This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs want €43.85 billion to be invested in continued development of trans-European transport, energy and telecom networks and to foster innovation with a €11.5 billion EU Defence Fund. Connecting Europe Facility The proposal to renew the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) between 2021 and 2027 […]MEPs want to ensure sufficient funding for Connecting Europe’s future
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs want €43.85 billion to be invested in continued development of trans-European transport, energy and telecom networks and to foster innovation with a €11.5 billion EU Defence Fund. Connecting Europe Facility The proposal to renew the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) between 2021 and 2027 […]MEPs take stock of the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy priorities
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted two resolutions reviewing key EU foreign, security and defence policy choices. Following Tuesday´s debates with EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini, Parliament´s annual resolutions on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence […]Parliament endorses landmark EU-Japan free trade agreement
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Parliament gave its consent to the EU’s trade agreement with Japan, the largest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated by the EU. The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan, approved with 474 votes to 152 with 40 abstentions on Wednesday, will […]MEPs commend Ukraine‘s reform efforts and denounce Russian aggression
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, MEPs acknowledged Ukraine‘s positive reform track, while condemning Russia‘s aggression in the Kerch Strait and the construction of Nord Stream 2. Parliament adopted a resolution by 433 votes to 105, with 30 abstentions, evaluating the latest developments related to the EU-Ukraine association […]EU budget 2019 approved: focus on the young, innovation and migration
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. For next year’s budget, MEPs have secured better support for students, unemployed youngsters and researchers. Commitment appropriations for 2019 total €165.8 billion; payment appropriations total €148.2 billion. After Council formally approved the conciliation agreement with Parliament on the 2019 budget on 7 December, Parliament […]A Europe that Protects: Commission calls for more efforts to ensure adoption of security proposals
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Commission is today reporting on progress made in building a genuine and effective Security Union since the October European Council. Good progress is being achieved on a number of security initiatives, including the proposals to remove terrorist content online and to reinforce the […]Combatting terrorism: Parliament sets out proposals for a new EU strategy
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Based on a thorough assessment, Parliament sets out recommendations to tackle radicalisation, improve data interoperability and support victims of terrorism. In a non-legislative resolution discussed on Tuesday and adopted on Wednesday with 474 votes to 112 and 75 abstentions, Parliament suggests reinforcing the role […]EP Group leaders on Brexit: “the agreement is not open to renegotiation”
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Conference of Presidents indicated that the Withdrawal Agreement is fair and balanced and the only deal possible. It is therefore one not open to renegotiation. The Conference of Presidents, together with the Brexit Steering Group, discussed today the state of play of the […]MEPs to prioritise environment and climate action in next long-term budget
December 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. For the next 2021-2027 EU budget, MEPs propose to double funding for the LIFE programme. Following Parliament’s adoption of its position on the EU’s long-term budget (2021-2027 multiannual financial framework – MFF), MEPs are this week setting out their position on the scope and […]Deal on faster exchange of non-EU nationals’ criminal records
December 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Plans to create an EU database to enable EU countries to exchange non-EU citizens’ criminal records faster, were informally agreed with Council negotiators on Tuesday. Currently, national authorities often rely solely on data on non-EU nationals’ convictions available from their own national criminal record […]Food safety: more transparency, better risk prevention
December 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs want the European Food Safety Agency to publish safety studies before a product is authorised to go on to the market. A proposal to allow the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to work more efficiently and transparently was adopted by Parliament on Tuesday […]Workplace risks: Final vote on protection from carcinogens, including diesel fumes
December 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs updated rules to protect workers from exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, including diesel fumes, in a vote on Tuesday. In order to protect some 3.6 million workers in the EU potentially exposed to diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEE), the Parliament succeeded in […]Cybersecurity: agreement reached on better protection for citizens and companies
December 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Several measures to improve cybersecurity in the EU were provisionally agreed by MEPs and member states on Monday. After the agreement was reached, rapporteur Angelika Niebler (EPP, DE) said: “This important success will enable the EU to keep up with security risks in the […]Stricter rules to stop terrorists from using homemade explosives
December 11, 2018 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Plans to update rules on the use and sale of chemicals that could be used to make homemade explosives were backed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday. The current rules restrict access to a number of chemicals that could be used to manufacture […]Trade Committee advocates lower tariffs in Western Sahara
December 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A proposal to lower tariffs in the territory of Western Sahara to the same level as Morocco, was backed by the International Trade Committee on Monday. The proposal was adopted by 25 votes to 9 with 2 abstentions after the European Commission and Morocco […]MEPs strongly welcome the Global Compact on Migration
December 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Parliament strongly supports the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and welcomes its adoption in Marrakesh, Morocco on Monday. MEPs regret the campaign of disinformation that has led to several countries withdrawing their support from the compact. The migration compact […]Commission presents its response to Antisemitism and a survey showing Antisemitism is on the rise in the EU
