At a glance: the findings of the special Eurobarometer survey on the rule of law; the agenda for the next plenary session of the European Parliament; and passenger rights in the EU.

News in Brief – 26/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the Committees’ first regular meetings; a statement by the chair of Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on the stricken fishing vessel in the Falkland Islands; and the European Disability Card and Parking Card.

News in Brief – 25/07/2024 - English

After electing the President and the 14 Vice-Presidents, the European Parliament elects the Quaestors. But what exactly is their role?

Out of the jargon jungle: what is a Quaestor?

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of the European Parliament’s standing committees and subcommittees took place on Tuesday in Brussels; the first regular committee meetings; and air passenger rights.

News in Brief – 24/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of the European Parliament’s standing committees and subcommittees are taking place today in Brussels; the EU is turning road safety best practices into draft laws; there are some steps you need to take before travelling around Europe with your pets.

News in Brief – 23/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the constitutive meetings of the European Parliament’s standing committees and subcommittees will take place in Brussels on Tuesday; new EU rules for the development of the trans-European transport network; and the anniversary of the election of the first female president of any EU institution.

News in Brief – 22/07/2024 - English

Yesterday, Parliament approved the nomination of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission for a second five-year term; on Wednesday, MEPs approved the proposal on the number of members in Parliament’s 20 specialised standing committees and four sub-committees, as well as its 48 standing delegations; the constitutive meetings of the European Parliament’s standing committees and subcommittees will take place in Brussels on Tuesday.

News in Brief – 19/07/2024 - English

The European Parliament is more than just its MEPs. Every day, thousands of people work behind the scenes at this large institution and strive to make the European Union more accessible, effective and transparent for people across the EU. And with so many people working together, it can be difficult to keep everything running smoothly. That’s why administrative bodies like Parliament’s Bureau are essential.

Jargon jungle. The role of the Bureau

At a glance: the 10th legislative term of the European Parliament has begun; Roberta Metsola has been re-elected as Parliament President; MEPs also elected 14 Vice-Presidents and 5 Quaestors; in Strasbourg, MEPs discussed the latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

News in Brief – 18/07/2024 - English

At a glance: Roberta Metsola has been re-elected as Parliament President; MEPs will vote on their position on support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression; Parliament to vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for a second term as Commission President.

News in Brief – 17/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the EU institutions react to the shooting that took place during former US president Donald Trump’s campaign rally; the newly elected European Parliament will vote on the composition of its committees and delegations during the plenary session in Strasbourg; MEPs will also vote on a position on Russia’s war of aggression, and are expected to reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine.

News in Brief – 16/07/2024 - English

At a glance: in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will elect its new President; MEPs will form committees, sub-committees and delegations; the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement.

News in Brief – 15/07/2024 - English

At a glance: next week, the first plenary session of the tenth legislative term will kick off in Strasbourg; the meeting of the Economic and Social Committee; and World Population Day.

News in Brief – 12/07/2024 - English

At a glance: next week in Strasbourg, MEPs will assess the outcome of the EU summit of 27 June; the S&D Group’s hearing with Ursula von der Leyen; and water quality at beaches across Europe.

News in Brief – 11/07/2024 - English

At a glance: next week in Strasbourg, MEPs will assess the outcome of the EU summit of 27 June; Parliament’s political group Identity and Democracy has changed its name; and President Roberta Metsola met the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

News in Brief – 10/07/2024 - English

At a glance: the political groups are preparing for the constitutive session of Parliament’s 10th legislative term, MEPs will assess the outcome of the EU summit of 27 June in Strasbourg next week, and the saving rate in the euro area has risen.

News in Brief – 09/07/2024 - English

Every five years, EU citizens choose who represents them in the European Parliament, the directly-elected institution that defends their interests in the EU decision-making process.

The European elections took place from 6th to 9th of June 2024.

The elections take place every five years and are the largest transnational elections in the world. By voting in the European elections, people living in the EU get to choose the 720&nbsp;members that will represent them in the European Parliament until 2029.

Following the elections, Parliament votes to elect the new head of the European Commission, which is the EU’s executive body, and to approve the full team of commissioners.

