Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations.

See more on our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/eu-kosovo-8th-legislative-term_16303_pk">previous package</a> on the 8th legislative term.

EU - Kosovo (2019-2020)

Romania is a EU member country since 1 January 2007.

Romania is a semi-presidential republic. Executive functions are held by both government and the president. The country is divided into 41 counties and the municipality of Bucharest. Each county is administered by a county council, responsible for local affairs, and a prefect responsible for administering national affairs at county level. There are 32 members of the European Parliament from Romania.

EU - Romania

Lithuania is a Member State of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and is a&nbsp; Member of the&nbsp; Euro area since 1 January 2015

 
There are 11 members of the European Parliament from Lithuania.

EU - Lithuania (2019-2020)

The Republic of Estonia obtained its independence in 1991 and became an EU member country&nbsp;on 1 May 2004. The entry of Estonia to&nbsp;the EU was approved by referendum by a large majority on 14 September 2003.

Estonia is a parliamentary republic. Its head of government - the prime minister - is nominated by the president and approved by the parliament. He or she is in charge of the executive power vested in government.

The head of state - the president - is elected by Parliament or electoral college for 5 years. The Parliament has 101 members, elected every 4 years. The country is divided into 15 counties and 79 municipalities.

Estonia has 7 MEPs. It&nbsp;adopted the Euro on the 1st January 2011 and became member of Schengen area on 21 December 2007.

EU - Estonia

On 23 April 2020 EU leaders discussed progress on the various dimensions of the European response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It was the fourth video meeting of this kind.

Leaders welcomed a European roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures, presented by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, on 15 April. They also discussed a Roadmap for recovery; safety nets for workers, businesses and sovereigns; the Recovery fund and Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF); illegal drilling in Cyprus; and they scheduled a video meeting with Western Balkans on 6 May.

Extraordinary European Council, 23 April 2020

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union (EU). The EU supports Ukraine in ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for its citizens and is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s ndependence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The Association Agreement (AA), including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) signed in 2014, is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together, promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and respect for common values

EU - Ukraine (2019-2020)

Albania applied for the EU membership in April 2009 and received the candidate status in June 2014. In April 2018, the Commission issued an unconditional recommendation to open accession negotiations. The Council set out the path towards opening accession negotiations in June 2019, depending on progress made in key areas such as the judiciary, fight against corruption and organised crime, intelligence services and public administration. In March 2020 the members of the European Council endorsed the General Affairs Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and in July 2020 the draft negotiating framework were presented to the Member States.

EU - Albania (2019 - 2020)

The 2021 UN climate change conference (COP26) took place from 1 to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow.&nbsp;The EU and its Member States took&nbsp;part as Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The annual Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC brought&nbsp;together governments from around the world to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change. The conference was&nbsp;also a space for governments, businesses, local authorities and civil society to discuss and showcase climate action. The COP26 was&nbsp;the first stocktaking of the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

After two weeks of negotiations, the Glasgow Climate Pact was adopted on Saturday 13 November.

Parliament has been pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation, and declared a&nbsp;climate emergency&nbsp;on 28 November 2019. In June 2021, the&nbsp;European Climate Law&nbsp;was adopted by Parliament. It transforms the&nbsp;European Green Deal’s political commitment to EU climate neutrality by 2050 into a binding obligation for the EU and its member states. It also increases the EU’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 40% to at least 55%, compared to 1990 levels. In July 2021, the Commission presented the&nbsp;“Fit for 55 in 2030” package&nbsp;to enable the EU to reach the more ambitious 2030-target.

COP 26 in Glasgow

The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) is an initiative of the European Union to reform its policies and institutions following large-scale consultations across the continent between May 2021 and Spring 2022.

The goals, principles, governance and methodology of the Conference are laid down in a Joint Declaration co-signed by the Presidents of the European Parliament, European Commission and Council on 10 March 2021.

The CoFoE inauguration event took place on 9 May 2021 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The programme featured a welcome speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as speeches by Presidents Sassoli, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Costa, representing the EU Institutions alongside short interventions by the Conference Executive Board’s co-chairs. Contributions via video link from citizens and civil society were also broadcasted, as well as musical performances by Violinist Renaud Capuçon and Karski quartet. The launch was linked to Europe Day events across the Member states.

Erasmus students from all member states were present in the Parliament’s hemicycle, and around 300 citizens were invited to attend remotely through large TV screens. Ministers for European affairs and other VIP guests also joined remotely.

Conference on the Future of Europe – Inaugural Event

This package contains the events of 2020. For latest events, see related links.

The UK leaving the EU is not the end of cooperation. Discussions start to determine how the two will work together. Based on the European Commission’s draft negotiating directives, which were presented by EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday 3 February, the resolution will provide the Parliament’s initial input to the upcoming negotiations with the British government on a new partnership after Brexit.

The transition period starting on 1 February is set to expire at the end of December 2020. Any agreement on the future EU-UK relationship will have to be fully concluded before that point if it is to come into force on 1 January 2021. The transition period can be extended once for one to two years, but the decision to do so must be taken by the EU-UK Joint Committee before 1 July 2020. Parliament will have to approve any future relationship agreement. If such an agreement refers to competences that the EU shares with member states, then national parliaments will also need to ratify it.