December 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission responds to a new survey by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency which finds that 9 out of 10 European Jews feel Antisemitism has increased over the past five years. The results of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s latest survey on Antisemitism […]Member States and Commission to work together to boost artificial intelligence “made in Europe”
December 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Delivering on its strategy on artificial intelligence (AI) adopted in April 2018 today the Commission presents a coordinated plan prepared with Member States to foster the development and use of AI in Europe. This plan proposes joint actions for closer and more efficient cooperation […]MEPs propose more transparent legislative drafting and use of allowances
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Changes to internal rules on how the EP operates and how to draft legislation and use MEPs’ allowances in a more transparent way were approved in committee on Thursday. The key changes adopted by the Constitutional Affairs Committee relate to Members’ standards of conduct […]EU Elections: new rules to prevent breaches of data used to influence elections
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Constitutional Affairs Committee backed a proposal introducing penalties on European political parties deliberately breaching data protection to tamper with EU elections. The new provisions are aimed at protecting the electoral process from online disinformation campaigns based on misuse of voters’ personal data. Some recent […]First EU collective redress mechanism to protect consumers
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Rules allowing groups of consumers harmed by illegal practices to launch collective actions and seek compensation were approved by Legal Affairs Committee. Currently, only 19 member states provide some form of legal remedy to victims of mass harm and proceedings can often be lengthy […]Online platforms: improving transparency and fairness for EU businesses
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Rules requiring online platforms to end unfair practices to businesses and set up effective redress mechanisms were approved by the Internal Market Committee. Online intermediation services, such as e-commerce market places (e.g. Amazon, eBay) and search engines (e.g. Google Search) would be required to […]Pesticides: MEPs propose blueprint to improve EU approval procedure
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Plans to boost trust in the EU approval procedure by making it more transparent and accountable were put forward by the special committee on pesticides. Among many proposals, MEPs agreed on Thursday that the public should be granted access to the studies used […]EU Budget 2019 deal: EP boosts support for researchers and the young
December 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs have fought for and obtained better support for students, unemployed youngsters and researchers, as well as additional funds to boost key initiatives supporting SMEs. Late on Tuesday evening, the negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on […]Commission presents ways to further strengthen the euro’s global role
December 6, 2018 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. In light of the upcoming European Council and Euro Summit in December, the Commission presents actions to strengthen the role of the euro in a changing world. In his State of the Union Address in September 2018, President Juncker highlighted the strategic importance of […]Better ID card security to curb document fraud
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs agreed on common security features for EU identity documents to reduce identity fraud. Ensuring that identity documents are tamper- and fraud-proof is a key element in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. Currently the security features in ID cards, […]Improved access to financial information to curb serious crime
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. New rules improving law enforcement authorities’ access to financial information to investigate serious crimes or terrorism were approved by Civil Liberties Committee. Financial data can offer valuable information to law enforcement authorities and can help them prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute serious crime and […]New EU short-stay visas: more advantages for legitimate travellers
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Simpler procedures for legitimate travellers and incentives for cooperating with the EU on migration are part of new rules on short-stay visas for non-EU nationals. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs backed, on Monday, changes to the EU Visa Code which establishes the procedures and conditions […]Banking package: Parliament and Council reach an agreement
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Parliament and the Council negotiators took a major step towards reducing risks in the banking system and building the Banking Union. On Tuesday, two deals were concluded on banks’ resilience and on a clear roadmap for banks to deal with losses. A deal […]Commission calls on Leaders to pave the way for an agreement on a modern, balanced and fair EU budget for the future
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Ahead of the European Council meeting on 13 and 14 December 2018, the Commission is taking stock of the encouraging progress made so far in the negotiations of the EU’s next long-term budget and urging Leaders to keep up the momentum. The European Council […]A Europe that Protects: Commission calls for continued action to eradicate trafficking in human beings
December 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission is presenting its Second Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings. Taking stock of measures taken since 2015, the report highlights the main trends in trafficking in human beings and outlines remaining challenges that […]Humanitarian visas would reduce refugees’ death toll
December 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Asylum-seekers should be able to request humanitarian visas at EU embassies and consulates abroad, allowing them to access Europe safely, say Civil Liberties MEPs. With 37 votes to 10 and 3 abstentions, the Civil Liberties Committee agreed on Monday to ask the European Commission […]MEPs want ambitious funding for cross-border projects to connect people
December 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Economic and social cohesion and cooperation in neighbouring border regions should get maximum support, according to the Regional Development Committee. In Monday’s vote, MEPs recommended adding an extra EUR 2.73 billion to earmark a total amount of EUR 11.16 billion for European territorial cooperation […]