European elections 2024

The EU elections, took&nbsp;place from 6th to 9th of June 2024. Across the 27 member states, polling stations welcomed the EU voters who cast their ballots participating in the European governance.

The EU elections days are a pivotal moment for citizens across Europe, as millions of voters exercise their democratic right to shape the future of the European Union by voting to elect 720 Members of the European Parliament, who will represent them during the next mandate 2024-2029.

Election days - 6-9 June 2024

Ahead of European elections that took place from 6th to 9th of June 2024, the President of the European Parliament&nbsp;led a series of debates with young people across the EU under the name “Get the vote out”- to explain them why their vote matters and encourage them to go to vote.

The European Parliament also conducted an information campaign to engage citizens to come to vote in the European elections in all member states.

The EP signed also a Memorandum of Understanding with ENEX - the European News Exchange. ENEX represents 55 private TV outlets. The partnership &nbsp;deepened the cooperation between the two sides to ensure broad coverage of the European elections

Election campaign

After a series of special committees and a committee of inquiry, created to delve into the various tax leaks and scandals of recent years, Parliament established a more permanent setup to shed light on the matter.

The Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) subcommittee on tax matters, FISC, will be composed of 30 members. It will deal particularly with the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance, as well as financial transparency for taxation purposes.

The constituent meeting will take place on Wednesday, 23 September 2020.

FISC - Subcommittee on Tax Matters

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

LIBE - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

Have a look at the 2021 and 2022&nbsp;stockshots with illustrative pre-edited broadcast quality video footage. These editable stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), produced to illustrate priority EU dossiers and parliamentary work. They are intended to help audiovisual media produce their own programs, for example, editing of news reports or documentaries.

Infoclips - Illustrative footage

BUDG - Committee on Budgets

JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs

IMCO - Committee on Iternal Market and Consumer Protection

David McAllister (EPP, DE) will continue as the Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee for the coming two and a half years. He was re-elected by acclamation on Wednesday, 10 July. During its constituent meeting, the Committee also elected Witold Waszczykowski (ECR, PL) as the Committee’s First Vice-Chair. The remaining three Vice-Chairs will be elected at a future meeting. Together, the Chair and Vice-Chairs will form the Bureau of the Committee.

AFET - Committee on Foreign Affairs

On Wednesday 10 July, the Committe on Development (DEVE) met for the first time in its new composition and elected as its Chair Swedish MEP Tomas TOBÉ (EPP). The Committee also elected four Vice Chairs: Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA), Norbert NEUSER (S&amp;D), Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU (Renew Europe), Erik MARQUARDT (Greens/EFA). The next meeting of the Committee will take place in the morning of 24 July and is set to discuss the state of play of development cooperation, the 2020 budget and the future partnership with ACP countries. The Finish EU Council Presidency will set out its priorities, in particular in humanitarian aid.

DEVE - Committee on Development

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) is a committee of the European Parliament which is responsible for the regulation of financial services, the free movement of capital and payments, taxation and competition policies, oversight of the European Central Bank, and the international financial system. It is currently chaired by Irene Tinagli.

ECON - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

ENVI - Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ITRE - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Parliament to vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for Commission President

If elected by MEPs on Thursday, Ursula von der Leyen is set to return to the office of European Commission President for the next five years.

At 09.00 on Thursday, she will take the floor in Parliament’s plenary session and outline her vision and plans as Commission President, followed by a debate with MEPs.

The vote by secret paper ballot will take place at 13.00, following the debate. 

Background
Article 14 of the Treaty of the European Union provides that the EP “shall elect the President of the Commission.” In practice, based on Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (rule 128), the candidate proposed by the European Council has to present their political guidelines to Parliament, followed by a debate. Parliament then elects the President of the Commission by a majority of its component MEPs - i.e. 361, in a Parliament of 720 Members. If the candidate does not obtain the required majority, the President will invite the European Council to put forward another within one month, for election in accordance with the same procedure.

Ms von der Leyen has been Commission President since 2019 and was the EPP’s lead candidate in the 6 - 9 June European elections.

