EU leaders agree to keep Europe’s borders open
22 Jan Health

EU leaders agree to keep Europe’s borders open

However, with fresh fears of new strains of the coronavirus, they have warned again non-essential travel.
by Martin Banks
UK in diplomatic spat with EU over ambassador rights
22 Jan International & Trade
UK in diplomatic spat with EU over ambassador rights
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
21 Jan Health
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
MEPs greet Joe Biden presidency as beginning of 'new era' for transatlantic relations
21 Jan International & Trade
MEPs greet Joe Biden presidency as beginning of 'new era' for transatlantic relations
Manfred Weber blasts Viktor Orbán over nationalist-populist approach and culture war
05 Jan EU Institutions
Manfred Weber blasts Viktor Orbán over nationalist-populist approach and culture war
The controversial Hungarian Prime Minister has been accused by the EPP group leader of wanting to "destroy" the EU in a scathing interview.
EU outlines adjustment fund for sectors potentially impacted by Brexit
30 Dec International & Trade
EU outlines adjustment fund for sectors potentially impacted by Brexit
Reserve will have an overall budget of €5bn and support businesses and workers worst affected by the UK leaving the EU.
EU Member States and European Parliament provisionally approve Brexit deal
30 Dec International & Trade
EU Member States and European Parliament provisionally approve Brexit deal
New agreement was given green light at separate meetings of EU ambassadors and group leaders of the European parliament earlier this week.
5 Questions with... Vlad Gheorghe
29 Dec EU Institutions
5 Questions with... Vlad Gheorghe
Vlad Gheorghe (RO, RE) is a member of the European Parliament’s Budgets Committee.
How can the EU better develop its research, education and innovation ‘knowledge triangle’? Event Coverage
28 Dec Tech & Research
How can the EU better develop its research, education and innovation ‘knowledge triangle’?
Locating research centres next to universities can help ensure that investment in research is translated into business opportunities, reports Martin Banks.
European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
24 Dec International & Trade
European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
On Thursday evening, David Sassoli said, “The Parliament thanks and congratulates the EU and UK negotiators for their intense efforts to reach, albeit at the last minute, this historic agreement.”
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
24 Dec International & Trade
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
After months of tortuous wrangling, the two sides finally reached agreement on a trade deal on Christmas Eve, just days before the end of the transition period.
France resumes transport links with UK on condition travellers get negative COVID-19 test
23 Dec International & Trade
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 International & Trade
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 Event Coverage
23 Dec Health
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 International & Trade
‘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 EU Institutions
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 EU Institutions
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 Health
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 International & Trade
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 Tech & Research
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 International & Trade
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 Health
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 Justice
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 International & Trade
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 Energy & Climate
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 Institutions
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
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.
Movers and Shakers | 11 December 2020
11 Dec EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 11 December 2020
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.