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%).

Vid öppningen av veckans plenarsession fördömde talmannen Martin Schulz å Europaparlamentets vägnar den brutala bombattacken mot en skola i italienska Brindisi och uttryckte samtidigt sitt djupa deltagande med offren och deras familjer. Han framförde också sitt medlidande till de drabbade av jordbävningen i Emilia-Romagna-regionen.

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.

Talman Schulz fördömde det växande hotet mot människorättsaktivister i Bahrain och Egypten under sitt inledningsanförande under mini-sessionen i Bryssel på onsdagen. Han hyllade även postumt journalisten och Europaparlamentarikern Miguel Portas.

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.

Vid plenarmötets öppnande i Strasbourg den 17 april välkommande talman Martin Schulz tolv kroatiska observatörer till Europaparlamentet. Att delta i de politiska gruppernas och utskottens möten kommer att hjälpa till så ni är väl förberedda när ert land blir medlemmar i EU, förhoppningsvis den 1 juli 2013, sa Schulz och tillade att Kroatiens anslutningsvilja visar att trots den ekonomiska krisen, håller EU fortfarande samman.

The European Citizens' Initiative regulation, which takes effect on 1 April, empowers European Union (EU) citizens to work together across borders to play a direct part in shaping democratic decisions. It is the world's only transnational tool of direct democracy.