Election of the President of the European Commission

MEPs will confirm the number and size of Parliament’s standing committees, sub-committees and delegations on Wednesday. Membership of the committees will be announced on Friday. 

The vote on the proposal by the Conference of Presidents (i.e. the President and political group leaders) to set up the European Parliament’s committees and delegations for the new legislative period is expected to take place on Wednesday. The lists of MEPs to be appointed to each committee and delegation (which are decided internally by the political groups and non-attached members) are expected to be announced on Friday. 

According to Parliament's Rules of Procedure (rule 216), the composition of its committees and subcommittees should as far as possible reflect the composition of Parliament as a whole. The proportional distribution of committee seats among political groups must not depart from the nearest appropriate whole number.

Background

Each committee’s responsibilities are set out in Annex VI of the Rules of Procedure. During the previous legislative period, Parliament approved structural reforms for a more modern and efficient Parliament. 

Committees meet in public (unless the rules dictate otherwise) once or twice a month in Brussels. Their work revolves around drawing up, amending, and voting on legislative proposals and own-initiative reports, as well as holding debates with Council and Commission representatives, hearings with external experts, and organising fact-finding missions. They will play a crucial role in the upcoming hearings of Commissioners-designate.

Parliament can set up sub-committees and special temporary committees to deal with specific issues, and may also create committees of inquiry to investigate allegations of maladministration of EU law. The Conference of Committee Chairs coordinates their work.

Votes on the numerical strength of the Parliament’s standing committees, sub-committees and delegations

The House is expected to elect its 14 Vice-Presidents and its five Quaestors on Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 17 July.

Following the election of its President, Parliament will also elect its 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors, which comprise Parliament’s Bureau. 

What do Vice-Presidents and Quaestors do?

Vice-Presidents can replace the President, including to chair plenary sittings and in representing the Parliament at specific ceremonies or acts, when necessary. Quaestors deal with administrative matters directly affecting MEPs. 

Vice-Presidents and Quaestors are members of the European Parliament’s Bureau (where Quaestors participate in an advisory capacity), which lays down rules for Parliament’s smooth functioning. Among its other duties, the Bureau draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and decides on administrative, staff and organisational matters. In practice, the political groups aim to ensure that the composition of the Bureau broadly reflects the numerical strength of the groups, taking into account also the results of the President's election.

The process

Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (rules 17 and 18) set out how Bureau members are elected. As for the President, nominations are put forward either by a political group or by a group of MEPs reaching the low threshold (1/20th of MEPs). 

Vice-Presidents are elected in a single ballot, by an absolute majority of votes cast. If the number of successful candidates is less than 14, a second vote is held for the remaining seats, under the same conditions. If a third vote is necessary, a simple majority is sufficient. Vice-Presidents take precedence in the order in which they are elected and, in the event of a tie, by age. If voted by acclamation, a vote by secret ballot determines the order of precedence.

In each round MEPs may vote for up to as many candidates as the number of seats available in that round, but they have to vote for more than half of the positions to be filled - rounded up. In practical terms, this means that in the first round MEPs will have to vote for at least eight candidates and, if there is an odd number of seats in subsequent rounds, the number would be rounded up: for example, for nine positions the minimum would be five votes. The ballot papers that do not meet the threshold are not counted.

The election of Quaestors follows the same procedure as that for the election of Vice-Presidents.

Elections of EP's Quaestors

New Parliament set to voice strong support for Ukraine

On Wednesday morning, political group leaders will make statements on the need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine, followed by a vote on a resolution at 17.00.
With Russia intensifying its bombardment of Ukrainian civil infrastructure, including strikes on the country’s largest paediatric clinic, political group leaders will discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression.. In a vote on a resolution at 17.00, MEPs will set out the newly elected Parliament’s position and are expected to reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine. 

Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of Ukraine resolutions adopted by MEPs during the previous legislative term (2019-2024).

The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine

The House is expected to elect its 14 Vice-Presidents and its five Quaestors on Wednesday Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 17 July.17 July and Thursday 18 July.

Following the election of its President, Parliament will also elect its 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors, which comprise Parliament’s Bureau. 

What do Vice-Presidents and Quaestors do?

