European Parliament

European Parliament votes for new taxes in EU to repay recovery borrowing

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of assigning new tax revenues to the European Union to repay the bloc's intended joint borrowing of 750 billion euros ($888 billion)…

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MEPs fast track vote to approve EU rcovery plan

The European Parliament has accelerated the procedure that will enable the EU to borrow €750 billion for the “Next Generation EU” recovery plan. MEPs have fast-tracked and voted already during…

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LIVE: Commission President delivers State of the European Union Speech

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is addressing the European Parliament in her first State of the European Union address. The annual event will see von der Leyen update…

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EU parliament votes to make ships pay for their pollution

The European Parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of including greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector in the European Union's carbon market from 2022, throwing its weight behind EU…

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EU lawmakers to block EU-U.K. trade deal if Brexit divorce treaty not fully implemented

European Parliament lawmakers said on Friday they will not approve any new EU-UK trade deal unless Britain fully implements its earlier divorce deal. The chamber must approve any such trade…

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COVID-19 forces EU lawmakers to scrap Strasbourg meeting

European Union lawmakers have cancelled their session at the parliament’s headquarters in the French city of Strasbourg next week, despite a legal obligation to do so, because of the coronavirus,…

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Dr Mario Sammut appointed EP Malta Office Head

Dr Mario Sammut is the new Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta as from September 1 2020. Dr Sammut is an EU official with 16 years of…

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EU Recovery right on time say European Socialists

The Party of European Socialists welcomed the EU recovery plan, adopted last Tuesday by the European Council. The plan, which adds to the EU Budget €750 billion of common debt…

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Comuniq.EU – Anti-Money Laundering

by Keith Zahra Interconnected registers of beneficial owners, a preventive blacklisting policy and effective sanctions are among tools proposed by MEPs to stop money laundering. MEPs want the Commission to…

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EU funding for priority projects should reflect 2050 climate objectives

The revision of the TEN-E guidelines, to be proposed by the European Commission later this year, should be consistent with EU energy and climate targets for 2030, its long-term…

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Malta: Miriam Dalli appointed member of EP committee on beating cancer

The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament have appointed Labour MEP Miriam Dalli to the European Parliament’s new committee on beating cancer. Source: Malta Today Updated 16:30pm

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No-deal Brexit still on the cards – German Chancellor

Germany will continue to push to seal a new partnership agreement with Britain by the end of the year, but the European Union should also prepare for an abrupt split…

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Maltese MEPs to propose amendments to EU trucking reforms in bid to protect local industry

Maltese Members of the European Parliament are expected to unanimously support a number of amendments to the so-called Mobility Package during today's Plenary Session in Brussels. Addressing local members of…

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MEPs to make case for strong financial package as EP Plenary returns

Ahead of the EU summit on 17 July, MEPs - returning today in a plenary session, will make their stance clear on the EU's budget for 2021-2027 and the recovery plan in…

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Shipping industry must contribute to climate neutrality, say MEPs

The Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verifying CO2 emissions from maritime transport (the “EU MRV Regulation”) and bring it in line…

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MEPs call for News Media Fund and boost to cultural sector

A number of MEPs from the major European political parties, have called on the European Union to support the strengthening of democracy by establishing a dedicated News Media Fund. They…

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EPP calls for EU to step up action on health

The Group of the European People's Party in the European Parliament called for stronger commitment by the European Union with regard to health. In a statement, the Group said that…

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COVID-19: Both WHO and Europe must learn from the current pandemic, say MEPs

The need for stockpiling of key protective equipment, solidarity and common indicators to serve as an early warning system for a pandemic where the three key lessons learnt from the…

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New rules allow EU consumers to defend their rights collectively

The European Union introduced a harmonised model for representative action in all member states that guarantees consumers are well protected against mass harm, while at the same time ensuring appropriate…

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Bold measures needed to protect cross-border and seasonal workers in EU, MEPs say

The COVID-19-crisis has further exposed and exacerbated social dumping and the existing precariousness of the situations of many mobile workers employed in the EU’s agri-food, construction and healthcare sectors.…

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COVID-19: Boosting aid for farmers from the EU rural development fund

The European Parliament has approved increased funding for farmers through the EU's rurarl development fund in a bid to support the sector through the current challenging times. The emergency…

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Parliament condemns all forms of racism, hate and violence and calls for action

In a resolution adopted on Friday with 493 votes to 104 and 67 abstentions, the Parliament “strongly condemns the appalling death of George Floyd” in the US, as well as…

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COVID-19 crisis is a potential geopolitical game-changer, warn MEPs

A global pandemic needs global solutions, and the EU has to be at the centre of this response, said High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell…

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EU Commission launches web platform for safe return of tourism

The European Commission has launched 'Re-open EU', a web platform containing essential information for a safe relaunch of tourism in Europe in the post-Covid period. Europeans will now be able…

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Health threats: boosting EU readiness and crisis management

The EU is proposing to substantially increase its health funding by €9.4 billion through a new Europe-wide programme, EU4Health, which aims to strengthen Europe’s health systems to respond better to…

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European Parliament revises rules to encourage banks to lend to companies and households

The European Parliament has approved new rules to temporarily ensure favourable conditions for banks in order to support credit flows to companies and households and absorb losses, mitigating the severe…

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Carers deserve more than some applause as MEPs propose EU-wide strategy

The centre-right EPP Group in the European Parliament has called for the creation of a Europe-wide strategy focusing on carers, describing it as a priority and calling on the Union…

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CorporateDispatchPro eJournal Edition 4

CorporateDispatchPro Edition 4 - CiGroup's fortnightly eJournal giving you Insights, Views and News is out. Geopolitics analysis, ComuniqEU #European news and views, #Insights on #Malta, International News views and news…

