The Council and Parliament have reached a new agreement on strengthening the energy performance of buildings. Phasing out fossil fuel boilers, renovating the worst-performing buildings and making new ones solar-ready will lower energy bills, cut emissions and boost Europe's energy independence.

The European Commission has today proposed new rules to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in the EU, and the conditions for animals during transport. It has also responded to a citizens' initiative 'Fur Free Europe' to ban fur farming in the EU.

In the wake of alarming increases in hate speech and hate crime, as a result of the crisis in the Middle East, the Commission has put forward a proposal to step up efforts to tackle hatred in all its forms in the EU. It will do this through various policies, including culture, digital and sport.

According to a European Parliament survey, citizens continue to support the EU and have a high interest in the June 2024 European elections. Some 72% citizens believe their country has benefited from being an EU member and 57% are already interested in the 2024 elections.

To mark the 30th anniversary of EU citizenship, the Commission has presented a set of measures to strengthen the rights of EU citizens. They reinforce the right to freedom of movement, effective participation in democratic processes, and consular protection when travelling outside the EU.

At COP28 in Dubai, the EU has launched the Global Pledge to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity and double the rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The pledge was taken together with the COP28 Presidency and 118 countries.

The Spanish city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna has received the 2024 Access City Award, for advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities. More specifically, the award recognised its work in prioritising accessibility across urban spaces, transportation systems, and social activities.

The EU has struck a deal on a law that would better protect journalists and human rights defenders against strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. These are increasingly being used to silence people who speak out on public interest issues.

The European Solidarity Corps will get new funding worth €145 million in 2024. Thanks to this money, young people across the EU and beyond will be able to volunteer in projects on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, democratic participation and health.

Passenger rights will be reinforced, thanks to new Commission proposals. The updates to existing travel legislation would reaffirm the right of passengers to get refunded within 14 days; give them more clarity on who will reimburse their airline tickets and access to better information.

Judicial and law enforcement authorities from seven countries joined forces with Europol and Eurojust to dismantle a criminal network responsible for significant ransomware attacks against large corporations in 71 countries. They arrested the ringleader and detained 4 suspects in Ukraine.

Every year, thousands of lives are lost because of migrant smuggling. To fight this deadly criminal activity, the Commission has launched the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and proposed updating EU rules to prevent and fight migrant smuggling.

In 2022, the European Union detained around 86 million counterfeit items. The estimated value of these items exceeded €2 billion, reflecting a 3% increase from the previous year. The top five detained products included games, packaging material, toys, cigarettes, and recorded CDs/DVDs.

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the EU renews its commitment to eradicate violence against women and girls in the EU and beyond. More than 3,000 women are killed each year in Europe by partners or family members, and countless more are harmed and harassed.

New EU ecodesign rules will reduce the energy consumption of household tumble dryers and make it easier to repair them. A new energy label will apply to household tumble dryers placed on the market from 1 July 2025.

According to a new report, 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfires in the EU with over 900 000 ha of land being burnt. These wildfires cause large environmental and economic damage and tragic loss of life. While most are caused by humans, they are aggravated by climate change.

A new agreement on waste shipments will ensure that the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste. Export of plastic waste to third countries will be prohibited while shipping waste for recycling within the EU will be easier.

A newly agreed EU law will help investigate and prosecute environmental crime in the EU. It defines environmental crime more precisely, adds new offences and harmonises penalties across the EU.

Less methane will be emitted by the energy sector in Europe and globally, thanks a new EU law. It will oblige the fossil gas, oil and coal industry to properly measure, monitor and report their methane emissions, and take action to reduce them. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.