European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
24 Dec
European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
On Thursday evening, David Sassoli said, “The Parliament thanks and congratulates the EU and UK negotiators for their intense efforts to reach, albeit at the last minute, this historic agreement.”
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
24 Dec
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
After months of tortuous wrangling, the two sides finally reached agreement on a trade deal on Christmas Eve, just days before the end of the transition period.
Joe Biden: will he bring a fresh transatlantic wind?
24 Dec
Joe Biden: will he bring a fresh transatlantic wind?
Joe Biden seems likely to represent a return to a better and more harmonious transatlantic relationship; we should now stand together to champion global democracy and fairness, argues Nicolae Ştefănuță.
2020 vision: A year in review
23 Dec
2020 vision: A year in review
The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most challenging in generations. Lorna Hutchinson looks back on an extraordinary twelve months.
France resumes transport links with UK on condition travellers get negative COVID-19 test
23 Dec
France resumes transport links with UK on condition travellers get negative COVID-19 test
The move on Wednesday comes as both the UK and the EU try to contain a new type of COVID-19 that is said to be 70 percent more transmissible than the current virus.
Last-gasp Brexit talks remain stuck over fisheries, Barnier confirms
23 Dec
Last-gasp Brexit talks remain stuck over fisheries, Barnier confirms
Michel Barnier’s briefing to members of Parliament’s UK Coordination Group and EU diplomats comes with negotiations now perilously close to the 31 December deadline when the UK’s transition period will end.
Contraceptive Atlas 2020: Empowerment, rights and autonomy Partner Content
23 Dec
Contraceptive Atlas 2020: Empowerment, rights and autonomy
Access to modern, effective and affordable contraception remains a challenge for many women across Europe, reports Brian Johnson.
The Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts must deliver a real European digital single market, explains Pablo Arias Echeverría
23 Dec
The Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts must deliver a real European digital single market, explains Pablo Arias Echeverría
If the EU wants to lead in the global digital race, then it must do so in its own way, based on European values, writes Spanish EPP deputy.
Green deal for aviation: EU needs to start building a greener, more socially and economically robust future for aviation, argues Isabel García Muñoz
22 Dec
Green deal for aviation: EU needs to start building a greener, more socially and economically robust future for aviation, argues Isabel García Muñoz
EU aviation sector’s green and digital transformation must be accompanied by a just transition that leaves no one behind, say Sky and Space Intergroup MEP.
EU has ‘opportunity’ to build a better, greener and cleaner aviation model, says TRAN vice-Chair
22 Dec
EU has ‘opportunity’ to build a better, greener and cleaner aviation model, says TRAN vice-Chair
Of all the sectors hit by COVID-19, aviation has been one of the worst affected. That’s why it’s vital to now plan a clear way to recovery, explains Jan-Christoph Oetjen.
Joe Biden: Time for a fresh transatlantic honeymoon
21 Dec
Joe Biden: Time for a fresh transatlantic honeymoon
Joe Biden’s election as the new US President means that we can recapture previous optimism on transatlantic cooperation, but let’s learn from previous mistakes, says Miapetra Kumpula-Natri.
‘Everyone fed up with waiting for Godot’ says MEP, as Brexit talks expected to go down to the wire
18 Dec
‘Everyone fed up with waiting for Godot’ says MEP, as Brexit talks expected to go down to the wire
Meanwhile EU negotiator Michel Barnier says there is still a chance of a Brexit deal, ‘but the path to it is very narrow’.
Tamas Deutsch suspended from EPP group following ‘Gestapo’ remarks
18 Dec
Tamas Deutsch suspended from EPP group following ‘Gestapo’ remarks
Punishment stops short of outright expulsion of Hungarian Fidesz party MEP.
MEPs on potential collision course with European Commission and Member States over 'rule of law' clause
18 Dec
MEPs on potential collision course with European Commission and Member States over 'rule of law' clause
European Parliament resolution insists controversial clause should be introduced ‘with immediate effect’.
EU agrees post-Christmas vaccination plan
18 Dec
EU agrees post-Christmas vaccination plan
However, strategy depends on European Medicines Agency giving its approval for BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.
Parliament’s group leaders ready for extraordinary plenary if Brexit deal reached by Sunday
17 Dec
Parliament’s group leaders ready for extraordinary plenary if Brexit deal reached by Sunday
After meeting with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday, the Conference of Presidents said they stand ready to organise an extraordinary plenary session towards the end of December in the event that an agreement is reached by midnight on Sunday 20 December.
European Commission receives mixed response to Digital Services and Digital Markets acts
16 Dec
European Commission receives mixed response to Digital Services and Digital Markets acts
The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) represent the biggest revision of internet rules in 20 years, with the DSA introducing new rules for tech giants such as Facebook and Google.
S&D leader warns it will soon be ‘virtually impossible’ for Parliament to debate and vote on any Brexit deal
16 Dec
S&D leader warns it will soon be ‘virtually impossible’ for Parliament to debate and vote on any Brexit deal
Iratxe García Pérez was speaking as Brexit talks continue in Brussels and with the 31 December deadline for the end of the transition period looming on the horizon.
Benefitting from early action
16 Dec
Benefitting from early action
The European Commission and the German Council Presidency have been shown to be prescient in their approach to Coronavirus vaccine procurement; we all stand to benefit soon, believes Peter Liese.
DSA: an opportunity to retake the online marketplace?
16 Dec
DSA: an opportunity to retake the online marketplace?
The balance of power on internet platforms is too heavily in favour of big technology companies; the DSA should be the opportunity for us to redress the balance, urges Alexandra Geese.
Senior MEP condemns UK health minister after Brexit vaccine comments
15 Dec
Senior MEP condemns UK health minister after Brexit vaccine comments
German EPP deputy Peter Liese took aim at Matt Hancock after his assertion that “because of Brexit” the UK had been able to approve the Pfizer vaccine rather than wait for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to do so.
Some EU governments undermined fundamental rights during pandemic, study finds
14 Dec
Some EU governments undermined fundamental rights during pandemic, study finds
The report, commissioned by Greens MEPs Terry Reintke and Tineke Strik, says that a number of EU governments have “brazenly” used the pandemic as an excuse to curtail rights such as free speech, peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
European Commission admits that trade deal with UK may have become ‘less likely’
14 Dec
European Commission admits that trade deal with UK may have become ‘less likely’
A spokesman told reporters, “We are at a very late stage. The more time that goes by the less likely it is that we will have a deal in place on the first of January. This is a statement of fact.”
Bahrain: a valuable partner for Europe
14 Dec
Bahrain: a valuable partner for Europe
The Gulf state has undergone major economic and social changes in recent years and can be a strategic partner for Europe in the region, writes Tomáš Zdechovský.