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News Archive
EU commission wins seal of approval
José Manuel Barroso's new commission has been given the green light to start work after a vote of approval by MEPs
Tuesday 9th February 2010
MEPs approve framework agreement
MEPs have backed a package of measures on the future relationship between parliament and the commission
Tuesday 9th February 2010
EU urged to ditch plans for trade agreement with Columbia
A leading human rights NGO has urged the EU to shelve plans for a free trade agreement with Columbia
Tuesday 9th February 2010
Barroso calls on MEPs to approve new EU commission
As MEPs vote on the new college of commissioners, José Manuel Barroso has said his new team is "ready to take up the challenges which lie before us"
Tuesday 9th February 2010
Row looms over CoR's top job
A bitter battle is looming over the top job in the Committee of the Regions
Tuesday 9th February 2010
MEPs urged to back EU-US data-transfer deal
The European parliament has been urged to resist "derailing" an interim deal that would give US intelligence services direct access to European banking data
Monday 8th February 2010
Clinton calls Buzek over Swift deal as fears of rejection mount
US secretary of state Hilary Clinton has called parliament president Jerzy Buzek to push for parliament's support for an EU-US data sharing agreement
Friday 5th February 2010
EU urged to 'speak out' against rights abuses in Russia
The EU has been told it should take a "stronger stance" against Russia in cases of alleged human rights abuses
Friday 5th February 2010
EU commission accused of 'hoarding' €6bn in fines
The commission has been accused of "hoarding" €6bn raised from fines on companies that have engaged in anti-competitive practices, such as Intel and Microsoft
Thursday 4th February 2010
Jailed ex-MEP expects to be released 'within months'
Jailed former UK Independence Party deputy Tom Wise has told friends he expects to be released "within months"
Thursday 4th February 2010
Uncertainty over CoR presidency
One of the candidates for the presidency of the Committee of Regions could be forced to resign just two months into her mandate
Thursday 4th February 2010
CoR attacks commissioner-designate over failure to attend plenary
The commissioner-designate for regional policy has been criticised for pulling out of a planned appearance at next week's Committee of the Regions' (CoRs') plenary
Thursday 4th February 2010
EU parliament gives green light to Bulgaria's commission nominee
Bulgaria's commission nominee Kristalina Georgieva has won the seal of approval from parliament, paving the way for the 27-strong executive's confirmation
Thursday 4th February 2010
EU should warn Moscow against using energy as a 'political weapon'
Senior EPP deputy Alejo Vidal-Quadras has urged the EU to warn Russia not to use energy as a "political weapon"
Thursday 4th February 2010
EU parliament told Europe faces 'spiritual crisis'
A parliamentary hearing was told that a "rejection" of its Christian heritage has left Europe facing a "spiritual crisis"
Thursday 4th February 2010
UKIP MEP reinstated after appeal
An MEP for the UK Independence Party has been told she can stand in May's UK general election after all
Thursday 4th February 2010
EU must learn from Haitian disaster, says Georgieva
Bulgaria's new commissioner-designate says the EU should use the Haitian disaster to "learn how we can do better".
Wednesday 3rd February 2010
EU-Turkey relations still face 'clutch of problems'
Senior UK deputy Andrew Duff has said that EU-Turkey relations still face a "clutch of problems"
Wednesday 3rd February 2010
Popularity of wind farms growing in EU
New figures reveal that more wind power capacity was installed in the EU last year than any other electricity-generating technology
Wednesday 3rd February 2010
EU-wide campaign launched to promote ICT skills
Parliament was told that many Europeans are missing out on the "digital revolution" because of a shortage of information technology skills
Wednesday 3rd February 2010
EU commission condemned on its social policy record
Jose Manuel Barroso's commission has been accused of almost "abdicating" its social policy responsibilities over the last five years
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
No safe alcohol level during pregnancy, conference told
A parliamentary conference was told there are "no safe levels" for alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
EU parliament brokers new 'working' deal with commission
Parliament has thrashed out a groundbreaking deal designed to put the assembly on a more equal footing with other EU institutions
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
EU member states 'lagging behind' on services directive
A new report reveals that only nine member states have so far implemented the services directive
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
EU parliament president condemns Moscow arrests
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has condemned the arrest of human rights activist Oleg Orlev in Moscow
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
EU refuses to intervene in China-US row
Europe's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has said the EU will not be drawn into a growing row between China and the United States over the latter selling arms to Taiwan
Monday 1st February 2010
New EU president will 'knock heads together'
Former MEP Richard Corbett says Herman Van Rompuy will "knock heads together" in his role as EU president
Monday 1st February 2010
Appeal launched for stories from EU 'pioneers'
People who have witnessed the "birth and growth" of Brussels' EU quarter are being invited to take part in a new survey
Monday 1st February 2010
Number of sick days taken by EU parliament staff branded an 'outrage'
MEPs have reacted with fury to revelations of how parliament's budget was spent in 2008
Monday 1st February 2010
EU presidency urged to back visa-free travel demand
The Spanish EU presidency has been urged to back calls to make it easier for Taiwanese people to travel to the EU
Monday 1st February 2010
MEP allowance rise plans condemned as 'scandalous'
Possible proposals to increase MEPs' monthly allowances for assistants by €1,500 have been condemned as "scandalous"
Thursday 28th January 2010
EU parliament president commemorates Holocaust
Parliament president Jerzy Buzek has described the Holocaust as "the greatest ever human tragedy", 65 years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Thursday 28th January 2010
NGO calls for EU-wide action on disability issues
A leading NGO has demanded the EU takes "firm" action to tackle poverty for people with disabilities
Thursday 28th January 2010
EU anti-terror tsar backs use of body scanners
