Our
Achievements

The EU is committed to a clean energy future. And this can only happens if we are independent of Russia’s fossils fules and are not exposed to energy blackmail. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighted the need for a rapid EU-wide plan to achieve energy independence and promote green energy.

REPowerEU is that plan. It provides extra cash (€20 billion, no less) for making homes and industries more energy-efficient, helping people who struggle with energy costs as well as small businesses. Each country can use this money in their own way, as long as it is targeted to reach the EU’s energy and climate goals.

The EU budget is mainly financed through transfers from the treasuries of EU countries into the budget of the European Union. Ultimately, this is taxpayers’ money. Renew Europe advocated for new resources to be found, genuine European ones, i.e. money that can only be levied at EU level. We scored some victories in that regard.

In 2021, we set up an EU tax on plastic waste. More sources of income, such as taxes related to carbon emissions and profits of large multinational companies are now being considered. These new sources could bring in over €36 billion per year. We also argue we should be bolder and have taxes on digital giants to pay off the debt incurred by the EU recovery plan.

The European Union has put in new laws to ensure that, when it comes to the regulation of Cryptocurrencies, there is a new sheriff in town. Thanks to a new EU regulation, investors are given clarity as to what they really buy on crypto platforms. Crypto dealers must now disclose information. Consumers are given rights so they can no longer be misled. Furthermore, the regulation includes provisions to address market abuse.

Artificial intelligence is all around us, offering exciting possibilities and opportunities. While it is a fascinating field, it can also be a source of concern due to its opaque inner workings, potential for unethical use, and uncertainty about its impact on our jobs. However, we have taken a significant step to address these concerns by adopting the AI Act, which establishes strict rules, transparency, and governance to make AI safer and more responsible.

The AI Act aims to establish consistent regulations for artificial intelligence. It ensures that AI systems entering the market and being used are safe, while also respecting fundamental rights and values. Additionally, it provides legal clarity for companies developing AI, encourages research and innovation, and fosters a robust European market for trustworthy and secure AI.

The Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) stands as a pivotal tool in realizing our ambitious 2030 digital decade targets, ensuring that no citizen or business is left behind in the digital revolution.

At its core, the GIA aims to facilitate the rapid deployment of high connectivity, including fiber and 5G networks, through several key measures. Firstly, it seeks to shorten and harmonize the permit process for telecom network operators, simplifying bureaucratic hurdles and reducing administrative burdens. Secondly, the act promotes better coordination among all network operators, including gas, water, and telecom companies, streamlining civil works and expediting network deployment. Additionally, the GIA mandates that all new constructions incorporate high connectivity access points, laying the foundation for a digitally inclusive future.

Renew Europe has fought for a significant breakthrough in European economic policy. Following intensive negotiations, an agreement has been on the Economic Governance Review. This landmark agreement paves the way for an updated economic governance framework.

As we come closer to the reactivation of the Stability and Growth Pact in 2024, Renew Europe led negotiations in shaping a new framework. The economic challenges of recent years have been significant, but with this new framework, Member States can work towards sustainable debt levels while also investing in our future and tackling climate change. These investments are crucial for the EU to assert itself as a leading geopolitical force in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

We all have one at home: that drawer filled with cables of different shape - and often none of them fit the need at hand. This will belong to the past.

The European Common Charger is poised to revolutionise the way we power our small and medium-sized electronic gadgets. Under this new regulation, various devices such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld video game consoles, and portable speakers that rely on a wired cable for charging will be required to have a USB Type-C port, irrespective of the manufacturer.

In the ever-changing world of consumer products, Renew Europe is set to make your lives better and safer. We have been working on two crucial directives to make your day-to-day life better without you even realizing. The Product Liability Directive and the directive for Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition bring many benefits to our lives.

With the Product Liability Directive, we want to protect consumers in the digital age - the goal is to protect consumers from harm caused by unsafe products, especially in the digital age.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up more than 95% of all businesses in the EU. They are the cornerstone of growth, employment, and competitiveness on the continent. These businesses are hotbeds of creativity and harbor a genuine desire for innovation.

