European Union

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The agreed draft law is designed to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp-up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Written by Clare Ferguson.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Sergey Tihanovski– recently freed after five years of imprisonment for his political views and his defence of democracy in Belarus – are due to make a formal address to Parliament on Wednesday. The European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to individuals or organisations for their outstanding achievements in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Parliament has long supported Belarusians in their struggle against repression, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize to the Belarusian democratic opposition, led by Tsikhanouskaya following her husband’s imprisonment. Belarusian political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut is on the shortlist of nominees for the prize in 2025, together with Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, another imprisoned journalist fighting for freedom. Following statements from the Council and Commission on Wednesday, Members are set to debate the situation in Belarus, where human rights have deteriorated since the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.

In its role of EU budgetary authority, Parliament is due on Wednesday to debate amending the Council’s position on the draft EU budget for 2026. The EU borrowed heavily to support European citizens and businesses recover from the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, and now needs to finance the repayments for the Next Generation EU instrument. At the same time, funding is urgently needed for the EU’s new competitiveness, research and defence priorities. The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) proposes to increase the 2026 budget for these priorities, rather than transferring expenditure for such flagship programmes to financing the loans. The vote on the file will set Parliament’s position for the next step in the procedure, which will be the convening of the Conciliation Committee.

In its role in ensuring the EU budget is spent according to the rules, Parliament postponed its decision on granting budget discharge to the European Council and the Council, criticising the Council’s continued refusal to cooperate. After reviewing the situation, Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) recommends Parliament again refuses to grant discharge for 2023, with the vote set for  Wednesday. Parliament has already granted discharge to all decentralised agencies, bodies and joint undertakings for 2023 – except for the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA). On Wednesday, Members are due to to reconsider granting discharge, based on a CONT proposal, and to vote on a resolution criticising delays and obstruction at the EUAA regarding financial and general management, as well as raising concern about accountability at the agency.

In advance of the COP30 climate change conference in Brazil, Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) has tabled a motion for a resolution on Wednesday. The committee urges the parties to reaffirm their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C and a maximum of 2°C. To maintain this ambition, ENVI also recommends more frequent stocktakes and submissions on nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The committee highlights the need to tackle debt crises and simplify access to climate finance for climate-vulnerable countries. It also regrets that the Council failed to agree an EU NDC before the deadline set by the United Nations.

Parliament will also focus on measures to protect the environment nearer to home on Tuesday. Members are first expected to adopt Parliament’s position for interinstitutional negotiations on a proposed forest monitoring law and to renew the standing EU expert group on forests and forestry. Under the joint committee procedure, Parliament’s ENVI and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committees voted to reject the proposed increased monitoring of forests and forestry activity, on the grounds that it duplicates existing systems and would increase red tape. However, the committees support the continuation of the expert group but would nevertheless clarify its role.

Healthy soils are the basis of most agricultural production, as well as providing carbon storage, yet EU soils are in poor condition. On Thursday, Members are scheduled to consider an agreement reached by the co-legislators on a proposed soil monitoring law that should ensure the good health of this essential element for life in the EU. The new law would allow EU countries to support those who work on the land, with flexibility to take account of local conditions. It also addresses contamination, notably pollutants such as pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and requests a public register of contaminated sites within 10 years.

Meanwhile, microplastic pollution has reached much of our environment, from the sea to our own bodies. On Thursday, Parliament is set to consider an agreement reached between the co-legislators on proposed action to halt the loss of plastic pellets that contribute to this pollution, especially at sea. The pellets are used to manufacture plastic products and are often released into the environment during transport or industrial processes. Parliament’s negotiators have succeeded in imposing pictograms and warning statements when handling plastic pellets, and the agreement sets penalties for endangering people’s health.

At present, if someone commits a serious driving offence in an EU country, only the country that issued their licence can disqualify them from driving. To reduce such impunity and reckless driving in the EU, Members are due on Tuesday to consider a provisional agreement on EU-wide enforcement of driving disqualifications. The text aims at disqualifying drivers across the EU for drink-driving, speeding, drug-impaired driving, and conduct causing death or serious injury, with the provisions to be integrated into the Driving Licences Directive. As this directive is due for revision, to bring it up to date with today’s goals and technology, Members are also scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a provisional agreement endorsed by the Transport and Tourism committee. The new law would enable digital driving licences and an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for young drivers. All professional drivers will have to undergo a medical check to obtain or renew a licence, but EU governments will decide for other drivers.

