The new laws ensure that people with a legitimate interest, including journalists, media professionals, civil society organisations, competent authorities, and supervisory bodies, will have immediate, unfiltered, direct and free access to beneficial ownership information held in national registries and interconnected at EU level. In addition to current information, the registries will also include data going back at least five years.

The laws also give Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) more powers to analyse and detect money laundering and terrorist financing cases as well as to suspend suspicious transactions.

Wide-reaching due diligence

The new laws include enhanced due diligence measures and checks on customers’ identity, after which so-called obliged entities (e.g. banks, assets and crypto assets managers or real and virtual estate agents) have to report suspicious activities to FIUs and other competent authorities. From 2029, top-tier professional football clubs involved in high-value financial transactions with investors or sponsors, including advertisers and the transfer of players will also have to verify their customers’ identities, monitor transactions, and report any suspicious transaction to FIUs.

The legislation also contains enhanced vigilance provisions regarding ultra-rich individuals (total wealth worth at least EUR 50 000 000, excluding their main residence), an EU-wide limit of EUR 10 000 on cash payments, except between private individuals in a non-professional context, and measures to ensure compliance with targeted financial sanctions and avoid sanctions being circumvented.

Central watchdog

To supervise the new rules on combatting money laundering, a new authority – the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) – will be established in Frankfurt. AMLA will be charged with directly supervising the riskiest financial entities, intervening in case of supervisory failures, acting as a central hub for supervisors and mediating disputes between them. AMLA will also supervise the implementation of targeted financial sanctions.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) package consists of the sixth Anti-Money Laundering (AML) directive (adopted with 513 votes in favour, 25 against, and 33 abstentions), the EU “single rulebook” regulation (adopted with 479 votes in favour, 61 against, and 32 abstentions), and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) regulation (adopted with 482 votes in favour, 47 against, and 38 abstentions).

Next steps

The laws still need to be formally adopted by the Council, too, before publication in the EU’s Official Journal.

By adopting the law, Parliament is responding to the demands of citizens put forward in the conclusions of the Conference of the Future of Europe, notably proposal 16(1) and 16(2) on preventing tax evasion and cooperating on corporate taxation.

On Wednesday, Parliament approved a review of the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation and the CAP Horizontal Regulation with 425 votes in favour, 130 against, and 33 abstentions. MEPs adopted the draft law with technical modifications proposed by the Council and endorsed by the Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture on 15 April 2024.

Next steps

The regulation now has to be approved by Council. The Belgian Presidency of the Council has informed Parliament that if MEPs endorse the proposal in the form agreed by the Council’s Special Committee on Agriculture, the Council will adopt the same text.

Following the approval by the Council, the law will be published in the EU Official Journal and enter immediately into force. Farmers will already be allowed to apply revised environmental “conditionalities” for their claims for EU financial support in 2024.

Background

The CAP review changes the rules for three environmental conditionalities farmers must adhere to in order to receive funding. It also provides more flexibility for EU countries to grant exemptions from CAP standards if there are problems with applying them and in case of issues caused by extreme weather. Small farms under 10 hectares would be exempt from controls and penalties for non-compliance with some CAP rules.

To speed up the adoption of the measures, the Parliament has agreed to deal with the file under its so-called urgent procedure.

Parliament decided on Tuesday to not object to the Commission proposal complementing the CAP simplification package. According to the text, member states will have more leeway when applying the CAP requirement to keep the ratio of permanent grassland to agricultural area above 5% compared to 2018 (GAEC 1).

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participated in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement.

Addressing the ceremony, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said:

”In these past two decades, Europe has been met with unprecedented challenges. Together, we have managed to meet them head-on. I know how tempting it was, in the most difficult of moments, for each one of us to go at it alone, and yet we resisted. Because we understood that even with all of its frustrations and imperfections, the European Union is still the best guarantee for all our people.

