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.

Parliament vets Valdis Dombrovskis for Trade Commissioner

With the Covid-19 recovery as a common thread for the next semester, Parliament will consider key legislation on agriculture, transport and migration. Ensuring the economic recovery while safeguarding jobs and the environment is a priority. All this and more, coming up in the next six months in the European Parliament.

Next 6 months in Parliament: the road to recovery

Europe has faced major challenges over the past six months but is looking forward and investing in long-term solutions. To tackle the fallout of Covid-19, the EU released unprecedented funds to support people, jobs and research. To face the climate emergency, Parliament continued its fight for greener politics and more ambitious goals.

Parliament’s 2020 so far…

MEPs will debate coronavirus and the next EU budget, call for the return to freedom of movement and say that the Conference on the Future of Europe should be organised as soon as possible. All that and more, coming up in Brussels.

Coming up in Brussels: The future of Europe, Covid-19 recovery and freedom of movement

MEPs will vote on the future EU-Vietnam trade deal. Parliament also looks at the talks on future relations between the EU and the UK, how to protect consumers with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, proposed changes to EU accession rules and the gender equality strategy.

Coming up in Strasbourg: EU-Vietnam deal, Brexit, AI and more

The UK has left the EU after more than 40 years of membership and has now entered the so-called transition period. But what is the transition period? How is the Parliament affected? And what happens next?

Brexit – What next?

Parliament took stock of the work done by the European Commission under the leadership of Jean-Claude Juncker. The Parliament also considered its response to Brexit and awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. MEPs discussed Turkey’s military incursion into Syria and adopted its position on the 2020 budget.

Plenary highlights: the Juncker Commission, Brexit and the Sakharov Prize

The winner of this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be announced in Strasbourg. Outgoing Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will appear before Parliament for the last time. MEPs will discuss the latest Brexit developments, vote on the next EU budget, and discuss the situation in northern Syria.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Sakharov Prize, Juncker’s farewell, Brexit, budget and Turkey-Syria

MEPs meet for a busy week in Brussels. On the agenda, a second week of hearings of Commission hopefuls, debating the EU’s long-term budget with the Commission and Council, defending European democracies and much more.

Coming up in Brussels: Commissioners-designate hearings, long-term budget, Sakharov Prize finalists

During the plenary session, Parliament backed Christine Lagarde as the new ECB chief, gave the green light to funding for research and Erasmus+ and agreed aid to three EU countries hit by flooding. Members also debated the state of play with Brexit, and discussed the destruction of forests worldwide.

From the new ECB chief to the latest on Brexit: 5 numbers from Strasbourg

As Parliament returns to Strasbourg after the summer recess, MEPs will look at the state of play on Brexit and vote on the nominee for president of the ECB. Providing assistance to member states via the Solidarity Fund, next year’s budget and the Amazon fires are also on the agenda.

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