European Parliament

🗣️To celebrate International Mother Language Day, meet Shannon, a translator at the European Parliament Translation Service.   The work that translators do is crucial so that MEPs from 27 different countries can understand each other and work together in the European Parliament.    And of course, it also means that you can follow the work of your representatives in the EU - in 24 languages!    What is your mother tongue? Let us know in the comments ↓

Young Europeans are embracing generative AI.   The European Parliament’s latest youth survey found that 57% of respondents aged 16-30 had used AI-based applications for text, images or video over the past year. Young people in Romania were the most curious about this emerging technology, with 66% trying it out, while their Cypriot counterparts were the most cautious, with 44%.   The law also aims to support innovation and requires national authorities to provide companies with a testing environment that simulates conditions close to the real world. This is so start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises may have opportunities to develop and train AI models before their release to the public.   These rules categorise artificial intelligence by the level of risk and set obligations for both providers and users. Generative AI models such as ChatGPT, which are algorithms that have been trained to create new content, are not considered high-risk, but they will have to comply with transparency requirements and EU copyright law.   AI systems deemed to be a threat to people, such as social scoring and real-time facial recognition, are classified as having unacceptable risks and are banned under the AI act, while AI systems that negatively affect safety or fundamental rights will be considered high-risk and will be assessed before being put on the market, and throughout their lifecycle.   The law also aims to support innovation requires that national authorities provide companies with a testing environment that simulates conditions close to the real world. This is so start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises may have opportunities to develop and train AI models before their release to the public.   Read more about the EU’s efforts to protect you in the age of AI: https://europa.eu/!d3hnYX

Committees are the legislative powerhouses of the European Parliament. It's where MEPs work together on legislative proposals - appointing negotiation teams, adopting reports, organising hearings and overseeing other EU bodies and institutions.   The European Parliament currently has 3 types of committees:    🔹 22 standing committees - these are the core legislative committees where MEPs work on a wide range of policy areas, from environment to international trade 🔹 2 subcommittees on human rights and tax matters - these are branches of the foreign affairs and economic and monetary affairs committees that focus on more specific issues 🔹 2 special committees to address foreign interference and the housing crisis - these are temporary committees set up to investigate particular issues   Parliament’s committees have had this set-up since last December, when Parliament decided to upgrade the subcommittees on public health and security and defence to fully-fledged committees, and introduce the two special committees.   Check out who sits at the helm of these committees 👇   Read more about Parliament’s committees: https://europa.eu/!bnCkxk

The rising cost of living is the number one concern for young Europeans.    The findings from the latest European Parliament youth survey show that young Europeans (age 16-30) want the EU to put the cost of living (40%), the environment and climate change (33%), and the economic situation and job creation (31%) and at the top of the agenda for the next five years.    Talking about the publication President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said "Listening to young Europeans and their concerns is vital for politicians, policy-makers and European democracy.    "Young people today are worried about rising prices, climate change, their security and their chances to find a good job. These are concerns that we must address in every decision we take and every law that we pass. Otherwise, we risk losing a generation to disillusionment.”    Take a look at the top priorities for young people in your country 👇 Read the full report: https://europa.eu/!cPBGfQ 

Follow the keynote speech and debate on improving EU competitiveness through the single market, innovation policy, better regulation and quality jobs as part of the European Parliamentary Week 2025.   Speakers include: → Mario Draghi, former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic and former President of the European Central Bank → Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament → Agnieszka Pomaska, Chair of the EU Affairs Committee of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and → Tomasz Grodzki, Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee of the Senate of the Republic of Poland  → Members of National Parliaments and Members of the European Parliament in the presence of representatives from the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee

Briefing on the key developments of the February plenary session.   Support for Ukraine, EU-US relations, inflation, and the situation in Georgia: dive into the latest discussions in Strasbourg here ↓

This week, the European Parliament is organising an inter-parliamentary conference on stability, economic coordination and governance in the EU with the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and Senate of the Republic of Poland.    Follow the opening session live with: ➡️ Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament  ➡️ Szymon Hołownia, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ➡️ Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland  ➡️ António Costa, President of the European Council

Trade between the US and the EU is set to get disrupted after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on goods from the EU. In addition, the new tariffs he announced for aluminium and steel are likely to make life harder for many European firms.   The trade in goods and services between the two was worth €1.6 trillion in 2023. That year the EU had a surplus when it came to goods and the US when it came to services. Overall the EU had a €48 billion surplus, but this only represented 3% of the overall trade flow.   The EU will try to negotiate first to avoid the tariffs, but if this doesn't work, it could impose tariffs of its own. There are also other ways it could respond to US tariffs. Find out more: https://europa.eu/!XmKBGM  

⏰ Pass it on - there's less than one week left to apply for the European Youth Event!   Here's everything you need to know about EYE 2025 - the European Parliament's flagship event for young people 👇 • Where? European Parliament in Strasbourg, France   • When? 13-14 June 2025   • Who? It's a unique opportunity for 16- to 30-year-olds to inspire and get inspired!    • What? A dynamic mix of activities, debates, workshops, visits, artistic performances and much more. It's your opportunity to debate directly with Members of the European Parliament and meet with activists, content creators and thousands of other young people!   • How? Register before 21 February on eye2025.eu!

"I wanted to come here to witness first-hand Europe’s critical role in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.   "Europe is ready to step up our engagement and do what we can to help the ceasefire-hostages release deal to hold, to provide a path to increased aid and a building block to a sustainable peace."   European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories this week. She held talks with President of Israel Isaac Herzog, foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaker of the parliament Amir Ohan and also met with the families of hostages.   The President entered into Gaza, the first European leader to do so in more than a decade. She met Palestinian leaders in Ramallah, the West Bank, including Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. She also spoke with Reem Al Hajajra, Director of Women of the Sun, the 2024 Sakharov Prize nominee.   President Metsola also visited the humanitarian facilities in Kerem Shalom Border Crossing Point, the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing and the site of the Nova Festival in Re’im.   The EU is the largest humanitarian and development aid donor to the occupied Palestinian territories. Since 2023, the EU's humanitarian assistance to Gaza totalled over €450 million, while the EU Air Bridge Flights delivered over 3,800 tonnes of aid.   In a resolution adopted on 18 January 2024, the European Parliament became the first European institution to formally call for the immediate release of all hostages, the dismantling of the terrorist organisation Hamas, the resumption of the two-state solution and the relaunch of the peace process.