18 Sep 20
EU unveils long-awaited action plan to tackle racism
Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli says EU needs to ‘turn the tide’ on racism and racial discrimination.
18 Sep 20
Brexit war of words heats up as European Commission President responds to UK threat to break Withdrawal Agreement with Margaret Thatcher quote
Ursula von der Leyen says UK should remember that Margaret Thatcher once said the UK does not break treaties as it would be bad for Britain and bad for trade.
18 Sep 20
EU to appoint first ever Anti-Racism Coordinator
European Commission president announces new measures including an Anti-Racism Action Plan.
18 Sep 20
Von der Leyen ups ante on EU emission cuts
European Commission president plans to increase the EU’s 2030 emissions reduction target to at least 55 percent has been met with a mixed response from environmentalists and industry.
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18 Sep 20
Access to more and better data key to delivering high standards of animal welfare and sustainable food production
A comprehensive, ‘One Health’ approach to animal husbandry recognises that animal, human and environmental health are interdependent, report Brian Johnson and Ana Gallego.
16 Sep 20
MEPs stand in rainbow-hued solidarity with Polish LGBTI community
The solidarity action in front of the European Parliament on Tuesday comes against a backdrop of mounting pressure on the EU to trigger an unprecedented mechanism against Poland that would effectively suspend its EU membership.
16 Sep 20
Ursula von der Leyen sets out Commission’s plans for “Europe to lead the way to a new vitality”
In her first State of the Union address to MEPs, the Commission President said such “vitality” contrasted with the current “fragility” of the world, highlighted by the ongoing health crisis.
16 Sep 20
Ursula von der Leyen delivers first State of the European Union address
In a marathon speech running for more than an hour, the Commission President announced a series of ground-breaking new proposals and addressed some of the Union's most sensitive issues. We live tweeted the entire address.
15 Sep 20
Greens MEP calls for urgent action to help migrants made homeless after Moria fire
Speaking direct from Lesbos on Tuesday, Erik Marquardt said that many of the 13,000 migrants and refugees have been forced to sleep rough on the streets after a devastating fire tore through the Moria camp.
15 Sep 20
Socialist leader lambasts Boris Johnson over failure to comply with international law
On Monday, the British House of Commons voted on a controversial new bill published by the government. MPs backed the Internal Market Bill by 340 votes to 263.
15 Sep 20
EU foreign affairs chief: Europe faces threat from three ‘re-emerging empires’
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Josep Borrell said the three resurgent “empires” were Russia, China and Turkey.
14 Sep 20
MEPs join forces to outline series of demands to salvage Withdrawal Agreement
Irish MEP Barry Andrews has teamed up with fellow deputies in demanding that the EU “makes clear that it will not tolerate” any breach of the Withdrawal Agreement.
14 Sep 20
Commission President gears up for first “State of the European Union” address
On Wednesday Ursula von der Leyen will outline the impact of the Commission’s work in mitigating the COVID-19 health and economic crisis and present her vision for recovery and the fight against climate change.
11 Sep 20
Brexit talks on brink of collapse as war of words intensifies
The EU says trust between Brussels and London has been “seriously damaged” after the UK passed legislation this week that overrides the Withdrawal Agreement.
11 Sep 20
Commuting death sentences of Jamal Khashoggi’s killers a ‘travesty’, say MEPs and NGO
10 Sep 20
European Parliament President ‘deeply worried’ at prospect of No Deal Brexit
David Sassoli was speaking following a meeting with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as the eighth round of talks draw to a close, seemingly with no sign of progress on issues like state aid, fisheries and the level playing field.
10 Sep 20
Row flares in European Parliament over devastating Moria fire
The blaze ripped through the Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Tuesday, with another fire wiping out any remaining tents on Wednesday.
09 Sep 20
European Parliament President cancels Strasbourg plenary amid COVID-19 concerns
David Sassoli has ruled that next week’s plenary will now take place in Brussels and not in Strasbourg as planned.
09 Sep 20
Former European Parliament President and Vice-President condemn UK’s current Brexit stance
The attack on Wednesday by Pat Cox and Edward McMillan-Scott, comes on the day the British government publishes plans for policing trade between different parts of the country from 2021.
08 Sep 20
Mairead McGuinness appointment as Ireland’s next EU commissioner widely welcomed
Ireland loses the coveted trade portfolio following the recent resignation of Phil Hogan as trade commissioner, but McGuinness has been offered the financial services portfolio.
08 Sep 20
European Parliament under pressure to reverse decision to hold plenary in Strasbourg
MEPs from across the political divide are imploring Parliament’s authorities to hold the session in Brussels instead due to concerns about the ongoing health crisis.
08 Sep 20
UK close to becoming ‘rogue state’ after ‘reneging’ on Withdrawal Agreement, says Greens co-leader
Philippe Lamberts has sparked fury after he asked in an interview if the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, should trust the words of the British negotiators.
07 Sep 20
Commission President interviews Ireland’s two commissioner candidates
Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell have been nominated by the Irish government as candidates to fill the role recently vacated by Phil Hogan after the “Golfgate” scandal.
07 Sep 20
UK mulls ‘override’ of key sections of Brexit Withdrawal Agreement ahead of new round of trade deal talks with EU
Threat comes as MEPs warn UK that European Parliament ‘will not rubberstamp’ any new deal.