Council

Press release - Breakfast foods: Parliament adopts new rules to improve consumer information

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
European Commission, Civil service commission, Honey, Parliament, Council, Fruit, EPP, Food preservation

Parliament on Wednesday approved the provisional political agreement with Council on updated rules on the composition, name, labelling and presentation of certain 'breakfast' foodstuffs, the so-called “breakfast directives”, with 603 votes in favour, 9 against and 10 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • Parliament on Wednesday approved the provisional political agreement with Council on updated rules on the composition, name, labelling and presentation of certain 'breakfast' foodstuffs, the so-called “breakfast directives”, with 603 votes in favour, 9 against and 10 abstentions.
  • There will also be clearer labelling on sugar content in fruit juices as well as for minimum fruit content in jams and marmalades.
  • You can read more about the new rules in the press release after the deal with EU countries.
  • These initiatives will ensure that consumers are better informed and that both beekeepers and consumers are better protected against adulterated honey."

Press release - MEPs adopt stricter CO2 emissions targets for trucks and buses

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
GHG, Carbon, Parliament, Commission, City, Garbage, Council, CO2, Atmosphere, Hepatitis D

The regulation, addressing emissions from new trucks, buses and trailers, was endorsed by MEPs with 341 votes in favour, 268 against and 14 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • The regulation, addressing emissions from new trucks, buses and trailers, was endorsed by MEPs with 341 votes in favour, 268 against and 14 abstentions.
  • CO2 emissions from large trucks (including vocational vehicles, such as garbage trucks, tippers or concrete mixers) and buses will have to be reduced by 45% for the period 2030-2034, 65% for 2035-2039 and 90% as of 2040.
  • By 2030, new urban buses will need to reduce their emissions by 90% and become zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
  • Emissions reduction targets are also set for trailers (7.5%) and semi-trailers (10%), starting from 2030.

Press release - Child sexual abuse online: current rules extended until April 2026

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Legislation, Parliament, Commission, Privacy, Crime, Internet, Council, Pressure, CSAM, S&D

Child sexual abuse online: current rules extended until April 2026

Key Points: 
  • Child sexual abuse online: current rules extended until April 2026
    - Measures in place, set to expire next August, to remain in force until 3 April 2026
    - MEPs stress the need to agree on a permanent framework
    On Wednesday Parliament backed prolonging an exemption to EU privacy rules facilitating the detection of child sexual abuse material online until 3 April 2026.
  • The derogation will be extended until 3 April 2026 so that an agreement on the long-term legal framework to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online can be reached.
  • Quote
    Rapporteur Birgit Sippel (S&D, Germany) said: “Child sexual abuse is a horrible crime and we need to prevent its spread online.
  • For this reason, we have agreed to extend the derogation that allows some companies to use technology to detect online child sexual abuse material.

Press release - Carbon removals: MEPs adopt a new EU certification scheme

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Carbon, Certification, Climate change, Conference, Public, Farmer, Environment, EPP, European Parliament, Parliament, Council, European, Legislation

- Certification framework to boost high-quality carbon removals and counter greenwashing

Key Points: 
  • - Certification framework to boost high-quality carbon removals and counter greenwashing
    - New rules will enable farmers to get paid to remove carbon
    - Public EU registry to ensure transparency
    The law will set up an EU certification framework for carbon removals to boost their uptake and help achieve EU climate neutrality by 2050.
  • Parliament on Wednesday adopted the provisional political agreement with EU countries on a new voluntary certification framework for carbon removals, with 441 votes in favour, 139 against and 41 abstentions.
  • The legislation covers different types of carbon removals, namely permanent carbon storage through industrial technologies, carbon storage in long-lasting products and carbon farming.
  • You can read more about the new rules in the press release after the deal with EU countries.

