EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,update

 

Press service European Parliament

Available in           Press release 12-05-2026 CULT   2026 Charlemagne Youth Prize: European laureates announced     This year’s awards went to an Estonian project to boost female democratic participation, a French political engagement app and a Spanish network for relations with China. On Tuesday, three projects - from Estonia, France and Spain - were awarded the 2026 European Charlemagne Youth Prize at a ceremony in Aachen. Every year, the European Parliament and the Foundation for the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen select three youth-led projects that foster democracy, promote active citizenship and bring communities together, from a list of national winners. First prize – ATHENA - Advancing Women's Leadership in Inclusive Democracy, Estonia This project supports the democratic participation and leadership of young women in Estonia. The initiative helps girls and women aged between 16 and 26 to develop the confidence, skills and networks they need to play an active role in civic life and public decision-making processes. It addresses the barriers that often deter women from participating in leadership and politics, such as limited access to mentorship, professional networks and institutional spaces. The first prize is €7,500. Second prize – Pol - Combating misinformation and strengthening citizen participation through an app!, France Pol is a political engagement app that enables citizens to vote on bills currently being examined by the French National Assembly and take part in opinion polls. The app targets young people, who feel often disconnected from traditional politics. By making legislative processes more accessible and understandable, Pol seeks to address democratic disengagement and combat disinformation through fact-based contextualisation. The second prize is €5,000. Third prize - European Guanxi, Spain European Guanxi is a network founded to strengthen informed European analysis on China and relations between the EU and China. Created by young Europeans in response to the absence of a Europe-wide platform connecting young people engaged with China, it seeks to strengthen European cohesion on China, supports democratic participation, and contributes to a more coherent European voice on international affairs. The third prize is €2,500. Background The European Charlemagne Youth Prize, awarded jointly by the European Parliament and the Foundation for the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, is open to initiatives by young people aged 16 to 30 who are involved in projects with a strong EU dimension. Since 2008, over 7,600 projects have competed for the prize. Every year, national juries select one project from each EU member state. The 27 national youth winners are invited to the award ceremony, where the three European laureates, chosen by a European jury, are announced. The ceremony takes place ahead of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen presentation event, which this year is on 14 May. Further information  European Charlemagne Youth Prize website  European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2026 National winners project summaries  Committee on Culture and Education  The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen     12-05-2026 Plenary session Press briefing on next week’s plenary session       Spokespersons for Parliament and the political groups will hold a briefing on the 18 – 21 May plenary session, on Wednesday at 11.00 in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room. WHEN:Wednesday13 May at 11.00 WHERE: Anna Politkovskaya press room in Brussels and via Interactio Key topics next week include: • First European Order of Merit ceremony • Final vote on screening of foreign investments to better protect EU strategic sectors • Key debate onthesinglemarketand onproviding certainty and predictability for businesses and quality jobs • Debate on EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems • EU strategy to address the current crises in the Middle East: debate • Debate on the Commission’s Fertilizers Action Plan • This is Europe debate with the Prime Minister of Latvia, EvikaSiliņa Interpretation of the press briefing will be available in English and French. You can follow it live from 11.00 on Wednesday in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room or via Parliament’s webstreaming and EbS. Information for the media - Use of Interactio to ask questions Journalists wishing to participate actively and ask questions, please connect via Interactio using this link: https://ep.interactio.eu/link/pressconfp1254698545582 Interactio is only supported on iPads (with the Safari browser) and Mac/Windows (with the Google Chrome browser). For more details, check the connection guidelines and recommendations for remote speakers. When connecting, enter your name and the media you are representing in the first name / last name fields. For better sound quality, use headphones and a microphone. Interpretation is only possible for questions asked on video. Journalists who have never used Interactio before are asked to connect 30 minutes before the start of the press conference to perform a connection test. IT assistancecan be provided if necessary. When connected, open the chat window (upper right corner) to be able to see the service messages. Available in       Press release 12-05-2026 JURI    Deal to improve the protection of vulnerable adults       • Equal access to justice for adults who require support and safeguards in decision-making   • Legislation concerns civil matters such as place of residence, medical