EU - UK relations (2020)

The obectives of the air transport's market rules are to set up a single air transport market in Europe, ensure its proper functioning, and extend it to certain third countries as far as possible.

More than twenty years after the entry into force of the ‘third package’ (in 1992), the functioning of the Single Aviation Market is, of course, still perfectible, as is illustrated by such factors as: the flaws in the slot allocation system; the fact that the vast majority (80%) of routes departing from EU airports are still served by only one (60%) or two carriers (20%); the financial difficulties that several airlines and secondary airports are facing; or the complicated oversight of air carriers now operating in several Member States. Nevertheless, the primary objective has been fully reached: from 1995 to 2014, while the number of passenger-kilometres within the EU-28 increased by around 23%, for air transport it jumped by about 74%. Over the same period, aviation’s share of total passenger transport increased from 6.5% to 9.2%, which is by far the strongest growth of all modes of transport in the EU. Source: <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/131/air-transport-market-rules">Air transport: market rules</a>.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/air-transport_5203_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Air transport

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. It has been a Member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group since 2000, despite not being a signatory of the Cotonou Agreement. The country is immersed in a process of reforms, as outlined in the Lineamientos, the Cuban government's economic and social policy guidelines.

Relations between the European Union and Cuba are based on a political dialogue that promotes cooperation, respect for human rights, the modernisation of the Cuban economy, and the development of joint responses to global challenges.&nbsp;

Several Cuban personalities became laureates of the EP Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought:&nbsp;the founder of the Varela Project, Oswaldo Payá -fighter&nbsp;for civil rights, free pluralist elections, the release of political prisoners, and economic and social reform in Cuba; the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White); and doctor in psychology, journalist and political dissident Guillermo Fariñas.

The EP has also voted a number of resolutions on the human rights and political situation in the country. In June 2021 MEPs condemned the existence of political prisoners, the persistent and permanent political persecution, acts of harassment and arbitrary detentions of dissidents in Cuba.

EU - Cuba

David SASSOLI, EP President, launches a new series of dialogues called "Ideas for a new world", with the participation of philosophers, writers, economists, representatives of civil society, and social leaders. The goal is to develop new ideas for post-Covid Europe. To create a Europe that works better and is closer to its citizens in a moment that requires imagination, action, and political courage, breaking from the approaches of the past to face new challenges with new tools.

Ideas for a new world

On certain occasions, David SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament, gives a speech during plenary sessions highlighting the news, a special event or pays tribute to a personality and asks for a minute of silence.

Statements of David SASSOLI, EP President in Plenary

The coronavirus crisis is a major shock for the European and global economies. Member States have already adopted budgetary, liquidity and policy measures to increase the capacity of their health systems and provide relief to those citizens and sectors that are particularly impacted.

Among the measures the EU is taking to support the economic recovery are the EU's recovery plan, Next Generation EU, SURE: temporary support for workers, amendments to the EU budget to address urgent issues, re-direction of EU funds to help member states most in need, support to most affected sectors.

On 21 July 2020, EU leaders agreed on a €750 billion recovery effort, Next Generation EU, to help the EU tackle the crisis caused by the pandemic. Alongside the recovery package, EU leaders agreed on a €1 074.3 billion long-term EU budget for 2021-2027. Among others, the budget will support investment in the digital and green transitions and resilience.

Together with the €540 billion of funds already in place for the three safety nets (for workers, for businesses and for member states), the overall EU's recovery package amounts to €2 364.3 billion (source: Council).

Coronavirus outbreak: impact on economic situation

The shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic affects everyone. However, there are big differences in the extent of the harm caused, and the long-term development of the pandemic and associated crises are highly uncertain.

Inequalities have been on the rise, particularly in case of certain vulnerable groups, those who remained all the time at work, but often had low income: health workers, grocery store workers, delivery workers, Amazon factory workers, or street cleaners, among others. Lower income individuals run greater health risks, and many of them are women.

Not all work is suited to transition to teleworking. This is particularly the case for precarious workers. Other factors have also contributed to the increase of social divides across generations and regions. Beside the closure of businesses, school closures have put enormous pressure on families. Aspects of this situation may cause lifelong harm, such in the case of the youngest children who might never recuperate the benefits for their personal development and social integration, school children who miss the opportunity to learn foundational lifelong skills, and those secondary school students who were about to take their exams.

The pandemic has also deeply affected quality of life, including mental wellbeing, trust and employment prospects. Finally, many households have been facing the prospect of falling into poverty due to a drop in their income linked to the coronavirus crisis and their limited resources to cope with the financial shocks.

Concrete measures the EU took to support the economic recovery are: the EU's recovery plan, Next Generation EU, SURE: temporary support for workers, amendments to the EU budget to address urgent issues,re-direction of EU funds to help member states most in need, support to most affected sectors.

Coronavirus outbreak: impact on social life

Euroscola

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Oral Questions - The European Parliament's right of inquiry

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Anti Money Laundering

Press conference on the first EU due diligence rules

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State for Digitalisation, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Banking Union

EMPL - Working Group on the European Child Guarantee

Press conference on Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe

Press conference on EU-Egypt: a strategic partnership for whom?

EP Plenary session - The attack on climate and nature: far right and conservative attempts to destroy the Green Deal and prevent investment in our future

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