MEPs will return to Strasbourg – or connect remotely – for the first plenary session after the summer. On the agenda: the State of the European Union debate, a vote on the Afghanistan crisis, a fund to mitigate the impact of Brexit and much more.

Coming up in Strasbourg: State of the EU, Afghanistan and better health crisis response

The first half of 2021 saw the European Parliament working to end the pandemic and set the EU on the road to recovery. A greener and fairer EU, open and constructive relations with the rest of the world and protecting Europeans against Covid-19 were on the agenda. Let’s look back at what Parliament has achieved since the beginning of 2021.

Looking back: the first half of 2021

Back in Strasbourg once again, Parliament adopted the Digital Covid Certificate to ease safe movement in the EU and the President announced the winner of the LUX Audience Award. MEPs called for better protection of the environment and animals and backed funding to help businesses recover from the impact of Brexit.

Plenary highlights: Covid certificate, Brexit and LUX Audience Award

The European Parliament is inviting people to take part in the Conference on the Future of Europe. Make your voice heard and debate the things that matter to you: climate, human rights, migration, economy... nothing is off limits! MEPs will be helping to steer the Conference. Meet executive board co-chair, Guy Verhofstadt.

Guy Verhofstadt - “The Conference will make Europe stronger”

Parliament overwhelmingly approved the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the UK and also discussed the EU Covid-19 certificate. The research programme Horizon Europe and the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism will receive a boost in funding, while members also pushed to make international tax rules fairer.

Plenary highlights: EU-UK agreement, Covid-19 certificates and digital taxation

The EU and the UK have concluded a deal to serve as the basis for trade and cooperation following the country's departure from the Union. But what does this mean in practice? What does it cover? And how does it affect Europeans?

EU-UK: a new partnership

Parliament looked at the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine and voted on a financial package that includes the long-term budget and a recovery fund to support EU economies from next year. MEPs discussed the future partnership between the UK and the EU, and also adopted new rules on access to safe drinking water in the EU. The 2020 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the democratic opposition in Belarus.

Plenary highlights: From the long-term budget to the Sakharov Prize and Brexit

Following the resignation of Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reshuffled her team. MEPs held two extraordinary hearings for the posts of Trade and Finance. Valdis Dombrovskis, currently the Executive Vice-President of the Commission, was questioned by a group of committees led by the Committee on International Trade for the trade portfolio. Parliament will have the final say on his appointment.

UK Brexit

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