Vice-Presidents can replace the President, including to chair plenary sittings and in representing the Parliament at specific ceremonies or acts, when necessary. Quaestors deal with administrative matters directly affecting MEPs. 

Vice-Presidents and Quaestors are members of the European Parliament’s Bureau (where Quaestors participate in an advisory capacity), which lays down rules for Parliament’s smooth functioning. Among its other duties, the Bureau draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and decides on administrative, staff and organisational matters. In practice, the political groups aim to ensure that the composition of the Bureau broadly reflects the numerical strength of the groups, taking into account also the results of the President's election.

The process

Parliament’s Rules of Procedure set out how Bureau members are elected. As for the President, nominations are put forward either by a political group or by a group of MEPs reaching the low threshold (1/20th of MEPs). 

Vice-Presidents are elected in a single ballot, by an absolute majority of votes cast. If the number of successful candidates is less than 14, a second vote is held for the remaining seats, under the same conditions. If a third vote is necessary, a simple majority is sufficient. Vice-Presidents take precedence in the order in which they are elected and, in the event of a tie, by age. If voted by acclamation, a vote by secret ballot determines the order of precedence.

Elections of EP's Vice-Presidents

After the new Parliament is established on 16 July at 10.00 CEST, MEPs must first elect their President for the next two-and-a-half years.

The President enjoys a broad range of executive and representative powers, extending to “all powers that are necessary to preside over the proceedings of Parliament and to ensure that they are properly conducted”.

How is the President elected?

Candidates may be put forward either by a political group or by a group of MEPs reaching the low threshold, i.e. 1/20th of MEPs. Ahead of the vote, candidates may address the plenary for a maximum of five minutes. 

The election takes place by secret ballot and requires an absolute majority of valid votes cast, i.e. 50% plus one. Blank or spoiled votes are not taken into account. The deadline for presidential nominations is Monday, 15 July, at 19.00 and the vote will take place on Tuesday 16 July.

If no candidate is elected in the first round of voting, the same or other candidates can be nominated for a second round under the same conditions. A third round may take place if necessary, again with the same rules. If none of the candidates are elected in the third round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes in the third round proceed to a fourth and final round of voting, in which the candidate receiving the most votes wins.

Once elected, the new President will take the chair and may deliver an opening address.

Background

The process for electing the EP President is set out in Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, in rules 14 to 16. The sitting at which a new President is elected is chaired by the outgoing President or by one of the outgoing Vice-Presidents (to be determined according to their order of precedence), or, in the absence of any of them, by the Member who has held office for the longest period. Eight tellers, chosen by lot from among MEPs, oversee the process

Election of the President of the European Parliament

Last minute briefing

Pre- session briefing on the first Plenary session of the new legislature

Pre-session briefing

Provisional agenda of the European Council meeting includes: Ukraine, security and defense, competitiveness, external relations, the next institutional cycle.

European Council Meeting 27/28 June 2024

Following the European Parliament elections, EU leaders meet today in Brussels to discuss the next high-profile EU-level roles in the upcoming institutional cycle.

EP President Metsola particpates and gives a doorstep.

EP President's Metsola doorstep at informal EU leaders meeting

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected. Elections take place every five years. The next are held in the EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024. EU elections take place today in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden

Election Night- 9/6/2024

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected. Elections take place every five years. The elections are held in the EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024. 

EU elections take place today in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and in Sweden

Election Days- 9/6/2024

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected. Elections take place every five years. The elections are held in the EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024.

EU elections take place today in Latvia, Malta and in Slovakia.

Election Days- 8/6/2024

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected. Elections take place every five years. The next are held in the EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024.

EU elections take place today in Czechia and Ireland.

Election Days- 7/6/2024

In the European elections, people in the European Union vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament. In 2024, 720 MEPs will be elected. Elections take place every five years. The elections are held in the EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024.

EU elections take place today in the Netherlands.

Election Days- 6/6/2024

The Eurovision debate between the lead candidates for the Commission presidency takes place on Thursday 23 May from 15.00-16.45 in Parliament’s plenary chamber in Brussels.

