EP Plenary session - Recommendation on smoke and aerosol-free environments

PECH - Confirmation hearing of Constantinos KADIS, European Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans

ENVI - Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, European Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

EP Plenary session - The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change

ENVI Committee constitutive meeting

Italian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term

EP Plenary session - Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Situation of prisoners in Hungarian jails, including the case of Ilaria Salis

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Packaging and packaging waste

EP Plenary session - Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles

Italian delegation of the ECR group

MEPs outline proposals to improve the protection of EU citizens against exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols, including from electronic cigarettes. In Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission has previously announced its intention to update the current Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments, which dates back to 20019. A revision was needed to extend its scope to certain emerging products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco, due to the rapid market growth and appeal of such products in recent years, especially among young people. The Commission recommends EU countries reduce the risk of second-hand exposure by banning the use of all tobacco products in certain outdoor spaces, such as public playgrounds and amusement parks, areas related to restaurants/cafés, public transportation, healthcare and education establishments, as well as workplaces.

Smoke and aerosol-free environments: MEPs debate

Costas KADIS, European Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans of the VON DER LEYEN Commission, is heard by the Fisheries (LIBE) Committee. Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) is also invited to participate as joint committee. Questions / Answers (part 4 - Invited Committees).

Confirmation hearing of Costas KADIS, European Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans: Questions / Answers (part 4 - Invited Committees)

Jessika ROSWALL, the Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, is heard by the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee. Prior to her nomination for the post of Commissioner, Roswall was Sweden's minister for European affairs, from October 2022 to September 2024. In her new position, she oversees environmental policy, water resilience, and circular economy initiatives within the von der Leyen Commission II. Questions / Answers (part 3). .

Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy: Questions / Answers (part 3)

On Wednesday, MEPs debate the devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, which have claimed lives and displaced thousands. The discussion focuses on the EU's preparedness for handling increasingly severe disasters driven by climate change. The floods, caused by torrential rain, have wreaked havoc across Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria, with entire neighborhoods submerged and widespread damage to infrastructure. Local authorities are describing the floods as the worst in decades, prompting emergency evacuations and calls for EU financial assistance.

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: MEPs debate part 1

MEPs debate the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient.

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate and vote on on strengthening requirements for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), such as buses, trucks and trailers, to reduce their CO2 emissions. They propose that the targets should be set at 45% for the period 2030-2034, 70% for 2035-2039 (compared to 65% proposed by the Commission) and 90% as of 2040. They also agree that newly registered urban buses should be zero-emission vehicles from 2030. Background: On 14 February 2023, the Commission tabled a legislative proposal to set CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles from 2030 onwards to help reach the EU’s objective to be climate neutral by 2050 and lower the demand for imported fossil fuels. Heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, city buses and long-distance buses, are responsible for more than 25% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transport in the EU and account for over 6% of total EU GHG emissions.

Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. First part of the debate.

Urban wastewater treatment: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the European Parliament giving its final green light to set the 2035 zero-emissions target for new cars and vans, part of the "Fit for 55* package. The new legitation sets the path towards zero CO2 emmissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035, thus increasing the contribution road transport is making to the EU's climate neutrality target.

CO2 emission standards for cars and vans: one round of political group leaders

This strategy will help the EU shift to a climate-neutral, circular economy where products are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable and energy-efficient. It aims to ensure that the textile industry recovers from the COVID-19 crisis in a sustainable way by making it more competitive, applying circular economy principles to production, products, consumption, waste management and secondary raw materials and directing investment, research and innovation.

The need for an ambitious EU Strategy for sustainable textiles: MEPs debate

Parliament debate and vote on measures and actions to fight cancer in the EU. Key recommendations by the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) include facilitating access to cross-border health care and clinical trials, managing shortages of cancer medicines more efficiently, and ensuring equal access to innovative drugs and treatments. First part of the debate.

Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer: MEPs debate (part 1/3)

The European Parliament debated on Tuesday and adopted on Wednesday (652 votes in favour, 15 against and 27 abstentions) measures and actions to fight cancer in the EU. Key recommendations by the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), presided by Veronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR) include facilitating access to cross-border health care and clinical trials, managing shortages of cancer medicines more efficiently, and ensuring equal access to innovative drugs and treatments. Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR stated that the EU would be faster and better equipped to bring down the prices of cancer drugs, which are very high. Stella KYRIAKIDES, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, reminded that prevention is very important so that citizens can have specific recommendations on how they can reduce their risk of cancer. In general, MEPs agreed that a better cross-border cooperation is needed in the fight against cancer:

Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer: extracts from the debate and the votes, statement by Veronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur

Parliament present plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint: MEPs debate. MEPs are expected to welcome the Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, while underlining the importance of producing healthy, animal friendly, high quality and affordable diets to European consumers. They are expected to demand that farmers must earn a fair share of the profit from sustainably produced food. Second part of the debate.

A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: MEPs debate (part 2/2)

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives. The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The strategy aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, and contains specific actions and commitments. It is the proposal for the EU’s contribution to the international negotiations on the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: MEPs debate (part 1/2)

European Parliament debated and adopted during the plenary session a strengthened EU legal framework for civil protection, in response to the unprecedented experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracts from the debate (26/04) with Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), Rapporteur, Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Jytte GUTELAND (S&D, SE), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR, IT), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (The Left, CZ), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG) and announcement of the result of the vote (28/04).

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: extracts from the debate (26/04) and from the vote

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: MEPs debate

Members of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) have an exchange of views with Stella KYRIAKIDES, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, in the European Parliament in Brussels on the EU Health Union package and on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including also illustrative shots on the vaccination and the digital green certificate.

Updates on the EU response to the Covid-19 pandemic: Exchange of views with Stella KYRIAKIDES, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety - ENVI Committee

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta URPILAINEN, on the situation in Eastern Congo and the assassination of the Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and his entourage.

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: Situation in Eastern Congo and the assassination of the Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and his entourage

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate on the tackling the economic impact of the COVID pandemic by focusing on investment, competitiveness and skills.

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