30 Jun 20
Margaritis Schinas under fire for failing to respond to complaint by leading rights group
The European Commission Vice-President was initially lambasted by the European Network Against Racism after comments he reportedly made following the death of George Floyd in the United States.
30 Jun 20
WHO forced to defend contribution to tackling COVID-19 after blistering attack by MEP
ID member Silvia Sardone launched an attack on the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom, when he spoke to a parliamentary committee via video link.
30 Jun 20
MEPs welcome decision to establish animal welfare committee in Parliament
Animal welfare campaign groups say the establishment of a special committee is particularly timely as the trade in live animal transportation is increasing across Europe.
29 Jun 20
Parliament hopes to resume plenary sessions in Strasbourg in September
Parliament cancelled all plenary sessions in the French city due to the spread of the Coronavirus - the last parliamentary session held there was in February.
29 Jun 20
Intensified Brexit talks kick off with first face-to-face meetings since COVID-19 outbreak
It is hoped that the resumption of “physical” negotiations, as opposed to conference calls, will facilitate a speeding up of the deadlocked discussions.
26 Jun 20
German EU presidency urged to ‘show an interest’ in bloc at time of unprecedented challenges
Germany takes over the rotating presidency from Croatia on 1 July, against a backdrop of crises, including the Coronavirus pandemic, Brexit and the still-unapproved long-term EU budget.
25 Jun 20
Conference on Future of Europe is chance to achieve ‘more democratic, legitimate and effective Union’
Senior MEP Danuta Hübner was speaking after MEPs adopted a resolution calling for the much-delayed conference to start as soon as possible.
25 Jun 20
EU responded ‘poorly’ to Coronavirus crisis, survey shows
The poll says that “majorities in all countries” complained that the EU “did not rise to the challenge” - this includes 63 percent in Italy and 61 percent in France, two of the worst-hit countries.
24 Jun 20
European Commission says GDPR has met ‘most of its objectives’
The verdict comes on the second anniversary of the landmark General Data Protection Regulation, the flagship EU law designed to protect personal data.
24 Jun 20
Europol voices concern over ‘worrying’ rise in violence and propaganda by right-wing extremists
The warning comes in a report by the EU agency which was presented to members of Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday.
24 Jun 20
Parliament praised for decision to set up special committee on cancer
The committee is tasked with identifying legislation and other measures that can help prevent and fight cancer, as well as examining ways to support further research into the disease.
23 Jun 20
Macron and Merkel have ‘lot of work to do’ to reach EU recovery plan deal, says senior MEP
Greens co-leader Philippe Lamberts was speaking on Tuesday ahead of a key meeting between the French President and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
23 Jun 20
EU leaders accused of ‘failing to act’ to combat institutional and structural racism
The condemnation, from a leading NGO, comes in the wake of an official complaint by black MEP Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana who said she had been a victim of alleged police violence by officers in Brussels.
22 Jun 20
Dominic Cummings “is calling the shots” in the British government, says senior MEP
The controversial political strategist has served as chief adviser to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson since July 2019.
19 Jun 20
Boris Johnson told to follow up on his demand to ‘put a tiger in the tank' of stalled Brexit talks
European Parliament’s UK Coordination Group deputies warn ‘level playing field’ is an EU red line issue.
19 Jun 20
EU leaders mustn’t backtrack on Recovery Package, warns David Sassoli
There can be ‘no going back’ from level of ambition expressed in the Commission package, says European Parliament President.
18 Jun 20
Josep Borrell singles out China for disinformation campaign against the West
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs said that China, and to a lesser extent, Russia, had “participated in this” during the ongoing health crisis.
18 Jun 20
‘Legendary British pragmatism’ will secure trade deal with EU by year end, says senior MEP
The co-author of a parliamentary report on Brexit said this is still the likely scenario despite “four years of drama and the UK painfully coming to grips” with its EU exit.
18 Jun 20
MEPs looking for clear message from EU leaders’ summit later this week
Senior EU parliamentarians looking for national governments to move forward on crucial issues such as Rule of law, financing, Coronavirus recovery and future of Europe.
17 Jun 20
MEPs condemn George Floyd killing in plenary debate
The debate began with a personal story of alleged police violence on Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, a German Greens MEP.
16 Jun 20
Parliament should have say on €750bn recovery plan implementation, say MEPs
Fears have emerged that Parliament will be sidelined in how the recovery package is implemented and President David Sassoli has publicly stated the institution “must be fully involved.”
16 Jun 20
EU and UK urged not to ‘indulge in a blame game’ over deadlocked Brexit talks
A senior member of Parliament’s UK Coordination Group told this website the EU should still hold out for a “comprehensive” trade agreement with Britain and not the “piecemeal approach the UK wants.”
15 Jun 20
Key Brexit meeting concludes ‘more momentum’ needed to break deadlock
The two sides had a video conference on Monday afternoon which appears to have amounted to little more than a stock-taking exercise.
15 Jun 20
MEPs ask Parliament to help support staff affected by Coronavirus crisis
A letter signed by several MEPs from the Greens, Socialists and GUE political groups says that scores of “service provider” employees have been affected by the crisis.