5 things the Council is doing to earn your love in 2022
To keep you in Valentine’s Day spirit a bit longer, here are five initiatives the Council is currently working on that could charm you.
One charger to rule them all
Once in love, we tend to share everything with our beloved. Thanks to the European Union, you will soon always be able to share your charger – no matter what brand of phone or device you have.
The EU is working on legislation aiming at a standard port for all smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers and video game consoles.
The Council is now working with the European Parliament to finalise the text of the new law.
Once the new legislation comes in, you will no longer need to buy a new charger every time you buy a new mobile phone or similar item. Better for you and better for the environment!
A step closer to climate neutrality
In 2022, the EU is moving closer to making its commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 a reality.
As from the summer, the Council is due to agree on its position on the “Fit for 55 package” - a set of legislative proposals to cut greenhouse gases emissions by at least 55% between now and 2030.
The proposals focus on issues such as buildings’ energy efficiency, CO2 emissions from cars and vans, and greener fuels for the aviation and maritime industries.
Better protected online
This spring, the Council and the European Parliament are due to finalise negotiations on two key legislative proposals to ensure a safe and open digital space for EU citizens and businesses.
The proposals are the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA)
The DSA aims to keep EU citizens safe from illegal goods, content or services, and to protect EU citizens' fundamental rights online.
The DMA aims to create a level playing field for EU businesses. It will do so by regulating so-called 'gatekeepers' – big players that control core platform services (such as marketplaces, app stores and online search engines).
Ley de Mercados Digitales (Infografía)
More cooperation between universities
The Council is about to take an important step to help the EU's universities prepare for the future and to keep promoting pan-European knowledge, research and culture.
In April, the Council is due to adopt its conclusions on the European Strategy for Universities. The strategy will further boost cooperation between European universities and researchers.
The strategy highlights the role of universities in preserving European values and culture. It also supports the green and digital transitions. And it is designed to help universities promote the EU's global role and leadership.
Academics have also been developing best practices within the European Universities Initiative.
This initiative comprises 41 three-year-long pilot projects involving just under 300 higher education institutions and over 1 000 partners (research centres, businesses etc.).
The experience and outcomes from such cooperation projects are also used to determine what delivers the best results.
2022 –European Year of Youth
What could be better than devoting a whole year to young people's needs and to engage them in shaping the EU's future? That is why the Council and the European Parliament decided last year that 2022 would be the European Year of Youth.
The four main objectives are to:
- highlight how the green and digital transitions offer opportunities for young people
- help young people to become active and engaged citizens
- promote opportunities for young people
- add more focus, within the EU's policies, on the needs and concerns of young people
This means that throughout 2022 there will be numerous conferences, events, information and promotional campaigns.
They will help mainstream youth policy. In other words, they will help ensure that all EU policies - on the environment, education, culture or in any other area - take youth issues duly into account.