The EP approved tougher rules on credit rating agencies to make them more accountable. Sovereign debt ratings will only be published at specific times, conflicts of interest are addressed and private investors can sue agencies for ill-founded ratings.

Youth guarantee schemes should ensure that young Europeans receive a job offer, training or apprenticeship within four months of becoming unemployed, said MEPs in a resolution. Average youth unemployment in the EU was 23.7% last November, reaching 50% in some countries.

MEPs contested European Commission plans to withdraw proposed "made in" labelling rules for imports such as clothing or shoes. The rules, strongly supported earlier by the EP, would only allow third countries to sell goods in the EU if their origin was indicated on the label.

Ireland presented its top priorities for its six-months: creating jobs and tackling the crisis.

In foreign affairs, MEPs stressed that Mali must not fall into the hands of terrorists and supported France´s military engagement. On Syria, MEPs said that EU and international strategies are not working and that Bashar al-Assad cannot remain in power. An EU-Iraq partnership agreement, backed by the EP, can help the Iraqi economy and boost democracy and human rights in the country.