Gerald Callaghan

Commission outlines plans to tackle EU's 'throw-away society'
03 Jul
Commission outlines plans to tackle EU's 'throw-away society'
The European commission has issued a proposal calling on member states to reduce landfill waste and increase recycling. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU approves €1.75bn state aid to 'stabilise' Bulgarian banking system
01 Jul
EU approves €1.75bn state aid to 'stabilise' Bulgarian banking system
 European commission takes steps to 'ensure sufficient liquidity' in Bulgarian banking sector. Gerald Callaghan reports
EU leaders set to approve Juncker as commission president
27 Jun
EU leaders set to approve Juncker as commission president
Jean-Claude Juncker is on course to be announced as the next European commission president. Reports Gerald Callaghan
Ukraine to push ahead with EU association agreement
20 Jun
Ukraine to push ahead with EU association agreement
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has confirmed his government will sign the economic portion of the country's controversial association agreement with the EU. Reports Gerald Callaghan
Eurozone ministers reject stability pact reform
20 Jun
Eurozone ministers reject stability pact reform
Eurozone finance ministers have agreed that the stability and growth pact provides enough flexibility to stimulate economic growth. Gerald Callaghan reports
Italy requires help of EU border agency to 'secure safety' of migrants
20 Jun
Italy requires help of EU border agency to 'secure safety' of migrants
To ensure the safety of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from north Africa, Italy is planning to push for more help from the EU. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU set to meet Kyoto emission reduction targets
15 May
EU set to meet Kyoto emission reduction targets
Ahead of next month's UN climate talks, the EU is on course to meet carbon emission reduction targets. Gerald Callaghan reports
EU and Ukraine secure €1.3bn aid package
14 May
EU and Ukraine secure €1.3bn aid package
Commission president calls for 'trilateral talks' between Moscow, Kyiv and Brussels as Ukraine secures EU aid assistance. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU and African leaders urged to pursue 'ambitious reforms'
14 May
EU and African leaders urged to pursue 'ambitious reforms'
Miguel Ángel Martínez Martínez highlights the important role of the 'parliamentary dimension' for the EU and Africa during 'difficult' times. Gerald Callaghan reports.
Portugal to make 'clean' exit from €78bn EU bailout
05 May
Portugal to make 'clean' exit from €78bn EU bailout
After three years of tough austerity measures, the Portuguese prime minister has announced the country's intention to exit from the 'troika' bailout programme. Reports Gerald Callaghan
Strasbourg round-up: EU solidarity fund
16 Apr
Strasbourg round-up: EU solidarity fund
Rapporteur on the EU solidarity fund, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut believes the fund's 'overhaul' will make it 'faster and more efficient'.
Strasbourg round-up: Fisheries and maritime affairs
16 Apr
Strasbourg round-up: Fisheries and maritime affairs
European maritime affairs and fisheries fund rapporteur, Alain Cadec is pleased with parliament's 'victory' in the fisheries sector, while Knut Fleckenstein, S&D group shadow rapporteur on multiannual funding for the European maritime safety agency stresses the need for more 'sufficient' investment.
Parliament's S&D group unveils €582bn plan to tackle EU unemployment
08 Apr
Parliament's S&D group unveils €582bn plan to tackle EU unemployment
S&D group president Hannes Swoboda outlines his '10-point plan' to get 'Europe back to work'. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU urged to 'closely monitor' new Hungarian government
07 Apr
EU urged to 'closely monitor' new Hungarian government
Following Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán's national election victory, Hannes Swoboda has highlighted the new government's need to 'comply' with EU law. Gerald Callaghan reports
Commission review process threatens to 'undermine' CAP reform
04 Apr
Commission review process threatens to 'undermine' CAP reform
A coalition of centre-right and liberal MEPs have been accused of attempting to "undermine" the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform, by blocking measures aimed at 'greening' the sector. Gerald Callaghan reports
MEPs vote to remove tariffs for Ukrainian goods entering EU
03 Apr
MEPs vote to remove tariffs for Ukrainian goods entering EU
The European parliament has backed a proposal to remove customs duties paid by Ukrainian exporters for their goods to enter the EU market. Gerald Callaghan reports
EFSA guilty of 'maladministration'
31 Mar
EFSA guilty of 'maladministration'
The European ombudsman has concluded that the European food safety authority (EFSA) has committed maladministration in the handling of a conflict of interest concerning one of its working groups. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU proposes new organic farming rules
26 Mar
EU proposes new organic farming rules
The European commission has drafted a proposal which aims to improve organic food production and the labelling of organic products. Gerald Callaghan reports
Ukraine situation highlights EU's need to 'reduce energy dependency'
24 Mar
Ukraine situation highlights EU's need to 'reduce energy dependency'
EU heads of state and government have backed plans to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas imports in light of the situation in Ukraine. Reports Gerald Callaghan
Advanced materials 'play vital role' in developing EU knowledge based economy
12 Dec
Advanced materials 'play vital role' in developing EU knowledge based economy
Advanced materials can play a vital role in Europe's transition to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy. Gerald Callaghan reports
Europe 2020 is 'comprehensive strategy' to promote 'smart, inclusive and sustainable' growth
10 Dec
Europe 2020 is 'comprehensive strategy' to promote 'smart, inclusive and sustainable' growth
European cities are faced with the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint while remaining competitive. Writes Gerald Callaghan
Commission steps up fight against misleading marketing practices
27 Nov
Commission steps up fight against misleading marketing practices
The European commission has agreed on a roadmap to help protect small businesses against misleading marketing practices. Gerald Callaghan reports
EU to revisit ETS aviation tax
23 Nov
EU to revisit ETS aviation tax
Despite calls for the emissions trading scheme to exclude aviation, the EU is pushing for a global agreement to tackle climate change, reports Gerald Callaghan.
