Across the EU, there are currently 29 recognised national sign languages. They are used not only by d/Deaf and hard of hearing people, but also by hearing people to communicate with family or friends. To raise awareness of this linguistic and cultural diversity, the United Nations declared 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages. In this episode, we take a look at sign languages in the EU and what the European Parliament is doing to preserve and promote them.

The European Union has come a long way in ensuring more equality between men and women, but challenges remain. With its gender equality strategy, the EU aims to call time on unfair conditions for women and achieve a more stable society that improves everyone’s lives.

The European Union has updated driving licence rules to enhance road safety and modernise mobility. Key changes include a digital driving licence valid across all EU countries, stricter conditions for novice drivers and harmonised medical fitness checks. Cross-border enforcement of driving bans will ensure serious offences are punished throughout the EU. These reforms support the Vision Zero goal: eliminating road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.

According to the European Environment Agency, in 2022, water scarcity affected 34% of the EU population and 40% of its land area.

Southern European countries like Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain are particularly hard hit by water scarcity, but the crisis is spreading northward, impacting areas previously considered water secure. In Europe, water stress is already a serious issue, and climate change is expected to make it worse in the future. That’s why the EU is trying to find a common solution to this challenge.

Despite growing awareness and efforts to recycle, a significant amount of plastic waste in the EU still isn’t recycled. Over the past few years, the EU has been moving towards a circular economy for plastics. But the journey towards a plastic-free future is a long one, and we all need to do our bit.

Mercosur is one of the European Union’s major trading partners in Latin America. The EU has been trying to forge closer ties with Mercosur, but not everybody agrees this is a good idea.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty adopted at COP21 - the United Nations Climate Change Conference - in 2015.

Its central aim is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.

It brings together nearly all countries in a shared commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EU ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016, placing it at the heart of its climate policy.

In January 2025, the Commission presented the Competitiveness Compass, the first major initiative of the second Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen. The Compass provides a strategic and clear framework to define the Commission’s work. It sets a path for Europe to become the place where future technologies, services and clean products are invented, manufactured and put on the market, while achieving climate neutrality.

Sport is beneficial for our health and brings people from all walks of life together. Find out how the EU is promoting sport and making it more accessible to everyone.

Protecting Europe’s forests is not just the responsibility of individual Member States. It is a shared commitment at EU level. The European Parliament is at the centre of these efforts as a strong advocate for preserving primary and old-growth forests.

Two out of three young people in Europe wish to contribute to the green transition through their jobs. However, 45 % of young Europeans lack the green skills to do so. Young people should be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge to act on environmental and climate change challenges. The idea of an ‘Erasmus green cities’ scheme would be to provide young people with volunteering and paid traineeships in local green projects.

The multiannual financial framework is essentially the European Union’s long-term budget plan. It sets the spending priorities and limits for the EU for several years, ensuring that the EU’s financial resources are in line with its political and economic goals. The multiannual financial framework sets out the structure for annual budgets and helps balance the competing interests of EU countries.

It allocates financial resources across a variety of areas, including funding for less developed regions, subsidies and rural development, humanitarian aid and investments in the green and digital transitions, and in EU foreign policy.