European Parliament

Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of premature death in the EU.   It causes health issues such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and severely harms both wildlife and the environment.   Parliament has approved a new law to make sure the air we breathe is pollution free by 2050. It also sets stricter 2030 limits for several dangerous pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.    The new law will give those affected by air pollution the power to take legal action or claim compensation.   For more information about how Parliament wants to clean up Europe’s air: https://europa.eu/!47RNBj

One of the greatest EU benefits is the ability to move around freely. But what about your health data? Parliament is backing the creation of a European Health Data Space with the aim of improving people’s access to their personal health data and boosting secure medical research in the public interest. It will make it possible to transfer your health data safely to health professionals in other EU countries. For example, when you move to another EU country, you will be able to download your health record free of charge. The Health Data Space would also greatly expand the potential for medical research, thanks to the sharing of data such as health records, clinical trials and more - all of it pseudonymised or anonymised to protect patients. Crucially, the law guarantees that you will be able to decide how your data is used and accessed. You will have to be informed every time your data is accessed - you can even refuse to share it. Discover how the European Health Data Space could work: https://europa.eu/!XFM8Ph

The EU wants to produce more of its own net-zero technologies by 2030 🇪🇺 How can this be achieved? Under new rules, the EU will aim to produce 40% of its yearly needs in net-zero technologies in the next six years. This includes European production of solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps and more. Faster permitting procedures and boosted funding will make this possible. The new law will also support:  • Industrial electrothermal processes  • Smart grids and transformers   • Energy storage  • Biofuels including ethanol  • Nuclear fission and fusion  • All other renewable technologies The EU also wants to capture 15% of the overall global market value for these technologies. This legislation is a big step forward towards boosting the economy and reaching Europe’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Read more here: https://europa.eu/!6jbvjX 

Should companies bear responsibility for what they do?   New EU rules, adopted by Parliament this week, will make large businesses legally responsible for the negative impact they have on the environment and on human rights--even when the harm is done by subcontractors.   This will mean for example that they have to ensure that no slavery or child labour was used to create their product and that they will have to minimise pollution and the loss of biodiversity caused by them.   Under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, firms also have to ensure that other companies they work with do the same. Companies that break the new rules could be fine up to 5% of their worldwide turnover.   Find out more about how the new rules will work: https://europa.eu/!KfddwV   #CSDDD

“Europe is about embracing differences while ensuring equality of opportunity. Everyone must have the same chance, not necessarily the same viewpoint. That is our strength. That is our Europe.” These were the words of Parliament President Roberta Metsola as leaders from the past and present gathered to mark 20 years since the EU’s biggest enlargement. On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the EU. Young people who were born on the day their country joined the EU were invited to the European Parliament to meet and ask questions to the leaders who paved the way 20 years ago. Where were you on 1 May 2004? Let us know in the comments below.

Most victims of human trafficking in the EU are women and girls. The European Parliament has voted in favour of new rules aimed at putting an end to human trafficking in Europe.    The new rules will make forced marriage, illegal adoption and exploitative surrogacy crimes at EU level.    To reduce the demand driving exploitation, the rules will also mean that people knowingly using services provided by victims of trafficking can face criminal charges.   Read more in the press release: https://lnkd.in/ed3x9V7T

⭐ Europe Day is an opportunity to celebrate the EU's achievements and unity.    Every year on 9 May, Europe Day commemorates the speech by Robert Schuman that led to the foundation of the European Union.   To mark the occasion and with less than 50 days to go until European elections, the European Parliament invites you to join engaging events all around Europe.   Take the opportunity to visit the Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels or discover the whole programme on oureuropeday.eu     #UseYourVote #EUelections2024 

Today begins the final plenary session of this legislative term. This week in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament will vote on 89 different pieces of legislation to wrap up some key files before a new parliament is elected in June ↓ Learn more about the full agenda by reading the briefing here: https://europa.eu/!XwCGWm 

Changes are coming. 🗳️ Based on recent population data, the European Parliament will update the number of seats per country to ensure fair representation.  After the elections in June the Parliament will increase from 705 members to 720.

Use your vote to decide who will fill those seats.    Not sure when to vote in your country? Get a reminder to vote → https://lnkd.in/gsAgNRmD   #UseYourVote #EUelections2024

Urban wastewater is a significant source of water pollution. To clean up our cities' wastewater, Parliament has approved new rules to improve its treatment and reuse to protect the environment and human health. This would mean urban wastewater is more closely monitored for chemical pollutants like so-called forever chemicals, micro plastics, and pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Crucially, producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics will be required to finance part of the costs of this additional water treatment. Meanwhile EU countries will have to put in place water savings and reuse plans to address water scarcity. For more information about how Parliament is cleaning up Europe’s urban wastewater: https://europa.eu/!XdDxNj