On Tuesday, Members are due to consider a provisional agreement reached with the Council on additional procedural rules for treating cross-border enforcement of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The text agreed by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) negotiators retains the proposed early-scoping exercise to speed consensus between supervisory authorities on cross-border GDPR cases, and new rules on hearing parties to the procedure. To settle issues quickly, an early resolution procedure and a simple cooperation procedure have also been introduced.

Turning to their own house on Tuesday, Members are due to debate a provisional agreement with the Council of the EU on revising the rules regarding the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations. Lengthy negotiations have resulted in a text, endorsed by Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) that reinforces safeguards against foreign interference and ensures financial stability, aimed at improving transparency and visibility.

Quick links to all our publications for this plenary session:

• The situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections
• Parliament’s reading of the 2026 EU budget
• Discharge for the 2023 budget: European Council and Council
• Discharge for 2023 budget: EU Asylum Agency
• COP30 climate change conference in Brazil
• European forests
• Soil monitoring and resilience
• Microplastic pollution from plastic pellet losses
• Union-wide effect of driving disqualifications
• Revision of the Driving Licences Directive
• New GDPR procedural rules for cross-border cases
• Recasting the rules applicable to European political parties and foundations

Die Selbstständigkeit bietet viele Freiheiten. Doch der Spagat zwischen beruflichen Anforderungen und familiären Verpflichtungen kann herausfordernd sein. Besonders wenn ein hohes Maß an Eigenverantwortung und Flexibilität erwartet wird, müssen Sie als selbstständige Person kreativ werden, um beides gut zu managen. Wie das gelingt? Lassen Sie uns gemeinsam einige wichtige Aspekte und Lösungsansätze betrachten.

Die Vorteile der Selbstständigkeit

Die Selbstständigkeit hat einen großen Vorteil: Sie können selbst bestimmen, wann und wie lange Sie arbeiten. Das ist besonders vorteilhaft, wenn Kinder im Spiel sind. Vielleicht benötigen Sie in der ersten Zeit nach der Geburt flexiblere Arbeitszeiten, um sich um Ihr Baby zu kümmern. Oder Sie müssen plötzlich wegen der Grippe Ihres Kindes zu Hause bleiben – auch das ist einfacher zu managen. Anstatt feste Bürozeiten einhalten zu müssen, können Sie Ihre Arbeit rund um die Familie organisieren.

In Deutschland gibt es keinen expliziten Vaterschaftsurlaub. Stattdessen haben Eltern Anspruch auf Elternzeit und Elterngeld. Auch Selbstständige können Elternzeit nehmen und Elterngeld beantragen. Die Höhe des Betrags richtet sich nach dem durchschnittlichen Einkommen der letzten zwölf Monate vor der Geburt und beträgt zwischen 300 und 1.800 Euro monatlich. Die Elternzeit kann bis zu drei Jahre pro Elternteil betragen und flexibel genommen werden.

Auch die soziale Absicherung ist ein wichtiger Punkt: Selbstständige müssen sich eigenverantwortlich um Krankenversicherung, Rentenversicherung und ggf. Unfallversicherung kümmern. Es gibt spezielle Tarife und freiwillige Versicherungen, die auf die Bedürfnisse von Selbstständigen zugeschnitten sind. Die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen werden regelmäßig angepasst, um die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie zu verbessern.

