Press releases

The European Parliament has today adopted a landmark report calling on the European Commission to bring forward dedicated legislation establishing an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape. The vote marks a decisive step forward, following the setback in 2024 when a consent-based definition was dropped from the EU's broader directive on violence against women after several Member States argued the EU lacked the legal competence to legislate on rape.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament budgetary committee adopted its position on the EU long-term budget with significant Renew Europe victories. That position was reconfirmed today. Parliament also adopted its budgetary guidelines for 2027. Liberals and democrats in the European Parliament stand united in delivering a budget for 2027 that empowers our citizens, safeguards our values and secures our shared future. Since the budgetary margins are not as big as we would wish for the last year of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), we are working even harder to ensure that every euro of EU taxpayer’s money is allocated where it is most needed and that the budget is kept responsive and flexible, always with the interest of European citizens, businesses and industry first.

With today’s vote in parliament, the first EU law to protect cats and dogs became a reality. Renew Europe Group welcomes this new law which will ensure cats and dogs are bred, kept and placed on the EU market in a controlled way, avoiding abuses, painful practices and risks for their health. The new measures will allow traceability and set minimum welfare standards for breeders, sellers, shelters, and foster homes.

Renew Europe welcomes the adoption of a revised, faster and more flexible, European Globalisation Fund (EGF) for displaced workers, adopted in plenary on Tuesday.

■ Ensuring Europe’s energy security and competitiveness  ■ What a budget for a competitive and liberal Europe should look like  ■ Lebanon: Europe must act, not watch  ■ Importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU

This weekend in Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Jessika Roswall, the European Commissioner responsible for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, called for a phasing-out of forever chemicals known as PFAS. Liberal MEPs now want her to follow through by announcing concrete plans next week. The trio, MEPs Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (NL), Martin Hojsík (SK) and Sigrid Friis (DK), point out that the European Parliament’s Environment, Climate and Food Safety Committee will gather on Monday with the Commissioner present. According to them, it could be a ‘perfect opportunity’ to announce the long-awaited and citizen-demanded phasing out PFAS, followed by concrete measures that could be approved by the European Commission on Wednesday. Part of those concrete measures could be investing in cleaner and safer alternatives and putting a hard deadline on the use of forever chemicals. The Commissioner admits that it has repeatedly been proven how harmful they are to people and the environment. 13 reasons why: In her op-ed, Roswall stated numerous reasons for the phasing out of PFAS. She said the problems associated with it are ‘extensive and well-documented’. She also pointed out that clean-up is costly, that companies need clear rules and that the issue has become a matter of ‘trust and predictability’. According to the liberals in the European Parliament, she can’t list ’13 reasons why’, referring to the popular series, while simultaneously waiting for yet another investigation when action on the most immediate affected consumer sectors could be taken now.

The Renew Europe Group welcomes the unblocking of the 90-billion-euro Ukraine Support Loan, made possible after Hungary lifted its veto. This vital financial lifeline will allow Ukraine to meet its most pressing budgetary needs at a critical moment in the war.

The Renew Europe Group is pleased that the European Commission has taken our priorities onboard in today's announcements. We call for EU leaders to join forces in the informal Council starting tomorrow and commit to the deployment of an immediate, coordinated and deeply integrated European energy strategy.

Renew Europe Group congratulates “We continue the change” on their results at the parliamentary elections. Their third place and continuous efforts to restore rule of law and maintain Bulgaria’s pro-European path position them as the only genuine pro-European and anti-corruption democratic voice for the Bulgarian citizens. We stand for a Bulgaria that is a reliable, values-driven partner within the European Union not a source of instability or democratic backsliding.

Today, the European Parliament’s budgets committee adopted its position on the EU’s seven-year budget.  Renew Europe is especially pleased with the outcome. Here are our four key victories: This has been a long-standing demand from liberals, centrists, and democrats: the next EU budget must include a significant share of funding dedicated to regaining Europe’s competitive edge. Fabienne Keller (Renaissance/France), Renew Europe’s negotiator for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), states:

Renew Europe welcomes results in Hungary indicating that the Tisza party is projected to defeat Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, following an unprecedented mobilisation of Hungarian voters. The exceptionally high turnout sends a clear message: Hungarians are reclaiming their democratic voice and choosing a European future. Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, said: