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.
‘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.
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.”
EU agrees tough new 2030 climate targets
11 Dec
EU agrees tough new 2030 climate targets
But new plan to cut carbon emissions by at least 55 percent over the next decade, criticised for falling short of the scale of emission reduction needed.
EU strikes Compromise agreement with Hungary and Poland over next long term budget
11 Dec
EU strikes Compromise agreement with Hungary and Poland over next long term budget
Business groups welcome long-awaited deal, but critics call ‘rule of law’ compromise a ‘capitulation’.
EU institutions reach agreement on new interinstitutional transparency register
11 Dec
EU institutions reach agreement on new interinstitutional transparency register
Senior Polish MEP Danuta Hübner says move marks important step towards a more open and accountable European Union.
European Medicines Agency chief says safe and effective vaccine will not be ‘silver bullet’ on its own
10 Dec
European Medicines Agency chief says safe and effective vaccine will not be ‘silver bullet’ on its own
EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said, “A vaccine will become a key component but, on its own, it will not be the silver bullet which will allow us to return to normal life.”
MEPs tell EU leaders that bloc's values are ‘non-negotiable’ as summit kicks off
10 Dec
MEPs tell EU leaders that bloc's values are ‘non-negotiable’ as summit kicks off
A petition, signed by 27 deputies from various groups, also urges leaders not to accept blackmailing from Poland and Hungary.
Sunday is crunch day as EU and UK set another Brexit deadline
10 Dec
Sunday is crunch day as EU and UK set another Brexit deadline
A dinner meeting between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson in Brussels on Wednesday evening failed to yield a breakthrough in the deadlocked talks.
Four Italian MEPs join Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
09 Dec
Four Italian MEPs join Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
Ignazio Corrao, Eleonora Evi, Piernicola Pedicini and Rosa D’Amato have defended their earlier participation in the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group alongside British Eurosceptic Nigel Farage.
Mayor of London urges EU and UK to continue talks until trade deal is reached
09 Dec
Mayor of London urges EU and UK to continue talks until trade deal is reached
Sadiq Khan’s plea comes just ahead of a key meeting over dinner in Brussels later on Wednesday between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson.
Hungarian and Polish citizens sign petition supporting rule of law conditionality
09 Dec
Hungarian and Polish citizens sign petition supporting rule of law conditionality
Over 300,000 people in Hungary and Poland have given their support to the mechanism, which binds future EU funding to respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Alexei Navalny joins MEPs in welcoming European Magnitsky Act
08 Dec
Alexei Navalny joins MEPs in welcoming European Magnitsky Act
The new mechanism was adopted on Monday by EU foreign affairs ministers and paves the way for an easier and faster procedure for joint EU sanctions against human rights abuses.
EU and UK ‘running out of time’ as von der Leyen and Johnson gear up for Brussels meeting
08 Dec
EU and UK ‘running out of time’ as von der Leyen and Johnson gear up for Brussels meeting
Manfred Weber, the leader of the EPP Group in Parliament, was speaking after it emerged that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will come to Brussels “in the coming days” for a physical meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.