Parliament's priorities and achievements in the ninth term 

       

In 2020, Parliament’s negotiators successfully fought for the biggest EU financial package ever to tackle the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis and finance a new generation of EU programmes for 2021-2027. MEPs achieved a €16 billion increase for flagship programmes such as EU4Health, Horizon (research), InvestEU and Erasmus+ in the EU’s long-term budget. To further support Ukraine and boost EU industrial autonomy, as well as addressing migration, MEPs insisted on a mid-term revision and upscaling of the long-term budget, which the Commission proposed in June 2023, in line with Parliament’s demands. A provisional agreement with member states was voted into law in February 2024, integrating the Ukraine Facility and the "Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform" (STEP).

The initial EU long-term budget and a €750 billion (more than €800 billion in current prices) recovery instrument (see also NextGenerationEU, RRF) aim to get European societies better prepared for crises and to boost the digital and green transitions, with particular support for young people, SMEs, rescue and health systems and research. Additional measures in support of regions and vulnerable populations (e.g. the Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate fund) were adopted in 2021 and complemented in 2023 to accelerate actions to reach climate neutrality and cut dependence on Russian energy (REPowerEU).

Parliament also secured a legally binding roadmap for the introduction of new own resources to cover the repayment of the NextGenerationEU borrowing. In November 2023, MEPs paved the way for three new sources to feed directly into the European Union’s budget: revenue from the Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and on corporate profits.

EU solidarity based on shared values and objectives

As the EU’s discharge authority, Parliament keeps a close eye on the budget spending and on the national recovery plans financed through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). For member states to receive EU funding, they scrupulously need to respect EU climate and digital objectives as well as the rule of law and fundamental EU values. Parliament exerted constant pressure on the Commission to retain any payments under the “rule of law conditionality”, agreed with Council in 2020, if those requirements are not fulfilled. Notably, Parliament contested the Commission’s unfreezing of €10.2 billion in EU cohesion funds for Hungary and introduced a case (C-225/24) at the European Court of Justice. Moreover, MEPs succeeded in enhancing scrutiny and transparency of the RRF: the 100 biggest beneficiaries of RRF funding have to be published by each member state.

Fair wages and tax transparency

MEPs negotiated with member states to secure national minimum wages and to ensure that men and women receive equal pay for equal work, across the EU.

MEPs negotiated with member states to secure national minimum wages and to ensure that men and women receive equal pay for equal work, across the EU. Parliament and Council agreed on a new law to bring in social justice and dignity for workers and put an end to abusive practices by service providers operating via digital platforms. The so-called platform work directive puts an end to bogus self-employment and introduces the first ever EU-rules on the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

MEPs also call on member states to strengthen minimum income schemes and ban the exploitation of trainees. As work conditions in the cultural and creative sectors differ greatly between member states, they called for new EU legislation on the social status and working conditions of artists and other professionals working in culture. In a separate report, MEPs in particular seek ways to ensure musicians are remunerated fairly by music streaming platforms.

An outright ban on products made with forced labour, be it inside or outside the EU, will oblige manufacturers of such goods to withdraw their products from the EU single market and donate, recycle or destroy them.

For the first time, Parliament also adopted transparency requirements for short-term rental services to give municipalities better oversight of their local short-term rental market via platforms and protect travellers from fraudulent offers.

Furthermore, fair taxation and the fight against corruption and against money laundering remain high on Parliament’s agenda. To effectively enforce the new common rulebook, MEPs agreed with member states to set up a European Anti-Money Laundering Agency in Frankfurt (Germany). Parliament also adopted new rules for financial operations in cryptocurrencies, so they can be traced in the same way as traditional money transfers. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU also reached an agreement on new legislation to boost the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets and crack down on violations of EU sanctions.

Economic stability and support for EU industries to drive the digital and green transitions

In February 2023, MEPs voted in favour of establishing a new EU funding instrument to anchor and re-locate industrial production capacities in Europe. A first funding tool (STEP) has been set up in the overall revision of the MFF. Legislation on decarbonising gas supply and reforming the electricity market to stabilise prices for consumers was adopted in April 2024. Parliament also approved new rules to secure sufficient supply of critical raw materials in 2023 and adopted the “Net Zero Industry Act” to boost Europe’s green tech economy. This “competitiveness package” should boost the production and take-up of clean energy technologies, and help EU industries produce high-quality jobs and stimulate economic growth to reach the Green Deal goals.

