This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday morning, Parliament debated the outcome of May’s special summit with European Council President Michel and Commission President von der Leyen. A large majority of members backed the firm and united response of the European Council to Belarus and endorsed the swift imposition […]Belarus, climate action, COVID-19: MEPs assess EU summit results
June 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday morning, Parliament debated the outcome of May’s special summit with European Council President Michel and Commission President von der Leyen. A large majority of members backed the firm and united response of the European Council to Belarus and endorsed the swift imposition […]MEPs hail minimum global corporate tax rate deal as historic
June 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday morning, MEPs debated with Commission and Council the upcoming G7 summit and the topics they expect to be raised during the EU-US summit on 11 June. During the debate with Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Portugal’s Secretary of State Ana Paula Zacarias, MEPs […]Brexit Adjustment Reserve: MEPs want swift disbursement of €5 billion fund
June 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament is now ready to negotiate with Council the details of the fund to help EU countries to counter the adverse consequences of the UK’s withdrawal. Parliament adopted on Wednesday its position regarding the €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve (in 2018 prices – €5.4 […]Biodiversity: MEPs demand binding targets to protect wildlife and people
June 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A “Paris agreement” for biodiversity and an EU Biodiversity Law are needed to ensure that ecosystems are restored, resilient, and adequately protected by 2050. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted the resolution “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives” with 515 votes […]The EU needs new sources of revenue, MEPs stress
June 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. New streams of EU revenue to be proposed in July should bring fairer taxation and help repay the debt incurred to finance the EU recovery plan, MEPs said on Tuesday. In a debate in plenary, Commissioner Johannes Hahn confirmed that the Commission will table […]Data protection: MEPs urge the Commission to amend UK adequacy decisions
June 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Commission should amend its draft decision on UK data protection to ensure EU standards for citizens’ privacy are respected. In a resolution passed on Friday (344 votes in favour, 311 against and 28 abstaining), MEPs ask the Commission to modify its draft […]Biodiversity: MEPs demand binding targets to protect wildlife and humans
May 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. An EU Biodiversity Law is needed to set the biodiversity governance framework until 2050, the Environment Committee agreed on Friday. The committee adopted its position on the “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives”, with 62 votes to 4 and […]Czech PM conflict of interest: MEPs want investigation into rule of law breaches
May 27, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Commission’s audit findings confirm the ongoing conflict of interest of Czech Prime Minister Babiš that Parliament raised in several resolutions and discharge reports. In a draft resolution adopted on Wednesday with 26 votes in favour, none against and 4 abstentions, the Budgetary Control […]Data protection: MEPs urge the Commission to amend UK adequacy decisions
May 24, 2021 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Commission should amend its draft decision on UK data protection to ensure EU standards for citizens’ privacy are respected. In a resolution passed on Friday (344 votes in favour, 311 against and 28 abstaining), MEPs ask the Commission to modify its draft […]MEPs approve the EU’s new culture programme
May 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, MEPs adopted ‘Creative Europe’, the EU’s programme for culture and the audiovisual sector, and the EU’s biggest ever financial commitment. The new programme, with its budget almost doubled when compared to 2014-2020, (up from 1.4 billion euro) will invest 2.5 billion euro […]MEPs call for better protection of migrants from human rights violations
May 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament criticises the European Commission and some EU countries for overusing informal agreements on the return and readmission of irregular migrants. On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a report by 358 votes in favour, 309 against, with 26 abstentions providing recommendations on human rights protection in […]MEPs split over waiver for COVID-19 vaccine patents
May 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. At Wednesday’s debate on ensuring global access to shots, there was a lack of consensus among MEPs on a temporary waiver of patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines. A number of speakers called on the Commission to support a waiver of the intellectual property rights […]Russia: MEPs deplore military build-up, attack in Czechia and jailing of Navalny
April 30, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament is deeply concerned by the recent Russian military build-up on Ukraine border and revelations of Russian agents behind explosions in Czechia In a resolution adopted on Thursday, MEPs confirmed how deeply worried they are about Russian military posturing close to the country’s border […]EU-Turkey relations are at a historic low point, say MEPs
April 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. In a report adopted on Thursday, MEPs call on Turkey to credibly demonstrate the sincerity of its commitment to closer relations with the European Union. Despite the fact that Turkey is an EU accession candidate country, in recent years the Government of Turkey distanced […]Digital Green Certificate: MEPs seek clarifications regarding the travel facilitation tool
April 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On Tuesday, MEPs quizzed Commissioner Reynders on the recently proposed Digital Green Certificate and discussed data protection aspects with the EDPS. In the Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday, Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders underscored the proposal’s aim to facilitate free movement and non-discrimination of […]MEPs ready to take Commission to court for failing to protect EU budget
March 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament is prepared to take legal action should the Commission delay the application of the budget’s Rule of Law conditionality mechanism any further. In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 529 votes in favour, 148 against and 10 abstentions, MEPs recall that the failure […]MEPs demand safe and clean travel