Eurovision debate between lead candidates for the Commission presidency

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Ukraine on 9 May 2024, on the occasion of Europe Day. The aim of her visit is to show the European Parliament’s continued support and commitment to Ukraine and its European path. During her visit, President Metsola meets with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addresses the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and meets its Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, as well as meets and discusses with young Ukrainians. Presidents Zelenskyy and Metsola speak to the press present after their meeting.

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Kyiv (Ukraine) for Europe Day

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting.

European Elections 2024 - One Month to Go, illumination of landmark buildings across the EU

Latvian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

LIBE Committee meeting

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.


The number of MEPs elected varies between countries: bigger countries get more seats than smaller ones. Due to changes in the size of the population, some EU countries will get extra seats in the upcoming elections compared to the outgoing Parliament. In total 15 seats will be added.


There are also differences in other aspects of voting, for example regarding the minimum voting age or the rules about voting from abroad.

EU Elections 2024

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.

Map European elections 2024

Online shopping, take-away food, coffee to go... Packaging waste is growing. Find out how much is being produced and how the EU wants to reverse the trend

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Discover key figures about the repatriation of migrants and proposed changes to EU law.
The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum includes new rules and the revision of existing legislation, such as the Return Directive.
In a draft resolution on the Return Directive adopted in December 2020, MEPs stressed the importance of protecting individual fundamental rights as well as respect for procedural safeguards.

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

Over the past 30 years the single market has brought unity and opportunities to Europeans.

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Find out about the top cyber threats in 2022, the most affected sectors and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The digital transformation has inevitably led to new cybersecurity threats. During the coronavirus pandemic, companies had to adapt to remote working and this created more possibilities for cybercriminals. The war in Ukraine has also affected cybersecurity.

In response to the evolution of cybersecurity threats, Parliament adopted a new EU directive introducing harmonised measures across the EU, including on the protection of essential sectors.

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Find out about the economic inequalities that continue to persist between women and men in the EU.

It has been more than 25 years since the adoption of the UN’s Beijing Declaration, which aims to promote equality between men and women. The same goal lies behind the creation of UN Women - dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women - and the inclusion of gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals.
s
So where do we stand? Progress has been made, but inequality between men and women persists, including on the labour market. On average, women in the EU are paid less than men.

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

Every year 2.2 billion tonnes of waste are generated in the EU. More than a quarter of it (27%) is municipal waste: everyday waste collected and treated by municipalities, which is mainly generated by households. Data shows that the amount of waste and the way it is managed varies a lot across EU countries, but there has been a shift to more recycling and less landfilling.

To reduce waste and its impact on the environment, the EU has adopted ambitious targets on recycling and landfill and is working on packaging waste. The goal is to promote the shift towards a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

Waste management in the EU: infographic with facts and figures

Euroscola

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ITRE

Committee on Fisheries

PECH

Committee on Budgets

BUDG

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Subcommittee Constitutive meeting on Security and Defence

SEDE

Subcommittee Constitutive meeting on Public Health

SANT

Subcommittee Constitutive meeting on Tax Matters

FISC

Subcommittee Constitutive meeting on Human Rights

DROI

Committee Constitutive meeting on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

FEMM

Committee Constitutive meeting on Constitutional Affairs

AFCO

Committee Constitutive meeting on Fisheries

CCC constitutive meeting

SEDE Committee constitutive meeting

SANT Committee constitutive meeting

FISC Committee constitutive meeting

DROI Committee constitutive meeting

PECH Committee constitutive meeting

PETI Committee constitutive meeting

FEMM Committee constitutive meeting

CONT Committee constitutive meeting

AFCO Committee constitutive meeting

ITRE Committee constitutive meeting

CULT Committee constitutive meeting

REGI Committee constitutive meeting

DEVE Committee constitutive meeting

JURI Committee constitutive meeting

ENVI Committee constitutive meeting

LIBE Committee constitutive meeting

The European Parliament is encouraging people from across the EU to get involved in the democratic process.

Together.eu is a community powered by the European Parliament where you can meet - online and offline - people who care about democracy and make your voice heard on European issues.

