This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Draft legislation informally agreed with the Council seeks to protect the EU’s interests from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation. On Wednesday night, MEPs from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Committee on International Trade and the Danish Presidency […]Phasing-out imports of Russian gas in the EU: deal with Council
December 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Draft legislation informally agreed with the Council seeks to protect the EU’s interests from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation. On Wednesday night, MEPs from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Committee on International Trade and the Danish Presidency […]Deforestation law: agreement with Council gives companies extra year to comply
December 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Companies will have one more year to adapt to new EU rules to prevent deforestation, which will ban the sale of products sourced from deforested land in the EU. On Tuesday evening, negotiators from the Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement to […]MIDDLE EAST: Live updates from the Security Council and across the UN
October 10, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As turmoil roils the Middle East, senior UN officials provided humanitarian updates on the impact of continued fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, while many ambassadors in the Security Council offered strong support for the “indispensable” role of the Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, which has come under increasing […]Honey labelling: deal with Council on measures to combat fraud
January 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The revision of the “breakfast directives” aims to help consumers make informed and healthier decisions on agri-food products such as honey, fruit juice, jam and marmalades. On Tuesday evening, negotiators from the Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on updated rules on […]Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen area starting with air and sea borders: Commission welcomes landmark Council decision
January 2, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes today’s unanimous decision by the Council to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, starting with lifting controls at air and sea borders as of March 2024. Their accession will boost travel, trade and tourism and will further consolidate the […]Energy efficiency of buildings: MEPs strike deal with Council
December 12, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs and the Spanish Presidency of the Council informally agreed on Thursday on plans to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector. The proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions […]Better access to and use of data: MEPs reach agreement with Council
June 29, 2023 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The “Data Act”, informally agreed upon on Tuesday between MEPs and Council, aims to stimulate innovation by eliminating barriers hindering access to data.The Data Act establishes rules governing the sharing of data generated through the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the […]Parliament ready to negotiate with Council for an EU-wide digital wallet
March 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new digital identity framework would provide EU citizens with digital access to key public services across EU borders. Parliament on Thursday confirmed -with 418 votes to 103, with 24 abstentions- the negotiating mandate for talks with the EU member states on the revision […]Parliament and Council negotiators agree on new rules to boost energy savings
March 13, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs and the Swedish Presidency of the Council agreed on new energy saving targets in both primary and final energy consumption in the EU. Member states should collectively ensure a reduction of energy consumption of at least 11.7% at EU level by 2030 (compared […]EU-US Trade and Technology Council addresses common challenges and responds to global crises
December 6, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU and the US held the third Ministerial Meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in College Park, Maryland. The TTC is a key forum to deepen transatlantic cooperation to facilitate trade and develop global standards on technology and security. Geostrategic […]EU budget: Commission proposes measures to the Council under the conditionality regulation
September 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today proposed budget protection measures to the Council under the conditionality regulation. This is to ensure the protection of the EU budget and the financial interests of the EU against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in […]EU candidate status: lead MEP welcomes Council decision
June 27, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Statement of the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the European Council ‘s decision of 23 June 2022 on the EU membership applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia David McAllister (EPP, DE) made the following statement on Thursday, after the announcement of […]EU candidate status: lead MEP welcomes Council decision
June 24, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Statement of the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the European Council ‘s decision of 23 June 2022 on the EU membership applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia David McAllister (EPP, DE) made the following statement on Thursday, after the announcement of […]EU-US Energy Council: Opening remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner Simson
February 8, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell : Secretary Blinken, Secretary Granholm, Commissioner, Ambassador Etienne, We convene today in an environment characterised by geopolitical turbulence, particularly in the Eastern Neighbourhood of Europe. While we meet under the gathering storm cloud, our discussions take a greater relevance. We […]EU farm policy reform: Parliament and Council strike a deal
June 29, 2021 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament’s and Council’s negotiators reached an informal political agreement on three EU laws that will govern the 2023-2027 EU farm policy, on Friday. Negotiators endorsed a policy shift that should tailor the EU’s farm policy better to the needs of individual member states, but […]Motor Insurance: Commission welcomes European Parliament and Council agreement to update the Motor Insurance Directive
June 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission welcomes today’s agreement between the European Parliament and Council to update the 2009 Motor Insurance Directive. This Directive ensures that vehicles can freely circulate in the European Union while using the same compulsory insurance. It means that when accidents occur, injured […]EU farm policy reform: Council must be more flexible – we cannot waste more time
May 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Council’s lack of flexibility threatens security for EU farmers, Agriculture Committee Chair Norbert Lins warned, calling on Council to return to proper negotiations. Chair of the Agriculture Committee and head EP negotiator on the post-2022 EU farm policy Norbert Lins (EPP, DE) issued the […]Rule of law conditionality: MEPs strike a deal with Council
November 5, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EU countries that disrespect the rule of law will risk losing access to EU funds, under a provisional deal struck by Parliament and Council negotiators on Thursday. “Today’s agreement is a milestone for protecting EU values. For the first time, we have established a […]‘Everything is still to be agreed’: informal talks between Parliament and Council on Rule of law conditionality continue
November 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Talks will continue in November, when the co-legislators will meet for the fifth trilogue on a mechanism to link EU funds to respect for rule of law. After concluding the fourth round of informal legislative negotiations with the Council, EP negotiators said on Thursday: […]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 […]Parliament and Council agree drastic cuts to plastic pollution of environment
December 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds, will be banned in the EU under plans provisionally agreed between Parliament and Council, on Wednesday. Lead MEP Frédérique Ries (ALDE, BE) said: “Citizens expected only one thing from the European Union, that […]Rule of law in Hungary: Parliament should ask Council to act, say committee MEPs
June 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Hungary is at clear risk of a serious breach of EU values and the Council should intervene to prevent it, the Civil Liberties Committee said on Monday. MEPs called on EU member states to initiate the procedure, foreseen in Article 7(1) the EU Treaty, […]VW diesel scandal and climate change: can increased independent car checks lead to cleaner mobility?