With the presentation of the SME Relief Package by the European Commission, Renew Europe is pleased to see progress finally being made. The package incorporates some of Renew Europe’s key recommendations, such as regulations to combat late payments, particularly by public authorities, and the recognition of the role played by SME Envoys.

In 2021, only 21.8 % of the energy consumed in the EU came from renewable energies. This is far from enough to reach our climate goals. The EU also needs to strengthen its strategic autonomy by reducing its dependence on energy imports from other countries and ensure the affordability of energy for people and businesses. Increasing the production of European renewables is a crucial way of achieving this. Renew Europe played a kingmaker role in amending the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) which will make sure that by 2030, Europe’s energy use is covered for 45% by renewables (42,5% is the binding target).

Europe is one of the richest regions in the world, yet there is a growing number of children and families living with poverty on the continent. Specific groups, including those in single-parent families, large-disadvantaged families, children with disabilities, and those belonging to ethnic minorities, also confront heightened risks. Their total number is close to 20 million people!

In 2019, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in her Political Guidelines the creation of a European Child Guarantee. Since then, a Council Recommendation was adopted in 2021 calling on Member States to guarantee free and effective access to children in need to a set of key services: early childhood education and care, education (including school-based activities and at least one healthy meal each school day), healthcare. In addition, Member States committed to provide healthy nutrition, and adequate housing.

The stark under-representation of women on company boards is a glaring gender inequality in the EU- clearly contradicting European values. Currently, only one third of corporate board members are women, and the disparity is even more pronounced among executive boards lacking female directors. With this directive, we raised the bar on greater gender equality, challenging the status quo.

The new European rules which will be in place by July 2026 require clear and transparent board appointment procedures with an objective assessment based on merit. In cases where candidates are equally qualified in terms of ability, competence and professional performance, priority will be given to the candidate of the under-represented sex. Companies failing to comply will face financial consequences, reinforcing the commitment to gender diversity. At the same time, with the concept of ‘faming list’ introduced by Renew Europe, companies that are meeting the targets will receive positive recognition.

We feel strongly that quality data is the starting point to better public health in Europe. Data shows us that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular or respiratory problems, cancer and diabetes cause most deaths in Europe, two thirds in total. At the same time 70% of these NCDs are avoidable if we put in place better prevention measures, especially for vulnerable groups. Not only could this save lives, it could also lead to a lower burden on our national healthcare systems. The reality however is that EU countries on average spend 3% of their health spending on prevention. This is why we called for more coordination at a European level to increase the focus on prevention measures, improve early diagnosis and support patient empowerment.

Another important area of healthcare where we lack quality European data is mental health in Europe. 84 million people across the EU suffer from mental disorders such as anxiety and panic disorders and depression, and we know that young people increasingly face mental health issues since the pandemic. To give people the right support and break stigmas, we called for a European Mental Health Strategy by launching our own mental health survey to illustrate the data problem that requires our attention.

In 2015, the binding international treaty on climate change adopted by the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, set the target to limit global warming to below 2 degrees and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. To reach this goal and keep our planet livable, it was time to increase our climate ambition and cut emissions drastically. This is why we pushed to set a new 2030 target of at least 55% emissions reductions in the European Climate Law. To reach this target, and even go beyond it, a large package of EU laws have been adopted or updated. This package of laws is known as Fit for 55 and is part of the broader European Green Deal. Fit for 55 makes sure that all citizens, businesses, sectors and countries take responsibility to cut CO2 emissions and reach our emissions reduction target.

As of 2035, all cars and vans rolling off the assembly line should meet the target of 100% zero- emissions. At the same time, new rules expected to be adopted in Spring 2024 will introduce new and stricter CO2 emission limits on trucks and buses. This transition to zero-emission mobility is expected to bring significant environmental benefits, including a notable improvement in air quality. At the same time, these new rules will ensure that affordable clean cars and heavy- duty vehicles likes trucks and busses are brought more swiftly to the market and a great win-win equally for trucks and vans.

