Features - all

The two decades that have passed since Europe's revolutions of 1989 have only served to highlight the importance of those events. The Solidarity victory in Poland, people standing on the Berlin Wall and huge crowds on Prague's Wenceslas square, such images seemed impossible in the spring of that year. The end of the Soviet Empire in Central and Eastern Europe heralded the end of the Cold War and opened the door to Germany's unification and the uniting of independent states in a European Union.

A round-up of the Energy Efficiency Package

Institutions - 07-10-2009 - 09:29

Climate change and energy security are high on the European agenda. Fluctuating oil prices, uncertain energy supplies and fears of global warming have reinforced the fact that secure and safe supplies of energy can no longer be taken for granted. This spring MEPs backed 4 proposals aimed at making energy use more efficiently.

While waiting to find out who will win this year's Sakharov prize, we have gathered together all our articles on the last year's prize into one feature. The award of the 2008 Sakharov prize for human rights went to jailed Chinese dissident Hu Jia who is still in jail. Each year the EP's Sakharov prize is awarded to individuals or international organisations who – like Sakharov – have distinguished themselves in the struggle for human rights.

Photos sent from you to us

Culture - 31-08-2009 - 10:37

Over a period of months we asked people to send us their photos based on a number of themes chosen by us. In this focus you can see some of those were picked. The entries by London-based photographer Mimi Mollica were the ones we liked best and he was invited to Strasbourg in eastern France to take photos of the first session of the European Parliament after the June elections.

Despite vigorous efforts, men and women do not always get the same start or benefit from the same opportunities. This applies to work, salary, access to politics and family-career balance. The European parliament has been active in promoting rules that bring fair chances to both sexes.

3rd Energy Package gets final approval from MEPs

Energy - 29-04-2009 - 10:00

More choice, investment and security of supply lie at the heart of the 3rd energy package. EU energy markets will become more competitive as energy companies will have to separate supply and production from transmission activities. The wide-ranging rules adopted by Parliament 21 April 2009 will also improve consumer rights and promote regional solidarity in the event of severe gas supply disruptions.

New rules will penalise employers of undeclared workers

Immigration - 19-02-2009 - 15:48

The European Parliament has adopted new measures to fight illegal immigration. The "sanctions directive" lays down standard penalties, from fines to criminal law prosecutions on employers breaking the rules. It seeks to discourage clandestine working procedures, while protecting illegal immigrants.

A €116 billion question: making sense of the 2009 EU budget

Budget - 29-01-2009 - 12:16

The EU Budget 2009 provides more money for growth, the environment, jobs, research and food aid for developing countries. The Budget for 2009 was adopted by MEPs in the end of 2008. With the signature of the EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering in Strasbourg on 18 December 2008 the complicated budget procedure was completed. In this focus we look at how the EU budget is adopted, how the money is collected and used.

50 Years of the European Parliament in video

Institutions - 03-12-2008 - 09:38

The Sputnik Space Craft fell from its orbit and Charles De Gaulle came out of retirement to lead France. These were two news events from 1958 which also saw the official formation of what would later become the European Parliament. Videos assembled here mark some of the most iconic moments from the parliament's history.

The European Parliament has been awarding the Sakharov Prize to people who have dedicated their lives to defending human rights and mutual understanding for 20 years. Each winner has their own unique story but they all share common ideals, including religious freedom and tolerance, freedom of media, human rights and reconciliation or democracy. Although their struggles were often limited to only one part of the world, they touch all of us.

Europe's legal steps to slow climate change

Environment - 27-11-2008 - 16:13

If we are ever going to meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change, then some clear Europe-wide rules are needed. MEPs have spent the last few months finalising their response on behalf of Europe's voters.

MEPs support the European "Blue Card" proposal for highly-skilled immigrants

Immigration - 20-11-2008 - 15:13

MEPs backed the EU's "Blue Card" scheme to attract highly-skilled immigrants to take jobs in EU economic sectors suffering from skill shortages, modelled on the US "Green Card" system. However, they propose a clearer frame, more precise definitions, and to ensure more flexibility for Member States, whilst urging them to avoid a brain drain from third countries. They also say that Blue Card workers should not have priority on EU nationals on the labour market.

The European co-production "Lorna's Silence" by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne has won the European Parliament's LUX film prize. Set in Liège in Belgium it features a young Albanian women whose hopes of a better life are cruelly dashed when she gets drawn against her will into the criminal underworld.

People from the world of politics are not the only ones to drop into the parliament. It also receives its fair share of celebrities from the world of film and music. In the last few months Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and rock group "Vaya con dios" have been in parliament to raise awareness on issues ranging from the environment to discrimination against the Roma. Some of them were here for the annual energy globe awards, which promote renewable energy .

The parliament isn't just about plenary sessions and committee meetings, its members have views about an enormous variety of topics and you can read about just a few of them here. Read what some MEPs thought about Euro 2008 - we asked for predictions before it started to keep everyone happy! On 14 February we celebrated the feast of St Valentine by asking MEPs how they spent the romantic day. We also asked Members how they spend their Easter.

International figures are frequently invited to parliament to speak to MEPs either in the Hemicycle Chamber or in Committee. They can offer expertise and advice on international questions in often lively discussions with Members who may not necessarily share their opinions. The Chair of the UN's panel on climate change Rajendra K. Pachauri and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev are just two such figures who have been at the parliament in the last year.

Why not take a break and take a look back at some of the stories that attracted the most attention from readers in the first part of the year. Among the issues are the number of women in the European Parliament and the US political systems, the emerging technology of carbon capture and storage as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and an interview with Marco Cappato, the EP's rapporteur on the European Union's annual human rights report and the abuses it identifies around the world.

Rising prices and the depressed state of the world economy has meant that economic issues have never been far from people's minds this year. Given this MEPs have frequently discussed rising prices and the economic slowdown and what can be done about it. Here we republish several stories that deal with the issues and interview some of the key international figures - such as WTO head Pascal Lamy - who are involved in them.

In this focus we look back at a number of stories that have captured our attention over the last few months. We have a look at the parliament's trainee programme and speak to some of those who have taken part. We also look at the state of insurance cover across Europe for people when they go on holiday. We also hear from people about the likely impact of the reform of Europe's postal system will entail.

Thus far in 2008 a number of VIPs have visited the parliament to speak to MEPs about issues that are either in their field or which they feel strongly about. Here in this focus you can read reports from just a sample of those who have come to Brussels or Strasbourg. Read for example, the views of Prince Charles on climate change or Syria's Grand Mufti talk about religion and civilisation. The focus also contains a report of the visit of Ukraine's leader Yulia Tymoshenko to the EP.

In this focus we look back at some of the stories published over the last few months. We have interviews with MEPs who talk about how we define "fair and decent work" for people as well the threat that comes from intellectual and copyright piracy on the internet. We also take a look back at articles we have published on the status of Kosovo and its relationship with Belgrade and Brussels.

As Beijing prepares to host the Olympics we republish here some articles that have looked at the developing relations between China and the European Union. With a trade relationship that is growing rapidly, the importance of Chinese goods to Europe - and vice versa - is likely to grow as the century develops. In the past MEPs have expressed concern over human rights in China and especially the situation in Tibet which through its leader the Dalai Lama continues to struggle for freedom.