The European Parliament has adopted new law to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. EU Member States must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law from poor to good condition by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. These includes forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds. EU countries will be required to prioritise Natura 2000 areas until 2030 and once they are in good condition, they will have to ensure that an area does not deteriorate. The new law provides an emergency brake so that agricultural ecosystems can be suspended under exceptional circumstances if they severely reduce the land needed for sufficient food production for EU consumption. The law will also ensure that an additional three billion trees will be planted.

The European Parliament has adopted a new regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising. The new rules will regulate political advertisements, notably online ads, while also providing for a framework for political actors to advertise more easily across the EU. The new rules will make it easier for citizens, authorities and journalists to obtain information on who is financing an advert, their place of establishment, the amount paid, and the origin of the financing, among other details. A public repository for online political advertisements will make information on all online advertisements and their transparency notices available publicly. Sponsoring ads from outside the EU will be prohibited three months before elections. Targeting and amplification techniques will only be available for online political advertising based on personal data collected from the data subject and subject to consent, and the use of sensitive personal data will be banned. The new regulation is pending formal adoption by the Council of the EU.

The European Parliament has adopted new legislation aimed at strengthening the role and effectiveness of European Works Councils (EWCs) in multinational companies operating across EU and EEA countries. These reforms enhance workers’ rights to consultation on transnational decisions affecting employment conditions. Key provisions include mandatory in-person meetings with central management at least twice a year, improved access to information and the right for trade union representatives to attend meetings in an advisory capacity. Companies must now justify any refusal to disclose information, particularly when citing confidentiality.

The European Parliament has confirmed an agreement with member states on new toy safety rules updating the existing 2009 directive. The regulation bans endocrine disruptors, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and dangerous bisphenols in toys, while requiring digital product passports for all toys and mandatory safety assessments covering chemical, physical, mechanical and electrical hazards. Online marketplaces must display CE markings and safety warnings, with non-compliant toys classified as illegal content under the Digital Services Act. The rules enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal, with a 4.5 year transition period for implementation.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has adopted an own-initiative report on the impact of social media and the online environment on young people. The report calls for stronger enforcement and implementation of existing EU legislation to create a safer online environment, particularly for children and young people. It calls on the Commission to ensure consistent application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (EU GDPR), the EU Digital Services Act, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and the proposed Digital Fairness Act. It also recommends that online services be designed in line with privacy-by-design, safety-by-default, age-appropriate design and algorithmic transparency principles.

The European Parliament has adopted plans proposing to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which will help decrease energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings sector and make it climate neutral by 2050. The plans also aim to have more 'worst-performing' buildings renovated and enhance information-sharing on energy performance. The Directive will now have to be formally endorsed by the Council of Ministers to become law.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has adopted reports on new rules on the production and marketing of plant and forest reproductive material. Requirements for plant reproductive material will apply to both marketing and imports into the EU. Parliament has proposed that farmers be allowed to exchange a limited quantity, which will be determined by the European Commission, of any type of plant reproductive material. Forest reproductive material will have to be traceable from the collection to the marketing. Producers of forest reproductive material will have the obligation to notify national authorities of their intention to harvest forest reproductive material prior to harvesting in order to allow for the organisation of controls. The adopted reports will be put to a plenary vote. If adopted, they will constitute Parliament’s position at first reading. The file will be followed up by the new Parliament after the European elections in June 2024.

The European Parliament has adopted its position at first reading on proposed changes to the Payment Services Regulation (PSR) and Directive (PSD3) which aim to create a more harmonised payment and electronic money services in the EU. The rules would apply to all payment service providers (PSP), including banks, post office giro institutions, and payment institutions. Parliament has now closed the first reading on these pieces of legislation. Work will be followed up by the new Parliament after the 6-9 June 2024 European elections.

The European Parliament has adopted its position at first reading on the proposed regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 1092/2010, (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010, (EU) No 1095/2010 and (EU) 2021/523 as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of financial services and investment support. The proposed regulation aims to streamline reporting obligations and reduce the administrative burden for the EU’s financial sector.

The European Parliament has adopted its position on 1 April 2025 on the 'one substance, one assessment' package, comprising three proposals to streamline EU chemical safety assessments. The package establishes a common data platform, improves agency cooperation, and re-attributes tasks for hazardous substances in electrical equipment. Key features include mandatory submission of public-funded research and enhanced early warning systems for chemical risks. The proposals passed with strong majorities, with votes ranging from 481-486 in favour. The European Parliament will now begin negotiations with the Council on the final texts.

The European Parliament has adopted its position on amending the EU climate law to establish a binding target of a 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. This target forms part of the broader objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The position, approved by 379 votes to 248 with 10 abstentions, underscores that the green transition and enhanced EU competitiveness are mutually reinforcing goals. The proposed legislation includes several flexibility mechanisms. It allows up to five percentage points of reductions to be achieved through high-quality international carbon credits from partner countries beginning in 2036.

The European Parliament has adopted its negotiating position on the reform of the Package Travel Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements (the Package Travel Directive), with the aim of strengthening traveller protection in cases of travel disruption and tour operator bankruptcy. MEPs endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to update the rules, reflecting lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent high-profile bankruptcies. The position, prepared by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, was adopted with 535 votes in favour, 36 against and 47 abstentions. Interinstitutional negotiations on the final rules are scheduled to start on 24 September 2025.