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Less plastic waste means cleaner beaches and improved human and animal health. Find out what the EU is doing now to tackle plastics pollution and marine litter.

The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, will procure and donate vaccine doses, as an immediate response to the mpox outbreak in Africa. The Africa CDC will distribute the vaccines according to regional needs.

The EU is mobilising emergency support to Greece and Albania, both of which have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in response to severe wildfires. Aerial and ground firefighting resources have been mobilised to assist Greece, while 1 plane has been deployed to Albania.

Young people eager to work with EU institutions, bodies or agencies have numerous options to gain valuable experience, including traineeships, volunteering and solidarity projects. Find out more.

Despite freedom of movement of goods within the EU, there are certain rules on taking certain consumer goods from one EU country to another. Before you travel, check them out.

Thanks to harmonised EU rules on travelling with pets, your cats, dogs, and indeed, ferrets, enjoy freedom of movement within the EU. All you need to have for your pet before they set off on their travels, is an up-to-date EU pet passport, which you can get from any authorised vet.

The world's first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, the European Artificial Intelligence Act, has entered into force. The AI Act will ensure that AI developed and used in the EU is trustworthy as well as establish a harmonised internal market for AI in the EU.

The new Directive on repair of goods promotes more sustainable consumption by encouraging consumers to repair rather than replace their faulty products. It will also prevent waste, save resources and lower green house gas emissions. Countries have time until 31 July 2026 to implement these rules.

The EU was prominently featured for the first time in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony with a dancing performance under the EU motto “United in Diversity”. This was a unique opportunity for the EU to promote values such as peace, unity and solidarity.

In June 2024, Europeans voted and elected their representatives in the European Parliament. This was democracy in action, but it is not the only way EU citizens can influence EU policy making. Read about other ways to get involved, from helping initiate new proposals to debating existing policies.

The Commission has published its fifth annual Rule of Law Report which monitors significant developments and takes stock of the rule of law situation in all EU countries. It shows that the EU is better equipped to face rule of law challenges than it was 5 years ago.

A recent survey showed many Europeans still feel that they lack sufficient information on their passenger rights. The Commission has published revised guidelines on air passenger rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.

Record-breaking temperatures are becoming ever more frequent and intense, and cities and urban areas are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. The Joint Research Centre has identified strategies and best practices that local authorities can take to manage extreme heat in EU cities.

An EU law has come into force that will enable the setting of eco-design requirements and information for almost all categories of physical goods that come onto the EU market. It aims to significantly improve circularity, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects.

With 401 votes in favour, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission in a secret ballot on 18 July.

The Commission has selected 134 transport projects to receive over €7 billion in EU grants. Around 83% of the funding will support projects that deliver on the EU's climate objectives, improving and modernising the EU's network of railways, inland waterways and maritime routes.

Travelling by train in Europe is becoming more convenient and sustainable thanks to recent EU initiatives. New regulations for the trans-European transport network to improve rail connectivity and make travel greener have recently entered into force. Find out what else the EU is doing in this area.

Members of the European Parliament have re-elected Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament until 2027, in the first round of voting. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.

You can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary or urgent medical care when travelling abroad, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. It’s valid in any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Read more.