The transformative effect of EU enlargement on the lives of generations of Europeans is without any doubt. It is evident in each and every one of our Member States. From the enforceable rights afforded to its citizens to the opportunities that are offered to young and old alike. From the Single Market that is strengthening our economies to our cohesion policy that realises our commitment to the equality of Europeans. Joining the European Union is not just about transposing legislation. It goes much deeper and far beyond that.

Unity does not mean being homogenous. Europe does not seek to make everyone the same. We are proud of our differences. Proud of our unique traditions, our cultures, our languages and our diversity. We have proven that over the past 20 years.

Rather, Europe is about embracing differences while ensuring equality of opportunity. Everyone must have the same chance, not necessarily the same viewpoint. That is our strength. That is our Europe. And that is why membership is a win-win for all. Europe may have changed each one of its Member States since 2004. But each and every one of those Member States has equally changed Europe.”

The present and former EU leaders were joined by the former European Commissioner for Enlargement Günter Verheugen and representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago:

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Georgios Iacovou

Former Prime Minister of Hungary Péter Medgyessy

Former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Antanas Valionis

Former Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi

Former Chief Negotiatior for Malta’s European Union Accession Negotiations Richard Cachia Caruana

Former Prime Minister of Slovenia Anton Rop Former Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikuláš Dzurinda

Former Prime Minister of Poland Leszek Miller

Former Minister of Foregn Affairs of Estonia Kristiina Ojuland

Former Chief Negotiatior for the Czech Republic’s European Union Accession Negotiations Pavel Telička

During the ceremony, the guests answered questions from a group of young people from the then-new member states and born on or around 1 May 2004 and present in Strasbourg.

The ceremony ended with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, performed by the Voix de Stras’ acapella choir.

Watch the video recording of the event.

Background

On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the European Union. It was the biggest enlargement in the EU’s history.

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). MEPs acknowledged that the “COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have reduced economic competitiveness and have a negative impact on economic growth in Germany”.

Following years of financial losses, a number of restructuring and downsizing measures and a dedicated recovery plan were launched in 2018. In 2021, Vallourec S.A. in France decided to sell its tube mills in Mülheim an der Ruhr, in the Ruhr area, and to move offshore production to Brazil. The sale failed, leading to the definitive closure of the sites and resulting in the remaining workforce losing their jobs by 1 January 2025.

National co-financing

The support is to facilitate the reintegration of the affected workers into the labour market, acknowledging the structural shifts in the global steel industry and the local impact on employment. The total cost of the proposed measures is €4.97 million, with the EGF covering 60% (€2.98 million) and the remaining funds being provided by German national sources.

Tailor-made support for dismissed workers

The support entails guidance, including counselling and vocational orientation, job search assistance like job scouting and participation in job fairs, as well as training offers. Former workers can also receive funding of up to €22 000 to start their own business. They can receive allowances when they participate in support measures such as training courses, and bonus payments or salary top-ups when they start a new job.

Next steps

The report by Jens Geier (S&D, DE) recommending that Parliament approve the aid was passed by 602 votes, 24 against and 3 abstentions.

Background

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) is a special EU instrument to express EU solidarity with European workers or the self-employed that were dismissed due to restructuring, and to help them find new jobs. As a general rule, the EGF can be activated when a single company (including its suppliers and downstream producers) lays off over 200 workers, by SMEs in various sectors in the same region or in a particular sector in one or more neighbouring regions. The EGF has an annual budget of €210 million for 2021-2027. It can fund from 60% to 85% of the cost of projects designed to help workers made redundant find another job or set up their own businesses. National or regional authorities implement and manage EGF cases. Each project runs for two years.

The new rules, adopted with 613 votes in favour, 7 against and 11 abstentions and already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, will establish an EU-wide disability card to make sure that persons with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking.

Both cards will grant card holders, as well as those accompanying them and assistance animals, access to most of the same conditions as national card holders. The new rules will only apply for short stays, with an exception for disability card holders that move to another member state for a mobility programme, such as Erasmus+.

