News Archive
Removal of internet access compromises 'fundamental liberties', says MEP
Punishing the sharing of culture and knowledge online by disconnecting people from the internet compromises citizens' fundamental rights, argues Piratparteit deputy Christian Engström
Wednesday 19th June 2013
EU urged to tackle 'significant' gaps in sexual and reproductive rights
S&D deputy Katarína Nevedalová warns that women across Europe still face considerable challenges when attempting to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights
Tuesday 18th June 2013
MEP calls for G8 pledge on ending extreme poverty
Irish MEP Gay Mitchell has urged the G8 to agree to end extreme poverty by 2030
Monday 17th June 2013
Barroso says EU-US trade negotiations can be a 'game changer'
The launch of comprehensive trade talks with Washington could be a "game changer" for both the EU and US, according to European commission president José Manuel Barroso
Monday 17th June 2013
Commissioner welcomes new rules for EU asylum seekers
European home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmström has welcomed parliament's decision to update the existing 'inefficient, dysfunctional and unfair' system governing asylum seekers in the EU
Friday 14th June 2013
Freedom of press is essential for democracy says MEP
ALDE MEP Marietje Schaake has said a free pluralist media is essential for democracy, and the EU should aspire to protect the 'free word'
Friday 14th June 2013
Parliament group leaders condemn closure of ERT
The leaders of parliament's S&D, Greens/EFA and ALDE groups have condemned the decision by Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras to close the nation's state owned broadcaster ERT
Friday 14th June 2013
EU 'squanders' chance to end detention of asylum seekers
With terms for a common European asylum system finally agreed, secretary general of the European council on refugees and exiles Michael Diedring calls for member states to put an end to detention for those fleeing persecution
Wednesday 12th June 2013
MEPs agree tough new rules for extractive companies
The European parliament's 'historic' vote on new rules for oil, gas, mining and logging companies will help the global fight against corruption, according to stakeholders and MEPs
Wednesday 12th June 2013
MEPs call for EU organised crime strategy
MEPs have voted for a new European strategy and stronger instruments in an attempt to step up the fight against organised crime in the EU
Wednesday 12th June 2013
Mixed reactions for commission action plan on steel
The European commission's long awaited action plan, intended to deliver a "promising future" for the bloc's steel industry, has received mixed reactions from MEP's and stakeholders
Wednesday 12th June 2013
MEPs express anger over commission's reaction to Prism revelations
Swedish deputy Christian Engström has accused the European commission of failing to take the US Prism programme revelations seriously
Tuesday 11th June 2013
Commission announces new partnership to tackle poverty related diseases
Research and innovation commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has announced a partnership between the EU and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation aimed at tackling poverty-related diseases
Tuesday 11th June 2013
Daul calls for commission to 'force resignation' of Olaf chief
EPP group chair Joseph Daul has called for the resignation of Olaf chief Giovanni Kessler, calling the director general's position "politically and legally untenable"
Tuesday 11th June 2013
EU's response to violence in Turkey branded 'too little, too late'
Georgios Koumoutsakos, a vice chair of parliament's EU-Turkey delegation, has condemned the EU's slow reaction to the increasing violence and ongoing protests in Turkey, describing it as "too little, too late"
Tuesday 11th June 2013
Internal energy market is EU's 'exit strategy' from the crisis, says senior MEP
Senior MEP Jerzy Buzek has underlined the importance of making the internal energy market work, describing it as the EU's "exit strategy" from the economic crisis
Monday 10th June 2013
Greens condemn EU's anti-hacker directive
The Greens/EFA group has opposed the new cyber crime directive endorsed by parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, calling the new rules "blunt"
Friday 7th June 2013
Barroso announces €400m in commission funding for Syria's humanitarian crisis
European commission president José Manuel Barroso has announced €400m in additional funding to Syria, and its neighbouring countries Lebanon and Jordan, to help combat the humanitarian crisis
Friday 7th June 2013
mHealth key to improving EU healthcare systems
mHealth roll out across the EU could help save as much as €99bn in healthcare costs by 2017, according to a the findings of a new report
Friday 7th June 2013
MEP urges EU to balance worker safety with innovative technologies
French EPP deputy Elisabeth Morin-Chartier is calling for the European parliament to adopt legislation that guarantees the safety of workers exposed to electromagnetic fields, while ensuring innovative technologies are allowed to flourish
Monday 3rd June 2013
'Smart specialisation' vital to Europe's competitiveness
It is vital that the EU promotes "smart specialisation" and cooperation between its regional and innovation funding programmes if it is to avoid falling behind its international competitors, a roundtable debate has heard
Wednesday 29th May 2013
MEP calls for more regulation on tobacco products
The EU has been urged to do more to prevent children and young people from taking up smoking
Friday 17th May 2013
Donors pledge €3.25bn for Mali development
An international donor conference in Brussels has seen public pledges of €3.25bn to support the development and reconstruction of Mali
Thursday 16th May 2013
Van Rompuy voices concern at Europe's 'energy dilemma'
European council president Herman Van Rompuy has voiced concern about Europe's "energy dilemma"
Thursday 16th May 2013
Barroso told to attend EU parliament hearing on 'Dalligate'
German MEP Inge Gräßle has called on the commission to "shed light" on the circumstances surrounding the resignation of former EU health commissioner John Dalli
Thursday 16th May 2013
Chinese dissident calls on EU to 'fulfil its human rights duty'
The blind Chinese activist who caused a diplomatic crisis when he fled to the US embassy in Beijing has called on the EU to "fulfil its obligations" in upholding human rights
Thursday 16th May 2013
UK Socialist deputy highlights shale gas 'uncertainties'
A conference in parliament has been told that the "jury is still out" on the merits of shale gas as an energy provider
Thursday 16th May 2013
Canadian minister reaffirms 'commitment' to meeting Copenhagen targets
Canada's environment minister Peter Kent has reaffirmed the country's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020
Thursday 16th May 2013
Greens claim CAP funds are used to 'support' bullfighting in Spain
The European commission has been urged to act over claims that EU funds are being used to "support" the "brutal" tradition of bullfighting in Spain
Thursday 16th May 2013
WTO chief says 'European project' in need of 'repair'
World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy has delivered a withering verdict on the "European project", accusing it of having "lost credibility"
Thursday 16th May 2013
EIB set to increase loans by 40 per cent for 2013
Europe's regions and cities are set to receive a major financial shot in the arm to help them cope with the continuing economic downturn
Wednesday 15th May 2013
New EU-funded project aims to help combat bee decline
A new EU-funded project aims to help combat the collapse of bee populations in Europe
Wednesday 15th May 2013
Reform process in Ukraine 'still incomplete'
A conference has been told that Ukraine still needs to implement reforms before it is ready to sign a landmark trade deal with the EU
Wednesday 15th May 2013
Hungarian MEP voices concern at 'further violations' in Moldova
Hungarian MEP Béla Kovács has voiced concern at "further violations" of the rule of law in Moldova
Monday 13th May 2013
EU observers say violence 'should not overshadow' Pakistan elections
The leader of parliament's observer delegation to the Pakistan elections has called them 'an extraordinary vote for democracy and against violence'
Monday 13th May 2013
Barroso urged to end lobbyist's membership of EU 'ethical committee'
Transparency campaigners say that a recent Olaf report "underlines" the need to end a lobbyist's current membership of the European commission's ad hoc ethical committee
Monday 13th May 2013
EU finance ministers urged to reach 'compromise' over 2013 budget
Battle-lines are being drawn over demands by parliament for an €11.2bn 'top-up' to this year's EU budget
Monday 13th May 2013
EU parliament president calls for 'speedy' conclusion to EU staff dispute
Parliament's president Martin Schulz has called for a "speedy" conclusion to negotiations on EU staff regulations
Thursday 9th May 2013
EU parliament committee asked to take up case of Polish entrepreneur
Parliament's petitions committee has been asked to take up the case of a Polish entrepreneur who claims he is the victim of 'unlawful' business practices by the Polish authorities
Thursday 9th May 2013
EU urged to press US to change tack on drones policy
The EU has been urged to press the US to "change its policy" in the use of drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere
Thursday 9th May 2013
EU proposals on 'ePayments' welcomed by MEPs and industry
Finnish MEP Sari Essayah has welcomed new commission proposals for a directive on citizens' payment accounts
Thursday 9th May 2013
New CoR group aims to 'strengthen' relations with MEPs
The leader of a new political party in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) says it aims to "get back to the fundamental reason" why the CoR was created
Thursday 9th May 2013
Watson rules himself out of race to become next commission head
