News Archive
NGO demands resignation of EFSA officials
New research has revealed "further conflicts of interest" among experts advising the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) about the safety of food additives
Monday 19th September 2011
Mixed response to EU plans for shake-up of Schengen area
MEPs have castigated the commission over its plans to oversee any return of border checks in the Schengen zone, Europe's passport-free travel area
Monday 19th September 2011
Socialist delight as Denmark elects first female premier
The Party of European Socialists (PES) has sent its "heartfelt congratulations" to former MEP Helle Thorning-Schmidt following her election as Denmark's first female prime minister
Friday 16th September 2011
FT and BBC 'most read' media for MEPs
A new survey says that MEPs read a "broad variety" of news media, but the most read outlets are the UK's Financial Times, and the BBC
Thursday 15th September 2011
MEPs demand Oettinger apologies over alleged 'flag' comments
MEPs have condemned comments reportedly made by Günther Oettinger, the European commissioner for energy, suggesting that flags of member states in breach of EU budget rules should be flown at half-mast outside EU institutions, such as parliament
Thursday 15th September 2011
Irish budget cuts 'may be detrimental' to human rights
The Council of Europe commissioner for human rights says budget cuts planned in Ireland "may be detrimental" for the protection of human rights
Thursday 15th September 2011
ILO head says EU is 'central' to tackling recession
The head of the International Labour Organisation says the EU has a "central" role to play in tackling the ongoing economic downturn
Thursday 15th September 2011
German MEP wins nomination EU parliament presidency
German MEP Martin Schulz has confirmed he will seek to become parliament's next president
Thursday 15th September 2011
MEPs in appeal over UN 'specialised agencies'
A cross-party group of MEPs have called on the EU to support Taiwan's efforts to join internationally-recognised organizations
Wednesday 14th September 2011
Aviation industry can help give EU economy a 'much-needed lift off'
The boss of airline giant Virgin Atlantic has urged the EU to lift the "cloud of uncertainty" hanging over the aviation industry
Wednesday 14th September 2011
EU parliament president welcomes Italy's 'ambitious' debt plan
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has welcomed Italy's efforts to tackle its crippling debt crisis
Wednesday 14th September 2011
MEPs calls for less 'red tape' in EU law-making
MEPs are expected to approve a report which calls for "fewer and better" pieces of legislation in Europe
Wednesday 14th September 2011
NGOs demand official inquiry into North Korea's 'crimes against humanity'
The world's three largest international human rights have launched a campaign for a United Nations commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in North Korea
Tuesday 13th September 2011
Aid 'dependency' falls by one third in last decade
A new report says that "aid dependency" among 54 of the world's poorest countries has declined by a third over the last decade
Tuesday 13th September 2011
Parliament backs new powers for EU border management agency
Parliament today adopted a commission proposal to strengthen the EU's border management agency
Tuesday 13th September 2011
Senior MEP welcomes member state warning over EU budget
Nine European governments have joined forces in condemning a planned EU budget rise
Tuesday 13th September 2011
Buzek offers support to MEP threatened by far-right
Parliament president Jerzy Buzek has condemned the threatening behaviour of the English Defence League (EDL) towards British ECR deputy Sajjad Karim
Tuesday 13th September 2011
EU urged to foster new business links with Japan
The EU has been urged to 'further strengthen' its relationship with Japan
Tuesday 13th September 2011
EU parliament president says the world 'has changed for the better' after 9/11
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has warned that the threat of terrorism will not end with the death of Osama bin Laden
Monday 12th September 2011
Nuclear 'remains valid' despite Japan disaster
A top expert has admitted that "consequences" were inevitable following the nuclear disaster in Japan earlier this year
Friday 9th September 2011
EU commissioner in warning over 'risks' of new technology
EU commissioner Neelie Kroes says that opportunities offered by new technologies are "endless"
Friday 9th September 2011
Mixed response to ECJ ruling on GM crops
The European Court of Justice has ruled that a French ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops (GM) is procedurally incorrect