European Disability Card

The European Disability Card will be issued in physical format and, when available, in digital format, and will be issued and renewed free of charge. Depending on the country, costs could be charged for loss and damaging the card.

European Parking Card for persons with disabilities

The European Parking Card for persons with disabilities will be issued in physical form. EU countries are encouraged to also issue the card in a digital format, and may choose to charge a fee for the administrative costs of issuing and renewing the card.

Access to information

The directive demands EU countries and the Commission to raise citizens’ awareness about the cards, including by setting up a central European website. This website will be linked to national websites, containing information on how to obtain, use and renew the cards and information on preferential conditions.

Third-country nationals in the EU

Parliament also endorsed the provisional agreement between Parliament and Council on the extension of the EU Disability and Parking Cards to third-country nationals legally residing in the EU with 607 votes in favour, 8 votes against and 17 abstentions.

This proposal extends both cards to third-country nationals legally residing in the member states, including asylum-seekers and stateless persons, and their personal assistants, regardless of their nationality.

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Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová (Renew, SK), rapporteur, said: “The EU must advocate for equal rights for persons with disabilities within the EU. I am particularly proud that the cards will now cover certain stays longer than three months so that individuals with disabilities will have access to the card when they study abroad. The significance of the European Disability Card extends beyond simply facilitating travel; it embodies the EU’s commitment to ensuring free movement for all Europeans.”

Next steps

The agreed text will now have to be formally adopted by the Council, too, before publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and entry into force.

With the adoption of these proposals, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations on anti-discrimination, equality and quality of life, and inclusive labour markets, as expressed in proposals 29 and 14 of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

On Wednesday, MEPs approved Denmark’s request for support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). They acknowledged that “the Danish slaughterhouse sector is in a structural crisis”.

Danish Crown is a group of food companies engaged in the slaughter, processing and sale of pork and beef. Since 2005, the number of pigs slaughtered in Denmark has decreased by 20%, largely due to the shift that many Danish farmers have made from raising pigs for slaughter to raising piglets for export at a lower cost. As a result, Danish Crown decided to close one of its six slaughterhouses in Denmark, located in Sæby, laying off 390 workers.

National co-financing

The total estimated cost of the support measures is €3.1 million, with 60% (€1.9 million) covered by the EGF and the remaining 40% (€1.2 million) financed by the Danish Business Authority, the municipalities of Frederikshavn, Aalborg, Hjørring and Brønderslev, which were affected by the dismissals, and by Danish Crown.

Tailor-made support for dismissed workers

The EGF support package includes advisory services, job search assistance, and training. The training helps workers to reskill for different industries and services, and increase digital and other skills currently sought after by employers. Another focus will be on language skills, as 41% of the dismissed workers are not fluent in Danish. Workers will receive an allowance while doing training or looking for employment.

Next steps

The report by Janusz Lewandowski (EPP, PL) recommending that Parliament approve the aid was passed by 590 votes, 24 against and 12 abstentions.

Background

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) is a special EU instrument that benefits European workers or the self-employed that were dismissed due to restructuring, and to help them find new jobs. As a general rule, the EGF can be activated when a single company (including its suppliers and downstream producers) lays off over 200 workers, by SMEs in various sectors in the same region or in a particular sector in one or more neighbouring regions.

The EGF has an annual budget of €210 million for 2021-2027. It can fund from 60% to 85% of the cost of projects designed to help workers made redundant find another job or set up their own businesses. National or regional authorities implement and manage EGF cases. Each project runs for two years.

To eliminate bottlenecks and missing transport links, MEPs backed an update of the EU’s plan to build a network of railways, roads, inland waterways and short sea shipping routes connected through ports and terminals across the EU. Current trans-European transport (TEN-T) projects include many European links, such as, Rail Baltica, connecting Helsinki and Warsaw, the Brenner Base Tunnel, linking Austria and Italy, and the Lisbon–Madrid high-speed rail line.

