European Parliament

UPDATED: War of words in Strasbourg as Polish PM rejects Council, Commission accusations

Updated 1015 - Polish PM accuses EU of overstepping competences Poland rejects European Union centralism, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday and accused the bloc of overstepping its competences,…

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Aftermath of Polish Constitutional judgement on EU law expected to dominate EP Plenary Session

The recent controversial judgement by Poland's Constitutional Court, which ruled that parts of EU law were incompatible with the country’s constitution, is expected to dominate proceedings today in Strasbourg as…

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Forbidden Stories win first edition of The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize

Updated 1240: The winners of the first edition of The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism are Forbidden Stories, for their work on The Pegasus Project. A team of independent…

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Urgent measures needed to protect victims of partner violence in custody battles, MEPs say

MEPs say child custody disputes constitute a form of gender-based violence when used by violent partners to continue to harm their victims. In a report adopted on Wednesday with 510…

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Energy costs: MEPs debate measures to limit impact of price rises

With gas prices surging, and concerns over the impact on consumers and businesses, MEPs, the Council and the Commission debated how to address the crisis. Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said…

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European politicians call for Facebook investigation after whistleblower revelation

Two members of the European parliament have called for an investigation into allegations by a whistleblower that Facebook prioritised profits above the public good. The whistleblower, Frances Haugen, who had worked as a product…

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MEPs vow to support the EU Public Prosecutor’s Office

Issues hindering the EU Prosecutor’s investigation and prosecution of cross border crimes against the EU budget were discussed with chief prosecutor Kövesi. In a debate on Friday, EU public prosecutor…

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European institutions celebrate ‘EU organic day’

Today, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission celebrate the launch of an annual ‘EU organic day'. The three institutions signed a joint declaration establishing from now on each 23 September as…

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Sakharov Prize 2021: European Parliament to announce candidates

MEPs will be presented with the nominees for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in a joint committee meeting on Monday afternoon. MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Development Committee and Subcommittee…

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EP says China should be engaged by EU on climate, health, human rights issues

The EU should continue talking to China about global challenges like climate change and health crises, while raising its concerns over systemic human rights violations. In a report adopted by…

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Group of EU lawmakers seeks probe of Gazprom’s role in gas price surge

BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A group of European Parliament lawmakers has asked the European Commission to investigate Gazprom's role in soaring European gas prices, saying the company's behaviour had…

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MEPs call for protection of vulnerable people in Afghanistan

The European Parliament has deplored the violent takeover of Afghanistan, calls for more humanitarian aid and a coordinated response to protect those most vulnerable. MEPs are appalled by reports of…

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MEPs call for stronger ECDC mandate after Covid experience

MEPs voted to extend the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was adopted with 598 votes in favour, 84 against and 13 abstentions. EU member…

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Watch Live – Debate on the State of the Union 2021

Today at 0900h (GMT+2), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, which will be followed by a debate…

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Maltese MEPs say same-sex marriages and partnerships should be recognised across the EU

The EU should lift all obstacles facing LGBTIQ people when exercising their basic rights, MEPs said in a resolution. All Maltese MEPs, representing Labour and the PN, supported the resolution.…

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EP survey: EU recovery funds should only go to countries respecting the rule of law

In the latest public opinion survey, four out of five respondents (81%) say the EU should only provide funds to Member States that respect the rule of law and democratic…

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EU Weekly agenda

Here are the latest events in the European Parliament and European Commission for the week 6 September until 10 September Monday 6 September: Members of the Women's Rights Committee and…

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Slovenian Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

Ministers outlined the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings. Slovenia holds the Presidency of the Council until…

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Lead MEPs condemn barbaric attack at Kabul airport

Chairs David McAllister (EPP, DE, Committee on Foreign Affairs), Maria Arena (S&D, BE, Subcommittee on Human Rights), and Petras Auštrevičius (Renew, LT, Delegation for relations with Afghanistan) issued the following statement on Friday: “We condemn in…

