About: Philippe Lamberts
Citizens’ expectations for Europe focus on climate and social issues
The common expectations of Europeans are actually far from the divisions fuelled by politicians. This was highlighted by the WeEuropeans initiative, which managed to mobilise 2 million people and generate 30,000 proposals. EURACTIV France reports.
Open letters to Commission call for action in Polish rule of law dispute
Two separate letters, signed by MEPs across the political spectrum and former Polish leaders, demand that the Commission take swift action to halt a controversial judiciary reform in Poland, already closely watched by Brussels for fears that it threatens the basic democratic rules.
MEPs outraged over Zuckerberg’s EU Parliament show
Tensions soared between a handful of leading MEPs and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the 34-year-old billionaire avoided answering detailed questions on the company’s data policies during a meeting in the European Parliament on Tuesday evening (22 May).
Juncker seeks support from Parliament’s pro-Europeans
The end of the grand coalition has pushed Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to increase his efforts at seducing the European Parliament’s pro-European leftist groups. EURACTIV France reports.
Refugee deal continues to preoccupy Germany
Angela Merkel harshly criticised Turkey’s “misplaced Nazi comparisons” ahead of yesterday’s EU summit (9 March) but still insisted the refugee deal is important and must stay in place. Criticism is growing in both the German and European parliaments though. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Guy Verhofstadt’s flagrant opportunism in the name of Europe
Guy Verhofstadt’s support dragged Italian conservative Antonio Tajani over the line in the European Parliament’s presidential election yesterday (17 January). This is a dark signal for a Europe in crisis. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports.
EPP candidates line up to replace Schulz
Five centre-right candidates are in the running to become the next president of the European Parliament. But after five years in the job, Martin Schulz has no intention of stepping down. EURACTIV France reports.
Parliament: No deal for a new EU-UK relationship before Brexit activation
In an effort to protect EU’s integrity, European Parliament party leaders have urged David Cameron to fully respect the British citizens' will and “immediately” activate Article 50 of the Treaty to start Britain's EU withdrawal process.
European Parliament vies to lead Panama Papers inquiry
The European Parliament will vote on whether to create a committee of inquiry into the Panama Papers this Thursday (14 April) - and may decide to merge the new body with the special committee on Tax Rulings. EURACTIV France reports.
Philippe Lamberts: Europe’s governments have shown ‘unconscionable cowardice’ over migration crisis
If the French government had supported its German partners on the issue of refugees, the European response to the crisis would not have been a failure, according to Philippe Lamberts.
Parliament tax committee threatens to blacklist uncooperative lobbyists
The European Parliament's Tax Rulings Committee has called for sanctions to be placed on multinationals that refused to attend hearings on their tax practices. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission threatens to loot Erasmus budget to finance Juncker Plan
The European Parliament refuses to take funds from existing investment programmes to finance the Juncker Plan. The choice could jeopardise the future of Erasmus and Galileo, according to the Commission. EURACTIV France reports.
From world leader to decline: The Belgian railway policy is derailing
This is a story for all those that need public transport to reach their workplace (and home, afterwards) in Brussels, and regularly get frustrated because of delays and strikes, write Michael Cramer, Bart Staes, and Philippe Lamberts.
Inequality and the already close-to-be-missed last chance of Mr Juncker
Growing inequalities unravel solidarity ties between people and the Commission has a role to play by setting the right standards and incentives in order to reverse the trend, writes Philippe Lamberts
Parliament despondent after failure of Luxleaks committee
The European Parliament’s refusal to launch a committee of inquiry on tax evasion has been a hard pill to swallow for many MEPs, who have been left questioning the role of their institution alongside the new Commission. EURACTIV France reports.
Parliament shuns committee of inquiry into Luxleaks
The all-powerful Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament decided on Thursday (5 February) that there would be no committee of inquiry into the Luxleaks scandal, giving it less clout in ongoing investigations of tax avoidance at the European level. EURACTIV France reports.
Let me prove you wrong on Circular Economy, Timmermans tells Greens
First Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans last night (4 February) asked Green MEPs to give him a chance to prove them wrong and demonstrate his commitment to environmental and social laws.
Lawmakers fail EU plans to split up large banks
Deep divisions between political groups in the European Parliament are set to sink reforms aimed at preventing banks from being “too big to fail”, a key political objective following the 2008 financial crisis.
Socialists want renovation rules revised, Cre?u confirms efficiency funding
SPECIAL REPORT: The leader of the second largest group in the European Parliament has told EURACTIV his Socialists and Democrats will push to strengthen building renovation rules in EU energy efficiency law. VideoPromoted content
Sustainable Investment in Europe
Robust corporate governance is essential to ensure that organisations are well-governed and sustainable in the long term – crucial to the long-term financing of the European economy. Following the successful agreement on the Non-Financial Reporting Directive the European Commission has now proposed a revision of the Shareholder Rights Directive.
Excluding political groups in EU Parliament is bad for democracy
A voting alliance between the three largest pro-European parties to block Nigel Farage's Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group from European Parliament committee chairs casts doubts over the Parliament's ability to guarantee pluralism, write Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts. InfographicPromoted content
![INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/11/parliament-2014-2019-112014-en-v02.png)
INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]
After a first plenary session and a series committee meetings in early July 2014, key positions were distributed in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s 22 committees held their first meeting on Monday (7 July). On the agenda was the election of committee chairs and vice-chairs. The week before, MEPs gathered for the Parliament's first plenary session in Strasbourg, and elected a president, vice-presidents and quaestors. They also appointed the leader(s) of their faction. The final leading positions were settled after one Vice-President, Corina Cretu, was selected to take up a Commissioner role in Jean-Claude Juncker's EU executive team. Find an overview of the Parliament's key faces for 2014-2019 in our infographic.
Greens vow to push for bank ring-fence after EU elections
SPECIAL REPORT / The European Greens will push for a compulsory ring-fence between banks' riskier investment banking and retail activities, such as mortgages and lending to small businesses, after the European elections.