The process of an increasingly integrated European electricity market began two decades ago, giving consumers a better price for their energy and ensuring security of supply. Then, the energy crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s weaponisation of gas supply since its war on Ukraine, created the urgent need to revise EU rules governing the electricity markets. Europe needs a truly future-proof energy system that produces, stores and distributes energy more efficiently and across EU borders. Only such an efficient electricity system design, prepared for geopolitical shocks, will guarantee energy supply to European households, businesses and industry at affordable prices, while we reach Europe’s climate goals at the same time.

European ships, representing around 55% of the entire EU fleet, are responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions by the maritime sector. Moreover, around 98% of ships still run on fossil fuels. To reach our climate pollution reduction goals, the maritime sector needs to transform. This is why we created new rules that will give the entire sector a realistic yet ambitious trajectory to make the green transition for shipping a success, whilst supporting innovation and safeguarding European competitiveness.

Aviation is the most difficult mode of transport to decarbonise. Unlike some other modes of transport that can leverage electrification for cleaner energy sources, aviation predominantly relies on kerosene, which emits substantial carbon emissions. By increasing the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, the aviation sector can substantially reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.

Until a few years ago, it was practical to have metal batteries on hand to use a flashlight or to power the children’s remote control toy car. Today batteries play an increasingly more significant role in our daily lives. Not only our smartphones are powered by batteries, but freed from the hassle of power cables, batteries are widely used in home and garden equipment as well as lifesaving medical devices. Battery applications are also key to meeting our climate goals. By 2035, all new cars rolling off the assembly line will get their power exclusively from batteries.

As a result, we have an exponential need for powerful and reliable batteries. Estimates show that we will need 14 times more batteries by 2030. This brings new challenges as well as opportunities for a circular battery industry.

The agri-food sector is one of the biggest economic sectors in the EU and is responsible for:

1. Food production: There are around 9.1 million farms in the EU and 22 million people working in the sector. They provide an impressive variety of abundant, affordable, safe and good quality products for 500 million European consumers.

2. Farmers keep the countryside alive: The farming and food sectors together provide nearly 40 million jobs in the EU while 25% of the EU population lives in rural areas. As farming and activities related to it make up most of the job opportunities in the rural areas, they are crucial for preventing depopulation and widening urban-rural divide. If there were no farms or farmers, our villages and market towns would be profoundly affected.

3. Environmentally sustainable farming: Our countryside has been shaped by farming over the centuries and provides the habitat for a great diversity of fauna and flora. Farmers have to produce food whilst simultaneously protecting nature and safeguarding biodiversity. Using natural resources prudently is essential for our food production and for our quality of life, today, tomorrow and for future generations.

The funds available in the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) will contribute to modernise Europe’s ageing fishing fleet. More energy efficient vessels using the latest green techniques are necessary to reach our climate goals, but it will also make the sector more attractive for a new generation of fishers.

As fish and other aquatic food are a protein source with a low carbon footprint - if produced or fished sustainably - investing in a sustainable and prosperous fishing sector is of great importance to EU citizens. Having sustainable as well as healthier and more locally produced food available will benefit us all.

These new rules on deforestation-free products aim at cutting down the EU’s impact on global deforestation and therefore curbing greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. In practice, the EU has imposed a ban on deforestation- related products and commodities in the EU. Renew Europe successfully pushed for a wider definition of forest degradation, an extension of the scope of the legislation.

This means that the law will apply in particular to everyday products such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, cattle, as well as derived products such as leather, chocolate and furniture. No specific product is banned, but the EU is closing its doors to the products whose suppliers are not able to demonstrate that they do not come from deforested lands or had not led to forest degradation after 2020. Companies that do not respect the regulation will be fined.

Certain governments in Europe have resorted to an illicit form of spyware developed in Israel, capable of infiltrating anyone’s phone with a single click, deploying a virus that seizes full control over the mobile device. High-level politicians, judges, independent prosecutors, lawyers, journalists and human rights activists were carefully chosen as targets.

Renew Europe ardently fought for the creation of a special inquiry committee, called PEGA that successfully investigated cases of illegal spying across the EU. Our objective was twofold: to lay down a legal framework for the legitimate use of surveillance software and to create an EU Tech Lab for comprehensive oversight.

