European Parliament

Judge to decide on detention of EU-Qatar graft scandal suspects

By Philip Blenkinsop and Johnny Cotton BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - A three-judge panel will decide on Wednesday whether four suspects charged and arrested in a fraud scandal rocking the…

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Factbox: The European Parliament’s cash-for-influence scandal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian authorities have charged four people linked to the European Parliament over allegations World Cup host Qatar lavished them with cash and gifts to influence decision-making. RAIDS…

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UPDATE European Parliament acts against lawmaker Kaili over Qatar graft charges

By Andreas Buerger and Charlotte Van Campenhout STRASBOURG, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The European Parliament took steps on Tuesday to strip lawmaker Eva Kaili of her senior assembly post after she and…

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Qatar graft probe damages European Parliament, EU ministers say

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's credibility is at stake, EU foreign ministers warned on Monday, following allegations Qatar lavished cash and gifts on European Parliament officials to influence decision-making. Greece…

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EU’s Borrell: Belgium’s European Parliament corruption probe is “very worrisome”

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's decision to charge four people over allegedly receiving money and gifts from a Gulf state to influence decisions in the European Parliament is "very worrisome," European…

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EU parliament aides, Gulf state probed over suspected graft

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Belgium launched an investigation on Friday examining possible corruption involving an unidentified Gulf state and assistants working in the European Parliament, the…

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MEPS vote to make it easier for EU citizens to participate in European elections

MEPs adopted a series of proposals to reinforce the right of mobile EU citizens to vote and stand in European elections in the EU country in which they reside. The…

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MEPs vote not to accept passports issued by Russia in occupied areas

The European Parliament has endorsed a decision not to accept passports and other travel documents issued by Russia in illegally-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia. Parliament approved the agreement with…

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Energy crisis: MEPs back plans to boost the deployment of renewables

MEPs in the Industry, Energy and Research Committee shortened the maximum period to approve new installations from twelve to nine months, if located in the so-called "renewables acceleration areas". These…

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European Parliament calls for united stand towards Libya

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee this week approved a set of recommendations regarding the political situation in Libya, with 49 votes in favour, nine against, and five abstentions. The…

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Finalists chosen for the Sakharov Prize 2022

The people of Ukraine resisting Russia's invasion, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Colombia's Truth Commission are this year's finalists for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Union's…

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European Parliament President Says Citizens Must Know Sanctions Are Price Paid For Democracy

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hinted that the European Union could impose more sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, saying in an interview with RFE/RL that the bloc's…

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Energy savings drive directs EU parliament to turn down heat

BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The European Parliament will turn off heating in its buildings for three days per week and adjust its thermostats for other days in a drive…

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People of Ukraine nominated for EU human rights prize

Lawmakers from four European Parliament groups have nominated the people of Ukraine for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The Sakharov Prize has been awarded since 1988 “to…

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Photo Story: Yulia Navalnaya welcomed at the European Parliament

Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya (R) is welcomed by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola ahead of a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, 28 September 2022. Photo: DAINA…

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ECB boss pledges to MEPs to fight inflation and restore confidence

Members of the European Parliament voiced concerns about rising energy and food prices, and mortgage rates during a hearing with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. MEPs in the Economic…

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EU Commission President von der Leyen delivers State of the Union speech

LIVE BLOG Thank you for following us today. Below, you can find a round up of the key points raised by Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the…

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Europe needs strategic autonomy in energy, food, defence and technology – Finnish PM

Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg as part of the “This is Europe” debate series, Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin said that Ukrainians have proven their bravery and endurance and they…

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EP appoints Alessandro Chiocchetti as new Secretary General

Today the Bureau of the European Parliament appointed Mr Alessandro Chiocchetti as the institution’s new Secretary General. The newly appointed Secretary General will take up his functions on 1 January…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events at the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council: 30 August: On 30 and 31 August, Prague will host a Gymnich meeting of EU foreign…

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EU Parliament says Orbán’s remarks go against bloc’s values

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's racist remarks have met with strong criticism in the European Parliament. Leaders of the European Parliament’s main groups on Friday castigated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s “inexcusable…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Union institutions. 26 July: Extraordinary Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy): Energy ministers will hold an exchange of views on security of energy…

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EU lawmakers seek more energy savings to tackle gas crunch

BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) - Lawmakers on the European Parliament's energy committee supported more ambitious EU targets to save energy and expand renewable power on Wednesday, viewed as key to ending Europe's…

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UPDATED: Adapted, two-strain vaccines to lift COVID protection – EU official

FRANKFURT/LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Adapted versions of established mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that address two variants in one shot will soon offer people better protection than vaccines that are now available, a…

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EU agenda

Here are this week's events at the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission: 12 July: The European Council is expected to adopt the final three legal acts which will…

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Big Tech platforms could face new major EU limits on targeted political ads