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Afghanistan: provide humanitarian help to locals, MEPs urge

Europe must provide humanitarian aid, and reach unity on handling migration, according to MEPs speaking at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday morning. Speaking at the extraordinary meeting of the Committees…

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MEPs push for cancer survivors’ right to be forgotten in accessing financial services

The number of cancer survivors in the EU has now reached some 12 million people and is growing every year. Because of their medical history, some cancer survivors experience an…

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EU must take in Afghans, some may face ‘revenge’- European Parliament chief

The European Union has a responsibility to accept Afghan refugees and cannot leave people who worked for the bloc in Afghanistan to "face revenge", European Parliament President David Sassoli said…

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Malta: Midwives call for paternity leave to be extended to 10 days

Midwives from the Positive Birth Movement Malta (PBM) have petitioned the government to fulfil legal obligations to transpose into national law part of the European work-life balance directive, which gives…

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Beppe Galea elected President of European Democrat Students

Updated - Saturday 1710 Beppe Galea has been elected as President of the European Democrat Students. young people in 40 member organisations from 35 countries in Europe. It is the…

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EP proposes new regulation on tackling cross-border threats

The European Parliament wants the EU to strengthen crisis prevention, preparedness and response when addressing future serious cross-border health threats. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety…

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MEPs reach deal to ensure access to environmental justice for EU citizens

Members of the European Parliament have reached an informal agreement with member states on amending the Aarhus Regulation. The revision of the Aarhus Regulation aims to ensure that EU administrative…

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EU Parliament pushes for better use of supercomputers in digital and green transitions

"This private-public partnership on European High Performance Computing will place the EU at the forefront of supercomputing by harnessing the increased capabilities for processing and analysing data for our European…

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EU Parliament calls for corruption to be a punishable offence

Parliament has adopted a resolution welcoming the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, while calling for corruption to be included as a punishable offence. In a statement, the EP said…

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UPDATE – First plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe

The EP Plenary Sessions on Conference on the Future of Europe, an unprecedented, open and inclusive European democratic exercise, kicked off today. During his opening statement, Parliament’s Co-Chair of the…

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EU agenda

Discover the latest events happening across the European insititutions: Tuesday 15 June: Health ministers will meet in Luxembourg. Ministers will exchange views on the pandemic situation. Wednesday 16 June: The…

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EU parliament president urges EU mechanism for sea rescues

"We must go back to thinking of shared EU actions in the Mediterranean to save people, actions that take ground away from traffickers. There is the need for a European…

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EU clears way for the EU Digital COVID Certificate

Today, the Presidents of the three EU institutions, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission attended the official signing ceremony for the Regulation on the…

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EU lawmakers seek ban on caged farming, foie gras force-feeding

The European Parliament on Thursday called for the European Union to end caged farming of animals and ban force-feeding of ducks and geese to produce foie gras. The EU assembly…

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EU parliament votes to sue European Commission over rule-of-law inaction

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to sue the European Commission over what lawmakers say is its failure to uphold the rule of law, in a dispute that could affect…

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MEPs say EU needs legally binding targets to protect nature

The European Union needs legally binding measures to protect nature and biodiversity, the European Parliament said on Wednesday, warning that previous voluntary plans have failed to deliver. The EU's executive…

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EU agenda

Here are the events set to take place in the European Union institutions for the week 8-11 June: Tuesday 8 June: MEPs are set to debate and vote on the…

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EU lawmakers reluctantly decamp to France for first pandemic session

Hundreds of European lawmakers and staff travel to Strasbourg this week for the European Parliament's first session since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, though many think it is too early to…

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Large majority of Maltese satisfied with EU response to pandemic

A large majority of the Maltese population said they were satisfied with the EU's response to the pandemic and want the Union to have a greater role in combating similar…

