions (currently at 20%) in the catalogue of TV channels and VOD platforms. Clearer and stricter rules on advertising will apply both for broadcasters and online platforms. Once the revised directive is published, the Member States will have 21 months to implement the directive into national law.

Audiovisual media services in the EU - 8th parliamentary term

Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, is the twelfth EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EC, on Tuesday morning.

The Europeans want the EU to change. This is why the European Parliament is taking the leadership over a reform of the EU.

Parliament set out its vision for the future of Europe in three resolutions voted in plenary session on 16 February 2017. MEPs suggested, among other things:

<ul>
	<li>turning the Council of Ministers into a genuine second legislative chamber, and its configurations into preparatory bodies similar to Parliament’s committees,</li>
	<li>appointing an EU finance minister and giving the EU Commission the power to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy, backed up by a euro-area budget, and</li>
	<li>creating a fiscal capacity consisting of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and specific additional budgetary capacity for the euro area, funded by its members as a part of the EU budget.</li>
</ul>

Debate on the Future of Europe with Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancello

EU rules ensure a minimum level of protection for passengers, irrespective of the mode of transport: flight, train, bus, coach or ship.

EU rail passenger rights rules have been in force since 2009. The EP’s Committee on Transport and Tourism responsible for the file, adopted its rapport on 9 October 2018. The report is due to be discussed in plenary during November 2018. Update of existing rules which aim to improve provision of information about passenger rights, clear deadlines and procedures for complaint handling, uniform application of the rules: long distance domestic and cross-border urban, suburban and regional services can no longer be exempted from the application of passenger rights rules.

In 2014, MEPs proposed new rules to improve air passenger rights. The new regulation is currently being discussed in the Council.

Passenger rights - 8th parliamentary term

Europe’s Jewish population has been diminishing in recent decades, and a growing number of anti-Semitic acts and anti-Jewish violence have been occurring in recent years in the EU. In defence of its values, including respect for minorities, the EU undertakes and funds actions to counter anti-Semitism.

Jewish communities in the European Union

From childhood to retirement, social policies are important at all stages of our lives.

Compared to the rest of the world, Europe has the best levels of social protection and also ranks highly in terms of quality of life and wellbeing. However, it faces a wide range of challenges.

The effects of the economic crisis are still deeply felt in many member states and, even though things have improved in many countries, great disparities remain within the EU. Unemployment rates are decreasing overall, but vary strongly among EU countries.

Low birth rates and an aging population also challenge the sustainability of welfare systems. Working life is being transformed due by technological innovation, globalisation and the rise of the services sector. New business models in the sharing economy with more flexible forms of working are becoming more important.

Social Europe (2020)

The COP 23 Conference on Climate Change, chaired by the Fiji, is held in Bonn, Germany from 6-17 November 2017. 

The program focuses on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

COP 23

Road safety in the EU has improved significantly over the past decades, thanks to strong and effective action taken at EU, national and local level to address road user behaviour, vehicles and infrastructure. As a result the EU roads are the safest world-wide.

This increased safety can to a large extent be attributed to EU legislative requirements on safety of vehicles that have been introduced over these years as part of the EU policy on road safety. These vehicle safety requirements were also a boost to European research, development and innovation: when industry was faced with more ambitious requirements it found the ways to respond with innovative technical solutions.

Road safety (2019 - 2020)

In February 2014, with an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to submit legislative proposals aimed at improving the functioning of the European Arrest Warrant. In Parliament’s opinion, revision of the current legislation is needed to prevent miscarriages of justice, long waits in pre-trial detention and other breaches of suspects‘ human rights.

European Arrest Warrant - 8th parliamentary term

Pollution harms our health and our environment. It is the largest environmental cause of multiple mental and physical diseases and of premature deaths, especially among children, people with certain medical conditions and the elderly. It&nbsp;is also one of the main reasons for the loss of biodiversity.

The&nbsp;zero pollution vision for 2050&nbsp;is for air, water and soil pollution to be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. It includes a series of 2030 targets to speed up reducing pollution at source.

On 12 May 2021, the European Commission adopted the&nbsp;Zero Pollution Action Plan: "Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil"&nbsp;- a key deliverable of the European Green Deal.&nbsp;

Air pollution

The free movement of persons is a fundamental right guaranteed by the EU to its citizens. It entitles every EU citizen to travel, work and live in any EU country without special formalities.

Schengen cooperation enhances this freedom by enabling citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks. The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, as well as to many non-EU nationals, businessmen, tourists or other persons legally present on the EU territory.

Future of Schengen - 8th parliamentary term

<div style="padding-top: 10px;">The aim of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is to help EU Member States achieve their commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost effective way. Allowing participating compagnies to buy or sell emission allowances means that emissions cuts can be achieved at least cost. </div>

<div style="padding-top: 10px;">The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one.</div>

Green house emissions trading systems

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is the first financial instrument of the EU focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens.