Like Mireya in Madrid and Cille in Denmark, together.eu volunteers from across the EU meet, debate, exchange ideas and organise events to highlight what EU institutions do for citizens and why democratic participation is vital.

Meet your community and join them on together.eu.

Get involved in strengthening EU democracy! Meet Mireya and Cille

What’s better than a chat about democracy? A chat about democracy with a free coffee!
Meet Cille, a together.eu volunteer who set up a coffee truck in Copenhagen to encourage democratic participation in the EU. 
Together with her team, she organises EU-related events throughout the year to get people talking about what the EU can do for them and how EU institutions play a role in everyone’s life. 
Together.eu is a community of people who care about the EU and its future. By supporting the together.eu community, the European Parliament is encouraging people from across the EU to get involved in the democratic process.

Boosting democratic participation with Cille, a together.eu volunteer 9:16

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked an energy crisis and high inflation across Europe. The European Parliament wants to ensure the EU is resilient enough to face other crises in the future. That’s why it is supporting bold, visionary projects to make our economies and societies stronger.

Erik helped Swedish companies Amokabel and Bennesveds Åkeri set up the country’s first self-sufficient hydrogen station: Uppvidinge Vätgas. It provides clean fuel produced using local wind power. 

In Ireland, Hannah is a carbon specialist with Bord na Móna, a company that went from extracting peat for fuel to becoming a leader in clean energy production. She’s helping to rehabilitate the country’s peatlands, which can store huge amounts of carbon, helping the EU meet its climate goals.
 
Initiatives like these, funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, are at the heart of a stronger, more responsive Europe.

Building EU's economy of the future: meet Erik and Hannah - 9:16

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked an energy crisis and high inflation across Europe. The European Parliament wants to ensure the EU is resilient enough to face other crises in the future. That’s why it is supporting bold, visionary projects to make our economies and societies stronger.

Erik helped Swedish companies Amokabel and Bennesveds Åkeri set up the country’s first self-sufficient hydrogen station: Uppvidinge Vätgas. It provides clean fuel produced using local wind power. 

In Ireland, Hannah is a carbon specialist with Bord na Móna, a company that went from extracting peat for fuel to becoming a leader in clean energy production. She’s helping to rehabilitate the country’s peatlands, which can store huge amounts of carbon, helping the EU meet its climate goals.

Initiatives like these, funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, are at the heart of a stronger, more responsive Europe.

Building EU's economy of the future: meet Erik and Hannah

With a Waste Framework Directive MEPs propose higher binding waste reduction targets to be met at national level by 31 December 2030 - at least 20% in food processing and manufacturing (instead of 10% proposed by the Commission) and 40% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households (instead of 30%). Parliament also wants the Commission to evaluate if higher targets for 2035 (at least 30% and 50% respectively) should be introduced, and if so, asks them to come up with a legislative proposal. MEPs agree to extend producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, through which producers that sell textiles in the EU would have to cover the costs for collecting, sorting and recycling them separately. This infoclip shows in the first sequence footage of collection of unsold food (which otherwise would have been wasted) from a market, and in the second sequence collection of second hand clothes and its upcycling.

Infoclip: Texile and food waste

In June, millions of Europeans turned out to vote in the world's largest transnational election. Now the votes have been counted and new MEPs elected, let’s see what the new European Parliament looks like. How many MEPs are there in each political group? How many MEPs are there per country? Who did they elect as President of the European Parliament and European Commission?

What is the composition of the new European Parliament?

In June, millions of Europeans turned out to vote in the world's largest transnational election. Now the votes have been counted and new MEPs elected, let’s see what the new European Parliament looks like. 
 
How many MEPs are there in each political group? How many MEPs are there per country? Who did they elect as President of the European Parliament and European Commission?

What is the composition of the new European Parliament ? - 9:16

This news item shows extracts from the AFET (Foreing Affairs), LIBE (CIvil Liberties, Home Affairs and Justice), ITRE (Industry, research and Energy), ECON (Economy and Monetary Affairs), ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety), DEVE (Development) and AGRI (Agricolture) Committee's constitutive meetings and the election of their Bureau. The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels following the appointments of their members in the plenary sitting of 16-19 July. During the constitutive meetings, each committee and subcommittee elects its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees then starts holding their regular meetings during the same week following their constitutive meeting.

