EP Plenary session - Failure of the negotiations in Busan for a UN plastic treaty and the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution at international and Union level

EP Plenary session - Heat record year 2024 - the need for climate action to fight global warming

New Year reception at the Belgian Royal Palace for European Authorities

EP Plenary session - Tackling abusive subcontracting and labour market intermediaries

EP Plenary session - Restoring the EU’s competitive edge - the need for an impact assessment on the Green Deal policies

ENVI - Presentation of the responsibilities and activities of the following agencies under ENVI competence -  Presentation of the responsibilities and activities of the following agencies under ENVI competence

EP Plenary session - Rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty

ENVI ECON ITRE -  Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, European Commissioner-designate for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

DEVE FEMM ENVI - Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management Equality

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

EP Plenary session  - Closing the EU skills gap: supporting people in the digital and green transitions to ensure inclusive growth and competitiveness in line with the Draghi report

EP Plenary session - Tackling the steel crisis: boosting competitive and sustainable European steel and maintaining quality jobs

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

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 - Resumption of session and order of business

Belgian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

REGI mission to Marseille, France

Conference - The Future of Human Rights

Sara Matthieu - official portrait - 9th Parliamentary term

Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Questions / Answers (part 3).

Confirmation hearing of Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition: Questions / Answers (part 3)

Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and European Commissioner-designate for Equality of the VON DER LEYEN Commission, is heard by the Development (DEVE), Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committees. Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Public Health (SANT) are also invited to participate as joint committees. Questions / Answers (part 3).

Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and European Commissioner-designate for Equality: Questions / Answers (part 3)

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 1 - Political groups coordinators).

Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy: Questions / Answers (Part 1 - Political groups coordinators)

MEPs address the ongoing crisis in the EU’s automotive industry, focusing on enhancing competitiveness and preventing potential plant closures. This discussion arises as the sector grapples with challenges stemming from the shift to low-carbon technologies, supply chain disruptions, heightened competition from Asia, and a decline in demand for electric vehicles. MEPs engage with representatives from the Commission and the Hungarian Presidency to explore measures aimed at revitalizing the automotive sector.

The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe: MEPs debate (part 1)

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

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. First part of MEPs debate.

Energy performance of buildings: MEPs debate (part 1)

The European Climate Law instructs the Commission to propose an EU climate target for 2040 at the latest within six months of the first global stocktake carried out under the Paris Agreement that took place at the COP28 in December 2023. Plenary debates proposals for setting the EU 2040 climate target, shortly after the Commission publishes a Communication and an impact assessment to initiate the process of setting a 2040 climate target. First part of the MEPs debate

EU2040 climate target: MEPs debate (part 1)

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. MEPs debate

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: MEPs debate

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister, on the occasion of the presentation of the priorities of the Belgian presidency Council of the European Union during the plenary session in Strasbourg. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Prime Minister De Croo and welcome by President Metsola, extracts from the bilateral and extracts from the debate in the hemicycle.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials in a plenary debate in Strasbourg.

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials: MEPs debate part 1

MEPs debate the proposal to extend the authorisation to use glyphosate in the EU for ten more years.Glyphosate is currently approved in the EU until 15 December 2023 and can therefore be used as an active substance in plant protection products (pesticides) until that date, if authorised by national authorities. On 19 September 2023, the Commission put forward a draft regulation proposing to renew the approval of glyphosate, subject to certain conditions, for another ten years with a view to making a final decision by 15 December 2023. MEPs debate (part 2)

The proposed extension of glyphosate in the EU: MEPs debate (part 2)

To provide legal certainty to business and citizens, the Commission has proposed a directive laying down rules on corporate due diligence obligations. According to the new rules, companies will be required to prevent, end or mitigate the negative impact that their activities have on human rights and the environment, such as on child labour, slavery, pollution or biodiversity loss.

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on the reform of Emissions Trading System including for aviation and the maritime sector, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a new Social Climate fund. In particular, during the debate they discuss deals reached with EU countries in late 2022 on several key pieces of legislation that are part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”. This is the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels in line with the European Climate Law. Second part of the debate.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on its negotiating position for talks with EU governments on a new law to reform EU procedures and control measures for waste shipments.

Shipments of waste: MEPs debate

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

MEPs debate with the 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. First part of the debate.

Keep the bills down - social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: MEPs debate

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. MEPs debate (part 2).

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