How to make Europe greener and more digital are the twin challenges for our generation, and our success in meeting them will define our future.

Digital technology and infrastructure have a critical role in our private lives and business environments. We rely on them to communicate, work, advance science and answer current environmental problems. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted not only how much we rely on our technology to be available to us, but also how important it is for Europe not to be dependent on systems and solutions coming from other regions of the world.&nbsp;

The Digital Europe programme for 2021-2027 should be worth €7.5 billion and fund deployment of European supercomputers and data processing capacities and make supercomputing more accessible in the health, environmental, and security sectors and industry, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will strengthen and support artificial intelligence testing and trials in the health and mobility sectors, and encourage member states to cooperate in this area, with the aim of setting up a European data space. Businesses and public administrations will also be able to use artificial intelligence more. Money should be also dedicated to cybersecurity, to strengthen coordination between member states, boost Europe’s capabilities and support the deployment of cyber-security technology through initiatives such as the EU.&nbsp;

Digital Europe

On the 16th October 2017, the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion. Ms Caruana Galizia gave to the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) evidence about her work on the Panama Papers at a meeting in February 2017 in Malta.

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed. Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in Malta (2019-2020)

The EU elections, took&nbsp;place from 6th to 9th of June 2024. Across the 27 member states, polling stations welcomed the EU voters who cast their ballots participating in the European governance.

The EU elections days are a pivotal moment for citizens across Europe, as millions of voters exercise their democratic right to shape the future of the European Union by voting to elect 720 Members of the European Parliament, who will represent them during the next mandate 2024-2029.

Election days - 6-9 June 2024

Ahead of European elections that took place from 6th to 9th of June 2024, the President of the European Parliament&nbsp;led a series of debates with young people across the EU under the name “Get the vote out”- to explain them why their vote matters and encourage them to go to vote.

The European Parliament also conducted an information campaign to engage citizens to come to vote in the European elections in all member states.

The EP signed also a Memorandum of Understanding with ENEX - the European News Exchange. ENEX represents 55 private TV outlets. The partnership &nbsp;deepened the cooperation between the two sides to ensure broad coverage of the European elections

Election campaign

ECON - Confirmation hearing of Maria Luís ALBUQUERQUE, European Commissioner-designate for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

DEVE FEMM ENVI - Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management Equality

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO

European Parliament Welcome Briefing for EU Correspondents

Subcommittee meeting on Public Health

SANT

Committee meeting on Regional Development

REGI

Committee meeting on International Trade

INTA

G7 Speakers conference in Verona (Italy) - Opening address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President ( Recorded )

Joint Committee on Budgetary Control and Committee on Employment and Social Affairs - Meeting with DG REGIO on Control and Assurance in Cohesion policy with the Joint Audit Directorate of DG REGIO and DG EMPL

EMPL

CONT

Committee on Legal Affairs

JURI

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Committee on Budgetary Control

Joint committee on Budgets and committee on Budgetary Control

BUDG

Committee on Petitions

PETI

Committee on Budgets

Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Constitutive meeting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Keir STARMER, British Prime Minister

Meeting of the Conference of Presidents

Debate on the Future of Cohesion Policy

DG PERS Annual Inter-Parliamentary Seminar on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Sophie ERIKSSON and her team in the EP in Brussels

European Parliament in Brussels lit in pink to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness Month

High Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity Constitutive meeting

EPRS Policy roundtable - EU finances: Is Next Generation EU delivering?

Marko VESLIGAJ in the EP in Brussels

Conference of Committee Chairs

Delegations for relations with India Constitutive meeting

Nicolas GONZALEZ CASARES in the EP in Brussels

Delegations for relations to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Constitutive meeting

Delegations for relations with the United States Constitutive meeting

Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly Connstitutive meeting

Delegations for relations with New Zealand Constitutive meeting

Delegations for relations with Central Asia Constitutive meeting

On the occasion of her official visit to Austria, Roberta METSOLA, EP President arrives a the National Council, the Austrian Parliament, and visits the building. During the joint press point, Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council, describes Roberta METSOLA as "A bridge builder, and a very respected President, which was recently confirmed by the broad vote of the European Parliament".

