Signing Ceremony Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Protection of workers from extreme heat and other extreme weather phenomena resulting from the climate crisis

EP Plenary session - EU Day for the victims of the global climate crisis

Climate change package.

Belgique Wallonie Cul des Sarts energie electricte renouvelable naturel bio vert ecologie economie chaleur solaire ondulateur

Gethermal power station - Pipe installations.  Pipelines

Bus equipped with natural gas

2021 is the European Year of Rail, but what does that mean? To reach climate-neutrality by 2050, the EU needs to cut its transport CO2 emissions drastically. Investing in railway and promoting trains as a sustainable, safe and modern mode of transport, is one of the goals of this year.

2021: European Year of Rail

After a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, Parliament will begin work on the recovery. The next seven-year budget and the recovery fund are set to come into play. MEPs will examine key environmental legislation, put Europe on track to becoming a pioneer in technology and AI, and help prepare the continent for future health crises. All that and more coming up in 2021.

What's in store for 2021?

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.

A stronger budget to get Europe back on its feet

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many sectors, including Europe’s industries. MEPs are asking the Commission to come up with a new Industrial Strategy to help the sector recover and transform to a greener, more digital form.

A post-pandemic Industrial Strategy

President Sassoli announced the winner of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. MEPs set out proposals for future farm policy and called for measures to halt EU-driven deforestation and ensure equal access to education. They also made recommendations for future legislation on AI.

Plenary highlights: Sakharov Prize, farm policy and artificial intelligence

Forests cover nearly half of the EU. They play a major role in the fight against climate change and in protecting our biodiversity. MEPs want to make sure the EU Forest Strategy can help forests and the forestry sector prosper. The strategy aims to be a bridge between national policies and EU environmental objectives.

Europe needs healthy forests to fight climate change

Parliament voted for a higher emissions reduction target for 2030 and said the Forest Strategy must be aligned with the European Green Deal. MEPs called for a rule of law mechanism to protect EU democracy, as well as common rules for crowdfunding and more money to help young people.

Plenary highlights: reducing CO2 emissions, rule of law and youth unemployment

Parliament will vote on changes in the European Commission, set its position on CO2 reduction targets and the post-2020 forests strategy. All that and much more, coming up in Brussels.

Coming up in Brussels: Commission reshuffle, climate targets and rule of law.

Climate, research, youth and health are priorities for the European Parliament in the next seven-year budget. Cutting funding to areas that will help the recovery and that invest in future generations is unacceptable for MEPs.

Long-term budget: Parliament defends EU flagship programmes

Parliament wants a carefully crafted roadmap to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990, 5% more than the Commission's proposal. This is the goal of the climate law.

A climate-neutral Europe by 2050

If the EU is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, it needs to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. Parliament wants substantial financing to be allocated to the Just Transition Fund, to help regions, industries and workers make the change to the energies of the future.

From coal to clean: Europe’s green transition

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed Parliament in her first State of the European Union speech, outlining her plan for a green recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Climate, the importance of unity and cooperation and the next seven-year budget were key elements of the debate..

Von der Leyen tells Parliament she will lead the EU to green recovery

After a year at the head of the European Commission, president von der Leyen has begun implementing the new initiatives in her programme. Members of Parliament will scrutinise the past twelve months and analyse what the EU’s future will look like - the Covid-19 recovery, financing the next seven years, protecting the climate and repositioning the EU on the world map are on the menu.

Announcer: 2020 State of the European Union Debate

EU leaders may have reached an agreement on the 2021-2027 budget and the Covid-19 recovery package but Parliament says it cannot accept the deal as it stands. Cuts to programmes such as Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and the Green Deal are deemed unacceptable.

Parliament cannot accept the EU long-term budget deal as it stands

With the Covid-19 recovery as a common thread for the next semester, Parliament will consider key legislation on agriculture, transport and migration. Ensuring the economic recovery while safeguarding jobs and the environment is a priority. All this and more, coming up in the next six months in the European Parliament.

Next 6 months in Parliament: the road to recovery

Europe has faced major challenges over the past six months but is looking forward and investing in long-term solutions. To tackle the fallout of Covid-19, the EU released unprecedented funds to support people, jobs and research. To face the climate emergency, Parliament continued its fight for greener politics and more ambitious goals.

Parliament’s 2020 so far…

European energy supplies should be secure, diverse but also green. This is why Parliament wants to update trans-European energy network funding guidelines, to fit EU climate goals, in line with the green deal, while ensuring no region is left out.

Diversified and secure European energy

July's plenary session, MEPs will debate the recovery and the long-term budget. They will vote on fairer rules for road hauliers and call for an integrated EU public health strategy. All that and more, coming up in Brussels.

161 results