EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT update

 

Press service European Parliament   Available in                              Press release 04-05-2026 The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism - call for submission of entries       • Annual Prize to reward outstanding journalism that promotes or defends core EU values • Winner chosen by independent jury composed of press and civil society representatives • €20 000 to be awarded in prize money • Award ceremony mid-October to honour the anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia   On 4 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the sixth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism. The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism is awarded each year around 16 October, the day of the journalist's assassination. The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Nine years since Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally murdered, journalists around the world continue to be intimidated, threatened, and assassinated. The European Parliament stands by them in their fight for justice. The prize bearing Daphne’s name remains a powerful symbol of this unwavering commitment. It honours those courageous individuals who dare to bring the truth to light even in the darkest times. Free speech matters, and without press freedom, democracy itself cannot be safeguarded”. The Prize is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality, who can submit in-depth pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. The aim is to support and highlight the importance of professional journalism in safeguarding human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European Associations of Journalism, will choose the winning entry. The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. The prize, including the €20 000 prize money, demonstrates the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism. Parliament has repeatedly denounced attempts to limit media freedom, and especially attacks against journalists, in any form and wherever they may come from, most recently in its April 2026 reports taking stock of developments in the areas of fundamental rights and the rule of law. MEPs were instrumental in the effort that culminated in the European Media Freedom Act. This landmark regulation, aimed at protecting media freedom and journalists' safety and independence, entered into force in May 2024, and saw most of its provisions applicable in August 2025. For years, Parliament also pushed for rules to tackle malicious litigation, in view of protecting journalists and civil society from strategic lawsuits seeking to silence critical voices, and the EU’s anti-SLAPP directive, approved in February 2024, must be transposed by member states by 7 May 2026. Journalists can submit their article(s) online at https://daphnejournalismprize.eu/ by 31 July 2026, midnight (CET). Past winners 2021 - “The Pegasus Project”, coordinated by the Forbidden Stories 2022 - Documentary on “The Central African Republic under Russian Influence” by Clément Di Roma and Carol Valade (ARTE/France24/Le Monde) 2023 - Joint investigation on the Pylos migrant boat shipwreck (Solomon, in collaboration with Forensis, StrgF/ARD, and The Guardian) 2024 - Investigation on missing unaccompanied child migrants (Lost in Europe) 2025 – Joint investigation on the Russian shadow fleet, coordinated by Follow the Money Further information  Highlights of the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Seminar  Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist murdered on 16 October 2017

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Press release 06-05-2026 PECH   New rules to align data and statistical analysis for EU fisheries and aquaculture     • More clarity needed for the integration of data into Eurostat systems • Statistics would also cover catches by EU vessels worldwide, recreational fisheries, sensitive species, discarded catches, and aquaculture • MEPs want to add statistics on harmonised socio-economic data The Fisheries Committee adopted its position on a regulation to simplify and clarify the statistical data that underpins EU political decisions on fisheries and aquaculture. The data is also used to monitor progress on objectives established by EU strategies such as the European Green Deal and the European Ocean Pact. Ensure consistency of data and reduce red tape Currently, the collection of statistical data for EU fishery and aquaculture sectors is based on five legislative acts and is as a result inconsistent. The proposed new legal framework on the “European fisheries and aquaculture statistics” (EFAS), seeks to ensure consistency and reliability by combining the current rules and making EU statistics comparable at the international level. In the adopted text, MEPs backed provisions to streamline statistical processes, reduce administrative burden and reduce data-gathering , and improve legal certainty for the operators. Eurostat would be allowed to transmit the data to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), thus reducing duplication of efforts and cutting red tape associated with multiple reporting obligations. A more complete overview on fishers’ lives In addition to aligning terms and definitions in different regulations, MEPs also want to have a requirement for the collection of harmonised socio-economic data, such as gender, age, education, income, and environmental parameters, such as energy and water consumption. They argue that this information would allow a better understanding