Parliament ready to negotiate with Council for an EU-wide digital wallet

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 slams repression and show trials in Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs are alarmed about the ongoing crackdown in Belarus, including the jailing of Nobel laureates and journalists, and call for further sanctions against the country. On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the Belarusian regime’s continued systematic repression of the country’s people and dissenting […]

Climate change: Parliament votes to reduce member states’ emissions by 40%

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new Effort Sharing Regulation reduces the allowed maximum level of greenhouse gas emissions in member states from transport, buildings and agriculture until 2030. Parliament today adopted with 486 votes to 132 and 10 abstentions the revision of the so-called Effort Sharing Regulation. It […]

Parliament and Council negotiators agree on new rules to boost energy savings

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 […]

Parliamentarians from across Europe discuss economic, social and budgetary issues

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The annual meeting on economic governance between MEPs and MPs from 29 European countries, including Ukraine, kicked off on Monday. The conference, which will end on Tuesday, was opened by EP President Roberta Metsola on Monday afternoon who told participants that Europe must remain […]

Here are 4 parliaments that have more women than men

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Gabi Thesing, Senior Writer, Formative Content There was much celebration last year when for the first time in New Zealand’s history there were more women in parliament than men. Soraya Peke-Mason from the liberal Labour Party was sworn in […]

Parliament urges Georgia to pardon and release ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs say the way former President Mikheil Saakashvili is being treated is a litmus test of the Georgian government’s commitment to European values. In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, Parliament expresses its grave concerns about the deteriorating health of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, […]

Group leaders endorse first steps of parliamentary reform

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. European Parliament group leaders endorsed the reform plan, proposed by President Metsola, at the Conference of Presidents in Brussels today. The reforms aim at strengthening the Parliament’s integrity, independence and accountability, while protecting the free mandate of Members. Other medium and long-term measures will […]

Corruption allegations: Parliament has to seize the moment, MEPs say

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. One month after the allegations and charges against some MEPs, Parliament took stock of developments and demanded concrete action to close loopholes. Opening the debate on behalf of the European Commission, Commissioner Ylva Johansson decried the “few who had put at risk the good […]

Parliament agrees to adapted €18 billion loan to Ukraine

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, MEPs agreed to a modified regulation allowing the €18 billion support package to be transferred to Ukraine after Hungary had vetoed the original proposal. Parliament accepted, through the so-called urgent procedure, the Council-proposed change in the Macrofinancial Assistance Plus regulation that allows […]

Parliament approves €5 billion loan to Ukraine

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, MEPs gave the green light to a €5 billion macro-financial loan to help Ukraine cover its acute financing needs caused by Russia’s invasion. This is the second, and largest, tranche of a €9 billion EU support package, of which €1 billion has […]

Fit for 55: Parliament pushes for greener aviation fuels

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen should gradually become the norm as aviation fuel to help EU become climate neutral by 2050, said MEPs on Thursday. Parliament adopted its position on new draft EU rules to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels […]

Digital Services Package: Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the EU’s new rulebook for digital services

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, proposed by the Commission in December 2020. The Digital Services Package sets out a first comprehensive rulebook for the online platforms that we all depend on […]

Time for Parliament to have a direct right of legislative initiative

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, MEPs demanded the right to table legislative proposals, which would strengthen EU democracy and restore institutional balance. Parliament calls for reform of the legislative process when the Treaties are next revised and notes that, as the only directly elected EU institution, MEPs […]

Ukraine, climate change, and security: EU/ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly concludes

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs and African, Caribbean and Pacific region parliamentarians discussed the impact of war in Ukraine, food security, pandemic and climate change. The 41st session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) took place from 1-3 April in Strasbourg, attended by MEPs and their counterparts from […]

Civil society: Parliament calls for EU rules and strategy to counter threats

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs adopted proposals to recognise the crucial role of civil society for democracy, calling for a Commission strategy and common rules across all member states. Following a plenary debate on Monday that took stock of the role of civil society in dealing with the […]

European Parliament delegation ends visit to Ukraine

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A high-level delegation of the European Parliament, which travelled to Ukraine amid the current security crisis, concluded its visit on Tuesday. Nine members from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Security and Defence Subcommittee, led by Chairs David McAllister (EPP, DE) and Nathalie […]

Parliament updates the composition of its committees and subcommittees

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, MEPs updated the number of members in Parliament’s 20 committees and 3 sub-committees, and the political groups determined who will sit in each committee. Following a plenary vote on the proposal by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (673 for, 17 against, 5 abstentions), […]

