This press kit is a compilation of recent press releases, prepared for the informal European Council on 23 May, setting out the European Parliament's work and positions regarding growth and jobs .

Almost half of the Europeans surveyed think that combining public spending cuts with measures to boost economic growth is the best way to end the current economic crisis, says the latest European Parliament Eurobarometer poll. Over half (55%), say these measures should be coordinated among Member States. Most Europeans also say that financial help for Member States in difficulty must be conditional on compliance with common rules (80%).

Parliament's contempt for the perpetrators of the brutal bombing of a school in Brindisi, and its sympathy for the victims and their families, was voiced by President Martin Schulz in his opening of the May session on Monday. Mr Schulz also conveyed Parliament's sympathy to victims of the Emilia-Romagna earthquake.

Parliament decided on Thursday not to defend the immunity of Corneliu Vadim Tudor (NA, RO), who had asked that it be upheld in connection with proceedings before Romania's High Court of Cassation.

President Schulz condemned the growing intimidation of human rights activists in Bahrain and Egypt, and paid a posthumous tribute to journalist and MEP Miguel Portas, in his opening address at the Brussels mini-session on Wednesday.

The European Parliament's current President, Jerzy Buzek, is soon to hand over the reins to his successor, who will be chosen by the full body of MEPs at the Strasbourg plenary session in January 2012. This mid-way point between the European elections of 2009 and 2014 gives an opportunity to review some of the main legislation adopted by MEPs over the last two and a half years.

The European Parliament will mark this year's anniversary of the Schumann Declaration by opening its doors to citizens and offering them many activities that provide behind-the-scenes insights into Parliament's activities.

Raising the retirement age of EU staff, cutting the costs of their salaries and pension adjustment method and reducing their paid travelling time are among proposals, approved by the Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday, to make substantial savings on EU administration costs. The committee also agreed on a series of provisions to improve efficiency and prevent conflicts of interest.

President Schulz opened the session by welcoming twelve Croatian observer MEPs. Taking part in group and committee meetings would prepare them to represent their citizens fully when Croatia joins the EU, hopefully on 1 July 2013, he said, adding that Croatia's desire to join shows that "despite the economic crisis, the EU is still pulling together".

From 1 April onwards, EU citizens will be able to ask the European Union to introduce new legislation - provided the organisers can muster one million signatures. This new tool, known as the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), is designed to give the public a more direct say over the EU.