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Vienna (Austria): meeting with Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council, visit of the Austrian National Council and extracts from the press conference

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council, hold a joint press conference after Roberta METSOLA received the Grand Decoration of Honour at the National Council. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives an acceptance speech after being award with the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - the country’s highest award, recognizing her significant contributions to EU-Austria relations - during her official visit to Viena (Austria). The visit underscores the strong ties between the European Union and Austria, focusing on key areas of cooperation and shared priorities. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Vienna (Austria): acceptance speech by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, pays an official visit to Vienna (Austria) where she receives the Grand Decoration of Honour at the National Council. Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council, pronounces the laudatory speech. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Vienna (Austria): laudatory speech by Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, is welcomed by Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council, and receives the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - the country’s highest award, recognizing her significant contributions to EU-Austria relations - during her official visit to Viena (Austria). The visit underscores the strong ties between the European Union and Austria, focusing on key areas of cooperation and shared priorities. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria): Welcoming Address by Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the Austrian National Council

During her official visit to Vienna (Austria), Roberta METSOLA, EP President receives the Grand Decoration of Honour at the National Council and makes the acceptance speech. The "Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich" (Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria) is the highest honour in Austrian national hours system. It is conferred by the Republic of Austria to honour people (from Austria and abroad) who have rendered meritorious services to the country.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Vienna (Austria): extracts from the ceremony of the Grand Decoration of Honour and the acceptance speech

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, during her official visit to Vienna (Austria). This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, her bilateral with Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, and from the press point held by both.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Vienna (Austria): meeting with Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor - arrival: meeting and extracts from the press point

Discover the five films shortlisted for the 2025 LUX Audience Award. This award highlights the European Parliament’s commitment to culture and education by providing support to European cinema and promoting cultural diversity. 
 
Animal (directed by Sofia Exarchou) 
Dahomey (directed by Mati Diop) 
Flow (directed by Gints Zilbalodis) 
Intercepted (directed by Oksana Karpovych) 
Julie Keeps Quiet (directed by Leonardo Van Dijl) 
 
Show your love for European cinema by watching and rating the films at www.luxaward.eu
By rating the films, you could win a trip to the European Parliament to attend the 2025 LUX Audience Award ceremony and meet the film directors.

LUX Audience Award: the 2025 finalists

This video shows a portrait of Gubad IBADOGHLU, Azerbaijan, finalist for the Sakharov Prize 2024. The footage shows a campaign for his realease projected on public buildings in Bonn, Germany, by NGO Global Witness, a plea made by his daughter to the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament and general views of Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani academic and anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu was arrested in 2023 after criticising the country’s oil and gas industry and creating a charity to return stolen public resources. Under house arrest, he faces up to 17 years in prison. He needs urgent heart surgery abroad. His detention was the start of an ongoing crackdown on academics and civil society before the COP29 forum, which Baku will host in November. In its April 2024 resolution, Parliament called for charges against him to be dropped and his travel ban lifted. Ibadoghlu is a salient example of Azerbaijan’s harsh treatment of critics.

Infoclip: Sakharov Prize 2024 - Finalist: Dr Gubad IBADOGHLU, Azerbaijan

This video shows women from the Israeli movement “Women Wage Peace” and the Palestinian movement “Women of the Sun”, finalist for the Sakharov Prize 2024, holding a joint peace rally on October 4th. They demand an end to the cycle of bloodshed and to promote “The Mothers’ Call”, formulated by both movements calling on peoples of both nations – Palestinian and Israeli, and peoples of the region to join their call for the resolution of the conflict. Since 7 October 2023 attacks, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified, yet voices for peace persist. Dr. Yael Admi and Reem Hajajra lead the two movements dedicated to this mission. In March 2022, WWP and WOS launched a historic partnership to end the conflict.

Infoclip: Sakharov Prize 2024 - Finalist: "Women wage peace" and "Women of the sun", Israel/Palestine

MEPs discuss World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health, during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

MEPs discuss World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health, during the plenary session in Strasbourg.

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health: MEPs debate (part 2)

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health: MEPs debate (part 1)

This news item shows arrivals and roundtable of the weekly meeting of EP Presidents of the political groups. The Conference of Presidents meets to confirm the timetable for the confirmation hearings of Commissioners-designate, a crucial step in the approval process of the new European Commission. The Conference of Presidents, led by the EP President and political group leaders, oversees Parliament's legislative planning, committee responsibilities, and relations with EU institutions. This meeting play a key role in setting the Parliament’s agenda.

Conference of Presidents on the Commissioners-designate hearings' timetable: arrivals and roundtable

MEPs discuss World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health, during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health: opening statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

MEPs delve into the management of Europe’s external borders and the role of the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. This debate takes place against the backdrop of the EU and its member states continuing to prepare for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and, in particular the screening regulation, to improve security checks for persons arriving in the EU irregularly and speed up asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to international protection. Closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders - need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs delve into the management of Europe’s external borders and the role of the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. This debate takes place against the backdrop of the EU and its member states continuing to prepare for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and, in particular the screening regulation, to improve security checks for persons arriving in the EU irregularly and speed up asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to international protection.

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