European elections: thermal cars, universal charger… five concrete measures voted by the EU which have changed our daily lives

Cinq mesures concrètes prises au Parlement européen. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP

As the ballot for the 2024 European elections opens on Sunday June 9, Midi Libre looks back on the major decisions adopted by the European Parliament during the previous mandate.

J – 30 before the European elections of 2024. The deputies who are preparing to leave the hemicycle on June 9 have held office for five years, from 2019 to 2024. However, we often ignores decisions taken at European level. Here are five that Midi Libre has selected because of their impact on the lives of European citizens.

MEPs have been required to legislate on numerous flagship measures since their election and taking office in 2019. While some decisions go unnoticed, others have a significant impact on the lives of European citizens.< /p>

The universal charger

It has not changed our lives but has certainly made them easier: the universal charger, we owe it to the MEPs.

In October 2022, Parliament adopted new rules to standardize chargers for small electronic devices by the end of 2024. Since 28 last December, manufacturers of smartphones, tablets, portable consoles and other electronic devices must offer only one and the same charger: a USB-C.

By this decision, the Commission wanted to combat the increase in electronic waste, which represents 11,000 tonnes each year. A decision with an ecological dimension but also an economical and practical one, because the measure has the merit of making life easier for consumers who only need a single charger for several devices.

Thermal cars

Among the most significant measures taken at the European level over the past five years, the European Parliament has ratified the end of production of cars to thermal engine from 2035.

On this date, new vehicles will no longer be able to emit any C02, effectively banning petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, in favor of all-electric vehicles. The resale of a vehicle and the thermal vehicle market second-hand goods will always be authorized.

Before the outright ban of 2035, a "mid-term" has been set for manufacturers: from 2030, new passenger vehicles must emit 55% less CO2 than the average emissions of new vehicles in 2021.

This measure should help the EU achieve its objective: achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by gradually reducing greenhouse gas emissions.< /p>

Single-use plastic products

No more plastic cups, straws and cutlery that we throw away just after using them. Since July 1, 2021, several single-use plastic items have been prohibited for sale: cotton buds, plastic tableware and cutlery, and even straws. following a 2019 European directive, which aims to promote a circular economy while reducing the dissemination of waste in nature. In fact, around 70% of marine waste is made up of single-use plastic products.

Furthermore, last April the European Parliament adopted a law aimed at reducing packaging waste in the European Union, including the ban, by 2030, of single-use plastic containers. in cafes and restaurants. Among this packaging, pizza boxes, fries cones and other disposable boxes in which sandwiches are sold are concerned.

The supervision of content on social networks

DSA. Behind these three letters, new European legislation, which came into force at the end of August 2023, aims to better control content circulating on the internet through web giants like Google, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. The "Digital services act", requires these platforms in particular to offer a tool allowing effective moderation of illegal content.

Users must also be clearly informed of the reasons why certain information is automatically recommended to them. Advertising targeting minors and ads based on sensitive personal data, such as religion or sexual orientation, are prohibited.

In the event of an infringement, platforms are exposed to a fine of up to 10% of their total global turnover and, in in the event of a repeat offense, up to 20% of this turnover.

Instant bank transfers

While until now they only represented 6% of transactions issued in France, instant bank transfers are preparing to become widespread, since they will soon become free for all banking establishments.

The Council of the EU validated at the end of February a regulation requiring banks to offer an instant payment offer in all euro zone countries, at the same rate than a classic transfer, before fall 2025.

More practical and faster, instant transfer is however more exposed to the risk of fraud. The regulation will thus impose two new protective methods on them: verification of the recipient's IBAN, via a dedicated device, and a ceiling on the amount of operations by instant transfer.