of the competitiveness of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, its dynamism and the generational change. This data should be based on already existing “monitoring systems, administrative data sources or environmental reporting frameworks”. MEPs also backed a proposal to task Eurostat with the collection of more comprehensive data on catches, including all catches by EU vessels worldwide and those by recreational fishers, discarded catches, the impact of catches on sensitive species and on landings. More data on aquaculture would also become available. Next steps The Committee on Fisheries draft report was approved with 22 votes in favour, three against and oneabstention. MEPs also agreed to enter into interinstitutional negotiations by 18 in favour to one against and three abstentions. The text needs to be confirmed by the Parliament during the May plenary session, before the negotiations with EU governments on the final shape of the law can start. Council has already agreed on its negotiating mandate on 11 March 2026. Background The core legislation that governs European fisheries statistics is around 30 years old. These legal acts from the 1990s were subject of a recast from 2006 to 2009: Regulation 218/2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by member states fishing in the north-east Atlantic; Regulation 217/2009 on the submission of catch and activity statistics by member states fishing in the north-west Atlantic; Regulation 216/2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by member states fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic; Regulation 1921/2006 on the submission of statistical data on landings of fishery products in Member States; Regulation 762/2008 on the submission by member states of statistics on aquaculture These regulations provide official EU-wide data on fleet size and structure, catches, landings and aquaculture production. The data collected are used by several organisations, including EU Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA), FAO, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and regional fisheries management organisations. Further information  Video of the debate in committee (25.2.2026)  File procedure: European fisheries and aquaculture statistics  Profile of the rapporteur Sakis ARNAOUTOGLOU (S&D, Greece)  Legislative train: Revision of the European fisheries and aquaculture statistics system  EPRS briefing: European fisheries and aquaculture statistics framework – implementation takeaways (October 2025)  Committee on Fisheries

Δελτίο Τύπου Press release 07-05-2026 IMCO   LIBE    AI Act: deal on simplification measures, ban on “nudifier” apps       • Postponement of some obligations for AI systems to prevent legal uncertainty • EU ban on nudifiers and on AI-assisted creation of child sexual abuse material • No overlapping rules for machinery product safety The agreement between EU co-legislators aims to make it easier for providers to comply with the AI Act, while maintaining its main provisions and risk-based approach. Early Thursday morning, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal on amending certain rules within the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act as part of the digital omnibus package. New deadlines The law postpones the application of certain parts of the AI Act to ensure that necessary standards and support measures, needed to clarify the application of the rules, are in place. Following the agreement, obligations on high-risk AI systems will apply: - From 2 December 2027 for AI systems with a high-risk use case (including those involving biometrics, and those used in critical infrastructure, education, employment, law enforcement, and border management) - From 2 August 2028 for AI systems used as safety components and covered by EU sectoral legislation on safety and market surveillance The law also delays the application of watermarking obligations on AI-generated content until 2 December 2026 (instead of 2 February 2027 in the Commission proposal). Watermarking techniques allow for the detection and tracing of AI-generated content. Ban on nudifier apps Parliament and Council also agreed to ban AI systems that create child sexual abuse material or depict the intimate parts of an identifiable person, or them engaged in sexually explicit activities, without that person’s consent. The prohibition applies to: - placing AI systems on the EU market with the purpose of creating such content; - placing them on the EU market without reasonable safety measures to prevent such creation; - deployers using these systems for the purpose of creating such content. The content in question can be images, video or audio. Companies will have until 2 December 2026 to bring their systems in line. Reducing overlaps, centralised enforcement The following changes to the AI Act were also agreed: - Removing overlapping requirements on AI for machinery products by clarifying that they only need to comply with sectoral safety rules (instead of both the AI Act and sectoral rules); with safeguards that ensure an equivalent level of health and safety; - Narrowing down what qualifies as “safety component”, meaning that products with AI functions that only assist users or optimise performance will not automatically face high-risk obligations, if their failure or malfunction does not create health or safety risks; - Possibility to process personal data where strictly necessary to detect and correct biases, with proper safeguards, both in high-risk and non-high-risk AI systems ; - Extending SME exemptions from certain rules to small mid-cap enterprises (SMCs), to support their growth; - Streamlining enforcement of certain general-purpose AI systems within the EU’s AI Office. Quotes Co-rapporteur for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee Arba Kokalari (EPP, SE) said: “With this agreement, we show that politics can move just as quickly as technology. We now make the AI rules more workable in practice, remove overlaps and pause the high-risk requirements. In order for Europe to become an AI continent, we need to promote innovation, support startups and scaleups and make it easier to build AI in Europe”.  