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Swift return to functional Schengen area key to EU’s economic recovery – MEPs

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs express their concern about the current situation of internal border controls in the Schengen area and their impact on people and businesses, in a resolution adopted on Thursday by…

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Austria, Italy, Portugal, Spain receive €279m after natural disasters in 2019

On Thursday, Budgets Committee Members approved €279 million in EU aid following extreme weather events in Austria, Italy, Portugal and Spain in 2019. The draft report by rapporteur José Manuel Fernandes, (EPP,…

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Supporting the recovery: MEPs adopt budget priorities for 2021

The 2021 budget priorities should be to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and support the recovery, building on the Green Deal and digital transformation. In the resolution by…

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PES: The recovery cannot wait, Member States must put EU plan into action

European Socialists welcomed the European Commission recovery plan announced yesterday, defining it as "a historic opportunity to kickstart the reconstruction of the Union and move towards a more progressive and…

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EP budget negotiators: recovery plan crucial, but do not trade long-term for short-term

The European Parliament's budget negotiators welcomed yesterday's proposals by the European Commission, though expressing regret that the original proposed was reduced. "We positively acknowledge the reinforcement of the current MFF…

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European citizens want stronger role for EU, especially at times of crisis

An independent survey commissioned by the European Parliament found that nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for the EU in fighting this crisis. In parallel,…

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MEPs raise alarm on rule of law in Poland

The attacks on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in Poland need to be addressed urgently, say a majority of MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee. In…

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No agreement with UK without fisheries deal – EPP

"Fisheries must not be an adjustment variable or a political symbol in the Brexit equation. No fisheries agreement means no post-Brexit agreement. The European Parliament has shown that it wants…

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Farm to Fork policy changes should not be hurried at time of insecurity – EPP

The centre-right European grouping in Parliament expressed its concern that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission is pushing for deep changes to the EU's food production…

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MEPs call for stronger financial outlay and quick action to avoid huge recession

European Members of Parliament welcomed the recent proposal for a €500 billion recovery fund brought forward earlier this week by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling…

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Malta: Alfred Sant says fast enlargement of the EU led to political and economic divergences

Labour MEP Alfred Sant has told the European Parliament that fast enlargement of the European Union has led to the spread of political and economic divergences within the Union. Alfred Sant…

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Sassoli to EU institutions: “Be brave on EU recovery plan”

EU President David Sassoli has called on the EU institutions to find consensus and back their commitment with a sizeable financial committment to help Europe emerge from the current health…

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Vaccines must be available for all, not just for one country – EPP

The centre-right European People’s Party insisted that once approved, the COVID-19 vaccine must be available for all, not just for one country. In a statement, the EPP said that “to…

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European Socialists say EU must uphold values and live up to global ambitions as we tackle pandemic

The EU must reinforce the resilience of our democratic model and values - inside and outside Europe - and take on a global role as we overcome COVID-19. European…

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Big decisions for our small enterprises

by Josianne Cutajar - MEP (S&D) With small and medium-sized enterprises providing two-thirds of private sector jobs across Europe it is clear that the legislator’s role is to ensure that both…

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EU top diplomat denies giving China a pass

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament raised concerns with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell over allegations that the EU’s diplomatic arm toned down criticism…

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National authorities should do more to raise awareness of EU action on COVID-19 – EP

The European Parliament has called on member states to do more to inform the public about EU action and solidarity in combatting COVID-19. “Information and communication are crucial in tackling…

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Save European culture and values, MEPs tell Commission

Rebuilding the hard-hit cultural and media sectors in post-COVID-19 Europe must be a major objective in the EU’s recovery plan, MEPs said in a debate on Monday. In their discussion…

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Asylum and Migration Pact: MEPs push for legal and safe avenues

In a letter to Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Commissioner Ylva Johansson sent by Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee, on behalf of…

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Covid-19: fundamental rights must be upheld, warn MEPs

Crisis situations call for crisis measures and emergency measures have been put in place in member states to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has often resulted…

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EPP calls on SME focus in Europe’s recovery plan

The Group of the European People's Party (EPP Group) called on the European Commission to be particularly attentive to small businesses in designing Europe's recovery plan. "Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis…

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Coronavirus – Not just a health emergency – David Casa

Our citizens are depending on us to rise to the occasion during this challenging time. We must not let them down. Together we must strive to secure employment, protect workers…

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MEPs call for concrete details and novel tools to address the economic crisis

MEPs on Monday quizzed Commissioners Dombrovskis and Gentiloni on planned measures to tackle the looming economic crisis due to COVID-19. Opening the discussion held within the Economic and Monetary Affairs…

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Stop cooperation with and funding to the Libyan coastguard, MEPs ask

The EU should stop channeling funds to Libya to manage migration and to train its coastguard, as the violation of human rights of migrants and asylum-seekers continues. In a…

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MEPs push for support to culture sector

MEPs underlined the special nature of the creative sector and the difficulties faced by artists and called on the EU to provide support in a resolution adopted on 17 April. The pandemic…

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We can’t relaunch economies unless we act together – EP President

Europe’s economies can only be relaunched by member states acting together, Parliament President David Sassoli warned EU leaders. Speaking at the start of an EU Summit on 23 April on…

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€100 billion from the EU to keep people in jobs

The European Parliament said in a statement this morning that when taking into consideration all the initiatives launched at European level to safeguard employment, the total assistance will be reaching…

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EP approves changes to Fund for the Most Deprived to reflect current realities

To ensure that the most vulnerable continue to get the help they need, the European Parliament has adopted changes to the rules on the Fund for European Aid to the…

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EU funds must reach media and creative sector, say MEPs

Members of the European Parliament insisted that additional EU action is needed to make sure EU help reaches the hard-hit media and culture sectors. In a statement, the EP noted…

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