18 Mar 20
Belgium enters Coronavirus lockdown
People in Belgium have been told to stay at home from midday today until April 5.
17 Mar 20
EU vaccine developers ‘overlooked’ in Coronavirus inoculation race
Some research centres and vaccine developers in Europe have been “overlooked” and are “missing out” in desperate efforts to curb the rapid spread of Coronavirus, it has been claimed.
17 Mar 20
European Commission proposes temporary ban on non-essential travel to EU
Under the proposals, entry to the European Union at its external borders will be restricted for any non-EU national for an initial period of 30 days.
16 Mar 20
EU and Member States urged to ensure businesses survive Coronavirus
With the virus causing havoc in Europe and globally, there are growing concerns about the impact the outbreak will have on the business sector.
16 Mar 20
EU urged to re-examine 2016 Turkey migration deal
The deal involved Ankara agreeing to control the flow of migrants to Europe in exchange for financial assistance and other steps including the easing of visa restrictions.

 

13 Mar 20
EU announces €37 billion Coronavirus investment initiative
The European Commission has adopted proposals to provide liquidity to the European economy as it tackles the “deep crisis” of the Coronavirus outbreak.
13 Mar 20
Belgium escalates coronavirus response
Belgium has become the latest country to close schools as part of its response to growing fears about the spread of the coronavirus.
13 Mar 20
EU leaders criticise Trump's Coronavirus travel ban
US President Donald Trump said travel from 26 Schengen countries to the US would be impossible for 30 days starting at midnight on 13 March due to Coronavirus.
12 Mar 20
European Commission receives mixed response to Circular Economy Action Plan
The new Circular Economy Action Plan is one of the main “building blocks” of the Commission’s much-vaunted European Green Deal.
12 Mar 20
The Parliament Magazine's MEP Awards postponed
In light of the growing measures being introduced to counter the spread of COVID-19, this year’s MEP Awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, 25 March 2020 has been postponed.
12 Mar 20
European Parliament on lockdown over Coronavirus
Parliament’s President David Sassoli has extended the current shutdown until 30 March.
11 Mar 20
Sassoli under fire over ‘mini plenary’ amid rising Coronavirus concerns
Parliament President David Sassoli decided to keep MEPs and parliamentary staff in Brussels for a “mini plenary” this week despite increasing fears over the rapid spread of the Coronavirus.
10 Mar 20
Guy Verhofstadt emerges as frontrunner to chair Conference on the Future of Europe
The initiative was set up by the European Commission in an effort to help reform the EU in the wake of Brexit.
10 Mar 20
MEPs urge EU and Member States to intensify Coronavirus containment efforts
The call, during an emergency debate in Parliament on Tuesday, comes after it was announced that Italy is in lockdown in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
09 Mar 20
European Parliament to hold special one day plenary
The monthly plenary had already been moved to Brussels instead of Strasbourg this week as a precautionary measure against the spread of Coronavirus.
09 Mar 20
First 100 days of von der Leyen Commission: Juggling crises and feting flagship policies
The last three months have seen the EU plunged into full-scale crisis management mode with the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Europe and tensions reaching boiling point on the Greek-Turkish border.
06 Mar 20
Greek Prime Minister: Migrants and asylum seekers must not be used as ‘pawns’
Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the remarks alongside several EU leaders who were visiting Greece's border with Turkey to assess the new crisis over refugees and migrants trying to enter the EU.
06 Mar 20
Talks between EU and UK have entered “crucial phase” says senior MEP
David McAllister, the chair of the European Parliament’s new UK Coordination Group, was speaking following the start this week of EU-UK negotiations on a future partnership.
06 Mar 20
Strasbourg plenary moved to Brussels on Coronavirus concerns
The decision, which has been welcomed by MEPs, means that Parliament’s 705 deputies and their assistants are not required to travel to France for next week’s plenary.
05 Mar 20
‘To be free, to thrive, to lead’: Commission unveils Gender Equality Strategy
The Strategy, which commits the Commission to including an equality perspective in all EU policy areas, is designed to allow women and men, in all their diversity, to be free, to thrive and to lead.
04 Mar 20
Greta Thunberg likens global warming to a 'house which is on fire'
Swedish climate activist tells European Parliament that the 'fire brigade' had not yet been called to put out the blaze. 
03 Mar 20
European Medicines Agency taking action to accelerate development of medical products to treat and coronavirus
Move comes as concern rises over the spread of the disease across Europe and the rest of the world.
03 Mar 20
European Parliament suspends visitor access in bid to reduce spread of coronavirus
Assembly cancels 130 events and shuts off access to visitors for three weeks.
03 Mar 20
Prioritising rare diseases
Millions of Europeans live with at least one of the 6,000 known rare diseases, but campaigners say that too little is done to make this a public health priority at the EU level, reports Martin Banks.