Next term: which laws will Parliament continue to work on?
Read about 10 laws that the new European Parliament is set to work on after the European elections on 6-9 June.
During its five-year term, the outgoing European Parliament was busy amending and passing laws to make your life better. Work on some important legislation is not finished, however, and should continue after the European elections from 6 to 9 June. Read about some important legislative files in progress.
External Affairs and Defence
Boosting the defence industry
In March 2024, the European Commission proposed a new regulation to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products. The European Defence Industry programme (EDIP) should use €1.5 billion from the EU budget from 2025 to 2027. It complements the existing short-term measures to ramp up defence production and is a long-term response to geopolitical challenges, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The new European Parliament will work on this proposal.
Digital transition
Damages caused by Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in many sectors and devices, such as disease diagnosis tools or autonomous driving systems. But who is responsible for damages caused by AI if something goes wrong? The AI liability directive plans to regulate just that, by ensuring that people harmed by systems using AI have the same level of protection as people harmed by other technologies. This directive would build on the world’s first comprehensive set of rules governing AI adopted by the Parliament in in March 2024.
Consumer policy and health
Welfare of cats and dogs
Rules protecting the welfare of cats and dogs are not harmonised across the EU. That is why the European Commission proposed a new law in December 2023, setting EU standards for the breeding, housing and handling of these pets. They will cover breeding establishments, pet shops and shelters. The law wants to combat illegal trade in dogs and cats by introducing mandatory identification and registration to increase the traceability of the animals.
Addictive design
Due to concerns about the impact of social media platforms on the health of users, especially minors, Parliament urged the European Commission in December 2023 to propose new EU rules to tackle digital addiction. According to the Parliament, the new rules should ban platforms from using addictive techniques like infinite scroll. The Commission is currently evaluating the need for this legislation.
Social and economic recovery
Retail investor protection
The new Parliament will continue work on a package of laws protecting retail investors to make it easier and safer for them to invest and to provide them with clearer information to make investment decisions. In April 2024, Parliament decided to enter negotiations with the Council on the package.
Right to disconnect
In 2021 Parliament called on the Commission to put forward a proposal on the right to disconnect from work. This should protect employees’ right to step away from work outside of working hours. In April 2024, the Commission launched a consultation on this with social partners.
Green Deal
Food and textile waste
In March 2024, Parliament adopted its proposals for strengthening EU rules to reduce textile waste and food waste. MEPs want higher targets for reducing food waste by the end of 2030 than the ones proposed by the European Commission. According to the planned law, producers would cover costs for collecting, sorting and recycling waste textiles;
Parliament wants the rules to extend to more types of products. Negotiations on the legislation with EU countries in the Council will be conducted by the new Parliament.
2040 climate targets
Fighting climate change is a priority for EU citizens. Parliament put into law the EU’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and then worked on numerous laws to make sure the EU is in a position to reach the target. There is an interim emission reduction target for 2030, but in the next term MEPs will look to agree climate targets for 2040.
Asylum and migration
Preventing migrant smuggling
To combat the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking, Parliament will work on boosting police cooperation on the prevention, detection and investigation of these crimes and strengthening Europol’s role. The package of laws, proposed by the Commission in November 2023, also includes measures against people smugglers or criminal groups.
Democracy and rule of law
Anti-corruption framework
According to a survey from 2023, 70% of EU citizens believe that corruption is widespread in their country. In the next term, Parliament will continue working on strengthening EU-wide rules against corrupt decision-makers across all levels in the EU.
MEPs want top EU decision-makers, including themselves, Commissioners and the President of the European Council, to be subject to stricter rules and tougher penalties for corruption.
