{"id":17401,"date":"2019-05-15T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-05-15T06:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=17401"},"modified":"2019-05-14T08:46:32","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T06:46:32","slug":"european-parliament-achievements-2014-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/european-parliament-achievements-2014-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"European Parliament achievements 2014-2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With the EU elections coming up on 23-26 May, check out how the European Parliament\u2019s work over the past five years has helped improve your daily life.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Cheaper phone calls<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In force since June 2017,\u00a0EU “roam like at home” rules<\/a>\u00a0mean that wherever you travel in the EU you can call, text and use mobile data for the same cost as at home. In another move making it more affordable for Europeans to stay in contact with loved ones in other EU countries, from 15 May 2019 the\u00a0cost of intra-EU calls<\/a>\u00a0will be capped at 19 cent per minute.<\/p>\n

More choices when shopping online<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Consumers now have wider and easier cross-border access to products, hotel bookings, car rentals, music festivals tickets and more under\u00a0new rules addressing unjustified geo-blocking<\/a>, in force across the EU since December 2018.<\/p>\n

Less plastic in our seas and rivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since Parliament approved\u00a0new rules to reduce use of lightweight plastic bags<\/a>\u00a0in 2015, 72% of Europeans say they are using them less. Another important step towards tackling plastic pollution came in March 2019 when Parliament approved a new law banning a range of\u00a0single-use plastic items<\/a>\u00a0including plates, cutlery and straws.<\/p>\n

Greater protection online<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The biggest shake-up to EU data privacy rules in two decades, a\u00a0new data protection regulation<\/a>\u00a0came into effect in May 2018 and gives Europeans more control over how their personal information is used. Parliament has also updated\u00a0EU copyright rules<\/a>\u00a0to make them fit for the digital age.<\/p>\n

Enhanced rights for workers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In April 2019, MEPs adopted\u00a0new measures<\/a>\u00a0to reconcile work and family life. New fathers should have at least 10 days of paternity leave while working carers should be able to take five days of leave per year. Parliament also introduced\u00a0minimum rights for workers<\/a>\u00a0with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, with Deliveroo or Uber for example.<\/p>\n

A healthy planet for future generations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In a historic vote in 2016, Parliament approved\u00a0the Paris accord<\/a>, a landmark agreement to combat climate change. MEPs have since been working on a raft of measures to\u00a0reduce carbon emissions<\/a>\u00a0and boost\u00a0the use of renewable energy sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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More opportunities to study or train abroad<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In March 2019 MEPs called for\u00a0Erasmus+ funding<\/a>\u00a0to be tripled over the period 2021-2027 to allow more Europeans to benefit from the EU\u2019s flagship education and training programme.<\/p>\n

Boosting economic growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Approved by Parliament in December 2018, the\u00a0EU-Japan trade deal<\/a>\u00a0is the largest bilateral trade agreement ever negotiated by the Union. A key driver of economic growth,\u00a0other trade deals<\/a>\u00a0backed by Parliament in recent years include agreements with Canada and Singapore.<\/p>\n

A safer Europe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To combat terrorism and other forms of serious crime, in 2016 Parliament backed rules obliging airlines to provide security services with\u00a0information about people flying into and out of the EU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The following year, MEPs approved\u00a0new EU-wide rules<\/a>\u00a0to clamp down on foreign fighters and lone-wolf terrorists. Parliament has also closed loopholes in EU gun laws and approved rules to combat the financing of terrorism.<\/p>\n

Lower energy bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n

European consumers can expect an average saving of up to \u20ac500 per year on household energy bills thanks to\u00a0simplified energy labelling<\/a>\u00a0for home appliances approved by MEPs in 2017.<\/p>\n

The European elections take place on 23-26 May. Your vote can help shape Europe\u2019s future and influence how Parliament makes decisions on matters that affect your daily life.\u00a0<\/em>Find out more here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Find out more<\/span><\/h3>\n