On Friday 25 May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force.

MEPs approved the regulation in 2016, in order to provide universal and high-level data protection rules across the EU.&nbsp; GDPR will ensure that everyone is able to control what kind of personal data they share with companies and for which purposes.

#EUelections2019 - Data Protection

As of 3 December 2018, Europeans are able to shop online without unjustified geo-blocking, wherever they are in the EU.

For citizens this means that they are able to buy their new electrical goods online, rent a car or get their concert tickets across borders as they do at home. Consumers no longer face barriers such as being asked to pay with a debit or credit card issued in another country. For businesses, this means more legal certainty to operate cross-border.

#EUelections2019 - Geo-blocking

Roaming fees for calling, sending text messages and using mobile internet abroad in the EU banned since 15 June 2017.

Since 2006, the European Commission has taken action to address the high roaming charges paid by consumers for using their mobile phones when travelling abroad in another EU Member State. In 2015, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a fourth Roaming Regulation, which entered into force on 29 November 2015. In January 2016, the European Parliament voted on its resolution 'Towards a single market act' for a timely wholesale review, to end roaming charges for all European consumers by 15 June 2017. During the third trilogue meeting on 31 January 2017, an agreement was reached between the Parliament and the Council. The Final Act was published in the Official Journal on 9 June 2017. As a result, since 15 June 2017 retail roaming charges have disappeared in the EU and EEA/EFTA countries (as they decided also to abolish them). The wholesale roaming charges were again reduced.

#EUelections2019 - Roaming

MEPs voted in October 2018 on updated rules on audiovisual media services, protecting children better, with stricter rules on advertising, and 30% European content in video-on-demand.

The legislation does not include any automatic filtering of uploaded content, but, at the request of the Parliament, platforms need to create a transparent, easy-to-use and effective mechanism to allow users to report or flag content. The new law includes strict rules on advertising, product placement in children’s TV programmes and content available on video-on-demand platforms. EP negotiators also secured a personal data protection mechanism for children, imposing measures to ensure that data collected by audiovisual media providers are not processed for commercial use, including for profiling and behaviourally targeted advertising.

#EUelections2019 - Audiovisual media services in the EU

In April 2018, the European Commission adopted a proposal on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the food supply chain.

It stems from the consensus that unfair trading practices occur in the food supply chain, with smaller operators more vulnerable to these practices due to a weaker bargaining power compared to larger operators. The proposal focuses therefore on smaller actors in the food supply chain and aims to protect them from trading practices that are imposed unilaterally. The protection covers small and medium-sized agricultural producers and other SME suppliers in the chain and imposed rules constraining the behaviour of buyers which are not SMEs.

#EUelections2019 - Helping farmers, ending unfair trading practices

MEPs have approved WIFI4EU, a scheme to promote free wi-fi connectivity in public spaces across the EU.

The objective of the WIFI4EU European initiative is to provide more than 6,000 communities across the EU with free high-speed wi-fi connection by 2020. Access to this initiative is reserved for public entities with spaces open to the public such as libraries, hospitals, parks, train stations and bus terminals. They would receive a grant from the EU to set up free wi-fi connection points.

The initiative boasts a budget of €120 million, which will be allocated to local communities across Europe on a first come, first served basis.

#EUelections2019 - WiFi4EU

EP Plenary session - A stronger Europe for safer products to better protect consumers and tackle unfair competition: Boosting EU oversight in e-commerce and imports

The text, adopted in plenary, will make the building sector climate neutral by 2050, all new buildings should be zero-emission from 2028. Existing residential buildings would have to be classified as at least E on their energy performance by 2030, and D by 2033 - on a scale going from A to G, the latter corresponding to the 15% worst-performing buildings in the national stock of a member state. Non-residential and public buildings would have to achieve the same by 2027 and 2030 respectively. Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA,IE), Rapporteur, gives a press conference in the EP. The transcription is the result of an automatic process, please check against delivery.

Press conference by Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA,IE), Rapporteur on Energy performance of buildings

To make the building sector climate neutral by 2050, all new buildings should be zero-emission from 2028. Existing residential buildings would have to be classified as at least E on their energy performance by 2030, and D by 2033 - on a scale going from A to G. Extracts from the debate in plenary, from the vote and statement by Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur.