Diversity: Parliament sets milestones towards a more inclusive administration

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament’s leadership adopts a roadmap for an inclusive approach to matters relating to disability, sexual orientation and anti-racism in its administration. The European Parliament’s Bureau, comprising the President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors, has agreed to intensify efforts to achieve a more inclusive administration. To reach […]

Frans Timmermans at Parliament Plenary session on the outcome of COP26 in Glasgow

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Opening remarks  Thank you, Mr. President, honourable Members. COP26 did not solve the climate crisis but that was also not the purpose of COP26. It had to bring the objectives of the Paris Agreement within reach and allow us to start implementing this deal. […]

Future of Europe: Parliament delegation’s first discussion on Conference topics

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, Parliament’s delegation, joined by idea givers from the European Youth Event, will discuss five topics from the European Citizens’ Panels. The discussions will revolve around the topics covered by the first two of the four European Citizens’ Panels: Panel 1 economy, social […]

Parliament to hold its second European Gender Equality Week

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EP committees and delegations will hold a series of discussions and public hearings on topics related to gender equality. Following the success of the edition, launched by the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee in October 2020, the European Parliament will hold a second […]

Common charger: a long-awaited proposal requested by Parliament

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Over the last decade, Parliament has urged the Commission to table a proposal on a common charger to tackle e-waste and make life easier for consumers. The European Parliament and its Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee have been insisting on a common charger […]

Parliament adopts temporary rules to detect child sexual abuse online

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs endorsed a temporary regulation that allows web-based service providers to continue fighting child sexual abuse material online on a voluntary basis. In the context of a worrying increase in the volume of child abuse material on the internet exacerbated by the pandemic, the […]

Artificial Intelligence in policing: safeguards needed against mass surveillance

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The use of Artificial Intelligence in law enforcement and the judiciary should be subject to strong safeguards and human oversight, says the Civil Liberties Committee. In a draft report adopted with 36 votes to 24, and 6 abstentions, MEPs highlight the need for democratic […]

Parliament calls for COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. To accelerate global vaccine rollout, MEPs demand the temporary lifting of intellectual property rights protection for COVID-19 vaccines. In a resolution adopted with 355 votes in favour, 263 against and 71 abstentions, Parliament proposes negotiations start for a temporary waiver of the WTO TRIPS […]

Parliament gives its final green light to the EU Digital COVID Certificate

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs completed today the legislative work on the EU digital COVID Certificate package to facilitate travel within the EU and contribute to the economic recovery. Plenary passed the new EU digital COVID Certificate Regulations with 546 votes to 93 and 51 abstentions (EU citizens) […]

Gender equality: Parliament strives to be frontrunner among EU Institutions

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Parliament leadership adopts roadmap to achieve gender equality in political processes and its administration. 50% women in middle and senior manager positions and 40% women in top manager positions in the administration. These are the targets the European Parliament’s Bureau, comprising the President, Vice-Presidents […]

Parliament formally approves EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament voted with a large majority in favour of granting its consent to the agreement setting the rules of the future EU-UK relationship. The consent decision was adopted by 660 votes for, five against and 32 abstentions, while the accompanying resolution, setting out Parliament’s […]

Parliament adopts InvestEU programme for strategic and innovative investments

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, MEPs adopted the new InvestEU programme, which will mobilise public and private investments and guarantees simplified access to financing. Parliament endorsed the provisional agreement reached with the Council with 496 votes in favour, 57 against and 144 abstentions. With €26 billion (in […]

Polish de facto ban on abortion puts women’s lives at risk, says Parliament

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs condemn the setback to women’s sexual and reproductive rights in Poland and stress the EU’s legal obligation to uphold and protect them. In a resolution adopted with 455 votes to 145 and 71 abstentions, Parliament says that the ruling of 22 October by […]

EU budget talks: Council rejects Parliament’s breakthrough proposal

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EP’s negotiators made a breakthrough proposal on Wednesday on the critical issue of how to count the costs of common debt in the next long-term EU budget. Council has rejected it blindly. At the 10th trilateral dialogue, Parliament and Council representatives reviewed all pending […]

Parliament calls on EU Commission to step up action against dangerous chemicals

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The upcoming new EU chemicals strategy for sustainability must better protect our health and the environment, says Parliament in a resolution adopted on Friday. Following Wednesday’s debate, where MEPs requested the Commission to close loopholes in EU chemicals legislation to help REACH to function […]