With an eye on stimulating small-scale economic growth, MEPs agreed with member states on establishing instant payment rules for euro transfers to be performed in 10 seconds at no extra cost and on easing SMEs’ access to capital markets. In the last plenary of the 9th term, Parliament approved a series of rules agreed with member states to increase financial and economic stability in the EU. This includes an agreement with member states on economic governance coordination in the EU and on restoring national budgetary discipline as of 2024 while making the rules clearer, conducive to investment, more tailored to each country’s situation, and more flexible.

MEPs also gave a green light to the review of the common agriculture policy (CAP) to ease the administrative burden on EU farmers and build in more flexibility for fulfilling greening conditions.

       

Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019 and fought for more ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. The Climate Law (adopted on 24 June 2021) makes it a binding objective for the EU to become climate neutral in 2050 and reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% in 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). It gives European citizens and businesses the legal certainty and predictability they need to plan for the green transition.

At least 30% of the EU budget will support climate objectives (and 8% biodiversity), with a significant part being disbursed collectively by the EU via REPowerEU to save energy, produce clean energy and diversify supplies. It also provides support for vulnerable households, SMEs and micro-enterprises. In addition, Parliament backed a €86.7 billion Social Climate Fund (to address energy and transport poverty) and a €17.5 billion Just Transition Fund for regions struggling with the social and economic impact of the climate/green transition.

Achieve climate neutrality by 2050

On top of reducing the GHG emissions of industries, transport (aviation, maritime, cars and vans, Euro 7 standards, trucks and busses) and households, the Parliament decided to incentivise alternative energy uptake. It further increased the ambition of the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), which enshrines the “polluter pays” principle. By putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions, the ETS has made industries invest in climate-friendly technologies. The effort-sharing rules set out reduction targets for member states in areas not covered by ETS and a more ambitious EU carbon sinks target for the land use and forestry sector protects EU forests, boosts biodiversity and increases the EU’s 2030 GHG reduction target to 57%.

Fuels for heating and road transport will be included in the ETS by 2027/28 and free allocations to the aviation sector will be phased out by 2026. Parliament endorsed the objective for zero CO2 emissions from new cars and vans in 2035 and strengthened the rules that will cover the entire life cycle of batteries. MEPs also agreed to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency while reducing methane emissions from the energy sector. New rules have been adopted to lower the energy consumption of buildings to further reduce the EU’s carbon footprint and dependency on Russian fossil fuels.

Avoid carbon leakage and greenwashing 

A new Carbon border adjustment mechanism will apply the EU’s carbon price to imported cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. MEPs have established a level playing field to protect EU industries and prevent production being relocated abroad and to propel the rest of the world to step up their climate efforts.

A host of products may now no longer be placed on the EU’s market if they have caused deforestation: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal, printed paper products. While no products will be banned outright, companies will have to show proof of “due diligence” - that producing them did not contribute to deforestation. More generally, sustainable company reporting becomes obligatory for all big companies in the EU, as from 2024. Some 50 000 companies will have to disclose data on the impact of their activities on people and the planet and any sustainability risks they are exposed to. Finally, MEPs adopted “due diligence” rules requiring firms and their upstream and downstream partners including supply, production and distribution to prevent, end or mitigate their adverse impact on human rights and the environment.

Striving for less pollution, more biodiversity 

Parliament tightened rules on air quality and adopted new requirements to reduce packaging waste and industrial emissions in the EU. Mandatory requirements to restore damaged EU ecosystems while ensuring sufficient food production were also passed.

In parallel, Parliament adopted tougher sanctions and an extended list of environmental crimes to protect ecosystems more effectively.

Key moments: Climate protection and environmental policies (video)

       

Parliament is among the first institutions in the world to call for laws on key issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the regulation of online platforms. MEPs want Europe to uphold the highest standards on digital services, data protection and cybersecurity, built on EU fundamental rights and values set out in the EU’s Declaration of digital rights and principles.