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EU agenda

Tuesday 25 May: Conference on a European approach on housing policies Wednesday 26 May: EP President David Sassoli will address the special European Council meeting on Monday at 19:00, where…

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European Parliament and Council reach agreement on Commission proposal

The Commission welcomes yesterday's provisional political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Regulation governing the EU Digital COVID Certificate. This means that the certificate (previously called the…

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UPDATED: EU parliament freezes China deal ratification until Beijing lifts sanctions

The European Parliament halted on Thursday ratification of a new investment pact with China until Beijing lifts sanctions on EU politicians, deepening a dispute in Sino-European relations and denying EU…

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MEP wants stronger privacy rights in proposed EU tech rules

Proposed EU rules targeting Facebook, Google and other large online platforms should include privacy rights for users as well as their right to anonymity, a key EU lawmaker steering the…

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European Parliament gives final approval to bloc’s green transition fund

The European Parliament on Tuesday formally approved the European Union's multi-billion euro fund to support countries as they wind down fossil fuel industries, as the bloc overhauls its economy to…

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EU countries should ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health

MEPs urged member states to protect and further enhance women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in a report adopted on Tuesday. In the draft report approved by the Committee…

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European Parliament to ‘open its virtual doors’

The EU institutions will open their ‘virtual’ doors to celebrate Europe Day on 9 May. People across the EU and beyond will be able to find out more about the…

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Sant calls for less confrontation as he abstains on EP resolution on Russia

Alfred Sant has abstained on a European Parliament resolution on Russia and said that the way forward for the EU and Russia should be less confrontational and more objective. In explaining…

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European Parliament strives to be frontrunner on gender equality

Parliament leadership adopts roadmap to achieve gender equality in political processes and its administration. 50% women in middle and senior manager positions and 40% women in top manager positions in…

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Parliament and Council agree on temporary rules to remove online child abuse

EP and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal on new temporary legislation to avoid sexual exploitation of children online and make it easier to report. The agreed changes provide for…

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EU countries, lawmakers reach deal to tackle online child sexual abuse

EU countries and EU lawmakers agreed late Thursday evening to allow Facebook and Microsoft to scan and remove online child sexual abuse, potentially paving the way for a deal in…

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MEPs deplore military build-up, attack in Czechia and jailing of Navalny

Parliament is deeply concerned by the recent Russian military build-up on Ukraine border and revelations of Russian agents behind explosions in Czechia In a resolution adopted on Thursday, MEPs confirmed…

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Labour government is protecting criminals, David Casa reiterates

The Labour government is protecting criminals and Maltese people need to be protected, MEP David Casa told the European Parliament today. Speaking during a debate on the investigation into the…

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EP insists COVID-19 certificate must facilitate free movement without discrimination

MEPs agreed that the new “EU COVID-19 certificate” - instead of Digital Green Certificate, as proposed by the Commission - should be in place for 12 months and not longer.…

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MEPs want Digital Green Certificate in place by end June

As Europe races to set up a Digital Green Certificate in place to save the holiday season from the pandemic, the European Parliament is targeting the end of June as…

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UPDATED: European Parliament agrees to April vote on EU-UK trade deal

The European Parliament will vote on a post-Brexit trade deal agreed between Britain and the EU next Tuesday after political leaders backed down on a threat not to ratify the…

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S&Ds lead support for EU-UK Agreement in committee but seek assurances ahead of final vote

Today in a joint vote by the foreign affairs and the international trade committees, the S&D Group is leading support for the consent vote on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation…

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AI crucial for economic development, but humans should retain control, MEPs insist

Artificial Intelligence is a major part of the digital transformation that should underpin Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, MEPs across the political spectrum have highlighted. Yet, innovation, should be counterbalanced with the…

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Civil groups want EU lawmakers to boost privacy rights in planned WhatsApp, Skype rules

Amnesty International, Privacy International and 28 other civil and human rights groups on Wednesday urged EU lawmakers to take a strong stand on privacy rights in proposed rules governing Facebook's…

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