December 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment
It was last Thursday when the European Parliament together with the Council and the Commission agreed to enhance the car testing system by providing extra checks to the cars that are or will be placed in the market based on the proposal of the European Commission made on January 2016. Despite the fact that this […]EU Council agrees to reform the system for motor vehicles but with “restricted” power for the Commission
May 31, 2017 by Leave a Comment
It was last Monday when the EU ministers gathered in Brussels to draft new rules to prevent future emissions cheating from the automotive companies after the VW emissions scandal. The Council of Ministers from 28 countries proposed rules for cutting down the national authorities’ power giving at the same time the ability to the European […]The EU Parliament blasts the Council about the tax dealings of the wealthy
October 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The European Parliament once more honored its role as the authentic exponent of the will of the European citizens. Last Tuesday it dismissed as a “missed opportunity” the EU Council’s decision to water down the mandatory exchange of the ‘tax rulings’ between member states. A ‘tax ruling’ is a special taxation arrangement accorded to a […]Will the three major parties retain control of the new EU Parliament?
April 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Say farewell to the European Parliament you knew and be prepared to work with the new legislature to be constituted after the elections of 22-25 May. This is what the Brussels’s bureaucracy must be thinking these days. The composition of the new Parliament remains a puzzler. If the tendencies the voters have shown in national […]EU: Protecting victims’ rights from cartels and market abuses
April 19, 2014 by 1 Comment
It was high time that the European Union took care of citizens and companies, usually SMEs, who have suffered economic losses and other damages from infringements of the EU antitrust rules, such as cartels and abuses of dominant market positions. Until now it was very difficult for the victims to substantiate their claims for damages […]The Brussels bureaucracy blocks the Youth Guarantee scheme
April 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The fate of the Youth Guarantee scheme, constituted to help the under 25s to get a job or a training within four months after leaving the education system, is very characteristic of the importance attached to labour matters by the European decision makers and the Brussels bureaucracy in particular. According to the European Economic and […]Youth unemployment: No light at the end of the tunnel
April 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Last Friday the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a public hearing on the implementation of European Union policies to counter youth employment. EESC is a consultative body made up by representatives of Europe’s socio-occupational interest groups and others (employers, workers and various interest groups). It gives its members a platform to express their […]168 hours left for MEPs – ECOFIN Council to deliver a Banking Union
March 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Contradicting messages are emitted from a statement issued yesterday by the lead MEPs currently negotiating the details of the legislation on the Single Resolution Mechanism and Fund for Eurozone banks with the ECOFIN council. This legislation is set to complete the legal and structural background of the European Banking Union. The other pillar of the […]How much more social deterioration can the EU people endure?
March 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The Council of the European Union responsible for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer affairs couldn’t avoid recognizing that the social scenery in the EU is deteriorating fast as 26.8 million jobseekers unable to find a job and 25% of the European population at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Mind you that more than […]Parliament: Last compromise on bank single resolution mechanism
March 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Undeniably, the European Banking Union’s prime target is to definitely cut the umbilical cord between banks and sovereigns, through the creation of a uniform supervision and insolvency dealing environment for all Eurozone lenders. Yet, Germany and France insist that the final decision for the resolution of a failing bank must be taken by member state […]EU Parliament: Follow the fraudulent money and confiscate it
February 26, 2014 by 1 Comment
In two parallel actions the European Parliament approved, with stormy majorities, two draft laws; one against money laundering and one more to facilitate the confiscation of fraudulently acquired assets. In the first case, the Economic Affairs and the Justice and Home Affairs committees amended a Commission proposal to list in public registers the ultimate owners […]