EU leaders call for a ceasefire in latest round of Israel-Hamas violence
20 Nov
EU leaders call for a ceasefire in latest round of Israel-Hamas violence
European leaders have called on Israel and Hamas to agree a "rapid" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while voicing their support for Egyptian efforts to mediate, reports Gerald Callaghan.
EU voices support for Syrian opposition
20 Nov
EU voices support for Syrian opposition
EU foreign ministers have voiced their support for a new Syrian opposition coalition, describing them as the "legitimate representatives" of the Syrian people. Reports Gerald Callaghan.
Shark fin soup places 'unsustainable and crippling demand' on populations
12 Nov
Shark fin soup places 'unsustainable and crippling demand' on populations
MEPs are set vote on closing loopholes in fishing legislation to tackle the controversial practice of shark finning. Gerald Callaghan reports
EU urged to do more to support nanoelectronics sector
07 Nov
EU urged to do more to support nanoelectronics sector
Nanoelectronic technologies are vital for Europe's strategic future and the EU must retain the capacity for their production. Desmond Hinton-Beales and Gerald Callaghan report
European space research has positive 'trickle-down effect' on economy
25 Oct
European space research has positive 'trickle-down effect' on economy
Despite the high costs involved, the European space programme has a positive effect on the lives of all EU citizens. Gerald Callaghan reports
Agreement reached on terms for Scottish referendum
25 Oct
Agreement reached on terms for Scottish referendum
Holyrood and Westminster have agreed terms for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Gerald Callaghan reports
Eurozone leaders urged to push ahead with fiscal reforms
09 Oct
Eurozone leaders urged to push ahead with fiscal reforms
European Central Bank (ECB) president, Mario Draghi has urged eurozone leaders to continue implementing the necessary fiscal reforms in order to protect the economy, as he warned of difficult times ahead. Gerald Callaghan reports
EU growth a priority for incoming Irish presidency
04 Oct
EU growth a priority for incoming Irish presidency
The EU's top priority must be growth, European commission president José Manuel Barroso has said, ahead of Ireland's seventh presidency of the council of ministers. Reports Gerald Callaghan.
Experts call for introduction of EU banking barriers
02 Oct
Experts call for introduction of EU banking barriers
A high-level expert group has delivered a report to the European commission that said risky financial activities must be legally separated from deposit holding banking to ensure consumer safety. Gerald Callaghan reports
Member states told to 'accept responsibility' for illegal CIA renditions
12 Sep
Member states told to 'accept responsibility' for illegal CIA renditions
On the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, MEPs have sent a strong message that the European Union must not sacrifice the human rights of its citizens in the fight against terror. Reports Gerald Callaghan
EU commissioners warn challenges remain 'huge' in Horn of Africa
23 Jul
EU commissioners warn challenges remain 'huge' in Horn of Africa
European commissioners Kristalina Georgieva and Andris Piebalgs have warned that there is still work to be done to reduce the scale and severity of future crises in the horn of Africa.
Commissioner urges opening of EU-Japan trade negotiations
19 Jul
Commissioner urges opening of EU-Japan trade negotiations
The European commission has asked member states to "give the green light" for the opening of negotiations on a free trade deal with Japan, EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht has announced. Reports Gerald Callaghan
Member states urged to ensure cohesion funds reach regions and cities
13 Jul
Member states urged to ensure cohesion funds reach regions and cities
MEPs from the European parliament's regional development committee (REGI) have called for member states to ensure that EU cohesion funds reach Europe's regions and cities. Gerald Callaghan reports