Facebook and Google could be significantly restricted from targeting people with political ads ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections, according to a draft Parliament report released Wednesday. Lead MEP,…

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EU lawmakers back mandatory use of green jet fuel from 2025

BRUSSELS, July 7 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Thursday backed landmark rules on aviation fuel that set binding targets for the replacement of kerosene with less polluting energy sources, but extended…

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EU parliament backs labelling gas and nuclear investments as green

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament on Wednesday backed EU rules labelling investments in gas and nuclear power plants as climate-friendly, throwing out an attempt to block the law that has…

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UPDATED: Austria to challenge EU’s “greenwashing” nuclear, gas decision

BERLIN, July 6 (Reuters) - Austria will bring a legal complaint against the European Union's decision to classify gas and nuclear energy as green and sustainable transitional energy sources, its climate protection…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events at the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission: 5 June:Digital Services Package: Parliament will hold the final vote on the new Digital Services…

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The EU needs a fallback position on Green Deal – MEP Alfred Sant

The EU needs a fallback position on the Green Deal in terms of finance and energy supplies, MEP Alfred Sant says. “My argument is that the EU needs a fallback…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events at the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission: 28 June: Environment ministers will aim at reaching a general approach on proposals that…

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“We are at crunch time with Poland,” MEP says

It's crunch time on Poland, Renew MEP Sophie In't Veld said, adding that she was disappointed in the latest European Commission decision to endorse a €36 billion fund to the…

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Big tech should be regulated- MEPs

Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba and German Greens MEP Alexandra Geese have asserted that big corporations like Apple, Google and Facebook may be regulated in the public interest despite the…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission: 21 June: Ministers will prepare the agenda of the upcoming European Council of 23 and 24…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events at the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission 15 June: The Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) met on 12 June in Geneva, in the margins…

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EU lawmakers back ban on new fossil-fuel cars from 2035

European Parliament lawmakers on Wednesday voted to support an effective EU ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, rejecting attempts to weaken the proposal to…

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Apple will need to change iPhone charger after EU Parliament and Member States reach agreement on common port

Apple will have to change the connector on its iPhones sold in Europe by 2024 as EU countries and EU lawmakers on Tuesday agreed to a single mobile charging port for mobile phones, tablets and…

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Macron’s party proposes new European centrist alliance

French President Emmanuel Macron’s party has proposed creating a new pan-European centrist alliance, party officials told POLITICO. The initiative would combine Macron’s Renaissance alliance and other parties with the longstanding…

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Lukashenko and Putin are two sides of the same coin – Metsola

“Lukashenko and Putin are two sides of the same coin”, EP President Roberta Metsola said during an EU Summit in Brussels. “Sanctions on Russia must go hand in hand with…

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EU agenda

Here are the biggest events in the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission this week: 31 May: The European Council will discuss Ukraine, defence, energy and food security. 01…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Parliament, European Council and the European Commission: 17 May: the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will adopt six reports,…

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EU lawmakers back effective ban on new fossil-fuel cars from 2035

Lawmakers on the European Parliament's environment committee backed an EU plan to effectively ban new petrol and diesel car sales from 2035, while voting against proposals for tougher targets to…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events at the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission 10 May: In the context of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, the Foreign…

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EU Agenda: EP to discuss State of the EU with Draghi

These are the key appointments in Brussels and Strasbourg this week. Monday through Thursday: Plenary Meeting of the European ParliamentThe European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on 2-5 May 2022…

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NATO warns of possibility war may drag on ‘for months and years’

NATO is prepared for a possibility that the war in Ukraine will drag on and last for months and years. However, the alliance said it was ready to maintain its…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission: 26 April: the Women's Rights Committee will adopt a resolution and an oral question on the…

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EU agenda

Here are this week's events in the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council: 19 April: The European Parliament's Committee on Development discusses a study on the implementation of the…

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EU agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council: 12 April: European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli delivers a keynote speech via videoconference…

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EP President Metsola in DW interview says she saw courage and resilience in Zelenskiy

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in an interview to DW soon after her return from Kyiv. She said this week could be decisive for Ukraine and the…

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How war in Ukraine ends matters, says EU foreign policy chief

BRUSSELS, April 6 (Reuters) - The European Union wants the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, but how that happens is important too, its chief diplomat said on Wednesday,…

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EU agenda: Democratic backsliding in Hungary to top EP agenda after Orban victory

Here are this week's events for the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission: Tuesday 5 April: The Education, Youth Culture and Sport council meet to discuss education in various…

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UPDATE – “If you win, the world wins” – Courage and hope to the people of Ukraine core message EP President Roberta Metsola to Ukraine’s Zelenskiy

On Friday, the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv to deliver a message of courage and hope to all Ukrainians defending their country. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola thanked Ukrainian President…

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