This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A new agreement on the legal, environmental, economic and social governance of EU vessels’ fishing activities in Morocco and Western Sahara waters was approved on Tuesday. The new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) includes the waters of Western Sahara and aims to take into […]MEPs adopt new Fisheries Partnership with Morocco including Western Sahara
February 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A new agreement on the legal, environmental, economic and social governance of EU vessels’ fishing activities in Morocco and Western Sahara waters was approved on Tuesday. The new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) includes the waters of Western Sahara and aims to take into […]Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte: “Europe must listen to the people”
February 13, 2019 by 28 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Europe is facing “a fork in the road”, as “the people are urgently asking to be heard,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told MEPs on Tuesday. In a plenary debate on the future of Europe, the Italian Prime Minister said: “This is a valuable […]Defence: European Commission paves the way for first joint industrial projects under EU budget
February 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Today, the European Commission formally initiated work with Member States to finance joint industrial projects in the field of defence. Once the Commission adopts the work programme for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme, it will launch calls for proposals under the EU budget […]Civil protection: Parliament strengthens EU disaster response capability
February 12, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. An upgrade of the EU’s civil defence mechanism, tested to its limits by 2017 and 2018 forest fires, storms and floods, received the support of the House on Tuesday. The aim of the new legislation, informally agreed with Council in December, is to help […]Parliament names radio studio after journalists murdered in December attack
February 12, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament named on Monday a radio studio after Antonio Megalizzi and Bartosz Orent-Niedzielski, two journalists murdered during the December attack in Strasbourg. Two months after the attack, radio studio 1 of the European Parliament in Strasbourg has been named after radio journalists Antonio Megalizzi […]Stronger European Border and Coast Guard to secure EU’s borders
February 12, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. New measures to strengthen the European Border and Coast Guard to better address migratory and security challenges were backed by the Civil Liberties Committee. The revision of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) aims to remedy the current shortcomings, respond to the […]Falsified medicines: new rules to enhance patients’ safety
February 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The falsification of medicines has remained a serious threat to public health in the EU for too long. As of tomorrow, the new rules on safety features for prescription medicines sold in the EU will apply. From now on, the industry will have to […]Safer products: EP and Council close deal to beef up checks and inspections
February 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Rules to ensure better checks and safety of goods sold in the EU were provisionally agreed by EU lawmakers on Thursday. The market surveillance proposal, included in the “Goods package”, aims to strengthen checks made by national authorities and customs officers to prevent unsafe […]Winter 2019 Economic Forecast: growth moderates amid global uncertainties
February 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European economy is expected to grow for the seventh year in a row in 2019, with expansion forecast in every Member State. The pace of growth overall is projected to moderate compared to the high rates of recent years and the outlook is […]New forms of work: deal on measures boosting workers’ rights
February 7, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EP negotiators struck a deal with EU ministers on minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, such as Uber or Deliveroo. Every person who has an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by law, collective agreements or practice in force […]Commission makes it easier for citizens to access health data securely across borders
February 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today the Commission presents a set of recommendations for the creation of a secure system that will enable citizens to access their electronic health files across Member States. Currently the ability of European citizens to access their electronic medical records across the EU greatly […]Mergers: Commission prohibits Siemens’ proposed acquisition of Alstom
February 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has prohibited Siemens’ proposed acquisition of Alstom under the EU Merger Regulation. The merger would have harmed competition in markets for railway signalling systems and very high-speed trains. The parties did not offer remedies sufficient to address these concerns. Commissioner Margrethe […]Deal on tightening the rules to stop terrorists from using homemade explosives
February 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Plans to update and tighten rules on the use and sale of chemicals that could be used to make homemade explosives, were informally agreed with Council negotiators on Monday. The current rules restrict access to a number of chemicals that could be used to […]Erasmus+ will finance existing UK-EU mobility in the event of no-deal Brexit
February 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Culture Committee will support continued funding to all current Erasmus+ learning mobility activities, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The European Parliament’s Culture Committee discussed with the EU Commission the proposed new contingency measures for the Erasmus+ programme, should the UK leave […]MEPs and EU ministers agree on closing information gaps to enhance security
February 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. New measures to improve data exchange between EU information systems to manage borders, security and migration were informally agreed with Council negotiators on Tuesday. Currently, EU information systems used in security, border and migration management do not talk to each other and the information […]Solidarity Corps: more opportunities for young people
February 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new programme will offer more volunteering opportunities for young people 18-30 in the field of solidarity, including experiences in the humanitarian aid field. The Culture Committee approved on Monday the new 2021-2027 European Solidarity Corps programme. While volunteering remain its core aim, ensuring […]Countering illegal hate speech online – EU Code of Conduct ensures swift response
