Parliament and Member States gave on Tuesday the go-ahead for the new drinking water directive. The new rules for high quality tap water across the EU is in response to the demands of over 1.8 million Europeans who signed the first-ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative, “Right2Water”.

Ensuring that providers can continue the job of detecting and removing online child sexual abuse material, MEPs from the Civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee adopted their position with 53 votes in favour and 9 against, 2 abstentions.

At their semi-virtual sitting on Tuesday, Civil Liberties committee MEPs demanded replies from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri over the alleged involvement of Frontex staff in pushbacks of asylum-seekers by the Greek border guard and claimed for respect to fundamental rights.

József Szájer, a Hungarian MEP from the ruling Fidesz party, who resigned on Sunday, has admitted that he was caught by the Brussels police during a private party on Friday evening in a venue in the centre of the Belgian capital.

With an overwhelming majority the EP Environment Committee approved on Tuesday the deal with the Council on the drinking water directive and adopted a resolution demanding EU legislation on water be correctly implemented.

During the EP session, lawmakers approved several pieces of legislation and resolutions with particular focus on consumer protection. Indicative in this respect is the adoption of the first EU-wide rules on collective redress for consumers.

On deterioration of media freedom within the EU voiced their concerns MEPs in a resolution adopted on Wednesday. Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened this deterioration, lawmakers also deplored the violence, harassment and pressure faced by journalists.

Courts across Europe can be able to exchange documents electronically and access to justice can become swifter and easier for EU citizens and businesses. This is possible through two recast regulations approved by the Parliament on Monday.

The European Parliament released on Friday the full results of its third survey this year asking European citizens their views on the Coronavirus crisis and their attitudes towards the European Union. Although 50% of Europeans feel ‘uncertainty’ again as their key emotional state as the economic impact of the pandemic takes its toll, more people now have a positive image of the EU than in the Spring.

The recent heinous terrorist attacks in Nice, near Paris, and in Vienna, have put the issue of security at the forefront of various forums and formats over the past two weeks. France and Austria last week launched a mini-summit focused on stepping up the fight against terrorism. MEPs also had such a debate during their plenary session. Interior ministers discussed this topic as well last Friday.