Press release - New EU rules to improve urban wastewater treatment and reuse

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
PFAS, EPR, Environment, Nitrogen, Microplastics, Public, Policy, Virus, Parliament, Commission, Risk assessment, Plant, Council, Water, Atmosphere, Cosmetics, Soil, Collection, Phosphorus, Legislation, Sewage treatment

- Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance

Key Points: 
  • - Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
    - Producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and member states will have to finance costs of additional treatment for micro-pollutants
    - Wider reuse of treated urban wastewater to prevent water scarcity
    On Wednesday, MEPs approved new EU rules for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater.
  • the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus) will be applied in all wastewater treatment plants covering 150,000 p.e.
  • An additional treatment removing a broad spectrum of micro-pollutants ('quaternary treatment') will be mandatory for all plants over 150,000 p.e.
  • EU countries will be required to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all urban wastewater treatment plants where appropriate, especially in water-stressed areas.

Press release - “Parliament 2024”: a more modern and efficient Parliament after the elections

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Emergency, Parliament, Conference, Exercise, EPP, European Parliament, Framework agreement, Committee, Policy, House, Commission, Council, EP, TFEU, Legislation

The new internal rules will strengthen Parliament’s working methods, its institutional role, and its capacity to act.Committee on Constitutional Affairs Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Key Points: 


The new internal rules will strengthen Parliament’s working methods, its institutional role, and its capacity to act.Committee on Constitutional Affairs Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Press release - Parliament adopts reform of the EU electricity market

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Electricity, CFD, COVID-19, S&D, MEP, Parliament, Council, Investment, Nuclear energy, Vulnerable, SME, Legislation, Renewable energy

- EU electricity market will be more affordable and consumer friendly

Key Points: 
  • - EU electricity market will be more affordable and consumer friendly
    - “Contracts for Difference” to encourage energy investments
    - Vulnerable customers will be protected from having their electricity cut off
    - EU will have power to declare regional or EU-wide electricity price crisis
    The reform adopted on Thursday will make the EU electricity market more stable, affordable, and sustainable.
  • MEPs also secured that EU countries can prohibit suppliers from cutting the electricity supply of vulnerable customers, including during disputes between suppliers and customers.
  • Quote
    “This reform puts citizens at the forefront of electricity market design.
  • The Parliament has taken a step forward in democratising energy, creating a market design that responds to the failures exposed by the energy crisis.

Press release - Women must have full control of their sexual and reproductive health and rights

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Human sexuality, Health, Education, SRHR, Woman, Background, Health care, Poverty, Parliament, Commission, Council, Fundamental rights, Curriculum, Reproductive rights, Abortion, Birth control

MEPs condemn the backsliding on women’s rights and all attempts to restrict or remove existing protections for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality taking place globally, including in the EU member states.

Key Points: 
  • MEPs condemn the backsliding on women’s rights and all attempts to restrict or remove existing protections for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality taking place globally, including in the EU member states.
  • They call on the Commission to ensure that organisations working against gender equality and women’s rights, including reproductive rights, do not receive EU funding.
  • Healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health, falls under national powers.
  • Changing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to include abortion would require unanimous agreement from all member states.

Press release - MEPs approve reforms for a more sustainable and resilient EU gas market

Retrieved on: 
Jeudi, avril 18, 2024
Electricity, Gas, Climate change, Natural gas, EPP, Risk, Fit for 55, S&D, Official Journal, MEP, European Green Deal, Council, Investment, Hydrogen, Legislation, Renewable energy

MEPs approve reforms for a more sustainable and resilient EU gas market

Key Points: 
  • MEPs approve reforms for a more sustainable and resilient EU gas market
    - New directive will help decarbonise the gas sector to tackle climate change
    - MEPs secured measures to protect vulnerable consumers and to ensure transparency
    - EU countries will be able to restrict imports from Russia
    - To shift away from fossil gas, the legislation will promote biomethane and hydrogen
    On Thursday, MEPs adopted plans to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, into the EU gas market.
  • In negotiations with Council on the directive, MEPs focused on securing provisions around transparency, consumer rights, and support for people at risk of energy poverty.
  • Unbundling rules for hydrogen network operators will correspond to existing best practices in the gas and electricity market."
  • It includes provisions to facilitate blending hydrogen with natural gas and renewable gases, and greater EU cooperation on gas quality and storage.