Strategien für die Vereinbarkeit

• Grenzen setzen: Flexibilität ist wichtig, aber ziehen Sie klare Linien zwischen Arbeit und Familienzeit. Legen Sie feste Arbeitszeiten fest und achten Sie darauf, dass Sie diese auch einhalten, um genügend Raum für Ihre Familie zu schaffen.
• Kommunikation verbessern: Sprechen Sie regelmäßig mit Ihrer Familie darüber, wie sie sich Ihre Arbeitszeiten und den beruflichen Stress vorstellen. Passen Sie den Arbeitsalltag entsprechend an und stimmen Sie sich ab, um Missverständnisse zu vermeiden und die Balance zu wahren.
• Arbeitsumgebung optimieren: Richten Sie sich einen Bereich ein, der nur für die Arbeit da ist. So schaffen Sie klare Grenzen zwischen Ihrem Berufsalltag und der Familienzeit und können in Ihrer „Arbeitszone“ fokussiert bleiben, während der Rest des Hauses dem Familienleben gehört.
• Feste Auszeiten einplanen: Legen Sie wöchentliche arbeitsfreie Zeiten fest, um völlig abzuschalten und sich ausschließlich auf Ihre Familie zu konzentrieren. Dies gibt Ihnen die Möglichkeit, nicht nur für Ihre Arbeit, sondern auch für Ihre Liebsten da zu sein.
• Puffer einbauen: Schaffen Sie zwischen Ihren Arbeitseinheiten kleine Zeitpuffer, um sich um die Familie zu kümmern – sei es für eine Pause, ein kurzes Gespräch oder die Kinder von der Schule abzuholen.
• Technologien nutzen: Setzen Sie auf digitale Tools, die Ihnen helfen, Arbeit und Familie zu organisieren. Cloud-Speicher, Kalender-Apps und Projektmanagement-Tools ermöglichen eine flexible, effiziente Arbeitsweise und strukturieren Ihren Workflow.
• Flexibilität nutzen: Nutzen Sie die Freiheit der Selbstständigkeit, um Ihre Arbeit an die Bedürfnisse Ihrer Familie anzupassen. Arbeiten Sie morgens oder abends, wenn die Kinder schlafen.
• Unterstützung suchen: Verlassen Sie sich auf Familie, Freunde oder professionelle Betreuungsdienste, um die Last zu teilen. So gewinnen Sie Freiraum für Ihre Arbeit und sorgen gleichzeitig für das Wohl Ihrer Familie.
• Selbstfürsorge praktizieren: Nehmen Sie sich regelmäßig Auszeiten, um neue Energie zu tanken. Ob eine Tasse Kaffee oder ein kurzer Spaziergang – kleine Pausen helfen, fokussiert und gesund zu bleiben.

Ressourcen & Unterstützung

Es gibt eine Vielzahl von Organisationen, die Sie nutzen können. Profamilia ist ein Beispiel, das sich für die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf einsetzt. Sie bieten rechtliche Beratung sowie Veranstaltungen und Netzwerkmöglichkeiten, um Selbstständige in ihrer komplexen Lage zu unterstützen. Weitere hilfreiche Ressourcen finden Sie auch bei den Kammern für Selbstständige, dem Bundesverband der Selbständigen oder beim Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend.

Wenn Sie sich in Ihrer Rolle als selbstständiger Elternteil unsicher fühlen oder Unterstützung benötigen, zögern Sie nicht, auf diese Ressourcen zurückzugreifen. Auch der Austausch mit anderen, die ähnliche Erfahrungen gemacht haben, kann sehr wertvoll sein.

Selbstständigkeit und Familie zu vereinen ist alles andere als einfach, aber keinesfalls unmöglich.

Der Beitrag Erfolgreich Selbstständigkeit und Familie meistern erschien zuerst auf Neurope.eu - News aus Europa.

Length of video : 90'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Length of video : 15'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Enforce Digital Services Act quickly and ban harmful practices such as addictive design and gambling-like game features to protect minors, say MEPs.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In today's edition: Competitiveness, 2040 climate target, COP30, ETS2, 2026 work programme

The new rules aim to increase transparency and public trust in policy and decision-making without being unduly burdensome or restricting legitimate civic engagement.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The new rules aim to increase transparency and public trust in policy and decision-making without being unduly burdensome or restricting legitimate civic engagement.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees voted on Thursday morning for the three finalists of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees voted on Thursday morning for the three finalists of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees voted on Thursday morning for the three finalists of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España
Transport
Air carrier liability: pets are not excluded from the concept of ‘baggage’

AirHelp Germany
Transport

A lightning strike to an aircraft may constitute an extraordinary circumstance

In today's edition: NGTs, simplification, carbon farming

The European Commission’s upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA) is set to reshape the future of connectivity in Europe. By overhauling the rules that govern telecom operators, cloud services, and content providers, the DNA raises fundamental questions about fairness, competition, innovation, and the very architecture of our open internet. Join this hybrid event to examine the […]

Plus NATO updates, an EDA revival, Gripen gridlock, and much more

Written by Clare Ferguson and Sebastian Clapp.