Energy performance of buildings: extracts from the debate, extracts from the vote and statement by Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur

With winter at our doorstep, we are all worried about high energy prices, which have been soaring, since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU imported more than 40 % of its gas from Russia. These deliveries are all but gone, a decision taken in Moscow, not Brussels. As a consequence, the EU has to look elsewhere for its natural gas imports. The gas shortage is not only increasing the price of gas itself, but also that of electricity. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. #energyprices #RussiaUkraineWar

EPRS - High energy prices

Understanding inflation dynamics requires an understanding of the underlying concept and how it is measured. Inflation is defined as a process of continuously rising prices and falling purchasing power. In other words, a general and broad-based increase in the price of goods and services over an extended period. The main objective of central banks is to keep prices stable, to preserve the integrity and purchasing power of people's money. The most common inflation indicator measures the average change in the price of a basket of consumer goods and services over time. The Russian war on Ukraine is now likely to cause inflation to increase further, with underlying price pressure broadening and lingering supply-side bottlenecks.

EPRS - Inflation explained

Food prices in the EU have risen dramatically over the past two years. The chain of disruptions caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, extreme weather events and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have led to severe shortages in the agri-food chain, resulting in higher consumer prices. The latest European Parliament Eurobarometer survey shows that the cost of living continues to be the main concern for European citizens. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Rising food prices

MEPs, Council and Commission meet to try to reach a deal on the regulation for deforestation-free products. The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify (so-called “due diligence”) that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested land anywhere in the world. This would guarantee to consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to deforestation and reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss

Trilogue on Deforestation (regulation for deforestation-free products)

MEPs hear from Council and the Commission on what is being done to keep energy bills down and to help EU citizens deal with the social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. In a resolution adopted on 5 October, Parliament called for the EU’s response to focus on the most vulnerable and advocated more emergency measures to ease the pressure of rapidly rising energy prices on European households and businesses. Extracts from the debate.

Keep the bills down - social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine and the introduction of a windfall tax: extracts from the debate

Inflation has risen to levels not seen in 40 years in the euro area or in many other countries. What is being done to keep energy bills down and to help EU citizens deal with the social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. This infoclip shows the inflation and reduced purchasing power for consumers. Domestic illustrations with rising cost of living, use of heating, use of electric and gas appliances and illustrations of supermarket, open-air market, petrol station with costumers paying and counting savings.

Infoclip: Inflation and reduced purchasing power for consumers

Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), rapporteur on the final vote on Common charger in the European Parliament, gives a press conference after the final vote in plenary.

Press conference by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), rapporteur, on the final vote on common charger

Parliament debates the new law establishing a single charging solution for mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronics in the EU. From autumn 2024, a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras and headphones, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. This law is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, reduce e-waste and make consumers’ lives easier. Extracts from the debate, extracts from the vote and illustration shots.

Radio Equipment Directive - common charger for electronic devices: extracts from the debate, from the vote and illustration shots

Voting session on the following items: Slot utilisation rules at Union airports; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; Striving for a sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture; The impact of new technologies on taxation: crypto and blockchain; Management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Indian Ocean Tuna; Flexible Assistance to Territories (FAST-CARE); Radio Equipment Directive: common charger for electronic devices; Accessible EU Centre in support of accessibility policies in the EU internal market; EU Customs Single Window; Statistics on agricultural input and output; Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants.

Votes including Radio Equipment Directive: common charger for electronic devices

Parliament debates the new law establishing a single charging solution for mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronics in the EU. From autumn 2024, a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras and headphones, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. This law is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, reduce e-waste and make consumers’ lives easier. Opening statement by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur and by Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition.

Radio Equipment Directive - common charger for electronic devices: opening statement by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur and by Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age

MEPs debate the EU’s response to the dramatic rise in energy prices with the Council and Commission. Second part of the debate.

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: MEPs debate (part 3/3)

MEPs debate the EU’s response to the dramatic rise in energy prices with the Council and Commission.

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: MEPs debate (part 1/3)

MEPs debate the EU’s response to the dramatic rise in energy prices with the Council and Commission. Opening statements by Bek MIKULÁŠ, Czech Minister for European Affairs and by by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: opening statements by Bek MIKULÁŠ, Czech Minister for European Affairs and by by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

MEPs assess recent and proposed EU measures to protect European households and businesses from rising prices during the coming winter. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the disruption of Russian gas supplies has led to skyrocketing electricity prices and market volatility, leading the Commission and member states to consider new policy options such as capping prices or decoupling of gas and electricity prices.

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: extracts from the debate

&lt;p>MEPs debate the EU’s response to the dramatic rise in energy prices with the Council and Commission.&lt;/p>

EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe: closing statements by Bek MIKULÁŠ, Czech Minister for European Affairs and by by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

&lt;p>MEPs debate the EU’s response to the dramatic rise in energy prices with the Council and Commission. Second part of the debate.&lt;/p>

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