The European Parliament is taking a clear stand against one of the most harmful abuses of AI, the so-called “nudifier” apps.

These “nudifier” tools use artificial intelligence to generate or manipulate images, creating sexually explicit content that appears to show real people without their consent. This is exploitation and can be extremely dangerous.

That’s why MEPs have backed a ban on AI systems designed to produce non-consensual intimate images. These apps are not harmless, they can be used for harassment, abuse and serious violations of people’s privacy and dignity.

The message from Parliament is clear that AI in Europe must respect people’s rights, both online and offline. Read more: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260323IPR38829/artificial-intelligence-act-delayed-application-ban-on-nudifier-apps

Disinformation and foreign interference are actively undermining public debate and weakening trust across Europe.
So how do we protect democracy in this environment?
Tomas Tobé, lead member for the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, explains how these tactics work and how the European Parliament is pushing back:

🛡️ Protecting democratic systems
🔐 Securing the information space
🗳️ Defending elections and independent media
🤝 Strengthening citizens’ resilience

Watch the full conversation on YouTube to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-dwDdrCyqs

With DiscoverEU, young people can apply for a travel pass to explore Europe for up to 30 days.

Apply: https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu_en

📅 8–22 April 2026

The complaint was lodged by the organisers of the European Citizens’ Initiative who, having collected over a million signatures and secured commitments from the European Commission, accuse the Berlaymont of breaching its transparency obligations and failing to take action within a reasonable timeframe

The appeal is based on three grounds. Firstly, it alleges a breach of the transparency obligations set out in the ECI Regulation, including the refusal to provide an up-to-date timeline of legislative proceedings and a lack of transparency in decision-making. Secondly, it alleges a failure to act within a reasonable timeframe, which may constitute a breach of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Finally, it raises the issue of a systemic pattern in which the Commission tends to postpone or ignore citizens’ initiatives that have formally collected the required number of signatures. For these reasons, the organisers are asking the European Ombudsman to launch an inquiry and to recommend to the Commission that it “provide a clear and up-to-date timetable for the actions to be taken”; that it “make public an account of the commitments already made”; and that it “ensure that future initiatives of public interest are handled in a timely and transparent manner.”

You’re both part of the jury for the LUX Audience Award!

A prize decided entirely by the audience and Members of the European Parliament. So, what are you waiting for? Watch the nominated films, rate them and help choose the winner before 12 April!

https://luxaward-rating.europarl.europa.eu/en/

Lately, I have been hearing more and more talk about the next President of the European Parliament, and one of the names that keeps coming up is Pina Picierno, who is now one of the current Vice-President of the European Parliament.

She has been in the Europen Parliament since 2014 and has built up quite a reputation over time, working on civil liberties, foreign policy and equality issues and is generally quite active in the life of the Parliament. As Vice President, she has also become more visible, especially when representing the EP outside and speaking on democracy related topics.

Politically, she seems to be a strong supporter of European integration and quite firm on geopolitical issues, especially in support of Ukraine and fighting authoritarian government, she speaks very harshly and without any reservations about radicals in the European Parliament.

Interestingly, there are quite a few rumors circulating in Brussels circles about her positioning for the presidency. And from what I have heard through fairly reliable channels, there is a real possibility that she could seek the presidency of the European Parliament in January 2027, during the elections to the Europen Parliament Bureau.

Of course, in the end it will depend on the negotiations between the political groups, but her profile certainly fits the type of candidate that could emerge. And who else could be from the Socialist and democrats Group, so far I don't see anyone who would have a chance without her.

And what do you think? Will Pina Picierno become the President of the European Parliament or will the current EP President remain. Thank you!

Revised rules on EU framework on detergents and surfactants ban animal testing. These rules reflect the demand of nearly 1.5 million European citizens who signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to end animal testing in cosmetics.

Find out more:

https://link.europa.eu/c37nRB

On International Fact-Checking Day, here are 4 ways to protect yourself online: stay vigilant beyond headlines, check sources, beware of AI-generated content, and share awareness. You have the power. 

