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
Campaign aims to end ‘abuse’ of citizens’ personal data by tech giants
02 Mar Tech & Research
Campaign aims to end ‘abuse’ of citizens’ personal data by tech giants
The move comes amid an ongoing bitter dispute between Australia and Facebook.
MEPs back proposals requiring firms to comply with human rights and environmental standards
02 Mar Justice
MEPs back proposals requiring firms to comply with human rights and environmental standards
The draft legislative initiative calls on the Commission to urgently present a law that ensures companies are held accountable and liable when they harm - or contribute to harming - human rights, the environment and good governance.
Policymakers to converge for high-level event on women’s rights
01 Mar Justice
Policymakers to converge for high-level event on women’s rights
Participants will include Parliament President David Sassoli, the president of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, her Commission counterpart Ursula von der Leyen and EU Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli.
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
01 Mar Health
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
Markus Ferber, a member of Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, takes aim at Member States over their implementation of the EU’s €750bn economic recovery plan.
EU rules on long distance animal transportation regularly flouted, MEPs told
01 Mar
EU rules on long distance animal transportation regularly flouted, MEPs told
Hearing by European Parliament inquiry committee part of MEP probe into alleged violations of animal welfare.
5G: An essential infrastructure Event Coverage
01 Mar Tech & Research
5G: An essential infrastructure
This pandemic revealed just how crucial the telecommunications sector is to society; it could yet play an even bigger role realising Europe’s vision of a greener, digital future. Jon Benton and Ana Gallego report on a recent webinar on the future of European telecoms.
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
26 Feb Health
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
European Parliament’s Socialist MEPs also want pharmaceutical giants to research against potential future Coronavirus variants and strains.
Movers and Shakers | 26 February 2021
26 Feb EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 26 February 2021
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
David Sassoli admits EU vaccines strategy marked by ‘mistakes’ and ‘shortcomings’
25 Feb EU Institutions
David Sassoli admits EU vaccines strategy marked by ‘mistakes’ and ‘shortcomings’
The European Parliament President said, “I am not giving away any secrets here as the Commission itself has admitted there have been deficiencies and shortcomings.”
MEPs throw weight behind call to end use of cages for farmed animals in EU
25 Feb Agriculture & Food
MEPs throw weight behind call to end use of cages for farmed animals in EU
Over 300 million farmed animals are kept in cages each year in the EU.
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
24 Feb Health
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
Thursday and Friday's European Council meeting will see leaders discuss the EU’s response to the ongoing pandemic and the vaccination rollout strategy.
MEPs write to French and UK governments to safeguard future of Eurostar
24 Feb Mobility
MEPs write to French and UK governments to safeguard future of Eurostar
Eurostar runs the London to Paris and London to Brussels rail services that go under the Channel Tunnel.
MEPs welcome Parliament’s post-Brexit engagement with younger generations of UK citizens
23 Feb International & Trade
MEPs welcome Parliament’s post-Brexit engagement with younger generations of UK citizens
The European Parliament says it will maintain its presence in the UK, notably through its London office.
Plight of Europe’s Roma further exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic
22 Feb Jobs & Social Rights
Plight of Europe’s Roma further exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic
The claim has been made by the Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Programme.
European Commission receives mixed reaction to new trade strategy
22 Feb International & Trade
European Commission receives mixed reaction to new trade strategy
The executive launched a major review process of the EU’s trade policy last year and this concluded with the presentation of a “renewed” policy by its vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis.
EU could follow Australia in addressing Big Tech’s “acute bargaining power imbalances”
19 Feb Tech & Research
EU could follow Australia in addressing Big Tech’s “acute bargaining power imbalances”
European policymakers, such as Digital Services Act rapporteur MEP Alex Agius Saliba, are monitoring the situation in Australia which has seen Facebook suspend access to domestic news publishers.
World’s richest countries accused of hoarding COVID-19 vaccines
19 Feb International & Trade
World’s richest countries accused of hoarding COVID-19 vaccines
New analysis by global anti-poverty organisation The ONE Campaign claims to show that the world’s richest countries are on course to accumulate more than 1 billion more doses than they would need to fully vaccinate all their own citizens.
Guy Verhofstadt: EU Coronavirus vaccine contracts “very unbalanced”
19 Feb Health
Guy Verhofstadt: EU Coronavirus vaccine contracts “very unbalanced”
The senior MEP has strongly criticised the EU’s vaccination strategy which has come under increasing fire in recent weeks.
Movers and Shakers | 19 February 2021
19 Feb EU Institutions
Movers and Shakers | 19 February 2021
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
Ursula von der Leyen rules out Scottish and Welsh inclusion in EU’s Erasmus programme
17 Feb International & Trade
Ursula von der Leyen rules out Scottish and Welsh inclusion in EU’s Erasmus programme
European Commission president tells MEPs that only possibility for constituent UK nations to participate in flagship student exchange scheme is ‘as a whole, or not at all’.
European Parliament to become Coronavirus vaccination centre
16 Feb EU Institutions
European Parliament to become Coronavirus vaccination centre
Each of its locations will be used to support vaccination efforts across Europe, as of 22 February.
MEPs voice concern over ‘discrimination’ faced by some EU citizens when visiting UK
15 Feb International & Trade
MEPs voice concern over ‘discrimination’ faced by some EU citizens when visiting UK
In a letter they have called on the European Commission to take measures to ensure that citizens from Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia no longer face such discrimination.
Group leaders and cross-party MEPs join forces to demand faster EU vaccine rollout
15 Feb Health
Group leaders and cross-party MEPs join forces to demand faster EU vaccine rollout
The plea comes with the rollout in all EU countries woefully behind others such as Israel and the United States.
Time to put EU's Coronavirus recovery plan in motion says Portuguese presidency chief
15 Feb Industry & Finance
Time to put EU's Coronavirus recovery plan in motion says Portuguese presidency chief
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa tells MEPs that EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is a ‘vitamin’ to aid Europe's economic revival.