Thursday 8th September 2011
EU warned over problem of 'unnecessary operations'
The EU has been urged to tackle the issue of "unnecessary overmedical" treatments in Europe
Thursday 8th September 2011
Berlin praised for its efforts to combat air pollution
Berlin, Stockholm and Copenhagen are the leading cities in Europe for combating air pollution, according to a ranking of 17 European cities
Thursday 8th September 2011
Mixed response to EU commission energy proposals
MEPs have given a mixed response to key commission proposals on "security of energy supply and international cooperation"
Thursday 8th September 2011
EU parliament accused of 'stitch-up' over president election
Parliament has been accused of a "stitch-up" over the election of its next president
Wednesday 7th September 2011Travelling environment exhibition rolls into Brussels
EU commissioner Janez Potocnik says that economic growth in the future should be based on "greater respect" for the environment
Wednesday 7th September 2011
EPP leader welcomes German court ruling on EU bailouts
EPP leader Joseph Daul has welcomed a German court's rejection of a challenge to the country bailing out other nations in the eurozone
Wednesday 7th September 2011
Economy and Libya top Polish presidency agenda
The 'six-pack' of economic governance legislation, events in Libya and the eastern partnership summit are the most pressing issues for the Polish council presidency, the country's Europe minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz has said
Wednesday 7th September 2011
German court rejects appeal over EU bailouts
A senior MEP says a German court's rejection of a challenge to the country bailing out other nations in the eurozone illustrates the EU's "inability" to cope with the economic downturn
Wednesday 7th September 2011
EU ready to include Kosovo in European 'family'
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek said the EU is ready to accept Kosovo into the "European family"
Wednesday 7th September 2011
EU urged to back 'significant' investment in respiratory disease
Europe has been urged to give a higher priority to the issue of chronic respiratory diseases, one of the leading causes of death in the EU
Tuesday 6th September 2011
EU commissioner warns of 'dangers' of nationalism
EU commissioner Viviane Reding has warned against the "dangers" of "rising nationalism"
Tuesday 6th September 2011
ECJ ruling on GM crops 'could challenge' EU legislation
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will rule on Tuesday on whether honey contaminated by pollen from genetically modified (GM) crops will need to be labelled or need specific EU food safety approval
Tuesday 6th September 2011
Court set to rule on 'legality' of EU bail-outs
The German constitutional court is expected to rule on Wednesday on the legality of the eurozone bailouts
Tuesday 6th September 2011
Top Tory condemns calls for 'federal state' of Europe
The leader of the UK's Conservative MEPs has rubbished calls to create a federal state of Europe
Tuesday 6th September 2011
Europe 'at a crossroads' in wake of economic crisis
ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt says a monetary union "without some form of fiscal federalism and coordinated economic policy will not work"
Monday 5th September 2011
EU urged to continue 'restrictive' sanctions against North Korea
A human rights expert has called on the EU to continue strictly implementing the UN sanctions and its own restrictive measures against North Korea
Monday 5th September 2011
Barroso calls for support for Libya from international community
European commission president José Manuel Barroso has re-stated the EU's aim to support Libya as it emerges from the post-Gaddafi era
Monday 5th September 2011
Senior MEP calls for federal 'economic government'
Senior British MEP Andrew Duff says the EU must take a "decisive step" towards a federal economic government, with common fiscal policies and a larger budget, if it is to save the single currency
Monday 5th September 2011
Albania receives more EU assistance to fight forest fires
The EU has agreed to provide aid to Albania to help it respond to devastating forest fires
Thursday 1st September 2011
EU commission refutes claims that it plans to warn Belgium over political crisis
The European commission has refuted claims that the EU plans to warn Belgium over its political crisis
Thursday 1st September 2011Barroso calls on EU parliament to rubberstamp financial package
European commission president José Manuel Barroso says there is no "magic bullet" for tackling the continuing economic crisis
Thursday 1st September 2011
