This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. For the third time this year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Venezuela, expressing its deep concern at the severe state of emergency In accordance with the latest report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, MEPs hold Nicolás Maduro directly […]Venezuela: European Parliament calls for additional sanctions
July 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. For the third time this year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Venezuela, expressing its deep concern at the severe state of emergency In accordance with the latest report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, MEPs hold Nicolás Maduro directly […]Parliament adopts new rules for short-stay visas
April 18, 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 its visa policy to encourage non-EU countries to cooperate on migration. Parliament approved on Wednesday the new EU Visa Code, already informally agreed with the Council of Ministers. The law […]Tackling terrorism: MEPs approve tighter rules on homemade explosives
April 16, 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 approved by MEPs, on Tuesday Approximately 40% of terrorist attacks in the EU between 2015 and 2017 used homemade explosives, demonstrating clear […]EU cross-border payments outside Eurozone: MEPs scrap excessive fees
February 15, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Banks should charge equally for cross-border payments in euro and domestic payments and make currency conversion costs transparent, say new rules. On Thursday, the plenary adopted by 532 votes in favour, 22 against and 55 abstentions, new rules to end discrimination against payment service […]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 […]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 […]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 […]2021-2027 EU Budget: €378,1 billion to benefit all regions
January 23, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Rules for EU 2021-2027 investment in all regions to boost economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU were revamped by the Regional Development Committee. The report, drafted by Constanze Krehl (S&D, DE) and Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG), was adopted by 25 in favour, […]Consumers’ rights against defective digital content agreed by EU lawmakers
January 23, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. People who buy or download music, apps, games or use cloud services will be better protected if a trader fails to supply the content or service or provides a defective one. The first EU-wide “digital contracts” rules to protect consumers better were provisionally agreed […]Member states jeopardising the rule of law will risk losing EU funds
January 18, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Governments interfering with courts or failing to tackle fraud and corruption will risk suspension of EU funds, according to a draft law endorsed by MEPs on Thursday. Assisted by a panel of independent experts, the EU Commission would be tasked with establishing “generalised deficiencies […]MEPs spell out priorities for the European Central Bank and on banking union
January 18, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs on Wednesday set out their priorities for the European Central Bank’s actions in the coming year and those for moving ahead with completing the banking union. In two separate resolutions, the first on the work of the European Central Bank (ECB) drafted by […]Pesticides: MEPs propose blueprint to improve EU approval procedure
January 18, 2019 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 of pesticides, by making it more transparent and accountable, were put forward by Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs agreed that the public should be granted access to the studies used in the procedure to authorise a […]Pedro Sánchez: We must protect Europe, so Europe can protect its citizens
January 17, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The EU needs to be defended in the face of new challenges and against those who want to destroy it, said Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday to the European Parliament. In a plenary debate on the future of the EU, the President of the Spanish […]EU deal on electricity market rules to benefit both consumers and environment
December 19, 2018 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The creation of a genuine EU electricity market to better integrate renewable energy was provisionally agreed between MEPs and EU member states on Tuesday. An overhaul of EU electricity market rules was informally agreed to tackle barriers to cross-border trade of electricity and create […]EU joint response to disasters: deal reached with Council
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The aim of the new legislation, agreed on Wednesday, is to help member states to respond faster and more effectively to natural and man-made disasters, by sharing civil protection assets more efficiently. RescUE The draft law would also set up, upon Parliament’s request, a […]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 […]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 […]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 […]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 […]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 […]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 […]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, […]
