About: European Parliament
Lithuanian MEP apologises in homophobia row
A Lithuanian MEP accused of homophobia apologised on Wednesday (13 January) after fellow lawmakers threatened to expel him from the liberal Renew grouping in the European Parliament.
Lithuanian MEP told to explain homophobic remarks
A Lithuanian MEP whose Facebook page features a video of him calling gays or transvestites "perverts" has been given until Thursday (14 January) to explain and apologise if he wants to stay in his political group.
MEP Cavazzini: Social media response to US riots raises new questions for EU tech rules
Members of the European Parliament have a renewed duty to address the thorny issue of regulating social media content, in the wake of last week’s Capitol Hill riots, the chair of Parliament’s Internal Market committee has said.
Leaders to sign UK-EU deal as MPs face express debate
The UK and European Union will Wednesday (30 December) sign a mammoth trade pact to put the seal on their drawn-out Brexit divorce in the dwindling hours before they part ways definitively at the dawning of 2021.
MEPs set Sunday deadline for Brexit trade deal
European Parliament lawmakers have set a Sunday (20 December) deadline for a post-Brexit trade deal to be completed in order for them to debate and vote on it before the UK's transition period ends on 31 December.
EU countries to access COVID-19 jabs ‘the same day’
The EU's 27 member countries aim to start Covid-19 vaccinations on "the same day" in a sign of unity, possibly a day or two before Christmas, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday (16 December).
EU envoys agree more Belarus sanctions
EU ambassadors agreed Wednesday (16 December) further economic sanctions on Belarus over its brutal crackdown on opposition protesters, targeting 29 individuals and seven firms or organisations, diplomats said.
A sustainable path to climate neutrality: How can energy utility operators contribute?
The European Commission tabled the updated 2030 climate target in September, saying a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was “achievable” and “beneficial” for the EU economy. The European Parliament subsequently voted for a 60% target for greenhouse gas reductions...
The transition to sustainable and smart mobility: How do we get there?
In February 2020, European Commissioner for Transport Valean gave her first insight into the Commission’s reflections on the future of transport and mobility. She welcomed the European Parliament’s choice to put sustainability at the centre of the debate as it...
MEPs duped by manipulative Indian disinformation network
Researchers have unearthed a widespread, coordinated, and manipulative Indian disinformation operation in Brussels, with the creation of fake media organizations, the revival of defunct think-tanks, and even the fraudulent impersonation of dead people.
Spare no effort to make sure 5G poses no health risks, scientists advise
The economic cost of making sure 5G poses no health and environmental risks shouldn’t provide an excuse for any shortcuts in introducing the new technology, various scientist warned during an online event co-hosted by MEPs on Monday (7 December).
Boosting EU’s democratic legitimacy: Parliament seeks electoral reforms
In a new European Parliament resolution, adopted this week, EU lawmakers called for reforms, including lowering the voting age, transnational lists, and gender balance rules, ahead of the next European elections in 2024.
Parliament backs consumer’s right to repair in push towards circular economy
The EU should promote durable and repairable products, as well as boost a second-hand market and tackle greenwashing, under a proposal backed by the European Parliament on Tuesday (24 November).
EP adopts tough resolution on Belarus, Russia accuses West of meddling
Russia's foreign minister on Thursday (26 November) accused the West of interfering in Belarus as he met strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko who has faced months of protests over his disputed re-election.
MEPs rap Bulgarian nationalist colleague who aggressed protesters in Sofia
Reactions started pouring in after MEPs received a shocking video in which Angel Dzhambazki from the nationalist party VMRO (ECR-affiliated) is seen aggressing protesters during an anti-government demonstration in front of the VMRO headquarters in Sofia last week.
UK aid cuts to be enshrined in law, ministers concede
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told UK lawmakers on Thursday (26 November) that new laws would be required to enshrine controversial plans to cut development and humanitarian aid by a third.
Member state criticism, COVID crisis delay ratification of EU-Mercosur deal
The challenging procedure of ratifying the EU-Mercosur deal is being held up due to a combination of the COVID-19 health crisis and considerable criticism from member states. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro takes a look at the current state of play.
Can EU save recovery plan from Hungarian-Polish blockade?
EU nations are again at loggerheads over their seven-year budget and coronavirus recovery plan, as Hungary and Poland attempt to block provisions tying payouts to upholding the rule of law.
MEP: Connectivity is vital for an EU single market for data
In order for the goals in the EU's data strategy to be realised, connectivity is a necessary prerequisite, but the bloc should also be wary of implementing policies that move towards a culture of data localisation, says Finnish MEP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri.
Aviations’s contribution to a green and sustainable recovery
Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Direct emissions from aviation account for about 3% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 2% of global emissions. The EU is taking action to reduce...
Dangerous pipedream: how funding fossil gas risks blowing apart the EU Green Deal
MEPs should uphold the Green Deal and vote against subsidising gas in the upcoming Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs vote, writes Jeremy Wates and Magda Stoczkiewicz.
Plant-based naming and labelling: How draft regulation fits into the Farm to Fork strategy
The plant-based food market is booming in Europe and predicted to grow further in the coming years. The market is expected to increase to 2.4bn euros in 2025, from 1.5bn euros in 2018. In the EU, terms like “almond milk”...
Parliament pushes for easing recovery fund conditionality
The European Parliament will fight to loosen the conditionality required from national governments in order to receive money from the EU recovery fund, according to the negotiating position MEPs will adopt this week.