March 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EU criteria for safe and clean travel, a common vaccination certificate and an EU hygiene seal for businesses must be part of a new EU strategy on tourism, MEPs say. The resolution on an EU strategy for sustainable tourism, adopted by 577 votes to […]COVID-19 vaccines: MEPs quiz top officials on authorisation and contracts
March 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, MEPs quizzed the European Commission and European Medicines Agency on latest developments concerning the authorisation and purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) updated Members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee […]MEPs share concerns about COVID-19 variants
March 16, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Monday, Members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee debated with experts on the efficacy of vaccines against mutations of the COVID-19 virus. Representatives from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the […]MEPs highlight impact of pandemic on children’s health and education
March 12, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EU member states must invest more in education, healthcare, housing, family support and childcare, making sure that these services reach all children. “A child is first and foremost a child, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, nationality or social and economic background, ability, migration or […]MEPs: Companies must no longer cause harm to people and planet with impunity
March 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament paves the way for a new EU law that requires companies to address human rights and environmental standards within their value chains. The legislative initiative report (adopted on Wednesday by 504 votes in favour, 79 against and 112 abstention) calls for the urgent […]MEPs warn Commission to activate rule of law mechanism without delay
March 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs stressed that Parliament will use all means at its disposal if the Commission fails to fulfil its obligations in using the new mechanism to protect the budget. In a plenary debate on Thursday, MEPs quizzed Commissioner Hahn on why the Commission has not […]MEPs strongly condemn continuing violence in Yemen and military coup in Myanmar
February 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Humanitarian aid for Yemen must be increased, MEPs say, and urge the military in Myanmar to immediately reinstate the civilian government. Parliament condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing violence in Yemen that has, since 2015, “degenerated into the worst humanitarian crisis in the […]COVID-19: MEPs extend relief measures for the transport sector
February 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. To support the transport sector during the pandemic, MEPs revamped rules for the use of airport slots to prevent ghost flights, and extended the validity of some licences. Parliament temporarily suspended the ‘use it or lose it’ rule in March 2020 to stop airlines […]COVID-19: MEPs want to ensure developing countries’ access to vaccines
February 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. COVID-19 vaccines should be produced also in developing countries to overcome the pandemic, development MEPs told Commissioner Urpilainen on Thursday. “Distributing vaccines globally is our exit strategy from the pandemic,” International Partnership Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen told the Development Committee, adding that the Commission will […]MEPs call for binding 2030 targets for materials use and consumption footprint
January 28, 2021 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The EU needs clear policy objectives to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050 at the latest, say MEPs. On Wednesday, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted its report on the new EU Circular Economy […]MEPs: Hold companies accountable for harm caused to people and planet
January 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Legal Affairs Committee MEPs pave the way for a new EU law that requires companies to comply with human rights and environmental standards within their value chains. The draft legislative initiative (adopted by 21 votes in favour, one against and one abstention) calls on […]‘Right to disconnect’ should be an EU-wide fundamental right, MEPs say
January 22, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament calls for an EU law that grants workers the right to digitally disconnect from work without facing negative repercussions. In their legislative initiative that passed with 472 votes in favour, 126 against and 83 abstentions, MEPs call on the Commission to propose a […]New US President: MEPs hope for a new dawn in transatlantic ties
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs welcome the inauguration of Joe Biden as an opportunity for Europe to strengthen EU-US ties and tackle common challenges and threats to the democratic system. On Wednesday morning, MEPs debated the inauguration of Joe Biden as new US President and the political situation […]MEPs call for additional EU sanctions against Russia over Navalny’s imprisonment
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs strongly condemn Alexei Navalny’s arrest and call on the EU to extend sanctions against Russian officials to cover those involved in his jailing. In a debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs called on the Russian authorities to […]MEPs adopt Technical Support Instrument to speed up post-COVID-19 recovery
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Technical Support Instrument will help EU countries prepare the recovery plans needed to access funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The regulation adopted by Plenary on Tuesday, with 540 votes in favour, 75 against and 77 abstentions outlines how the Technical Support […]COVID-19 vaccines: MEPs call for more clarity and transparency
January 12, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Lack of transparency has recently fuelled uncertainty and disinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination in Europe, say MEPs. On Tuesday, members of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety quizzed Sandra Gallina, the EU’s lead negotiator on COVID-19 vaccine contracts, on the latest developments […]Climate change adaptation: MEPs want the EU to be better prepared
December 17, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Building climate-resilient societies in line with the forthcoming EU adaptation strategy is vital, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Thursday. The resolution on adaptation to climate change will provide input on a new adaptation strategy, expected from the Commission in 2021 as part […]