EU anti-terror tsar Gilles de Kerchove has backed the use of body scanners at European airports
Thursday 28th January 2010
Spanish presidency will promote 'empowerment' of women
A major international conference in Brussels was told that Spain will use it EU presidency to "actively" promote the role of women in conflict resolution
Wednesday 27th January 2010
Call to give children lessons in finance
A parliamentary hearing has heard that school children should be given lessons in financial matters
Wednesday 27th January 2010
Tories forced to leave EPP in Committee of the Regions
The British Conservative delegation in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has been ordered by UK party chiefs to leave the assembly's mainstream EPP grouping
Wednesday 27th January 2010
EU urged to 'share the cost' of its Brussels base
A leading Brussels politician has said that EU institutions should contribute towards the cost of their staff using public transport in the city
Tuesday 26th January 2010
Crime a 'major' problem for MEPs and EU parliament staff
A parliament meeting has heard that MEPs and EU civil servants are increasingly becoming targets for criminals "preying" on EU institutions
Tuesday 26th January 2010
Spanish presidency 'committed' to working with EU parliament
Spain's foreign affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos has promised to work closely with MEPs in bringing about Europe's economic recovery
Tuesday 26th January 2010
EU trade commissioner defends EU's response to Haiti quake
New EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht has hit back at claims that the EU "lacks visibility" in the international response to the Haitian earthquake
Tuesday 26th January 2010
EU member states should 'do more' to raise education standards
The European commission's deputy DG for education has admitted that "more needs to be done" in tackling low educational standards in many member states
Tuesday 26th January 2010
Senior MEP condemns absence of EU parliament presence at Afghan conference
The leader of parliament's Afghanistan delegation says it is "amazing" that no MEPs were invited to attend this week's key conference in London on the security situation in the country
Tuesday 26th January 2010
EU urged to resist calls for lifting elephant tusk ban
The EU has been urged to support calls for a crackdown on the international trade in ivory
Monday 25th January 2010
EU official concedes 'failure' over world hunger
The international community has "failed" in the fight against world hunger and malnutrition, according to a senior commission official
Monday 25th January 2010
Euro-Mediterranean partnership starts work in Barcelona
Committee of the Regions' president Luc Van den Brande has hailed the inaugural meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (Arlem) as "the start of a new era"
Friday 22nd January 2010
European ombudsman re-elected by parliament
MEPs have welcomed the re-election of Nikiforos Diamandouros as European ombudsman
Friday 22nd January 2010
'Don't neglect agriculture', conference told
The 2008 food riots in countries like Haiti have been described as a "wake up" call on the dangers of neglecting agriculture as a key policy issue
Friday 22nd January 2010
Jeleva resignation was 'inevitable', says Socialist chief
Rumiana Jeleva's decision to step down as Bulgaria's commissioner-designate candidate has been described as the "best outcome for everyone, including herself" by Socialist group leader Martin Schulz
Tuesday 19th January 2010
EU must increase efforts towards food security
An international food security summit has been told that the EU wants to intensify its efforts to tackle world hunger and malnutrition
Tuesday 19th January 2010
UN official pledges 'wholehearted commitment' to Haiti
A top United Nations official has pledged that the organisation will do its utmost to help relieve the suffering of victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti
Monday 18th January 2010
'More focus' needed on tackling world hunger
A major summit on Monday was told that world food production will have to double to combat a repeat of the food riots seen in 38 countries worldwide in 2008
Monday 18th January 2010
Ousted Tory MEP comes out fighting
Ousted Tory MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has ruled out joining the EPP, parliament's biggest political group
Thursday 14th January 2010
EU environment commissioner-designate faces MEPs
Janez Potocnik has promised to focus on implementing environmental legislation should he be approved as the EU's new environment commissioner
Wednesday 13th January 2010
Incoming EU trade chief 'confident' on Doha trade talks
Incoming EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht has said he is "quite confident" that the Doha round of world trade negotiations will be completed in 2010 or 2011
Wednesday 13th January 2010
EU parliament hears demand for action on health 'inequality'
A conference in parliament has heard that better patient information will not necessarily lead to increased drug consumption
Tuesday 12th January 2010
Commission candidate vows to make Olaf 'more effective'
Commissioner-designate Algirdas Šemeta has praised the "great work" done by Olaf, the EU anti-fraud agency
Tuesday 12th January 2010
Cooperation with EU parliament top priority for Ashton
The EU's incoming foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has said she intends to work closely with MEPs to make Europe "a stronger, more credible" international force
Tuesday 12th January 2010
Commissioner-designate pledges to crackdown on EU fraud
Janusz Lewandowski, the commission-designate for budgets, has pledged to tackle fraud in EU funding
Monday 11th January 2010
Commissioners-designate must be 'financially clean'
Senior MEP Andrew Duff has raised concerns about some commissioners-designate
Monday 11th January 2010
Spain unveils its EU presidency cultural programme
Spain has unveiled its cultural programme for its six-month presidency of the EU
Tuesday 5th January 2010
EU welcomes efforts to defuse China-Taiwan tension
The EU has welcomed latest attempts to improve relations between China and Taiwan
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Socialist MEPs call for end to EU parliament's 'travelling circus'
Socialist MEPs have called on the Spanish EU presidency to axe the Strasbourg "travelling circus"
Tuesday 5th January 2010
EU institutions urged to 'engage more' with ombudsman
More than a third of complaints about the work of EU institutions to European ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros do not result in any satisfactory follow up
Monday 4th January 2010
MEPs accused of 'absurd insinuations' over commission hearings
Some MEPs have been accused of waging a "McCarthyite-style" witch-hunt against commissioners-designate
Monday 4th January 2010