Women deserve to feel just as safe as men in this world, however this is not currently the case. Legislation on domestic violence and violence against women is often not enforced and it can be difficult for victims to access the services they require due to stigma, fear, and lack of availability among other factors.

In 2023, the European Parliament and the Council voted in favour of the EU ratification of the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. This is an internationally binding agreement to combat violence against women and girls and domestic violence. This Convention criminalises psychological violence, stalking, physical violence, sexual violence including rape, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion, forced sterilization and sexual harassment. It also requires that protection is given to women regardless of age, disability, marital status, association with a national minority, migrant or refugee status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The best indicator of a healthy democracy is a strong and independent press. According to the Media Pluralism Monitor 2022, 21 EU Member States are at medium to high risk regarding media pluralism, signaling concerning trends in media freedom. The new legislation aims at advancing the internal market in the media sector and protecting media freedom, pluralism, and independence in the European single market. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will benefit all different stakeholders: media companies, public service media, journalists and media professionals.

The EU may count more than 30 Member States in the near future. More than ever, a thorough update of Europe’s institutions is inevitable to preserve our welfare and agility in a rapidly changing world.

Indeed, we believe that the EU must be updated to more efficiently tackle global challenges like the war in Ukraine, migration and climate change and make it a credible geopolitical actor. That update also means involving citizens more in the decision making process beyond the day of the elections, increasing their awareness and participation in the European project.

This agreement comes after a legislative process of more than three years. Renew Europe played a crucial role in finding a balanced approach to this complex package, consisting of nine legislative texts. They aim to provide better governance and strategic oversight of the European asylum policy among the 27 Member States. It introduces an unprecedented solidarity mechanism at the European level, aims to improve the control of irregular migration at the EU’s external borders, and seeks more harmonized and efficient asylum procedures within the EU.

The aim of these instruments is to better prepare the EU for major challenges in the area of migration, to adapt national administrations to increasing flows, to combat smugglers and criminal organisations, to counter the instrumentalisation of migration by foreign powers and to deal with pandemics and security crises.

Renew Europe immediately condemned Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms and worked internally and with allies in the European Parliament to constrain Russia’s ability to wage war and to support Ukraine’s ability to resist this war of aggression.

Our fight for Ukraine:

We called for the exclusion of Russian operators from SWIFT, the main messaging network through which international payments are made, the blocking of Russian banks from the international financial system and the freezing of the assets of the Russian Central Bank.

A strong European foreign policy needs appropriate tools to be able to confront and respond to the most horrible crimes of today’s world. We believe that unanimity within the EU Council does not help us move forward. Human rights cannot be subject to a veto!

Renew Europe will continue to insist on the need for the EU to also take steps to recognise the close link between corruption and human rights violations, and to target economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers.

Renew Europe has pushed for the EU’s trade power to be asserted during this mandate to ensure our open strategic autonomy. Renew Europe has played a key role in creating several instruments to set the conditions for fair and reciprocal trade relations and combat possible blackmail and unfair competition from third countries. Renew Europe led the review of the Enforcement Regulation which empowers the EU to act to protect its trade interests when a trade dispute is blocked. Renew Europe was furthermore behind a strong instrument on international procurement, opening foreign procurement markets for our companies. It was also key for us to ensure that the same level of scrutiny applies to subsidies granted by foreign governments, as for our state aid within the EU. Renew Europe also succeeded in giving to the EU every capacity to fend off blackmail from countries seeking to interfere with our interests, as China recently did with Lithuania.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made EU enlargement more important than ever as a bigger EU is a stronger EU. Continued European security and prosperity are linked to bringing in new Member States and advancing peace, democracy, respect for human rights and Rule of Law.

We have also remained clear that EU membership needs reforms in the candidate countries - strong democratic institutions fighting corruption and delivering real solutions for the citizens. Enlargement is the key to delivering more political stability on the continent, a bigger internal market, and better opportunities for citizens, but this will require internal reforms of the EU as well.