About: European Parliament
MEP: Diversity is ‘severely missing’ in European Parliament
Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by citizens to represent them and accordingly should reflect European society, an MEP from the Parliament’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) told EURACTIV.
EU warns Hungary to fix anti-LGBTQ law or face action
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday (7 July) warned Hungary to reverse course on its controversial LGBTQ law, as pressure mounts on Brussels to cut EU funding to Budapest.
Transnational lists, top-candidate system no cure for EU ‘democratic deficit’
Transnational election lists and the Spitzenkandidaten system used during the EU elections to nominate the bloc’s leaders are no “miracle cures” to the “democratic deficit” in the EU, according to an information report presented by French senators on Tuesday (6 July). EURACTIV France reports.
MEP: Parliament and Council haven’t listened to each other in CAP talks
In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV France, MEP Eric Andrieu expressed disappointment about the lack of communications between the two EU lawmakers that led to an unsatisfactory environmental part of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform
EU Parliament passes €330b regional package that fails on spending controls, say critics
The European Parliament adopted the EU's long-term budget regional support plan at a plenary on Wednesday (23 June). Some EU lawmakers, however, were disappointed at the lack of support for cross-border projects and the lack of ability to monitor spending.
EU data watchdogs want ban on AI facial recognition
The EU's data protection agencies on Monday (21 June) called for an outright ban on using artificial intelligence to identify people in public places, pointing to the "extremely high" risks to privacy.
Parliament on collision course with EU member states over airspace reform
The European Parliament’s recently agreed position on reforming Europe's airspace backs a number of items rejected by EU countries, setting up a showdown between MEPs and member states over the Single European Sky initiative 2+ (SES).
Citizens not satisfied with EU’s current state, say MEPs
With the first plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe on Saturday (19 June) designed to have EU citizen participation at its core, some MEPs believe the event could be a catalyst to change the bloc's treaties, while others hope citizens are not used as political pawns. .
The Parliament and the Rule of Law: an elephant in a china shop
The European Parliament is going beyond its mandate in its pursuit of punishment for Hungary, writes Judit Varga.
EU Parliament threatens to sue European Commission over rule of law
The EU Parliament on Thursday (10 June) threatened the European Commission with a lawsuit for failing to use the bloc's new rule of law powers to hold back recovery cash from Poland and Hungary.
Tweets of the Week: Strasbourg Return, Macron Slap, Cornwall Travel
MEPs are back in place, Macron gets slapped in the face, taking a plane, what a disgrace.
MEPs call for binding measures to protect Europe’s forests
EU lawmakers approved a report on the EU's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy on Tuesday night (8 June), calling for legally binding measures to protect nature and biodiversity. A heated debate was sparked by amendments calling for forest protection to be weakened, which were eventually rejected.
Borrell defends agreement with Cuba in European Parliament
The EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, defended before the European Parliament on Tuesday (9 June) the ratification and implementation of a political dialogue agreement with Cuba, after a leaked email had suggested close proximity between some Socialist EU lawmakers and the Cuban regime.
Black Sea facing ecological disaster due to overfishing
Fish stocks in the Black Sea are dwindling and commercial fishing is causing more and more environmental damage, causing concern that has grabbed the attention of NGOs and EU lawmakers. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.
MEPs reluctantly pack for first pandemic Strasbourg session
Hundreds of European lawmakers and staff travel to Strasbourg next week for the European Parliament's first session since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, though many think it is too early to return.
‘Deadline elapsed’: MEPs vow to sue Commission over failing to apply rule of law regulation
The liberal Renew Europe group in the European Parliament pledged on Wednesday (2 May) to seek a majority in the legislative’s plenary sitting next week to sue the European executive for failing to apply a rule tying disbursement of EU...
Catalan ex-leader Puigdemont regains MEP immunity
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and two fellow pro-independence allies on Wednesday (2 June) regained provisional political immunity as members of the European Parliament, an EU court ruled.
EU reaches deal on tax transparency for multinational firms
European Union government and parliament negotiators reached a deal on rules that will force large multinational companies to disclose how much revenue and tax they pay and how much in countries considered tax havens by the EU.
A time to reflect
The European Parliament has begun a much needed reflection process with a view to updating the way that the institution works, writes David Sassoli.
Slovenian PM Janša faces EU pressure for hindering EPPO
As Slovenia prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, the country's prime minister, Janez Janša, is under pressure from the European Parliament to stop obstructing the work of the Office of the European Public Prosecutor (EPPO).
Kazakhstan’s Ombudsman: Parliamentary lobbying must be healthy and legal
Before the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Kazakhstan in February, there was no comprehensive dialogue at the decision-making level and no complete analysis of the EU lawmakers' sources of information, Elvira Azimova, Kazakhstan's commissioner for human rights, told EURACTIV in an interview.
EU parliament freezes China deal ratification until Beijing lifts sanctions
The European Parliament halted on Thursday (20 May) ratification of a new investment pact with China until Beijing lifts sanctions on EU politicians, deepening a dispute in Sino-European relations and denying EU companies greater access to China.
European Parliament expects June return to Strasbourg chamber
The European Parliament is expected to return to its official seat in Strasbourg for a June plenary after an absence of more than a year due to Covid-19 restrictions, officials said on Wednesday (12 May).