Brussels Gets Down to Business: Holiday Rights, Laughing Gas, and a Whole Lot of Voting
The European Parliament is having quite the Thursday, folks, and it’s packed tighter than a budget airline overhead bin.
First up: your holiday nightmares are getting official attention. MEPs are voting at noon on updated Package Travel rules, because apparently the pandemic and several spectacular travel agency belly-flops taught us that “sorry, you’re stranded in Mallorca” isn’t an acceptable customer service strategy. The new directive promises clearer rights when your dream vacation turns into a logistical fever dream.
At 9 AM sharp, Parliament welcomes Teresa Anjinho, the freshly minted European Ombudsman (fancy title for “person who investigates when EU institutions mess up”). She’ll present her 2024 annual report alongside Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, presumably detailing all the bureaucratic face-palms from last year.
But wait, there’s more! Around 11 AM, they’re tackling rail safety following Spain’s Adamuz disaster and Greece’s Tempi tragedy – because apparently we need reminders that trains should stay on tracks. At 10 AM, Europe’s obesity crisis gets the spotlight, and at 3 PM, they’re debating whether to restrict laughing gas sales. Yes, really. Nitrous oxide is no laughing matter anymore (sorry, had to).
The noon voting marathon includes resolutions on human trafficking linked to Russia’s war recruitment, political prisoners in Georgia, and Niger’s detained president. They’ll also squeeze in heavy-duty vehicle emissions and prep for the World Trade Organisation’s upcoming shindig in Yaoundé.
Democracy in action, people – now with 50% more acronyms and 100% more urgency.