European Parliament - EPRS Podcasts, What Europe does for you

Are you, or is someone you know, one of the 40 million recognised members of the scouting movement worldwide? Then you will already know that scouts in Europe and worldwide are committed to contributing to build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.Source: © European Union - EP

Unless you are a robot yourself, you are probably either fascinated or appalled by the prospects of artificial intelligence (AI). No longer limited to science-fiction, artificial intelligence is already a fact in our daily life, through speech recognition, driverless cars, medical diagnosis, etc.Source: © European Union - EP

If you've taken a ferry journey this year, chances are you weren't alone. There are 400 million passenger journeys to or from EU ports every year. The next time you hop on board a ferry in an EU port, think of how many aspects of your crossing are backed up with EU rules.Source: © European Union - EP

While EU laws protect you as a consumer against many misleading and aggressive commercial practices, they provide special protection for consumers who are particularly vulnerable due to their mental or physical infirmity. EU laws forbid sellers to profit from such disadvantages to get consumers to buy something they would not buy normally.Source: © European Union - EP

Eight and a half million EU workers (3.6 % of the EU's active population) either work or are looking for a job in another EU country, as permanent workers, cross-border workers or posted workers. The free movement of workers is one of the four fundamental freedoms enshrined in the EU treaties and a core element of EU citizenship, but is also key to completing the monetary union and the single market.Source: © European Union - EP

If you think that future Member States should have a high level of media freedom when they join the EU and that the EU should support them in achieving this, you will be happy to know that media freedom and pluralism are part of the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership and that the principle is backed up by EU policies.Source: © European Union - EP

Air traffic in the EU is rising, with 973 million passengers carried in 2016. Despite aircraft being 75% less noisy now than 30 years ago, they are still a major noise source. Studies suggest that living close to an airport may lead to health problems like heart disease and strokes, sleep disturbance, stress or hearing impairment.Source: © European Union - EP

Have you ever bought or been offered a drone, and wondered what you are allowed to do with it? Maybe you have already taken photos with your drone or tried to lift things up into the air. Or maybe your neighbours thinks you are spying on them...Source: © European Union - EP

Do you live in a peripheral or under-served region? If so, the EU is working to ensure that regions like yours are linked up to the air travel network.Source: © European Union - EP

The identity and reputation of EU wine regions are protected through the EU’s geographical indications (GI), which are recorded in something called the E-Bacchus register. GIs are intended to protect consumers from misleading marketing. They also provide information to consumers on the origin of the wine and grape varieties used.Source: © European Union - EP

Bank accounts are an essential part of everyday life, allowing us to manage our money, shop online, and pay bills. Despite continuous efforts to integrate financial services further, European citizens often still find it difficult to open an account in another EU country or to change banks. In addition, bank fees are sometimes high and not particularly transparent.Source: © European Union - EP

Do you, or someone you know, suffer from a rare disease – that affects fewer than 5 in 10 000 people? Most rare disease patients suffer from even rarer conditions, affecting only 1 person in 100 000 or more. However, as there are over 5 000 rare diseases, the number of people suffering from them is high – it is estimated that 30 million Europeans live with a rare disease.Source: © European Union - EP

Most of the farms in the EU are small, although the term includes a wide diversity of operations. Although small farms produce only a portion of the total EU agricultural output, their contribution in creating rural employment, supporting rural societies and landscapes, and ensuring that traditional and local production continues, makes them a cornerstone of European agriculture.Source: © European Union - EP

Your baby is special. The European Union helps babies' parents and guardians through measures aimed at children in general that always take the babies' best interests as a primary consideration. The EU supports babies' right to maintain a personal relationship and direct contact with both parents, unless that is contrary to their interests.Source: © European Union - EP

Individual investors who buy securities for themselves (and not on behalf of a fund or a bank) have access to a growing range of investment products, funds and investment-linked insurance policies, also known as 'packaged retail and insurance-based investment products' (or PRIIPs), offered by banks and insurance companies. The financial crisis has shown that, when it comes to investing in financial products, the information supplied to investors is of the utmost importance.Source: © European Union - EP

Do you believe that democracy is key to world security and universal respect of human rights? Do you want to get involved in democratisation in the world? The EU is on your side.Source: © European Union - EP

Our children's early years matter a great deal for their well-being and personal development and later for their success in education and employment. Research shows how 'skills beget skills'; how stunting by the age of two is difficult to reverse; how good-quality early childhood education and care services can help children, even in the long term, to overcome difficulties caused by a lack of help at home.Source: © European Union - EP

We live in a time of electronic communication, and enjoy easy and immediate access to friends and information. The internet and social media seem to reign as kings. We also want this ease and freedom to extent to other parts of our life, such as our interaction with administrations. The European Union is actively helping with that.Source: © European Union - EP

Digital products, services and connected devices are playing an ever increasing role in our lives. The digitalisation of society is changing the way we communicate, work and shop, and means that we need to acquire new digital skills.Source: © European Union - EP

Did you know that, according to estimates, between 10 % and 20 % of children in Europe suffer sexual abuse before they turn 18? Abuse occurs mainly in their immediate environment, but the internet and new technologies have brought a new dimension to the sexual exploitation of children, which is sometimes of a commercial nature.Source: © European Union - EP