EP-plenair juni: ophef PRISM, spanningen Turkije, benoeming eurocommissaris Kroatië, herverdeling EP-zetels (en)

Parliament agreed on a common asylum system for the EU and backed a higher budget for a European fund to help the poorest during the Strasbourg plenary session in June. They also condemned secret surveillance by the US and urged Turkey to tackle the ongoing street protests peacefully. Find out more in our overview of the June plenary.

MEPs criticised the US Prism programme for tracking online activity and expressed concerns about the privacy and data protection of European citizens in a debate on Tuesday 11 June.

Following a vote on Tuesday, baby milk and food for special medical purposes will get clearer labels to protect consumers and distinguish more clearly between food for normal consumption and food for specific groups.

On Wednesday Parliament approved a basic set of rights for asylum seekers arriving in the EU. The European Asylum System will lay down common procedures and deadlines for handling applications.

MEPs debated the situation in Turkey with Catherine Ashton i, the EU's foreign affairs chief, on Wednesday afternoon. Turkey has been rocked by protests against the government.

On Wednesday MEPs backed a budget of €3.5 billion for the new aid programme to help Europe's poorest. The Commission and member states have proposed to cut funding by €1 billion.

Large oil, gas, mineral and logging firms will have to disclose their world-wide payments to governments, MEPs agreed on Wednesday

On Wednesday Parliament approved the nomination of Neven Mimica, Croatia's candidate for commissioner. He will still have to be approved by member states during the EU summit on 27-28 June before he can be formally appointed as consumer policy commissioner in time for Croatia joining the EU on 1 July.

MEPs approved on Thursday rules that would open up access to public data, such as maps, statistics and weather forecasts. This would enable companies to use the data to offer services to customers.

The distribution of EP i seats among EU countries for 2014-2019 will change following a vote on Wednesday. The final decision will be made by the Council. Twelve member states will lose one seat each, while Germany will have to give up three as the Lisbon treaty set a limit of 751 seats

Slovenian president Borut Pahor i and his Portuguese counterpart Aníbal Cavaco Silva both addressed the plenary this week.