About: European Parliament

Parliament puts its trust in Michel for progress on EU budget

As European Council president Charles Michel takes over the negotiations on the EU's long-term budget, the Parliament hopes this will give a new impetus to the slow-moving talks, lawmakers in charge told a press briefing on Wednesday (11 December).

Middleman tells Malta court of plot to kill Daphne Caruana

The self-confessed middleman in the murder of a journalist told a court on Wednesday (4 December) a wealthy Maltese businessman was the brains behind the killing but also implicated people tied to government in the growing scandal.

Von der Leyen criticises Finnish presidency’s EU budget proposal

The new European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, did not mince her words at her first press conference on Wednesday (4 December), criticising a recent proposal of the Finnish EU Presidency for the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget and voicing concern "about the severe cuts in the proposal".

Yerman Mukhtar: We don’t build walls in the steppe

In a wide-ranging interview, Yerman Mukhtar, the chairman of the Kazakh parliament's committee on foreign affairs, defence and security, explains his country's foreign policy initiatives, known as 'the Three Dialogues'.

Goulard’s indictment confirms EU Parliament doubts

France's first pick for the EU Commissioner post, Sylvie Goulard, has been indicted by the Court of Paris for embezzlement of funds in the employment of EU parliamentary assistants, raising questions about French President Emmanuel Macron defending her candidacy after MEPs rejected her on ethical grounds. EURACTIV France reports.

Caruana Galizia’s family wants Malta police to probe PM

The family of murdered investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia called Monday (2 December) for police to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as a European Parliament delegation was set to arrive in Malta on a fact-finding mission.

Why are European countries against fiscal transparency?

After three years of blocking negotiations, the European Council finally voted on whether to secure fiscal transparency in the EU. True to form, they voted against it, writes Luis Garicano.

Women are doing better in European politics, but still not well enough

Ursula von der Leyen will be the first woman to chair the European Commission and will do it with the most gender-balanced college ever, but even though the participation of women in politics has improved in the EU, it is still not enough.

Parliament backs von der Leyen’s ‘fresh start for Europe’ Commission

The European Parliament gave the green light to Ursula von der Leyen’s college of Commissioners “for a fresh start for Europe” on Wednesday (27 November) with a comfortable 461 votes in favour, 151 against and 89 abstentions.  The first woman...

Incoming Commission set to face final approval vote

Brussels' next top official Ursula von der Leyen presents her top team to the European Parliament on Wednesday (27 November), hoping to finally put a difficult transition behind her.

EU on course to allow in more US beef from 2020

European Union plans to allow more US beef imports cleared a key hurdle on Monday (25 November) when EU lawmakers specialising in trade backed the move, which is likely to ease transatlantic tensions.

MEPs set to declare ‘climate emergency’ ahead of UN conference

A majority of European Union lawmakers hoped to declare a "climate emergency" on Monday (25 November), a week before a United Nations climate conference in Madrid.

MEPs ready to fight against member states on EU budget

The European Parliament will not accept a "take it or leave it" agreement on the EU's next long term budget (2021-2027), co-rapporteurs Jan Olbrytch and Margarida Marques have told EURACTIV. 

Orban says Hungary to increase its EU influence with the enlargement portfolio

Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed Friday (22 November) the confirmation of Budapest's nominee as a key EU commissioner as the country's "biggest diplomatic success" in a decade.

MEPs shut out of Hungary Council hearing as rule of law situation worsens

MEPs are reeling after being shut out of a Council hearing under the Article 7 procedure against Hungary for systemic breaches to the rule of law, as the situation in the country further deteriorates.

Why UK’s refusal to name new commissioner is headache for EU

The European Union is due to relaunch its powerful executive arm under the new leadership of the German conservative Ursula von der Leyen from 1 December but faces legal risks after Britain refused to name its representative for the European Commission.

Merkel ignores calls for bigger fiscal stimulus

German chancellor Angela Merkel resisted calls to increase public spending as pressure continues to grow from her country and abroad to avoid the austerity that worsened the euro crisis.

Manfred Weber’s fall from grace: What now for the failed Spitzenkandidat?

Manfred Weber, the former German Spitzenkandidat for the European People's Party (EPP), has been on the defensive ever since his bid for the EU Commission presidency failed after the European elections in May. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

Thierry Breton convinces MEPs, avoids same fate as Goulard

Thierry Breton, France's new Commissioner pick for the internal market and defence portfolio, convinced more than two-thirds of the MEPs who were auditioning him today (14 November).

EU cooperation needed to address cross-border legal issues

As citizens have to deal more and more with cross-border legal issues, the EU needs to work towards ensuring better cooperation and harmonization of laws between member states. 

Breton’s bid to shake the Atos shadow

France's European Commissioner-designate Thierry Breton will appear before members of the European Parliament this afternoon, in an attempt to assuage concerns over alleged conflicts of interest in his previous leadership of the global IT firm, Atos.

EU advocate general: jailed Catalan leader has right to immunity as MEP-elect

The jailed Catalan pro-independence leader Oriol Junqueras has the right to immunity as a result of being elected member of the European Parliament in May, the EU Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said in his conclusions on Tuesday (12 November). 

Parliament guilty of ‘bias’ against Farage group over EU cash, ECJ rules

Brexit party Nigel Farage chalked up an unlikely victory on Thursday (7 November) when the European Court of Justice ruled that the European Parliament’s bureau was guilty of bias when it

Transport committee chair: Kerosene is a European ‘tax haven’

The European Parliament's transport committee head, Karima Delli (Greens), spoke about the need to completely overhaul the transport industry to combat climate change, the next transport Commissioner and France's pick for EU internal market chief, in an interview with EURACTIV Slovakia.