A human-centred approach

The European Parliament has taken positions on establishing ethical principles that guide the EU’s approach to the digital transformation, as well as ensuring full compliance with fundamental rights such as data protection, the right to privacy, non-discrimination and gender equality, and with principles such as consumer protection, technological and net neutrality, trustworthiness and inclusiveness. Parliament has also called for users’ rights to be protected more robustly online, for investment in digital skills, support for workers’ rights and mental health in the digital workspace, and the right to disconnect, making digital platforms less addictive and virtual worlds based on EU values and ethical principles.

Digital Services rules

The Digital Services Act (DSA) sets clear standards for how online companies operate and provide services in the EU, while offering a high level of protection for users. Under the guiding principle of “what is illegal offline should be illegal online”, online platforms have to take quick measures to remove illegal content, counter disinformation and strengthen checks on traders.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) establishes obligations for large online platforms acting as “gatekeepers” on the digital market to ensure they behave in a fair way. The rules provide innovators and tech start-ups with new opportunities to compete and innovate in a fairer business environment. Consumers will have more and better services to choose from, without losing control over their data.

Both the DSA and DMA were adopted by Parliament in July 2022.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In March 2024, Parliament adopted the world’s first comprehensive law on regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The rules establish obligations for AI based on its potential risks and level of impact. Certain uses of AI will become completely prohibited such as social scoring, biometric categorisation using sensitive characteristics, and emotion recognition in the workplace and education. Powerful models referred to as "general purpose AI" will also have to abide with the rules.

A European data strategy

MEPs support an interoperable, EU-wide data governance framework and a human-centric “data society” in which citizens have full control of their own data. Access to high-quality data is an essential factor in building high-performing and safe AI systems.

The Data Act complements the rules set out in the Digital Governance Act on data-sharing. It aims to boost innovation by removing barriers obstructing consumers and businesses’ access to data.

Parliament finalised the creation of an EU-wide digital wallet, which will allow citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online without having to resort to commercial providers.

MEPs agreed with member states on setting up a European Health Data Space to ensure citizens can securely access prescriptions, imagery and lab tests, even across borders.

Cybersecurity

In response to the growing threats posed by digitalisation and a surge in cyber-attacks, MEPs updated the rules for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2), replacing the first EU-wide cybersecurity law (NIS). NIS2 sets tighter cybersecurity requirements, expands the number of “essential sectors”, streamlines reporting, and introduces stricter enforcement, including sanctions, across the EU.

MEPs also approved the creation of an EU cybersecurity competence centre and network, and called for tighter EU cybersecurity standards for connected devices, apps and operating systems.

Parliament finalised the Cyber Resilience Act in March 2024, which introduces cybersecurity requirements for connected devices to protect consumers and businesses from unsafe digital products in the single market.

Chips Act and rare raw materials

MEPs adopted final plans to secure the EU’s supply of chips by boosting production and innovation in the EU, and establishing emergency measures against shortages. Parliament also voted to increase the availability of critical raw materials for the EU’s electronics industry through research in alternatives, mining, recycling and diversifying supply from third countries.

Key moments: Safe and competitive digital environment (video)

       

Thirty years after establishing the single market, Parliament took action on updating consumer protection rules to meet the challenges of the digital era and the green transition. Waste reduction, recycling and sustainable reuse or production of goods are the cornerstones of building a more self-reliant and zero-pollution circular economy.

Among the most recent changes are new rules set out in the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and initiatives like a common charger for mobile electronic devices. MEPs and Council also agreed revamped product safety requirements and consumer credits rules to enhance consumer protection and the wellbeing of EU citizens, both online and offline. Moreover, they adopted updated liability rules for defective products.

Circular Economy: products to last longer

Parliament and Council approved new rules for recycling and producing sustainable batteries and reducing packaging waste. MEPs also voted on a series of proposals to limit food and textiles waste.

