In Strasbourg, the last plenary session of the current European Parliament (EP) has come to an end. The EP adopted several important directives. One of them establishes new rules that ensure that workers on online platforms have a fair professional status. They guarantee that a person working on online platforms cannot be fired based on a decision made by an algorithm or automated decision-making system. Instead, digital work platforms must ensure human oversight of important decisions that directly affect the people working on platforms.
Also, new rules were adopted regarding the violation of traffic rules abroad. They expand the list of traffic violations committed by non-resident drivers. The list thus includes new elements, such as dangerous parking and overtaking, crossing the continuous white line, and leaving the scene of an accident. With around 40% of cross-border traffic offences currently going unpunished, MEPs are trying to get EU countries to cooperate more in finding foreign drivers who break the rules. The new rules oblige national authorities to answer the requests from another EU country without delay and within two months at most from collecting the necessary information.
At the same time, the EP has given the green light to new rules forcing companies to reduce their negative impact on human rights and the environment. Slavery, child labor, labor exploitation, loss of biodiversity, pollution or destruction of natural heritage are among the negative effects targeted by the directive. The norms will apply to EU and non-EU companies and parent companies with more than 1,000 employees and a worldwide turnover of more than 450 million Euros. On the other hand, the first European norms on combating violence against women and domestic violence were also approved. The directive calls for stricter laws against cyber-violence, better support for victims and measures to prevent rape.
The EP also adopted a revised law to improve air quality, which imposes stricter limits for 2030 for several air pollutants. Thus, the air quality indices will be comparable in all member states and access to justice and the right to compensation for citizens will be ensured if the rules are violated. Other adopted directives establish that the maximum limit of cash payments is 10,000 Euros, establish that agricultural farms with less than 10 hectares will not be penalized if they do not comply with the common agricultural policy and that certain types of single-use plastic packaging will be prohibited starting from January 1, 2030. We remind you that, between June 6-9, European Parliament elections will take place in the EU states. In Romania, they will be on June 9, together with the local ones. (LS)