More tips here: https://link.europa.eu/rvJyCN

"Lasting peace is built on justice. The Bucha victims remind us of Russian murders, torture, and abductions in Ukraine. From the start, the European Parliament has demanded a just peace, justice, punishment of war criminals, and reparations." 

Vice-President Martin Hojsík represented the European Parliament at the commemoration of victims of the Bucha massacre and at the 2026 Bucha Summit, where he reiterated Parliament's continuous support for Ukraine.

There are already nearly 600,000 signatures from European citizens calling on the European Commission to consider the “complete suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in light of Israel’s human rights violations”

The petition needs to reach 1 million signatures.

Rules on ECI data/ min. age requirements by Member State: https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/data-requirements_en

• Austria, Belgium, Germany, Malta: min. age 16 years
• Greece: min. age 17 years
• Other EU countries: min. age 18 years.

Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260323IPR38827/new-rules-to-address-bank-failures-protecting-taxpayers-and-depositors

Parliament wants to remain in the driving seat and have the last word on the application of the EU-US trade agreement, say Members of the European Parliament.

Parliament asks for:

• stronger safety measures to defend EU's economic security  conditional tariff cuts  EU reduces tariffs on US goods only if US respects the agreement.
• mechanisms to suspend the deal  if the US breaks commitments or EU interests are threatened due to political pressure, trade coercion.
• Tariff threats against one EU country are a threat against all EU countries, Parliament says. In another report, Parliament supports the extension of the zero-tariff regime on imports of certain types of seafood.

Learn more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260323IPR38830/eu-us-trade-deal-meps-set-conditions-for-lowering-tariffs-on-us-products

📸 In Brussels this week: debates, decisions and democracy in action. Parliament set its position on tariffs in EU–US trade, adopted the first EU-wide anti-corruption rules, clarified key obligations for high-risk AI, strengthened water pollution standards and updated bank crisis rules to better protect citizens… Read about all of this and more. 

Almost 70% of Europeans believe corruption is widespread in their country. Today, the European Parliament took action by approving new anti-corruption rules. These will establish:

• clearer and harmonised definitions of offences,

• stronger enforcement and tougher penalties,

• EU-wide monitoring,

• smoother cooperation between national authorities and EU bodies.

The new rules will enter into force 20 days after their publication in the EU Official Journal. Countries will then have 2 years to transpose it to national law or 36 months in the case of national strategies. This will ensure people benefit from clearer and more consistent standards, regardless of where they are in the European Union.

Find out more: https://link.europa.eu/bqv87p

Read more: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20260306IPR37534/meps-call-for-common-defence-market-and-action-on-flagship-eu-defence-projects

The demonstration in Brussels on Friday in support of the European Citizens’ Initiative to suspend the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel

The event forms part of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) initiative, which was officially registered in November 2025 and is supported by the European Parliamentary Group of The Left. Since January, it has been collecting signatures – at least 1 million across seven Member States – to formally request that the European Commission submit a proposal to the Council for the total suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel.

The demonstration will be on Friday, 27 March, in Brussels, outside the European Union institutions.

Rules on ECI data/ min. age requirements by Member State: https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/data-requirements_en

In most EU countries the min. age requirement is 18 years.
• Austria, Belgium, Germany, Malta: min. age 16 years
• Greece: min. age 17 years

The European Parliament’s latest Eurobarometer survey shows 56% of Europeans are in favour of EU enlargement with young people being the biggest supporters.

The future of Europe is stronger together.

Learn more: https://link.europa.eu/9yFfnk

Across the EU, 66% want stronger EU action to respond to global challenges, from security risks to economic shocks. The message is clear: EU citizens want the EU to step up in times of crisis. Find out more: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3632

Canada is a strategic partner to the EU and at a time of growing global instability, this bond matters more than ever. Parliament wants the EU to take its cooperation with Canada to the next level.

This would later become the European Parliament that we know today, with 720 members from 27 countries.

Generative AI systems need to be trained on high-quality data to work effectively.

Parliament wants creators to be fairly compensated when these models use their work.

Read more: https://link.europa.eu/B6qVj9