To boost sustainable consumption, MEPs approved an extensive revamp of the Eco-Design Directive for products to last longer and be easier to repair, upgrade and recycle. They also strengthened consumers’ rights to repair to make repairs easier and more cost-effective in the EU. Parliament banned greenwashing, in addition to putting in place due diligence obligations for corporate businesses to mitigate their adverse impact on human rights and the environment

Key moments: Consumer policies (video)

       

Primary responsibility for healthcare systems lies with the member states. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the EU has an important role to play in improving public health, preventing and managing diseases, mitigating sources of danger to human health, and coordinating health strategies between member states. Parliament increased the funding for the 2021-27 “EU4Health” programme from €1.7 billion to €5.1 billion, aiming to improve cooperation among EU countries and to better deal with future pandemics and health threats.

In February 2023, Parliament agreed to set up a new permanent Subcommittee for Public Health, underlining the topic’s priority status.

Tackling the pandemic

In June 2021, MEPs and member states swiftly put in place the temporary digital COVID-19 certificate to facilitate safe cross-border travel and transport in the EU and beyond during the pandemic. Parliament agreed to widen the scope and upgrade the resources of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to quickly respond to large-scale disasters. The Parliament also pushed for strengthening the mandate of the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), to enhance the EU’s crisis prevention, preparedness and response capacity when addressing future serious cross-border health threats.

MEPs considered further lessons learned from the EU’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination campaigns. They issued a roadmap to better prepare the EU for future health crises, based on the findings of the temporary COVI special committee.

Pharmaceuticals, health at work, defeat cancer

Parliament repeatedly pushed to protect citizens’ health in the workplace more robustly and adopted new rules to lower exposure to asbestos. MEPs also set out ways to increase the EU’s pharmaceutical autonomy in a report adopted at the end of 2021. A broad revision of the EU’s key pharmaceutical legislation, tabled by the Commission in spring 2023, has been amended by MEPs and should be finalised after the European elections.

The Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) issued recommendations to improve cooperation on cancer prevention and early detection, as well as harness research, innovation and new technologies for prevention and treatment. MEPs also call on the next European Commission to draw up an EU long-term Mental Health Strategy.

Making life abroad easier for persons with disabilities

Parliament and Council agreed on a European Disability card and a related EU parking card. When travelling or temporarily studying in another EU country, persons with disabilities and those accompanying them will benefit from equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access, and access to reserved parking.

Improving road safety

Given around 40% of cross-border offences go unpunished, MEPs secured more robust assistance procedures between EU countries to help find a person liable for a traffic offence. Apart from speeding, drink-driving and failing to stop at a red traffic light, MEPs added dangerous parking and overtaking, crossing a solid line, and hit and run offences, which could trigger a cross-border investigation and result in a possible fine.

Key moments: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic (video)

       

A new Pact on Migration and Asylum was proposed by the European Commission in 2020 to overhaul and streamline asylum procedures, reception conditions and return policies for migrants across the EU. The informal deal between Parliament and Council on the package of proposals, including Regulations for Asylum and Migration Management, Crisis and Force majeure, Screening and Asylum Procedures regulation, was approved by Parliament as a whole in April 2024.

EU lawmakers struck a balance through which EU borders are effectively safeguarded and efforts are undertaken to combat human smuggling and trafficking (adopted by Parliament in April), while ensuring that migrants’ human rights are respected.

A holistic approach

MEPs made sure that the EU has an independent and fully operational Agency for Asylum by 2024 to develop operational standards, indicators, guidelines and best practices on asylum-related matters. The Malta-based agency provides operational assistance to member states in need, including in crisis situations as well as on relocation and resettlement.

The Migration and Asylum package also establishes new rules to help vulnerable persons reach EU territory in a legal, organised and safe way. This is based on voluntary resettlement in a member state (Union Resettlement Framework Regulation), and on improved Reception Conditions to enable registered asylum applicants to start working after six months. It is also based on uniform standards across the EU for the recognition of people applying for international protection and regarding the type of rights granted to those that qualify for such protection (Qualification regulation).

Labour migration

In May 2021, MEPs called for establishing legal pathways for migration to reduce illegal border-crossings and to allow for the orderly integration of new arrivals into the labour force. As a first step, Parliament voted on new rules for highly qualified workers to settle more easily in the EU (Blue Card). They also improved the existing single work and residence permit directive for third-country nationals to integrate into the EU workforce.

