Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

In addition, in the frame of the of the Annual Workshop on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held on 2 December 2024, the following briefing has been presented by Magdi Birtha (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research): ‘The EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 - Achievements and perspectives’.

Key issues

Environmental issues

In 2024, environmental issues remained high in citizens’ concerns and the committee paid paramount attention to them. The protection of the environment was discussed in almost all committee meetings, on the basis of petitions. Topics such as the environmental impacts of works projects in different Member States (e.g. an airport extension, a planned motorway) the protected status of wolves in the EU, an alleged destruction of a Natura 2000 site in France, a proposal for establishing a national park in Germany, the application of EU regulations on pesticides in France, the preservation of natural land, the alleged pollution caused by a plant in Italy, the alleged environmental damage caused in a national park in Spain, and waste treatment were debated in committee. The committee also examined several petitions alleging undue influence of fossil fuel companies in the EU decision-making process.

The Committee also considered Petition No 0798/2024 on amending the EU Deforestation Regulation, in which the petitioner pointed out to alleged shortcomings of the current legislation. This petition partly based the request for a fact-finding visit to be organised in 2025.

Fundamental Rights

Still in 2024, the committee received a high number of petitions on fundamental rights, including on alleged breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation and on the respect of the rule of law and democracy. The committee considered eight petitions on the rule of law in Spain at its January meeting. The use of artificial intelligence and the protection of privacy, in particular in the context of child pornography was also among the topics discussed by the members of the Committee on Petitions. In addition, the committee continued to receive petitions on the rule of law and human rights violations in several third countries – including candidate countries – where the awareness of European citizens’ right to petition should be enhanced.

Internal Market

The committee dealt mostly with the following issues in committee meetings: the recognition of qualifications for teachers in Italy, the recognition of medical specialty in the EU, the importation and distribution chains in Malta, and alleged infringement of EU law in the Spanish car insurance market.

Disability issues

The Committee on Petitions plays a specific protection role as regards compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) within the policymaking and legislative actions at EU level. Within this responsibility, the committee deals with petitions on disability issues. It is worth stressing that in 2024 the number of petitions on disability (25) remained overall stable compared to the previous years (22 in 2023 and 28 in 2022). In 2024, the committee continued examining petitions on disability revealing that the main challenges remain accessibility, respect for disability rights, access to education and inclusion. In most of its meetings, the committee has considered petitions raising issues on disability matters. Special attention was given by the committee to petitions on accessibility (to education and to public spaces) and on disability rights, including the implementation of the UNCRPD. Petition No 1056/2016 requesting the European Parliament to allow for the tabling of petitions in national sign languages used in the EU was also discussed in committee.

Finally, on 2 December 2024, during the European Parliament’s Disability Rights Week, the committee hosted its Annual Workshop on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on ‘The Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030: State of Play’. The European Ombudsman, Ms O’Reilly opened the workshop. The briefing entitled ‘Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 - Achievements and perspectives’ was presented. Based on available quantitative and qualitative evidence, including petitions to the European Parliament, the briefing identified nine key recommendations to move forward with the implementation of the Strategy. Despite progress registered across the EU, petitions addressed to the Committee on Petitions still reveal persistent obstacles encountered by persons with disabilities. The invited speakers from the European Commission, the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Disability Forum, discussed the achievements of the Strategy so far and shared their reflections on areas where new actions could be proposed.

Reports, Motions for Resolutions and Opinions

In 2024, the Committee on Petitions adopted the following:

- On 18-19 March 2024, the committee adopted the Mission Report following the fact-finding visit to Catalonia (Spain) from 18 December to 20 December 2023.

- On 18-19 March 2024, the committee adopted the Mission Report following the fact-finding visit to Ireland from 30 October to 1 November 2023.

- On 14 November 2024, the committee adopted the Report on the annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman in 2023 (2024/2056(INI)), Rapporteur: Alex Agius Saliba.

- On 18-19 March 2024, the committee adopted the Short motion for resolution pursuant to Rule 227(2) of the Rules of Procedure on the handling of heavy goods vehicles at border crossing points based on Petition 0146/2023 (2024/2540(RSP)), Rapporteur: Dolors Montserrat (Chair).

- On 22-23 January 2024, the committee adopted the Oral Question on ‘Working conditions of teachers in the EU’ (2023/3015(RSP)), Rapporteur: Dolors Montserrat.