Major transport infrastructure projects on the core TEN-T network should be completed by the end of 2030, to secure a comprehensive network by the end of 2050. To accelerate project rollout across the network, an intermediary deadline of 2040 is introduced.

Faster trains and safer parking for truck drivers

MEPs ensured that railways in the core TEN-T network will be electrified, running at speeds of 100 km/h for freight and crossing internal EU borders in less than 25 minutes on average by the end of 2030. A minimum 160 km/h speed should become the norm on passenger trains as of the end of 2040.

Major European airports (processing more than 12 million annual passengers) will be connected to the trans-European railway network. To guarantee better rest conditions for professional truck drivers, safe and secure parking places at least each 150 km will have to be set-up along major EU roads.

End cooperation with Russia; focus on Ukraine

Under new rules, transport infrastructure projects with Russia and Belarus will be halted, reinforcing instead links with Ukraine and Moldova.

Regarding the involvement of companies from third countries in major TEN-T projects, member states will have to inform the European Commission of measures adopted to mitigate any security risk.

Military mobility

MEPs convinced EU governments to take into account military needs (weight or size of military transport) when constructing or upgrading infrastructure that overlaps with military transport networks, to ensure the seamless transfer of troops and equipment. Within one year after the entry into force of the rules, the Commission will have to conduct a study on short-notice large-scale movements across the EU, to facilitate military mobility planning.

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EP rapporteur Barbara Thaler (EPP. AT) said: “The regulation will enable rail transport to compete with road transport, if it is implemented as foreseen. It is now the Commission’s responsibility to ensure that member states fulfil their duties and to put the necessary pressure on them if they don’t act accordingly.”

Rapporteur Dominique Riquet (Renew, FR) added: “New rules will strengthen the performance, accessibility, security and resilience of our infrastructure, which is a key element of our sovereignty. It will also help to encourage Europeans to travel and make our economy more competitive.”

Next steps

The new rules on the guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network were adopted by 565 votes in favour, 37 votes against and 29 abstentions. Once Council has approved them, they will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.

By adopting this legislation, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations concerning high quality, modern, green, and safe infrastructure, ensuring connectivity, including of rural and island regions, in particular through affordable public transport as expressed in proposal four of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The recommendation from the Industry, Research, Energy, and International Trade committees was adopted with 560 votes to 43, with 27 abstentions. Parliament’s consent is required so that the Council can now adopt the decision by qualified majority.

The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), established in 1994 to govern trade and investment in the energy sector, has become controversial. The European Parliament has also voiced the need for the EU to exit in a resolution adopted in 2022.

Quotes

Rapporteur for the Trade Committee Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE) said: “Today’s vote is a major step in the right direction. The EU is finally withdrawing from the climate-hostile Energy Charter Treaty. In view of the climate crisis, the EU must become a climate-neutral continent as quickly as possible. Finally the fossil dinosaur treaty is no longer standing in the way of consistent climate protection, as we no longer have to fear corporate lawsuits demanding billions of euro in compensation brought before private arbitration tribunals.”

Rapporteur for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee Marc Botenga (The Left, BE), said: “The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel multinationals to sue states and the European Union if climate policies affect their profits. In the midst of a climate crisis, this is a contradiction, in addition to being very costly for taxpayers. Alongside civil society, a significant movement has been built to exit from this treaty and I am happy to see this is bearing fruit today. It is now necessary to speed up the rate of public investments in renewables.”

Background

The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), a multilateral agreement focused on the energy sector, was established in 1994 to facilitate international cooperation and provide a framework for investment protection, trade, and dispute resolution within the energy field. However, it has remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, becoming outdated and one of the most litigated investment treaties globally. The Commission proposed a coordinated withdrawal by the European Union and its member states, as it considers the Treaty to be no longer compatible with the EU’s climate goals under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, predominantly due to concerns over continued fossil fuel investments.