care, management of property and other assets   • New European Certificate of Support and Representation     The new legislation agreed on Tuesday seeks to foster the right to autonomy for adults across the EU. Parliament and EU government negotiators reached a provisional agreement on new rules to ensure that adults in need of assistance in matters such as medical care, their place of residence, real estate, trade or the management of property and assets will receive more support and better protection in cross-border cases. The legislation does not apply to cross-border cases related to marriage, succession, social security, or maintenance obligations. Respecting a person’s choice The new rules will allow adults to organise their own protection and support in anticipation of a time when they would not be able to look after these issues themselves. The rules will determine which legal frameworks will deal with cross-border matters, while ensuring the person’s choices are respected. Measures taken in one EU country should not require any special procedure to be recognised in another, although EU countries will be able to refuse to recognise a measure taken in another member state if the adult was not given a genuine and effective hearing. MEPs successfully pushed for adults to be provided with appropriate support and access to relevant information by EU countries, including through a practice guide on the application of the regulation and factsheets with a short summary of national legislation. European Certificate of Support and Representation According to the agreed text, adults in need of support will be able to request a European certificate of support and representation for use across the EU. The certificate will also be able to be used to demonstrate that a designated person is authorised to represent or support the adult. MEPs ensured the certificate will be issued free of charge or for a fee not exceeding the administrative costs of its production, and where possible in a digital format.To ensure privacy, negotiators agreed to delete interconnected registers from the legislation but strengthened electronic communication between authorities and with citizens. Quote Rapporteur Yana Toom (Renew, EE) said: “We are making life easier for adults that need protection or support in another country. With the new rules, the Parliament aimed for legal certainty and ensuring the highest respect for human rights, in particular the right to equal recognition before the law.” Next steps Once formally approved by the Parliament as a whole and the Council, the regulation will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal. Background The proposal for this regulation builds on the rules of the International Protection of Adults Convention adopted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH 2 000). It aims to bridge existing gaps in governing judicial cooperation in the field of the protection of adults across EU countries. Further information  Procedure file (regulation)  Think Tank EP: The protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border situations  Hearing on legal capacity and supported decision-making mechanisms of adults (4.12.2025)       Press release 13-05-2026 LIBE   FEMM    Victims’ Rights Directive: press conference Wednesday 20 May at 11.15 CEST     Ahead of Thursday’s final vote, lead MEPs will brief journalists on the revised Victims’ Rights Directive, aimed at strengthening victim protection and support Co-rapporteurs Lucia Yar (Renew, SK) and Javier Zárzalejos (EPP, ES) chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, together with Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality chair Lina Gálvez (S&D, ES), will discuss key outcomes of negotiations on the revised Victims’ Rights Directive ahead of the plenary debate on Wednesday afternoon and the final vote on Thursday. When: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 11.15 CEST. Where: European Parliament in Strasbourg, Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) and via webstream on Parliament’s Multimedia Centre website. How: Accredited media representatives are invited to attend the press conference in person. Journalists can also join the press conference and ask questions remotely via the Interactio platform. When connecting, enter your name and the media organisation you are representing in the first name/last name fields. For better sound quality, use headphones and a microphone. Interpretation is only possible for interventions with video. Background The updated rules, provisionally agreed by Parliament and Council in December 2025, improve support and protection measures for victims of crime and reinforce their rights in criminal proceedings across the European Union. The text introduces a victim-centred approach to assessing victims’ needs and expands access to support services, including emotional support, legal aid and specialised assistance for victims of sexual violence and vulnerable groups. It also envisages the establishment of helplines accessible online, via apps and through the EU-wide 116 006 phone number. The agreement facilitates the reporting of crimes both in person and online, including through third parties such as civil society organisations, and introduces stronger safeguards for child victims through child-friendly procedures and support services. The directive also refers to access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for survivors of sexual violence. Further information  Procedure file  LIBE-FEMM vote on the provisional agreement (25.2.2026)  EP research: The revised Victims' Rights Directive  Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality