European Parliament

MEPs move forward with stricter EU return system for irregular migrants

A key committee of the European Parliament has adopted its position on proposed reforms to the European Union’s rules governing the return of non-EU nationals who are staying in the…

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MEPs Weigh Platform for Iranian Opposition Amid Political Uncertainty

The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has compiled a draft list of eight Iranian opposition figures it intends to invite to address an upcoming meeting, according to Euractiv’s Rapporteur newsletter.…

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Cyprus sets wide-ranging EU agenda as ministers outline priorities to European Parliament

Ministers from Cyprus have presented an extensive policy programme to European Parliament committees, setting out priorities for the country’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs until…

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European Parliament rejects minute of silence for French nationalist student

The European Parliament has rejected a request by the far‑right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group to hold a minute of silence this week for Quentin Deranque, a French nationalist student…

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European Parliament Ends Long-Running Citizens’ Prize as Part of Spending Review

The leadership of the European Parliament has opted to discontinue an award programme granted to EU citizens, as part of a wider drive to rationalise expenditure. Established in 2008, the…

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EU Parliament reaches deal on US trade pact

The European Parliament’s top trade lawmakers on Tuesday agreed a common position on the EU-U.S. trade deal, in a move that will be met with relief both in Washington and…

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EU needs market reform, simpler regulations — von der Leyen

The European Union must simplify its capital market and regulations in order to reduce fragmentation and boost the bloc's competitiveness, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. "Our…

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NATO boss Rutte slaps down calls for European army prompted by Trump fears

NATO boss Mark Rutte on Monday dismissed calls by some leading European politicians for a separate European army, prompted by doubts over Donald Trump's commitment to the continent's security that…

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22

Jan

EU parliament votes to retain three-hour limit for flight delay compensation

The European Parliament voted in a plenary session on Wednesday to keep the current three-hour flight delay threshold for compensation in the EU's next set of airline passenger rights, while…

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European Parliament votes to delay Mercosur deal in court

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday for a legal check of the EU's trade deal with four members of the Latin American Mercosur bloc, a move that could severely delay…

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EU Must Act with Unity and Strength, von der Leyen Says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the European Union to accelerate its efforts to strengthen independence and strategic power in response to a rapidly changing global…

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‘Sovereignty Is Not for Trade,’ Kallas Tells European Parliament

The European Union must adopt a “realistic and principled” approach to the Arctic, guided by international law and collective security, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a speech…

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Metsola Backs Denmark and Greenland as EU Parliament Opens January Session

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the January plenary session on Monday by expressing solidarity with victims of recent tragedies, reaffirming support for EU enlargement and unity, and setting out…

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European Parliament bans Iranian diplomats to avoid ‘legitimising the regime’

All the Iranian diplomats and representatives will be banned from the European Parliament's premises as a response to Iran's crackdown on protesters, the Parliament's president, Roberta Metsola, announced on Monday.…

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EU Council, Parliament agree on foreign direct investment regulation

The European Union Council and the European Parliament on Thursday reached a provisional agreement on a regulation to screen foreign direct investment, in a move to strengthen the bloc's ability…

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EU Parliament pushes for age limits on social media to safeguard minors

The European Parliament called on Wednesday for the European Union to set minimum ages for children to access social media, to combat a rise in mental health problems among adolescents…

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Russian assets most effective way to finance Ukraine, von der Leyen says

EU member states have three options to fund Ukraine's financing needs, with a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets as the most effective option, EU Commission President Ursula von…

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MEPs Plot a Radical Rethink of European Parliament

The European Parliament’s political groups are more polarized than they’ve ever been. But they all agree on one thing: The debates are insufferably dull — and it’s time to change…

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Budget Impasse Looms as EU Parliament Pushes for Changes

The European Parliament’s four centrist groups are to demand Commission President Ursula von der Leyen make major changes to her plan for the EU’s next seven-year budget, according to the…

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MEPs call for end to EU support for all Libyan security forces

Thirty-eight Members of the European Parliament from four political groups have urged the European Commission to halt all funding and cooperation with Libyan security forces, accusing them of violent actions…

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Weber’s Metsola Remarks Strain EPP–Socialist Power-Sharing Deal

The center-right European People’s Party President Manfred Weber on Tuesday refused to commit to handing the European Parliament’s presidency to the Socialists as scheduled in 2027. In what would be…

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EU Parliament backs air passenger rights

European airlines on Tuesday denounced the European Parliament's transport committee adopting a text that refuses to make it harder for air passengers to get compensation for delayed flights. The committee…

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EU lawmakers push to ban term ‘veggie-burger’

EU lawmakers voted on Wednesday to ban the use of the term "veggie-burger" and limit food descriptions such as steak, escalope and sausage to products containing meat, part of a…

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New Website Tracks EU Lawmakers’ Attendance, Sparking Debate on Transparency and Accountability

A new online tool is shining a light on the attendance records of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), amid growing public frustration over transparency and accountability in EU institutions.…

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Von der Leyen Defiant in Brussels, Accuses Rivals of Playing Into Putin’s Hands

Ursula von der Leyen appealed for unity when she appeared before MEPs on Monday ― for the sake of the whole of Europe. Three months on from the last time…

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Charlie Kirk, Budapest Pride and Palestinian journalists among finalists for EU’s Sakharov Prize

Every year, lawmakers in the European Parliament choose an individual or cause that stands out for its fight for human rights, the defence of freedom of expression, the rights of…

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Call for European Parliament to condemn Charlie Kirk murder

The European Parliament should condemn the recent murders of American conservative political activist Charlie Kirk and Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, according to a resolution tabled by 84 right wing MEPs.…

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First Chinese delegation in 7 years to visit European Parliament

A delegation of Chinese politicians is to visit the European Parliament for the first time after more that seven years of frozen relations. The meeting, which is still being finalized…

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What MEPs and Parliament’s parties want from the EU budget

Each political group is seeking to safeguard at least one flagship priority within the EU's long-term budget, and is prepared to defend it to the bitter end. As the European…

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Von der Leyen to face European Parliament confidence vote next week

The MEP proposing the motion of censure claims he has collected enough signatures to start the process. If officially confirmed, the debate and vote will be held during the July…

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European Parliament to stop Belgium ‘tarnishing’ MEPs’ reputations

The European Parliament is to take steps to shield lawmakers from being named by Belgian police publicly during criminal investigations, following criticism their reputations are being dragged through the mud…

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European Parliament presses air passenger carry-on baggage fees revolution

MEPs from the transport committee on Tuesday approved an amendment on air passenger rights that gives people the right to travel with carry-on hand baggage weighing up to 7 kilograms…

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Jordan: Israel’s attacks on Iran a ‘threat to people everywhere’

Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said. "With Israel's expansion of its offensive to…

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Bulgaria disrupts European Parliament’s bill on North Macedonia EU accession

Bulgarian politicians have pressured the European Parliament into delaying a report on European Union accession for North Macedonia, accusing a lawmaker in charge of the report of being too close…

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Budget cuts hit European Parliament communications department

The European Parliament is bracing for cuts within the institution’s sprawling communications department as some staffers now fear their jobs are in danger. The Parliament has for years contained one…

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Belgium Planted Surveillance Devices in Anderlecht Stadium to Monitor Huawei’s Lobbying Efforts Targeting MEPs

Belgian security agents bugged a corporate box at the RSC Anderlecht football stadium that was being used by Chinese tech giant Huawei to schmooze members of the European Parliament. They…

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EU lawmakers probe rule of law in Meloni’s Italy

Rule-of-law watchdogs in the European Parliament are taking a close look at how Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has affected democracy in Italy. Behind closed doors Wednesday, lawmakers will quiz…

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Hungary ‘rapidly going in wrong direction’, EU lawmakers warn after visit

A delegation of European parliament lawmakers has warned that the situation in Hungary is “rapidly going in the wrong direction” due to the continuing deterioration of the rule of law…

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Lawmakers urge Metsola to suspend peers linked to Huawei scandal

Lawmakers are demanding European Parliament President Roberta Metsola “set aside” any peers suspected of involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, according to a letter signed by 28 members of the…

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Belgian prosecutors probe alleged corruption in European Parliament

Belgian prosecutors said on Thursday several individuals had been arrested for questioning in connection with their alleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament. The prosecutors said 21 searches…

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EU party chiefs reach deal on von der Leyen’s Commission nominees

European Parliament leaders have reached agreement on the members who will comprise the next European Commission, spokespeople from the three main political groups said, clearing the way for the new…

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EU Parliament Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet for Sanctioning

The European Parliament is preparing to pass a resolution calling for more “targeted” measures against Russia’s shadow fleet as evidence mounts that Moscow is dodging sanctions and risking an environmental…

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European Commissioner Hearings Kick Off Today

Starting Monday 4th November and over the next eight days, the potential 26 European Commissioners (one from each European Union country, excluding the Commission chief herself) will appear in front…

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European Parliament sets out time limits, evaluation process ahead of commissioner hearings

The European Parliament has divided up the 180 minutes available for each European commissioner hearing among the Parliament's various political factions based on the size of each respective group, according to documents…

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Venezuelan pro-democracy figures win EU’s Sakharov Prize

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday announced Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's leading pro-democracy figure, and the country's widely recognized President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, as the winners of this year's…

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European commissioner hearings confirmed for November

The hearings for European commissioners will be held from Nov. 4 to Nov. 12, senior members of the European Parliament decided Wednesday. Holding the hearings in November means the earliest…

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Orbán cancels European Parliament speech due to flooding in Hungary

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán postponed a speech at the European Parliament on Wednesday due to flooding in Hungary. “Due to the extreme weather conditions and the ongoing floods in Hungary,…

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Bardella to lead new far-right European Parliament group

The leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, will head a new right-wing grouping in the European Parliament, Patriots for Europe. The announcement came the day after Mr…

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New Orban-backed EU alliance says France’s RN to join

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) will join a growing new alliance in the European Parliament led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary's government spokesperson said on Monday.…

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Right-wing ECR group becomes EU Parliament’s third-largest force

The European Parliament faction that contains Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s MEPs announced 11 new members, pushing the grouping ahead of the one dominated by French President Emmanuel Macron’s MEPs.…

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Greens elect Eickhout and Reintke as co-presidents of parliament group

The Greens group in the European parliament elected Bas Eickhout and Terry Reintke as co-presidents today. “European citizens expect European solutions from us and many challenges lie ahead,” Reintke said.…

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Who were the winners, who were the losers, and who miscalculated in the EU election?

While the right gained in strength, greens and liberals had a rough night. French President Emmanuel Macron took such a beating he immediately dissolved the national parliament and called a…

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From trade to climate, five takeaways from the EU election

The European Parliament took a shift to the right after a four-day election concluded on Sunday, with more eurosceptic nationalists and fewer mainstream liberals and Greens. The parliament's most important…

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EU’s eastern members see strong performances by centrist parties

Pro-European centrist parties performed well overall in central and eastern Europe during the European Parliament elections on Sunday, partial results and exit polls showed, bucking the trend elsewhere on the…

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Economy, migration, war top voters’ concerns in EU election – survey

The economy, migration and international conflicts were the top concerns for voters in the European Union election, data from the bloc's biggest member countries suggested on Monday. Provisional results in…

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European Election: Key quotes from across the EU

Gains by the far-right in voting for the European Parliament on Sunday prompted a bruised French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap national election and added uncertainty to Europe's…

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Italy’s PM Meloni comes out on top in EU vote, strengthening her hand

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's arch-conservative Brothers of Italy group won the most votes in this weekend's European parliamentary election, initial results showed, boosting her standing both at home and abroad.…

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