European Parliament | Strasbourg — Local services in Strasbourg

This huge building (with 220.000 sq. meters, 800 seats and 1.133 offices), otherwise completed in year 1999, is the official seat of European Parliament, which activities are currently splitted between three different buildings, located in three different states (France, Belgium and Luxembourgh). Although the official seat of parliament is here, the building itself is most of the time empty, as the parliament sessions here will take place only one week per month - all other activities wil mainly happen in EU Parliament in Brussels and (there is a Chamber of Deputies with 60 members) in EU building in Luxembourgh. Such practice, with huge empty and unused building, unfortunately means a lot of wasted opportunities (and money), as the empty building time can be, at least on certain level, used in a more appropriate way (e.g. at least as place for events held by charities or other similiar events which are beneficial for broad society). Otherwise, the building is very nice, interesting and modern, with all the neccessary facilities and access for people with disabilities - you can plan a (guided) visit to there, but better check out for the conditions first (on Parliament website for the start). The Parliament building is otherwise located in a nice area, a bit outside of the city center, and is easily accessible from the city center (and from others spots) with frequent public transport options. For those who will travel there with car, a free parking places can be found around...

The "Digital Services Act" of the European Parliament and the EU Commission has become law. This law introduces many vague offences that will have to be combated by internet platforms (social media). If these private social media companies do not comply with the regulation of the “Digital Services Act”, they will have to pay a fine up to 6% of their annual worldwide turnover.

These vague offences include, for example, "disinformation", "harmful content", "social risks", "negative impact on public health, public security, civil discourse, political participation and equality", "manipulative and abusive activities", "intentionally inaccurate or misleading information".

Such unclear offences endanger the free exchange of opinions and thus freedom of opinion (European Convention on Human Rights, Art. 10). For example, any opinion unwanted by the EU Commission can be labeled "disinformation". However, the free exchange of differing opinions, especially those that the government does not want to hear, is essential to a democratic control of a government. The Digital Services Act is, in my opinion, doing serious damage to the democratic...

Visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg was a truly insightful experience. As a Romanian citizen, it was inspiring to witness firsthand the democratic processes that shape the European Union. The Hemicycle, the Parliament's main chamber, was particularly impressive. The opportunity to observe the seat of European democracy in action was a unique and valuable experience.

The Parlamentarium, the interactive exhibition, effectively conveyed the complexities of the European Union and its impact on everyday life. The exhibits were engaging and informative, making it easy to understand the role of the Parliament and its importance for the future of Europe.

However, I felt that more information could have been provided specifically on the impact of EU policies on Romania. While the general information was valuable, a deeper dive into the benefits and challenges facing Romania within the EU would have been beneficial.

Overall, my visit to the European Parliament was a positive and enriching experience. It provided valuable insights into the workings of the EU and its significance for citizens...