77% of people in the EU would rather repair their broken household goods than replace them. Parliament is pushing for the “right to repair” in the EU, which would encourage manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to get appliances repaired rather than buying new ones.

Right to repair: a new life for consumer goods

Parliament will discuss the urgent situation in Ukraine, more than a month after Russia launched its illegal, unprovoked invasion. MEPs will vote on an update to the trans-European energy networks regulation, which will pave the way towards modern, independent, green energy infrastructure. Also on the agenda are women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan, the ’right to repair’ consumer goods and regulating the use of ‘big data’. All that and more, coming up in Strasbourg.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Ukraine, energy, women in Afghanistan

The Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe met to build on specific recommendations made by Citizens’ Panels on improving and reforming the EU. Members of the European Parliament were joined by counterparts from national assemblies and representatives from EU institutions, civil society and social partners. They worked with representatives from Citizens' Panels to move forward with proposals on the economy, digital transformation, health and education. Plenary also debated EU values and democracy, the bloc’s place in the world and climate change.

Plenary pushes forward citizens' ideas for tomorrow’s EU

The Conference on the Future of Europe returned to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this weekend. Representatives from European and national Citizens’ Panels championed their recommendations on improving the EU - and debated them with European and national lawmakers. The Conference plenary heard from Ukrainians about the war in their homeland, as it discussed the EU’s role in the world. The economy, migration, jobs and the digital transformation were also on the agenda - along with education, culture, youth and sport.

EU in the world and the economy: Citizens champion their ideas

The European Union must be more determined to stop dangerous foreign attacks on democracy, that was the main conclusion of Parliament’s special committee on foreign interference in democratic processes. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, taking action has never been more important. Disinformation, elite capture, cyberattacks – the committee’s chair and report author say the EU needs to build up resilience.

Foreign interference: ‘The answer is more democracy’

8 March is International Women’s Day. For decades, the European Parliament has been fighting for gender equality. However women are still doing most of the unseen care work. Let's make it clear!

International Women's Day 2022

European citizens have voted for 48 recommendations to help shape the EU of tomorrow. Some 200 participants were in Dublin for the third and final session of the European Citizens’ Panel on a stronger economy, social justice & jobs, education, culture & sport and digital transformation. Representatives will take the recommendations forward to the plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Economy, jobs, digitalisation, youth: Citizens make recommendations in Dublin

77 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the European Parliament commemorated the Holocaust in the presence of survivor Margot Friedländer. The German writer addressed MEPs, recounting her exile from Berlin to the concentration camp of Theresienstadt and the suffering of the millions of victims of Nazi atrocities.

The European Parliament commemorates Holocaust victims

2022 is the European Year of Youth. Europe has long recognised that investing in young people is, by definition, investing in the future. Over the years, the European Parliament has been a vocal supporter of policy, programmes and projects which help young Europeans. Let’s take a look back at how European youth policy has grown stronger over the years.

Timeline: Europe and young people

At the final plenary sitting of 2021, Parliament will award Alexei Navalny the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. MEPs will discuss how big online platforms should be more tightly regulated and vote on making 2022 the European Year of Youth. All that and more coming up in Strasbourg.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Sakharov Prize, ​internet giants and youth

The Conference on the Future of Europe has brought citizens from all across the EU together with one goal: debating ideas for the EU of tomorrow. Meet Ania, Joshua and Paloma who are part of the Citizens' Panel on the economy, social justice, youth and the digital transformation.

Ania, Joshua and Paloma: debating the economy, social justice and digitalisation

Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, sport and young people.

What is Erasmus+?

The ESF+ aims to invest in people and create a more social and inclusive Europe. Parliament wants to make sure that all children have a fair start, young people get a chance at quality employment through training and apprenticeships and vulnerable populations are supported.

European Social Fund Plus: helping the most vulnerable

Parliament debated whether Covid-19 vaccine patents should be waived and adopted a more inclusive Erasmus+ programme. Climate was also on the agenda: MEPs approved the Just Transition Fund to help regions adapt to the green transition, and urged the EU to do more to protect environmental activists. MEPs also discussed the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Plenary highlights: Covid-19 vaccine patents, Erasmus+ and the environment

Europe has so much to offer when it comes to culture - be it cinema, grand opera, ballet or music festivals… But the sector has suffered during the pandemic and the European Parliament is set on helping performers, artists and cultural workers beyond the crisis. The Creative Europe programme provides funding for cultural projects with a European added value and ideas that help promote equality.

From ballet to breakbeat: supporting Europe's creativity

Parliament will vote on legislation to support the shift to a carbon-neutral economy and propose strategies for hydrogen and energy systems. The chamber will vote on more support for the cultural sector and two major youth programmes – the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+. All that and more, coming up in plenary.

Coming up in plenary: youth programmes, decarbonising the economy and culture

The European Parliament believes that the challenges faced by EU and Africa should be seized as opportunities. The future EU-Africa strategy needs to see both continents work as equal partners towards a carbon-neutral and sustainable future. Issues like migration, good governance and education must be tackled hand in hand.

EU-Africa: a new partnership for the future

The European Parliament has struck a deal with representatives of EU governments to ensure a greener and forward-looking budget for the next seven years as well as a swift recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. After ten weeks of intense negotiations, MEPs secured an additional €16 billion in EU investments to support Europeans, foster research and address future crises.

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