Frontex under parliamentary scrutiny

The Frontex Scrutiny Working Group was created following a decision by the Civil Liberties Committee coordinators on 29 January 2021 to investigate allegations of illegal push-backs. The group of MEPs continues to monitor all aspects of the functioning of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex and the correct application of the relevant EU legislation, in particular the European Border and Coast Guard regulation. On 13 July 2023, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for more proactive EU involvement in search and rescue operations undertaken by member states, the EU and Frontex in the Mediterranean. This was followed up by a plenary vote in December on how the Agency can help member states to control their external borders more efficiently and in compliance with fundamental rights.

Key moments: Reforming the asylum and migration rules (video)

       

The European Parliament stands with Ukraine in its fight for democratic freedom and self-determination. It has strongly and repeatedly condemned Russia’s war of aggression and called for tough sanctions on Russia and Belarus as of the first days of the military attacks. It continuously pushes for the EU to provide defensive weapons, humanitarian aid and democratic support to the institutions of Ukraine.

During an extraordinary plenary session on 1 March 2022, MEPs adopted a first resolution calling on tough sanctions to be imposed against Russia and Belarus over the invasion and swiftly provide Ukraine with defensive weapons.

The European Parliament became the first international political institution to be addressed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the assault, which he did in a (remote) speech the same day. A month later, on 1 April 2022, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola became the first EU leader to visit Kyiv, where she met with President Zelenskyy, parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and addressed Members of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

On his first visit to Brussels on 9 February 2023, President Zelenskyy delivered a speech in plenary before addressing EU heads of state or government at the EU summit.

Tackling the consequences of war on Ukraine and EU actions

Parliament requested robust long-term humanitarian food aid for Ukraine, from both the EU and at the international level, in a resolution on 24 March 2022. In April 2022, MEPs demanded a complete EU embargo on Russian energy imports and as of May, started work to redirect recovery funds to RePowerEU and speed up the green energy transition in member states.

During the September 2022 plenary session, MEPs backed simplified rules for the use of EU regional funds to address the consequences of Russian aggression and in particular to help neighbouring regions hosting Ukrainian refugees. They also greenlighted a second tranche of EU macro-financial assistance for Ukraine’s immediate needs. In November 2022, MEPs approved an €18 billion EU loan to support Ukraine in 2023 and agreed in 2024 to set up a €50 billion facility to support Ukraine’s recovery and called for a solid legal regime to allow Russian state-owned assets frozen by the EU to be confiscated and used to reconstruct Ukraine.

MEPs renewed temporary autonomous trade measures for duty-free imports of Ukrainian products to support the ailing Ukrainian economy. They added some safeguard restrictions on agricultural goods to prevent potential market distortions in EU member states.

Towards a free and democratic Ukraine within the EU

In a resolution adopted in March 2022, Parliament also pointed out that the Russian government is spreading “disinformation of an unparalleled malice and magnitude” to deceive its citizens and the international community about the war in Ukraine. It urged the EU to put in place specific sanctions related to foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.

In May 2022, they urged the EU to support international proceedings and courts with the prosecution of the Russian and Belarussian regimes for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

To this end, Parliament attributed new powers to Eurojust to allow the EU agency to collect and process evidence on these crimes.

In June, Parliament successfully called on EU heads of state or government to grant Ukraine EU candidate status and approved a first post-war tranche of macro-financial assistance to the country in July.

On 6 October, MEPs rejected the results of the Russian-orchestrated sham referenda to annex occupied Ukrainian territory at gunpoint as “null and void”. They also called for a massive increase in military assistance for the Ukrainian government and armed forces.

In a display of solidarity and admiration, Parliament bestowed the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders and civil society, on 19 October. The award ceremony was held in December.

Following the continued atrocities carried out by Russian forces and their proxies in Ukraine, MEPs decided to recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in a resolution adopted on 23 November. This was followed up by Parliament recognising Holodomor, the Soviet starvation of Ukrainians, as genocide.