Constitutive meetings of the Committees (AFET, LIBE, ITRE, ECON, ENVI, DEVE and AGRI): extracts

In July 2024, the European Parliament confirmed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as Commission President. She’ll lead a team of commissioners – one from each EU country – who will propose and monitor the implementation of EU laws over the next five years.    
 
Electing the President of the European Commission is one of the first jobs of the Parliament after the European elections. 
    
The leaders of EU countries nominate a candidate for Commission President taking into account the results of the European elections.    
   
The candidate needs to receive approval from Parliament with the support of a majority of its component Members plus one in a secret vote.   
   
If the candidate does not receive the required majority, the European Council must propose an alternate candidate within a month.   
   
To learn more: https://elections.europa.eu/en/commission-president/

European Parliament re-elects von der Leyen as Commission President

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President-elect of the European Commission, give a joint press conference after the reelection of Mrs VON DER LEYEN, as EC President. The Commission President-elect will now send official letters to member state heads of state or government inviting them to put forward their candidates for European Commissioner posts. Parliament will then organise nominee hearings in the relevant committees after the summer. The full college of Commissioners then needs to be endorsed by Parliament. Extracts from the press conference.

Election of the President of the European Commission: extracts from the joint press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, President-elect of the European Commission

With 401 votes in favour, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission in a secret ballot on 18 July. Following the election, Roberta Metsola, EP President, and Ursula von der Leyen hold a press conference in Strasbourg. This will be Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President. She was first elected by MEPs in July 2019. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President-elect of the European Commission

This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President-elect of the European Commission, to the hemicycle, announcement of the results and congratulations by political group's leaders and MEPs to her after being elected by the Parliament. Parliament elects Ursula von der Leyen as President of the Commission in a secret ballot. The Parliament is currently composed of 719 deputies, so the majority required for its election was 360 votes. 401 deputies voted in favour, 284 against and 22 voted blank or invalid. The President-elect of the Commission will now send official letters to the Heads of State and Government of the Member States inviting them to put forward their candidates for the posts of European Commissioners. Parliament will then proceed to hear the candidates in the relevant committees after the summer.

Election of the President of the European Commission: extracts from the results of the vote

Roberta METSOLA, EP President announces the result of the vote of the election of the President of the European Commission: Ursula VON DER LEYEN is reelected President of the European Commission with 401 votes in favour.

Election of the President of the European Commission: announcement of the results of the vote

MEPs vote on the election of the President of the European Commission. Before the vote, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029 presented her political priorities and outlined her vision and plans as Commission President

Election of the President of the European Commission: order of business

This news item shows cutaways and illustrations during the vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for Commission President. The vote by secret paper ballot took place 18/07/2024 at 13h, following the debate.

Election of the President of the European Commission: atmosphere shots from the vote

Members of the Parliament vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s election for Commission President on Thursday, 18 July 2024. To be elected, von der Leyen needs the backing of an absolute majority of the Parliament (more than half of its members). The vote is held by secret paper ballot. If elected by MEPs, Ursula von der Leyen is set to return to the office of European Commission President for the next five years. This news item shows extracts from the statements by the political group leaders before the vote. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Election of the President of the European Commission: extracts from the political groups leaders and from the debate

MEPs vote in the election of the President of the European Commission. Before the vote, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029 presented her political priorities and outlined her vision and plans as Commission President

Election of the President of the European Commission: atmosphere in the chamber

Ursula von der Leyen takes the floor in Parliament’s plenary session and outline her vision and plans as Commission President, followed by a debate with MEPs. The vote by secret ballot follows the debate. Background Article 14 of the Treaty of the European Union provides that the EP “shall elect the President of the Commission.” In practice, based on Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, the candidate proposed by the European Council has to present their political guidelines to Parliament, followed by a debate. Parliament then elects the President of the Commission by a majority of its component MEPs - i.e. 361, in a Parliament of 720 Members.

Election of the President of the European Commission: extracts from the arrival and speech by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate President of the European Commission

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