About: European Parliament
Will UK hold EU elections if Article 50 is extended? EU institutions differ
The European Commission indicated on Friday (18 January) that Britons would need to choose their representatives to the next European Parliament if the country were to stay in the European Union beyond the first sitting of the new assembly on 2 July.
EU elections watch: News and views
With less than five months until the EU elections in May, stay tuned to our ticker for all the latest developments and rumours surrounding the candidates and parties, as well as all the top jobs up for grabs.
Trans-Europe Express – Feminism at the heart of the European Parliament
This week the European Parliament called for a more gender-balanced chamber, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended feminism as one of the core values of the EU.
Parliament seeks financial punishment for countries breaching rule of law
European Union countries that undermine the bloc's democratic principles could lose EU funds, under a draft law backed by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 January).
Berlusconi books ticket to Brussels
Silvio Berlusconi will stand as an MEP in the upcoming EU elections, the former Italian prime minister announced on Thursday (17 January).
VW and Ford launch largest electric and self-driving car alliance
German carmaker giant Volkswagen has inked a partnership with US rival Ford that will focus on developing electric and autonomous vehicles, the CEOs of the two companies announced on Tuesday (15 January).
Progressive forces criticise Austrian presidency over UN migration pact
The Austrian government's refusal to sign the UN global compact for migration while holding the EU's rotating presidency has damaged the EU institution, progressive forces in the European Parliament said during a debate with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Tuesday (15 January).
AfD party congress: Back to a ‘Europe of nations’
At a party congress, the leaders of the far-right AfD (‘Alternative for Germany’) adopted a manifesto calling for changes in the EU, ranging from the abolition of the European Parliament to Germany leaving the eurozone and the common EU security and foreign policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Dreams of Schengen haunt Romania’s EU presidency bow
Romania should be granted membership of the Schengen passport-free travel zone during its EU presidency stint, according to European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. But persistent concerns about the rule of law mean it is far from a done deal.
Requiem for a year of hope
The political impetus and the economic momentum filled with optimism the early stages of the year ending. But divisions among member states killed the ambition once felt. Hope turned into fear and protests. The EU braces for a very troubling period.
EU lawmakers agree on a backstop for non-performing loans
European banks will have to foresee a "prudential backstop" to cover for potential non-performing loans (NPLs), the European Parliament and the Council agreed on Tuesday (18 December).
Demand grows to beef up EU’s religious freedom envoy
The fragile status of the EU’s special envoy on religious freedom is an unlikely topic of conjecture in the months leading up to next May’s European elections.
Parliament calls for Selmayr’s resignation in landslide vote
The European Parliament yesterday (13 December) adopted a resolution, with a majority of 71%, that calls for the resignation of Martin Selmayr, the former right-hand man of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker whose rushed promotion earlier this year was criticised as "a coup-like action".
MEPs clear EU-Japan trade deal for early 2019 start
After almost five years of negotiations, the European Parliament ratified the EU-Japan trade deal on Wednesday (12 December), sealing the biggest ever trade agreement negotiated by the European Union.
Juncker warns May: ‘No room’ to renegotiate Brexit deal
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (11 December) that the EU would be open to offer “clarifications” to British Prime Minister Theresa May, but insisted that the withdrawal agreement was the “best possible, the only possible” deal.
May heads to Netherlands, Germany in bid to save Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Germany's Angela Merkel Tuesday (11 December) as she works to salvage her Brexit deal, the day after delaying a parliamentary vote on it to avoid a crushing defeat.
Brexit unleashed long-standing problems in the EU, Bulgarian MEP says
EURACTIV’s media partner Dnevnik has asked Bulgarian MEPs about the difficulties and achievements of the current European Parliament and their expectations for the European elections in May next year. It now publishes the replies provided by three of them.
Mental health issues cost EU countries more than €600 billion
In many EU countries, mental health is still a taboo. However, the economic impact of psychological disorders is a loss of 4% of GDP and changes in the labour market only aggravate the situation, according to a report by the OECD.
New EU plan comes out fighting for ‘climate neutrality’ by 2050
The European Commission will unveil its long-awaited strategy for a “climate-neutral Europe” later on Wednesday (28 November), in an effort to show EU countries how to stick to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
ECB urges completion of monetary union in ‘unstable’ world
ECB chief Mario Draghi called for the completion of the eurozone framework and to reduce divergencies between West and East members in order to protect the euro in a more "unstable" world on Monday (26 November).
‘Operating systems’ debate hinders progress on P2B file, MEPs say
Platforms should not be allowed to use their operating systems to "avoid rules" when it comes to the platform-to-business (P2B) regulation, MEPs in European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee said on Wednesday (21 October).
Italy’s revised budget ‘did not dispel concerns’, Eurogroup president says
Italy’s slightly modified budget might not get the green light from the European Commission, the president of the Eurogroup, Mario Centeno, told the Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Tuesday (20 November), raising the likelihood of an excessive deficit...
Parliament urges Council to start negotiating on next EU long-term budget
The European Parliament laid down funding priorities for the next long-term EU budget on Tuesday (13 November) and urged the Council to agree on a common position so that talks be completed before next May. But differences still remain about the level of member states' contributions.