During the plenary session in January 2023, MEPs called for a firmer response to Russian threats to European security and also renewed their call to create a special international tribunal to hold the Russian political and military leadership accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on 3 February 2023, MEPs adopted a resolution calling on EU and Ukrainian political leaders to work towards the start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, while reiterating the need for a merit-oriented accession process based on clear criteria, benchmarks and reforms.

On 13 July 2023, Parliament gave its final green light to EU plans to provide more ammunition to Ukraine. The new Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), which includes €500 million in financing, is intended to accelerate the delivery of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv and ramp up the European Union’s own production capacity to restore member states’ arsenals.

MEPs and the Council also agreed on new rules to incentivise EU countries to jointly procure defence products and support the EU’s defence industry. The new instrument, worth €300 million, should help member states meet their most urgent and critical defence needs in a voluntary and collaborative way. These needs have been exacerbated by transfers of defence products to Ukraine.

Over the years, the European Parliament has built a unique and longstanding relationship with Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine. Institutional cooperation on all levels has been stepped up since 24 February 2022 to provide immediate help and prepare Ukraine’s democratic future in the EUm and a renewed Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 28 November 2023 by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. The European Parliament also contributed to the Verkhovna Rada's communication capacities with the creation of a new common webpage in English and Ukrainian: “The EU stands with Ukraine”.

Key moments: EP stands with Ukraine (video)

       

Parliament has called on the EU to improve its ability to take swift and effective foreign policy decisions, in particular under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, to speak with one voice, and to act as a truly global player in response to international crises. It also called on the EU to focus on strategic alliances to be able to position itself better in the new geopolitical context that jeopardises the EU’s security.

In a resolution on the Common Security and Defence Policy adopted in January 2024, MEPs say Russia’s war in Ukraine is part of a wider strategy to undermine the rules-based international order and underline that the EU will continue to support Kyiv with the necessary military means to end the conflict.

Enlargement

In September 2021, Parliament approved the pre-accession funding instrument IPA III worth €14.2 billion to support seven countries in adopting reforms required to comply with EU rules and values. In the 2023 report on Common Foreign and Security Policy, MEPs warn that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has significantly destabilised countries in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, which jeopardises EU security. To address this, the report recommends that the EU reform its neighbourhood policy and accelerate the enlargement process.

Along with existing candidate countries Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye, MEPs welcomed the granting of candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina and urged member states to set a clear EU enlargement timetable to conclude accession negotiations with the candidate countries by the end of this decade. They called for candidate status to be granted to Georgia, provided priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on the country’s eligibility have been addressed. They also welcomed the Republic of Kosovo’s application for EU membership.

Democracy support and human rights activities

The European Parliament has always demonstrated its unwavering commitment to human rights and democracy around the globe. Since 1988, Parliament’s Sakharov Prize recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought in the world.

Events in recent years - the pandemic, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Hamas’ attack and Israel’s response - have posed serious challenges to democracies around the world. Russia’s aggression is directed not only against Ukraine but also against democracies and democratic values.

Parliament repeatedly condemned the despicable Hamas terrorists attack on Israel of 7 October 2023, and reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence within the limits of international law. It also pointed to Israel’s disproportionate response, which resulted in tens of thousands people being killed and injured in Gaza since this attack. In the resolution adopted in March 2024, MEPs called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to address the looming risk of mass starvation in Gaza, and for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. There could be no prospect of Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation as long as Hamas and other terrorist groups play any role in the Gaza Strip, says the Parliament. It also strongly condemns the acceleration of the illegal settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law.

The European Parliament supported parliaments in partner countries for years through a culture of dialogue initiatives like the Jean Monnet Dialogue, and the work of Parliament’s delegations - official groups of MEPs that maintain and deepen relations with parliaments of non-EU countries, as well as with other regions and organisations.

The European Parliament also sends short-term election observation delegations to countries outside the EU every year, where the experience of MEPs as elected representatives enriches the evaluation of local electoral processes.

Development

In June 2021, MEPs approved the new Global Europe fund (the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – NDICI), securing €79.5 billion of external cooperation funding to support sustainable development in EU neighbourhood countries, Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific and the Caribbean.

