03 Dec 20
International Disability Day: Leaving no disabled person behind
The upcoming Disability Rights Strategy aims to ensure that every disabled citizen enjoys full participation in society, explains Stelios Kympouropoulos.
02 Dec 20
Belgium and other EU countries could be set to follow UK with vaccine rollout
On Tuesday it was announced that the UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech Coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination.
02 Dec 20
Commission warns of ‘significant’ spending cuts if no agreement reached on EU budget
The €1.85 trillion fiscal package is currently being blocked by Hungary and Poland because each objects to the rule of law mechanism which ties funding for each Member State to an obligation to respect fundamental EU values.
02 Dec 20
Commission defends preparations for No Deal Brexit; says ‘we’ve done all we can’
This comes with criticism mounting that No Deal preparations on both sides of the Channel are woefully inadequate.
02 Dec 20
MEP Awards 2020: Reaction and comment from our winners
Last night’s ‘virtual’ MEP Awards ceremony celebrated the contribution that MEPs make to the everyday lives of Europeans.
01 Dec 20
Hungarian MEP József Szájer admits he was among those arrested at party in Brussels
The incident happened at the weekend when police raided a bar in the centre of the city, well known locally as a gay area.
01 Dec 20
World AIDS Day: Strengthening LGBTI persons’ human rights is critical for HIV response
Human rights violations of people living with, or at risk of HIV, particularly LGBTI persons, continue to have major consequences for the effectiveness of the HIV response, write Marc Angel and Sophie in t’ Veld.
30 Nov 20
Poor air quality causes over 400,000 premature deaths in EU each year
A new report has revealed that exposure to fine particulate matter caused about 417,000 premature deaths in 41 European countries in 2018.
30 Nov 20
MEPs and NGOs call for ‘immediate’ ban on ivory imports into EU
They say the move is urgently needed to combat a trade that sees at least 20,000 African elephants killed illegally for their ivory.
30 Nov 20
United for the Future of Europe
Civil society can play an essential role in shaping Europe’s post-COVID future, writes EESC President Christa Schweng.
27 Nov 20
Concerns raised over ‘equitable access’ to COVID-19 vaccines
Campaigners also calling for full transparency of Coronavirus trial data before conclusions made on a vaccine’s efficacy.
27 Nov 20
A ‘Carbon Budget’ will set Europe on a trajectory to climate neutrality
Establishing a Carbon Budget will indicate that we are serious about climate neutrality and that we are going to pursue a stable climate policy for the next 30 years, explains Finnish MEP Nils Torvalds.
26 Nov 20
MEPs back plans to enable more women to stand for election to Parliament
In a new resolution, deputies have called for reforms ahead of the 2024 European elections through “zipped” lists or similar initiatives to achieve more gender balance in Parliament.
26 Nov 20
MEPs welcome new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
The European Commission’s Strategy, which aims to ensure the supply of medicines and vaccines to all citizens, also seeks to encourage innovation by European pharmaceutical companies.
26 Nov 20
‘The Poland of 2020 is a hell for women’: MEPs slam Polish abortion ban
Wednesday’s plenary session saw an emotionally-charged debate in which many deputies lambasted Poland’s recent decision to impose a near-total ban on abortion in the country.
26 Nov 20
Still ‘strong support’ for EU’s principles and leadership on global issues, says EU-wide poll
The poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank in cooperation with Danish Tænketanken EUROPA, also found that over 40 percent of those surveyed in eight countries have concerns about their country’s influence within the bloc.
25 Nov 20
Stop the ‘shadow pandemic’ of violence against women
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, buildings and landmarks are being bathed in orange light to raise awareness of and galvanise action for 16 Days of Activism.
25 Nov 20
EU urged to 'do more' to promote gender equality in distribution of top jobs
The demand comes after MEPs gave the green light this week to a controversial appointment to the European Central Bank’s Executive Board.
25 Nov 20
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: Zero tolerance
Tackling the scourge of domestic violence requires male champions to join women in saying that gender-based violence is never acceptable, writes Frances Fitzgerald.
24 Nov 20
Former British MEP says EU stands to lose more than UK from No Deal Brexit
Former ECR Group deputy David Campbell Bannerman said, “I had hoped we would end up with a super Canada deal but the thing currently on offer seems much thinner and I think that is a mistake.”
24 Nov 20
Parliamentarians call Polish abortion ban ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’
Over two hundred policymakers across Europe have joined forces to urge the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure over the Polish government’s violation of women’s rights, LGBTI rights and the rule of law.
24 Nov 20
A closer look at the EU Forestry Strategy
Forests and forestry will play an increasingly important role in our cleaner, greener future. It is important to allow those with expertise to bring out the most from them, writes Jessica Polfjärd.
24 Nov 20
World ‘must learn lessons’ from Coronavirus crisis to help in fight against superbugs
An online debate on Tuesday heard that preparing for a future health pandemic will be crucial in saving the lives of up to 50 million people.
24 Nov 20
Climate change: time to put the fire out
Now more than ever, we must come together to take climate action that meets the emergency we find ourselves in, argues German Greens MEP Michael Bloss.