Until the elections in May next year, some tough battles are ahead of the European institutions [round 2] 
🥊
📌 improving the quality of and access to drinking water 
🚰
👪
🛀
📌 creating transparent working conditions 
👷
📅
🤝
📌 reforming the EU consumer protection rules 
💻
👮
🛒
📌 increasing energy efficiency 
⚡
🌍
📈
📌 updating the audiovisual media directive 
🎙️
⚖️
🎼
📌 ensuring a work-life balance for parents and carers 
👨👧 ⚖️ 
👨💼
📌 Improving the quality of and access to drinking water 🚰👪🛀
➡️ This battle is waging because of the diverging commitment of the member states to the old directive. The revision is also part of the plan to transition to a circular economy. It should help reduce energy use and unnecessary water loss. It will also help reduce the number of plastic bottles used by improving people’s confidence in tap water. The proposal aims to grant access to drinking water for all citizens, and ensuring the availability of equipment allowing free access to tap water in most cities.
🔜The European Parliament vote is expected in October 2018.
📌creating transparent working conditions 👷📅🤝
➡️ This new directive aims to ensure transparency about working conditions for all workers and to define new substantive rights to improve predictability and security of working conditions. One of the novelties is that if the worker's work pattern is unpredictable, the employer will still have to indicate the reference period in which the worker may be required to work and the minimum advance notice.
🔜 A "directive" is a legislative act that sets out a goal that all EU countries must achieve. However, it is up to the individual countries to devise their own laws on how to reach these goals.
📌 reforming the EU consumer protection rules 💻👮🛒
➡️An evaluation of the Consumer Rights Directive showed that the EU consumer legislation could benefit from certain aspects being clarified and brought into line with the reality of the digital economy. The proposal focuses on various consumer issues, including penalties for infringements, transparency on online marketplaces, protection for consumers of 'free' digital services and dual quality of products. It would amend the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, the Consumer Rights Directive, the Unfair Contract Terms Directive and the Price Indication Directive.
🔜 The vote in the European Parliament is expected in late November 2018.
📌 increasing energy efficiency ⚡🌍📈
➡️ The proposal seeks to set a 30% binding energy efficiency target for 2030 at EU level which will give Member States and investors a long term perspective to plan their policies and investments and to adapt their strategies towards energy efficiency. A general review clause should be added to the Directive, under which the Commission must evaluate the Directive and submit a report to the European Parliament and Council by the end of February 2024, and then every five years.
📌updating the audiovisual media directive 🎙️⚖️🎼
➡️ The European Parliament advocates tightening up the child protection provisions of EU rules on audiovisual media services and also those on advertising and promoting European audiovisual works. Members seek to enhance the current rules to the increasing convergence of media markets and technologies in Europe. This convergence of media requires an updated legal framework in order to reflect developments in the market and to achieve a balance between access to online content services, consumer protection and competitiveness. The interinstitutional negotiations in July 2018 have led to a provisional agreement which is submitted as a whole to the Committee on Culture and Education for decision by way of a single vote.
🔜 Should the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading, the Council would approve the position and the act shall be adopted.
📌ensuring a work-life balance for parents and carers 👨👧 ⚖️ 👨💼
➡️ The proposal lays down minimum requirements designed to achieve equality between men and women with regard to labour market opportunities and treatment at work through facilitating the reconciliation of work and family life for working parents and carers.
🔜 The Committee report is tabled for a first reading in the European Parliament.