10 milestones of 2022 in the European Union

2022 was a difficult year, marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis. But there were also achievements at the European level that set the course for a 2023 that promises further progress along the history of the European Union.

1. Common Charger

How many chargers do you have in your drawers? From 2024 you will only need one, as the new European single charger regulation was adopted in 2022.

2. European Year of Youth

In 2022 we celebrated the European Year of Youth. That was our tribute to all those young people who spent a lot of time locked up during the pandemic. So we set up a lot of citizen participation initiatives. In 2023, the European Year of Skills awaits us.

Cargador común: El Consejo y el Parlamento Europeo alcanzan un acuerdo

3. The Erasmus+ program turned 35 years old

2022 is the year that the Erasmus+ program has turned 35 years old and there are already more than 12 million Europeans who have had this wonderful experience of mobility abroad in another country of the European Union and to celebrate it we have a new two-euro coin.

4. Russian invasion in Ukraine

Unfortunately we have experienced the Russian invasion in Ukraine and therefore we are giving all the necessary help to Ukraine in the face of this unjust and brutal war.

5. RepowerEU energy plan

In response to the war we have adopted the new energy policy – REPOWEREU – to promote green energy to boost energy efficiency and to diversify our supplies.

6. No more combustion cars

This year we have finally set a date for the end of the combustion engine – in 2035 no more cars made with combustion engines will be sold. This will not only allow us to have much lower emissions, but will also result in much quieter and healthier cities. And, of course, in lowering our energy dependence on fossil fuels.

Entra en vigor Ley de Servicios Digitales de la UE para las plataformas en línea

7. Ten more years without roaming

In 2017 the European Union removed this year’s charges in 2022 we have extended this regulation for 10 more years so we will be able until 2032 to use our cell phones abroad in other countries of the European Union as if we were at home.

8. A safer Internet

The new Digital Services Act also came into force. The Internet is safer for users. For example, minors are much better protected. Also at the time of purchase, the seller’s data will have to be much clearer and protect us from such strange things as, for example, strange patterns that sometimes make us make purchasing decisions of which we were not very aware. And also, more transparency is required to be given to algorithms.

9. New EU candidate countries

Ukraine and Moldova have been given the status of EU candidate countries, because we want to keep the door open to countries that uphold European values.

10. Spain receives the second payment of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism

2022 was the year when Spain was the first country to receive the second tranche of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, a very important part of the Next Generation EU funds. We are talking about 12 billion euros to modernize the Spanish economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

Other milestones in 2022…

• EU Law on Gender Equality in Managerial Positions. This year we passed a landmark law to boost gender equality at the top of the corporate ladder. The rule stipulates that 40% of non-executive director positions must be reserved for the underrepresented gender. In addition, there will be deterrent penalties for companies that fail to comply with the rules.
• Launch of the Gen ERASMUS series. We have gone on a trip around Europe with Inés Hernand to meet young Erasmus students! ‘Gen Erasmus’ is the series about Erasmus and Youth that you didn’t know you needed. In collaboration with European Parliament and RTVE.
• 70th anniversary parliament. November 22 marked 70 years since the first session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) took place in Strasbourg and marked the starting point of the European Parliament as we know it today.
• Valencia, European Green Capital 2024. The city has received this recognition for the city’s efforts to improve its environment and the quality of life of its citizens.

Source: European Parliament