International trade

Parliament supports comprehensive trade partnerships and rules-based multilateralism. Reciprocity in trade relations is a cornerstone of recent legislation to ensure fair competition in the single market, such as new rules to avoid dumping by foreign subsidies and safeguards to shield EU companies from economic coercion by third countries.

Furthermore, the much-awaited proposal to effectively prohibit the sales of products made with forced labour in the EU, including forced child labour, has been agreed with member states and voted into law.

Partnership agreements

Parliament’s consent is mandatory for any new EU trade and investment deal with third countries to enter into force (e.g. the EU-UK trade agreement). In February 2020, MEPs approved the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement, which is the first to introduce environmental, social and democratic sustainability conditions. The Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, approved by Parliament in November 2023, is viewed as the most progressive and sustainable trade agreement by the European Union ever and builds on common values. An updated version of the EU-Chile Association Agreement, including a trade deal was backed by MEPs in 2024.

Key moments: Agreement on future relations with the United Kingdom (video)

Key moments:Support to democracy and human rights activities (video)

       

Parliament defends a European Union built on the rule of law, fundamental rights, media freedom, non-discrimination, and gender equality. MEPs pushed the EU to scale up its fight against corruption, money laundering (AML package) and disinformation, which threaten Europe’s democratic foundations and core values.

Foreign interference and disinformation

Parliament set up a Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU (INGE and ING2). Following its investigations and fact-finding missions, a first set of recommendations for better protecting EU democracy were adopted in March 2022 followed by a second report on 1 June 2023 on how to protect the European elections. Finally, plenary adopted a third set of recommendations outlining ways to protect Parliament itself from attempts to influence its work.

Following allegations of Russian interference, MEPs adopted a resolution in February 2024 to denounce Russia’s continuous efforts to undermine and destroy European democracy, including through large-scale funding of political parties, politicians, officials and movements in several democratic countries. In April 2024, they called upon the EU for a firm response to counter Russian interference in the European Parliament and in the upcoming EU elections. In December 2023, they also called for stronger EU actions to limit Chinese influence over EU critical infrastructure and to combat cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.

Equal rights for women and men

In 2022, Parliament secured a binding obligation for big companies to apply pay transparency for men and women to receive equal salaries when performing equal work. MEPs also succeeded in increasing the number of women in top positions through a landmark law: at least 40% of non-executive director posts or 33% of all director posts must be occupied by the under-represented sex by the end of June 2026.

After approving the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention in May 2023, MEPs successfully concluded negotiations with member states to adopt the first-ever EU rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence, and agreed on new standards for national equality bodies to support victims of discrimination more effectively. They condemn the backsliding in LGBTIQ+ rights and call for children to have the right to equal recognition of parenthood across the EU. In a 2024 resolution, MEPs reiterated their call to enshrine the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Respect of the rule of law in member states not negotiable

MEPs have welcomed the Commission’s yearly rule of law reports, as well as the methodological improvements made by the Commission based on Parliament’s recommendations. In the resolution on the third, improved “Rule of Law Report” (2022), MEPs express worries about persistent negative trends in press freedom, pluralism, and journalists’ safety, and voiced concerns about the continued politicisation of the judiciary and targeting of minority groups’ rights. In a resolution on the 2023 Rule of Law report, Parliament called on the Commission to take action against democratic backsliding across many member states.

Moreover, they have repeatedly called for these reports to become part of a comprehensive, effective mechanism, and for swift action against manifest challenges to the rule of law such as in the cases of Hungary and Poland.

Thanks to Parliament’s perseverance, a new law came into force in January 2021, making payments of EU funds to national governments conditional upon full respect of the rule of law (including the independence of the national judiciary) in member states. In 2022, the Commission finally suspended payments of recovery funds to Poland -which were finally released in March 2024 following commitments and reforms by the new government- and of structural funds in the case of Hungary. MEPs insist that funds should remain suspended until the systemic threats to EU values that have been identified in Hungary (which Parliament dubbed an “electoral autocracy” in 2022) are addressed in full. In a January 2024 resolution, MEPs condemned the Commission’s decision to release some of the frozen EU funds to Hungary, despite persistent efforts by the Hungarian government to undermine the EU’s founding values. In March, following a recommendation by the Legal Affairs Committee, the President instructed Parliament’s services to introduce a case (C-225/24) to the European Court of Justice to clarify the Commission’s role and margins of discretion to unfreeze EU cohesion funds for Hungary.

