MEPs set new targets for boosting waste recycling and reducing landfill. The aim of new rules is to boost the shift towards a more sustainable economic model known as the circular economy.
Two EU laws on climate change adopted by MEPs aim to cut CO2 emissions from transport, farming, buildings and waste by 30% across the EU; In addition CO2 emitted and absorbed by forestry and land use must balance out by 2030.
The next EU elections will be held on 23-26 May 2019 after MEPs supported the Council proposal for this.
French President Emmanuel Macron debated the future of Europe with MEPs and Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission.
MEPs discussed data protection, election manipulation and how to safeguard people's privacy in the wake of the recent Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal. They also urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to come to Parliament to provide answers.
Parliament set a goal of near zero-energy buildings in the EU by 2050. The updated legislation requires EU countries to develop national long-term strategies to support cost-saving renovations of public and private buildings.
Parliament’s political leaders condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
MEPs expressed concerns about Europe's dwindling vaccination rate and its impact on public health. In the resolution, they called for a more harmonised approach to vaccination across the EU.
Parliament approved stricter controls for organic food to ensure the same high quality standards across the EU and make it easier for small farmers to switch to organic production. More facts about organic food and farming in Europe can be found in our infographic.
In response to the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner Martina Kušnírová, MEPs called for better protection of investigative journalists and whistle-blowers in Europe.
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