EU parliament delegation hails Taiwan's 'vibrant' democracy
A high-level parliamentary delegation to China has hailed Taiwan's 'vibrant democracy' and 'firm commitment' to human rights
Thursday 1st September 2011
EU in €300m boost for peace and security in Africa
The European commission is to provide an additional €300m to support ongoing peace and security efforts in Africa
Thursday 1st September 2011Online shopping doubles in last year
Parliament was told that the number of EU consumers buying goods and services online doubled to 40 per cent in 2010 from 20 per cent in 2005
Wednesday 31st August 2011
Buzek hails Gaddafi downfall as a 'day of joy' for Libya
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has hailed the ongoing taking of Tripoli as a "day of joy" for Libya and the whole region
Wednesday 31st August 2011
Eva-Britt Svensson hailed for 'fantastic' job after stepping down from EU parliament
Tributes have been paid to Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson who has resigned for unspecified health reasons
Wednesday 31st August 2011
EU proposes a 'European Year of Citizens'
The European commission has proposed to designate 2013 as the "European Year of Citizens"
Thursday 11th August 2011
EU says Spain can temporarily restrict free movement of Romanian workers
The commission has approved Spain's request to restrict its labour market to Romanian workers until 31 December 2012 due to "serious disturbances" in its labour market
Thursday 11th August 2011
Top Chinese diplomat calls for a 'correct' perception of China
China's EU ambassador has called on the EU to "unswervingly and unremittingly" develop new relations with Beijing
Thursday 11th August 2011
R&D investors set to increase innovation efforts
A new survey says that top R&D investing companies based in the EU expect their global R&D investments to grow by five per cent annually from 2011 to 2013
Wednesday 10th August 2011
EU commits further funds to tackle health epidemics
The European commission says it plans to allocate an additional €12m from the EU's research framework programme to reinforce Europe's capacity for tackling pathogens like E.coli
Wednesday 10th August 2011
ALDE leader gives ECB bond plan cautious welcome
ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt has given a cautious welcome to the European Central Bank's decision to implement its bond buying programme
Wednesday 10th August 2011
MEPs call for 'immediate' return to Middle East peace talks
Several MEPs have appealed to EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton to "speak out" against the Palestinian effort to seek UN recognition for their unilateral declaration of statehood
Wednesday 10th August 2011
UK MEP 'most influential woman' in European finance
British MEP Sharon Bowles has been named the most influential woman in European finance
Tuesday 9th August 2011
'Majority' of UK citizens want a say on EU membership
The Campaign for a Referendum on Britain's EU membership has been given a double boost
Tuesday 9th August 2011
Former UK minister says EU faces 'crisis of legitimacy'
Former UK Europe minister Denis MacShane has called for sweeping reform of EU institutions, including parliament
Monday 8th August 2011
Buzek brands Tymoshenko arrest as 'disturbing'
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has reacted angrily to the arrest of former Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko
Monday 8th August 2011
EU accused of being 'out of touch' over eurozone crisis
UK Independence Party MEP Marta Andreasen has rubbished recent comments about developments in the eurozone by EU commissioner Olli Rehn
Monday 8th August 2011
Ashton appoints three new directors
Three new directors have been appointed in the European external action service, the EU's diplomatic corps
Thursday 4th August 2011
Europeans 'more confident' about the economy
A new poll says that Europeans are starting to be more optimistic about the economy's outlook with more people saying that the worst of the economic crisis is behind them
Thursday 4th August 2011
Bond market developments a 'concern', says Barroso
Commission president Joé Manuel Barroso has described the bond markets' treatment of Italy and Spain as "a cause of deep concern"
Thursday 4th August 2011
EU wind power predicted to triple by 2020
A new report predicts that wind power in the EU will triple by the end of this decade
Thursday 4th August 2011
Greek Cypriots under fire over 'reneging' on peace talks pledge
The leader of the Turkish community in Cyprus has urged the Greek Cypriot side to comply with the 'confidentiality principle' during the ongoing peace talks
Thursday 4th August 2011