ALDE party president Graham Watson has ruled himself out of the race to become the next commission president
Wednesday 8th May 2013
France on collision course with EU commission over US trade deal
France has put itself on a direct collision course with the European commission over a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and the United States
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Row flares over 'new palace' for Van Rompuy
Herman Van Rompuy has reacted angrily to claims that the new building currently under construction to house the European council is designed to be his 'new palace'
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Economic progress in north Africa 'far too slow'
Parliament's vice president Edward McMillan-Scott told a major conference that economic progress in north Africa is "far too slow" and that "this is unacceptable"
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Consumer confidence in food chain remains 'fragile' in wake of horsemeat scandal
Consumer trust in the food supply chain after the horsemeat scandal has still not been fully restored, a parliament meeting was told
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Top EU official says Cyprus economy is 'on road to recovery'
Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem has expressed optimism that the international bailout for Cyprus will put the debt-ridden state's economy "back on track"
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Commission calls for 'more accountability' of EU police agency
A commission official has outlined proposals designed to give Europol, the EU's crime intelligence agency, significant new powers
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Moldova warned over 'hasty' changes to constitution
Two senior European figures have issued a warning to Moldova that it risks damaging its EU accession ambitions
Tuesday 7th May 2013
Nato chief voices 'concern' at possible use of chemical weapons in Syria
Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has voiced concern at the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria
Tuesday 7th May 2013
MEP calls for probe into discovery of 'mass graves' in Kashmir
UK MEP Sajjad Karim has called for an investigation following the discovery of 'mass graves' in Kashmir
Monday 6th May 2013
New row flares over EU's register for lobbyists
The body representing the public affairs industry has made a robust defence of the EU's transparency register code of conduct
Monday 6th May 2013
Farage says UKIP success is 'sign of EU unpopularity'
UKIP MEP Nigel Farage says the party's recent electoral success is a sign of the "growing unpopularity" of the EU
Monday 6th May 2013
Press freedom around the world 'under attack'
On the 20th anniversary of world press freedom day, policymakers and stakeholders have spoken of the importance of press freedom and how journalists upholding this fundamental human right are finding themselves "under attack"
Friday 3rd May 2013
Report calls for 'thorough assessment' of EEAS
A report co-authored by senior German EPP MEP Elmar Brok makes several criticisms of the European external action service (EEAS).
Friday 3rd May 2013
Speculation mounts on candidates to become next EU commission president
The possibility of parliament's president Martin Schulz being nominated to succeed Jose Manuel Barroso is "not a done deal"
Friday 3rd May 2013
EU parliament set to host special hearing on use of drones
British MEP Sajjad Karim has expressed concern at the "alarming rate" at which drone strikes are being authorised
Thursday 2nd May 2013
German MEP calls for 'improved efficiency' in EU civil service
German MEP Inge Grassle has urged the EU to "improve the efficiency" of its civil service
Thursday 2nd May 2013
EU considers 'action' over Bangladesh factory collapse
The EU has raised serious concerns over labour conditions in Bangladesh after hundreds of workers died when a factory collapsed on the outskirts of Dhaka
Wednesday 1st May 2013
Reding told to 'break silence' on Bulgarian 'scandal'
European justice commissioner Viviane Reding has been told to "break her silence" in the phone hacking scandal currently gripping Bulgaria
Tuesday 30th April 2013
ECJ condemns 'restrictive' language law in Flanders
The Flemish community in Belgium has been condemned for allegedly infringing EU freedom of movement by only drafting workers' contracts in Dutch
Tuesday 30th April 2013
MEPs call for improved compensation for environmental disasters
French MEP Corinne Lepage has called for improved compensation for environmental damage caused by shipping accidents in EU waters
Tuesday 30th April 2013
European commission launches climate change strategy
The European commission has launched a strategy designed to help member states "better prepare" for the impact of climate change
Monday 29th April 2013
Commission to go ahead with neonicotinoid ban
The European commission is to uphold its proposal to ban three pesticides believed to be harmful to bees following an inconclusive vote by member states
Monday 29th April 2013