February 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The fourth evaluation on the EU Code of Conduct shows that this Commission initiative delivers successful results. IT companies are now assessing 89% of flagged content within 24 hours and 72% of the content deemed to be illegal hate speech is removed, compared to […]European Parliament approves more transparency and efficiency in its internal rules
February 4, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament adopted changes to its internal rules on Thursday to operate more efficiently and in a more transparent way. The key changes to the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure adopted on Thursday relate to Members’ standards of conduct (including transparency rules and measures to prevent […]Finnish Prime Minister calls for a more united EU of concrete actions
February 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä debated the future of Europe with MEPs and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday. In his speech to MEPs, Finnish Prime Minister Sipilä expressed his support for the “kind of EU that proves its credibility through concrete action”. He […]Venezuela: Parliament recognises Guaidó, urges EU to follow suit
February 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Parliament recognised on Thursday Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution. MEPs urged EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini and member states to also recognise Guaidó “as the only legitimate interim president of the […]European Parliament approves more transparency and efficiency in its internal rules
February 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament adopted changes to its internal rules on Thursday to operate more efficiently and in a more transparent way. The key changes to the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure adopted on Thursday relate to Members’ standards of conduct (including transparency rules and measures to prevent […]EU-Japan trade agreement enters into force
February 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan enters into force on 1 February 2019. Businesses and consumers across Europe and in Japan can now take advantage of the largest open trade zone in the world. President of the European Commission Jean-Claude […]MEPs urge UK to break current deadlock
January 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Members reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to protect peace, stability and the integrity of the internal market in Wednesday’s debate on Brexit. During the debate, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reaffirmed that “the withdrawal agreement, approved by both parties, is the best and only possible […]Parliament commemorates the victims of the Holocaust
January 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. To honour International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January), MEPs held a formal ceremony on Wednesday and observed a minute of silence for the victims. Opening the ceremony, President Antonio Tajani said: “By commemorating the victims of the Shoah for the first time during a […]Property regimes for international couples in Europe: new rules apply in 18 Member States as of today
January 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU Regulations clarifying the rules applicable to property regimes for international married couples or registered partnerships apply as of today. The regulations establish clear rules in cases of divorce or death and bring an end to parallel and possibly conflicting proceedings in various […]Brexit Preparedness: European Commission adopts final set of “no-deal” contingency measures for Erasmus+ students, social security coordination rules and the EU budget
January 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Given the increasing risk that the United Kingdom may leave the EU on 30 March this year without a deal (a “no-deal” scenario), the European Commission has today adopted a final set of contingency proposals in the area of the Erasmus+ programme, social security […]Consumer protection: Deal on EU-wide rules for those sold faulty products
January 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Consumers buying online or in a brick and mortar store will be entitled to equal remedies if they purchase faulty products, under new rules agreed on Tuesday. The directive on the sale of goods aims to ensure a high level of consumer protection throughout […]New rules for short-stay visas: EP and Council reach a deal
January 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The EU will simplify procedures for requesting and issuing short-stay visas and will use the visa policy to encourage non-EU countries to cooperate on migration. Parliament and Council negotiators informally agreed on Tuesday on a new EU Visa Code, establishing the procedures and conditions […]Visa-free access to the EU for UK nationals and to the UK for EU nationals
January 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. UK nationals would be able to enter the EU visa-free for short periods after the country’s exit, provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when travelling to the UK. By unanimity (53 votes) on Tuesday, the Civil Liberties Committee backed rules exempting UK nationals […]Code of Practice against disinformation: Commission calls on signatories to intensify their efforts
January 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission published today the first reports submitted by signatories of the Code of Practice against disinformation signed in October 2018. While the Commission welcomes the progress made, it also calls on signatories to intensify their efforts in the run up to the […]Mario Draghi quizzed for last time by Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee
January 29, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. European Central Bank President and Chair of the EU’s economic risk watchdog Mario Draghi appeared for the last time in Parliament before the European elections. Mr Draghi took the opportunity to reiterate his calls for structural reforms to be prioritised in order to complete […]Welfare of transported animals: MEPs urge EU states to do a better job
January 25, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The EU and its member states must enforce existing rules on protecting transported animals better and penalise all offenders, the Agriculture Committee said on Thursday. In a resolution, adopted by 22 votes in favour to 12 against, with four abstentions, the Agriculture Committee reiterated […]Energy Union: EU invests a further €800 million in priority energy infrastructure
January 25, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Energy Union: EU invests a further €800 million in priority energy infrastructure Today EU Member States voted on a Commission proposal to invest almost €800 million in key European energy infrastructure projects with major cross-border benefits. The EU funding comes from the Connecting Europe […]
