Plenary vote on EU-UK Agreement in limbo pending Brexit deal assurances
16 Apr International & Trade

Plenary vote on EU-UK Agreement in limbo pending Brexit deal assurances

Despite approval from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade committees, the European Parliament has decided not to set a date for the final vote until the UK fully implements the Withdrawal Agreement.
by Martin Banks
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
16 Apr Health
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
Europol voices concern over rise in online child abuse during pandemic
15 Apr Justice
Europol voices concern over rise in online child abuse during pandemic
Parliament’s trade and foreign affairs committees gear up for Brexit trade deal vote
15 Apr International & Trade
Parliament’s trade and foreign affairs committees gear up for Brexit trade deal vote
Movers and Shakers | 16 April 2021
16 Apr EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 16 April 2021
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
Jourová says Commission following ‘with concern’ Polish Ombudsman removal
15 Apr Justice
Jourová says Commission following ‘with concern’ Polish Ombudsman removal
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal has removed human rights watchdog Adam Bodnar from his position, eliminating one of the last vestiges of independent scrutiny of the PiS government.
Parliament delays Brexit trade deal ratification; MEP says ‘cool heads must prevail’
14 Apr International & Trade
Parliament delays Brexit trade deal ratification; MEP says ‘cool heads must prevail’
Members of the committees on trade and foreign affairs will vote on the deal on Thursday, but the vote in plenary will take place at a later, thus far undefined, date.
Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines
14 Apr Health
Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the additional doses will be available in the second quarter, starting in April, rather than in the last quarter of this year as originally planned.
Campaigners to step up efforts to ban use of cages for farmed animals
14 Apr Agriculture & Food
Campaigners to step up efforts to ban use of cages for farmed animals
Renewed calls for a ban will come when Parliament holds a hearing on the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative.
First step towards sainthood of Robert Schuman is ‘wonderful’, says senior MEP
13 Apr EU Institutions
First step towards sainthood of Robert Schuman is ‘wonderful’, says senior MEP
It is reported that Pope Francis could recognise the “heroic virtues” of one of the EU’s founding fathers within weeks.
Hungary and Belgium face criticism in Amnesty International report
13 Apr Justice
Hungary and Belgium face criticism in Amnesty International report
In its 2020 annual report on the state of human rights around the world, the charity says the health pandemic has thrown into stark relief, and sometimes aggravated, existing inequalities and patterns of abuse.
Pandemic has underlined need for more legal migration for low-paid work, say MEPs
13 Apr Jobs & Social Rights
Pandemic has underlined need for more legal migration for low-paid work, say MEPs
Deputies have demanded new legal ways for people to come and work in the EU, including instruments enabling legal migration for medium and low-paid employment.
Rights group calls for “tough sanctions” on Turkey
12 Apr International & Trade
Rights group calls for “tough sanctions” on Turkey
The StopErdoganNow group says the EEAS is not taking concerns about alleged human rights violations in Turkey seriously enough.
Wave of Brexit-related rioting hits Northern Ireland
09 Apr International & Trade
Wave of Brexit-related rioting hits Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Protocol seen as cause of Loyalist-led riots.
European Commission president leads EU tributes to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
09 Apr International & Trade
European Commission president leads EU tributes to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
British Queen Elizabeth II's consort for more than 70 years passes away aged 99.
Friends and colleagues pay tribute to Former Eurosceptic MEP Jens-Peter Bonde
09 Apr EU Institutions
Friends and colleagues pay tribute to Former Eurosceptic MEP Jens-Peter Bonde
Denmark and Europe will be ‘quieter and less daunting ‘in his absence says former MEP colleague.
Movers and Shakers | 9 April 2021
09 Apr EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 9 April 2021
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
#SofaGate furore rages on as Charles Michel comes under pressure to publicly apologise
08 Apr International & Trade
#SofaGate furore rages on as Charles Michel comes under pressure to publicly apologise
European Council President says he’s saddened by suggestions he was unconcerned by the widely criticised diplomatic gaffe.
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
07 Apr Health
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
This is the first time that the European Medicines Agency has linked the vaccine to blood clots but says the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks.
Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub
07 Apr International & Trade
Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub
The game of musical chairs between Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has sparked widespread criticism – not only of Erdoğan but also of Michel.
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
02 Apr Health
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
European Parliament asks former UK MEP to join Conference on Future of Europe common secretariat
02 Apr EU Institutions
European Parliament asks former UK MEP to join Conference on Future of Europe common secretariat
The peculiarity - and irony - of a former UK politician being asked to join the forum tasked with shaping the long-term future of the EU will not be lost on those involved in the Brexit negotiations.
Movers and Shakers | 2 April 2021
01 Apr EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 2 April 2021
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
MEPs urge EU to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey
01 Apr International & Trade
MEPs urge EU to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey
EPP member Loucas Fourlas and Socialist Costas Mavrides are among those backing calls for the EU to take immediate steps to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey in protest at the country’s alleged human rights violations.
Embracing equality in a digital era Event Coverage
01 Apr Tech & Research
Embracing equality in a digital era
Unless urgent action is taken women will become victims of digital discrimination, a recent event heard. Martin Banks reports.
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
01 Apr Health
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
01 Apr Justice
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
The Commission said it will launch an infringement procedure against Poland over the “muzzle law”, which allows the government to penalise Polish judges for their rulings.
Taking concrete action Event Coverage
01 Apr Industry & Finance
Taking concrete action
The construction sector’s ability to adapt and transition to more sustainable practices could prove instrumental in helping Europe meet its Green Deal objectives, a recent webinar heard. Jon Benton reports.