About: European Parliament
Brexit, von der Leyen’s approval assert European Parliament key role
Two crucial dossiers for the EU's future need to be rubber-stamped by the European Parliament in the next two months, the Brexit deal and the approval of the new EU executive. Parliament President David Sassoli, making his debut among EU-28 leaders, assured them the new assembly was not "messy" but taking its job seriously.
Commissioner hearings LIVE: Schmit/Wojciechowski
The European Parliament will be grilling the proposed members of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission in a series of hearings between 30 September and 8 October.
Legal Affairs committee confirms Trócsányi and Plumb rejection, hearings suspended
The European Parliament will not be hearing Commissioner-designates for Hungary, Laszlo Trocsanyi, and Romania, Rovana Plumb, after the Legal Affairs committee concluded on Monday (30 September) they are not apt for the job due to a conflict of interest.
A short guide to the Commissioner hearings
The members of the Von der Leyen Commissioner will be grilled by the European Parliament in a series of hearings aimed at evaluating whether they are fit for the job. These are the key elements.
Romanian, Hungarian Commissioner nominees rejected
Romania’s Commissioner-designate Rovana Plumb was rejected by the European Parliament’s legal committee on Thursday (26 September) by a vast majority of the MEPs, over potential conflicts of interest. With the clock ticking, Bucharest must now propose another candidate.
Commissioner-nominees Trocsanyi and Plumb face grilling over personal finances
European lawmakers on Wednesday (25 September) asked the Romanian and Hungarian EU commissioner nominees to face a grilling over potential conflicts of interest and discrepancies in property statements.
Parliament wins its battle: Kövesi to become first EU Public Prosecutor
Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states agreed on Tuesday (24 September) to appoint Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the MEPs’ preferred candidate, as the first head of the newly-created EU Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
Draghi calls for euro budget in farewell to MEPs
ECB President Mario Draghi urged EU co-legislators on Monday (23 September) to set up a fiscal capacity to counter eurozone’s economic shocks, as he warned of the worsening economic outlook in his farewell debate with MEPs.
Investors demand binding EU measures to shield from climate risks
A growing number of investors are making their decision based on climate risks and sustainability criteria. Although EU lawmakers are working on making the valuation of companies more uniform in the EU taxonomy, financiers want binding measures. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Irish backstop must be part of Brexit deal, says EU Parliament chief
There will be no Brexit deal without an Irish backstop, European Parliament President David Sassoli said on Thursday (12 September). However, the EU is willing to revive a proposal that would keep only Northern Ireland in the bloc’s orbit to...
Von der Leyen’s Commission: More presidentialist, more parliamentarian
The College put forward by Ursula von der Leyen builds on lessons learned from the sometimes negative experience of the Juncker Commission, writes Robert Stüwe.
Forest protection likely to be new priority for EU Parliament
Large areas of forest are being cleared worldwide for the agricultural industry. Although the EU requires its contracting partners to protect the environment, it lacks the means for enforcement. Environmentalists and the European Parliament see an urgent need for action. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy blamed for the release of key MH17 suspect
A Ukrainian court on Thursday (5 September) released on bail a man suspected of involvement in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in 2014 that killed 298 people.
Lagarde pledges to continue with Draghi’s loose monetary stance
Christine Lagarde promised on Wednesday (4 September) to respond with “agility” to the looming financial and economic turbulences once she becomes the president of the European Central Bank in November, while confirming that the current loose monetary stance will continue for a “long period of time.”
France proposes europhile Sylvie Goulard as Commissioner
France has proposed Sylvie Goulard as its European Commissioner candidate. An expert on European issues, the former centrist MEP was central to helping Emmanuel Macron develop his European contacts during his successful 2017 presidential campaign. EURACTIV France reports.
Is the EU-Mercosur deal being highjacked by premature criticism?
Almost a month ago, the European Commission signed a free trade agreement with the South American trade alliance Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Since then, criticism has hailed, and not only from protectionists. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Transport committee chair: The aim is to put climate on political agenda in all sectors
In an interview with EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement, the newly elected chair of the European Parliament's committee on transport and tourism (TRAN), French Green MEP Karima Delli, spoke about her new priorities. These include relaunching the rail system, regulating transport in a climate-friendly manner and reducing car pollution.
The balance of powers in the new European Parliament
With majorities in the European Parliament becoming more unstable, votes are becoming more unpredictable. The power structure has shifted considerably as a result of the European elections. While the liberal group Renew Europe will likely be decisive, German MEPs are set to be the most influential. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Parliament’s top jobs at a glance
All boxes of the European Parliament's complex power-sharing puzzle have now been ticked, after last week's appointment of Slovak conservative Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová as chairwomen of the Social Affairs Committee. EURACTIV brings you all chairs of the Parliament's 22 committees at a glance.
Macron’s MEPs try to make a name for themselves
Internal discipline, "cordon sanitaire" against nationalist parties, assertiveness on environmental matters. So far, Macron's deputies in the European Parliament have shown a conception of European politics that breaks from French tradition. EURACTIV France reports.
Von der Leyen confirmed as new Commission president by paper-thin majority
Updates with von der Leyen’s first press conference The European Parliament confirmed on Tuesday (16 July) Ursula von der Leyen by a paper-thin majority as the new European Commission president, giving her the reins of the EU executive for the...
Von der Leyen likely to be confirmed as she wins majority of Socialists
A large majority of Socialist MEPs were ready to support Ursula von der Leyen to become the next president of European Commission, paving the way for her confirmation during the vote scheduled for Tuesday evening (16 July).
Von der Leyen leans on gender balance in quest for Commission presidency
In her first speech before the European Parliament on Tuesday (16 July), Ursula von der Leyen made gender equality a cornerstone of her case to be appointed as the first female European Commission president. And she received support for that from across the political spectrum.