Security has become a top concern for Europeans. With Ukrainians battling to protect their country against Russia’s aggression and reports of drone and aerial incursions almost a daily occurrence in several EU countries, the European Parliament is determined to ensure that the conditions are optimum for EU governments to step up their defence readiness. The European Commission is expected to publish a non-legislative defence readiness roadmap this month. In the meantime, the Parliament has repeatedly made its position clear that defence spending should increase.

Finding funding for defence was a low priority for many EU countries in recent years. This changed definitively with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and total Member State defence expenditure has since risen to €343 billion in 2024. Nevertheless, this is far below what other world powers spend on defending their countries, relative to the size of their respective economies. Whilst decisions on defence spending remain in the hands of national governments, Members of the European Parliament are backing moves to complement EU government defence projects through additional EU funding for defence-related investment.

Presciently, the EU already launched its first approach to boosting defence with the European Defence Fund in 2021. To increase cooperation between EU countries, this €8 billion fund promotes joint defence research and capability development, defence innovation and cross-border industrial cooperation through over 160 collaborative projects. However, the interim evaluation of the European Defence Fund (EDF) highlighted the need for funding to be faster, more flexible, and for better definition of projects for real strategic impact.

The EDF is just one way in which the EU aims to tackle the European defence industry’s high fragmentation, where Member States take national positions that nevertheless undermine overall efficiency, interoperability and competitiveness at the EU level. Today’s goal to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of EU defence spending is to develop a true common market for Europe’s security and defence industry. Less red-tape and greater defence alignment between EU countries could lead to governments enjoying the advantages of economies of scale in both industrial processes and procurement. Companies operating in the European defence technological and industrial base (known as EDTIB) could expand, and less funding would be lost to procurement from non-EU firms. Parliament is a strong supporter of a competitive EU defence market, which would lead to improved deterrence and resilience, and help EU countries better protect their sovereignty in today’s unpredictable geopolitical environment.

The principal mission of EU countries’ armed forces is to protect their borders and citizens. Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the mutual defence clause, also commits EU countries to aid and assist other Member States who are under attack. Most EU countries are also members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and therefore subject to Article 5, the collective defence clause. The armed forces of one or several EU Member States may therefore be called on to defend a border or a NATO Ally, and so need to be able to move swiftly across EU territory. However, military mobility today faces considerable barriers – outdated, inadequate or missing infrastructure (such as bridges) and inconsistent legislation. While some improvements have already been seen on customs and transport procedures, tackling the under-investment and regulatory barriers in this area as a collective could lead to benefits almost three times higher than when EU countries do not coordinate their investment.

Returning to the situation in Ukraine, military drones are the main cause of casualties among both civilians and troops. The EU is already using EDF funding to develop drone technology and countermeasures, with EU governments already investing heavily in drone production. Parliament is monitoring the situation carefully to ensure robust ethical guardrails and strong accountability – and is particularly concerned that military drone innovation should not lead to development of lethal autonomous weapons.

Finally, to help Ukraine defend its borders and its people, a recurring question is how to use Russian central bank assets, frozen by Western countries because of Russia’s attack, to sustain Ukraine against its aggressor(s). While legal opinions on the lawfulness of confiscating Russia’s money diverge, G7 countries have already agreed to use the extraordinary revenues generated by the assets to service and repay a US$50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine. The EU channels its support for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, and has already allocated €6.1 billion to address military and defence needs (2022-2024). This funding adds to military support directly provided by EU Member States, leading to an estimated €63.2 billion in total support for the Ukrainian armed forces. Fully behind the principle that Russia should pay for the damage it has inflicted, Parliament is unwavering in its support for Ukraine.

Further reading:

• EU defence funding
• The interim evaluation of the European Defence Fund
• Building a common market for European defence
• Military mobility
• Towards a comprehensive and beneficial approach to military mobility
• Military drone systems in the EU and global context: Types, capabilities and regulatory frameworks
• Confiscation of immobilised Russian sovereign assets: State of play, arguments and scenarios
• European Peace Facility – For Ukraine, but not only

In today’s edition: the Commission unveils its defence “readiness” plan amid fresh power struggles in Brussels, Dolors Montserrat admits to pocketing a €350 daily allowance from her EPP side job, and Euractiv scoops the Commission’s 2026 policy programme, revealing big ambitions – and a blank annex