Freedom of media and media pluralism

Following Parliament’s repeated requests (2021), the Commission tabled an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) legislative proposal to protect European media as well as academics, artists and civil society activists from an increasing number of vexatious lawsuits intended to intimidate them. The final text as agreed with Council was adopted in February 2024.

Based on a year-long investigation into the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware in the EU by the special PEGA Inquiry Committee, Parliament called in June 2023 for reforms to halt spyware abuse, including the illicit surveillance of political opponents and journalists in some countries. In November, MEPs criticised the Commission for not putting forward draft legislation to tackle the problem, and expressed concerns about developments in the member states.

Finally, Parliament strengthened provisions to shield editorial freedom from political interference and included strong protection of EU journalists and their sources in the new Media Freedom Act. It will also protect EU media freedom against arbitrary decisions by big online platforms and includes rules for allocating state advertising more fairly.

To honour outstanding journalism based on the principles and values of the EU, the Parliament set up the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize in October 2020. The €20 000 annual prize has been awarded by an independent jury since 2021.

Key moments: Rule of law, democracy and equal rights (video)

       

The EU has new rules to regulate political advertising and fight against foreign interference. Parliament and Council however still need to find common ground to reform campaign and party funding rules in the context of the EU Democracy Action Plan. A legislative proposal to revise the Electoral Act to align national electoral rules and create a pan-European constituency was set out by Parliament in April 2022. Improved voting options for EU citizens living in another EU country were proposed in February 2023. In both cases, action needs to be taken by the European Council to turn the proposals into law. MEPs endorsed the Council decision to increase the number of seats in the next Parliament by 15 seats across twelve countries in light of demographic changes - a decision that added four seats to Parliament’s initial proposal of an increase of eleven. So that the outcome of the 2024 EU elections is fully respected, MEPs proposed an updated lead candidate (“Spitzenkandidat”) mechanism, which would ensure that the nomination of the President of the European Commission reflects citizens’ votes and the new EP majority.

Further-reaching institutional reforms set out in a report on Parliamentarism, European Citizenship and Democracy were discussed during September's plenary session.

Already in September 2021, Parliament called for an independent Ethics Body to improve transparency and integrity in EU institutions and restated this demand in a resolution in December 2022. In March 2024, Parliament’s negotiators managed to improve significantly the Commission’s proposal, described as “unsatisfactory” by MEPs in July 2023, by adding to the independent experts’ tasks the powers to examine individual cases and issue recommendations. The agreement was endorsed by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents and adopted by Parliament in April 2024.

The Conference on the Future of Europe and citizens’ impact on EU legislation

Meeting citizens’ expectations has always been the Parliament’s primary objective, but during the current term, a specific set of demands were placed at the core of MEPs’ work: the proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Parliament was instrumental in setting up and participating in the Conference (2021/22), ensuring that citizens would be in the spotlight while pushing for the EU institutions to make effective political commitments. This unprecedented participatory democracy exercise resulted in 49 final proposals, consisting of 326 specific measures, across nine themes: climate, health, the economy, the EU in the world, values, digital transformation, democracy, migration, and education.

Responding to citizens’ demands, the EU institutions have adopted 323 policy initiatives (over half of which are legislative actions) reflecting approximately 75% of the Conference’s measures. Some “flagship” files that reflect citizens’ ideas include those on waste packaging, right to repair, corporate due diligence, platform work directive, the migration pact, combating human trafficking, the media freedom act & anti-SLAPP rules, the AI act, digital services & markets acts, STEP, and political advertising rules. More information on these files is available in the respective thematic sections.

The areas with the most followed-up initiatives are the economy (92%) and climate (89%). Given that up to 31 measures require changes in the EU Treaties, Parliament activated the process immediately after the end of the Conference and a comprehensive set of proposals to amend the Treaties was tabled, also taking into account the string of recent crises. This was endorsed by Parliament in November 2023, and now the European Council must decide whether to hold a Convention to revise the treaties - which requires a decision by simple majority.