Co-rapporteur for the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee Michael McNamara (Renew, IE) said: “I’m pleased that this morning we reached an agreement on the AI Omnibus. Alongside simplification measures, we are banning nudification apps, a key part of the Parliament’s mandate, and, of course, the creation of child sexual abuse material using AI systems. This way, we have the tools to act if providers do not address AI systems that compromise fundamental rights or human dignity.” Next steps The provisional agreement needs to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council before it can enter into law. The co-legislators intend to adopt it before 2 August 2026, the start date for current rules on high-risk systems. Press conference Co-rapporteurs Arba Kokalari (EPP, Sweden) and Michael McNamara (Renew, Ireland) will answer journalists’ questions on the details of the trilogue agreement at a press conference on Thursday at 11.00 CEST. Details on how to follow are available here. Background The legislation agreed today is part of the seventh omnibus package on simplification proposed by the European Commission on 19 November 2025 (“the digital omnibus”). Parliament is also currently working on the other proposals in the package: the digital omnibus on amending laws on data use and data protection, and the proposal establishing European business wallets. Further information  Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection  Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  Procedure file Disponible en       Communiqué de presse 07-05-2026 AFET    UE-Afrique : Première réunion constitutive du 12 au 14 mai 2026       Des parlementaires africains et européens se réunissent à Eswatini pour définir des réponses communes en matière de sécurité, de jeunesse et de ressources stratégiques La séance solennelle d’ouverture se tiendra le 12 mai à 10h00 au « Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention and Conference Centre » en présence, entre autres, de Son Excellence Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Premier Ministre de l’Eswatini, Son Altesse Royale le Prince Lindani, ainsi que de Mme Hilde Vautmans, députée européenne (RENEW - Belgique) et l’Honorable David Houinsa (Benin). Ils sont les co-présidents de l’Assemblée parlementaire Afrique-UE. Pendant trois jours, les parlementaires d'Europe et d’Afrique débattront de plusieurs thèmes clés: Le rôle des organisations régionales et des parlements dans la promotion de la Paix et de la sécurité L’avenir multilatéralisme, rôle de la diplomatie parlementaire Mobilité des jeunes moteurs de l'emploi dans le cadre du partenariat Les femmes dans l’agriculture Les voix parlementaires Afrique-UE dans la course mondiale aux matières premières stratégiques Les parlementaires concluront leurs travaux par l’adoption de recommandations qui seront adressées au « Africa-EU council of ministers ». Un point de presse est prévu mardi 12 mai de 9h00 à 9h30 Qui: Mme Hilde Vautmans, députée européenne (Belgique) et l’Honorable David Houinsa (Bénin), co-présidents de l’Assemblée parlementaire Afrique-UE. Où : Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention and Conference Centre. En savoir plus  Assemblée parlementaire paritaire OACPS - UE  Plus d'informations sur le programme  Presskit Available in       Press release 07-05-2026 AFET   Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly: inaugural plenary session 12-14 May       African and European parliamentarians will meet in Eswatini from 12 to 14 May to discuss possible ways to cooperate on security, youth policy and critical raw materials. The opening ceremony will take place on 12 May at 10.00 at the Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention and Conference Centre, in the presence of His Excellency Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Prime Minister of Eswatini and His Royal Highness Prince Lindani, and co-presidents of the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew, Belgium) and David Houinsa MP (Benin). The African and European parliamentarians will spend three days discussing a number of shared priorities, in particular: the role of regional organisations and their parliaments in promoting peace and security; the future of multilateralism and the role of parliamentary diplomacy; youth mobility in the context of the partnership; women in agriculture; and Africa-EU parliamentary views on the global race for critical raw materials. The parliamentarians will conclude by adopting recommendations to send to the Africa-EU Council of Ministers. A press point is scheduled for Tuesday 12 May from 9.00 to 9.30. Who? Hilde Vautmans, MEP (Renew, Belgium) and David Houinsa (Bénin), co-presidents of the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly. Where? Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention and Conference Centre. Further information  OACPS - UE Joint Parliamentary Assembly  More information on the programme  Press kit