Martin Banks

Martin Banks is a senior reporter at the Parliament Magazine

MEPs back plans to enable more women to stand for election to Parliament
26 Nov EU Institutions
MEPs back plans to enable more women to stand for election to Parliament
In a new resolution, deputies have called for reforms ahead of the 2024 European elections through “zipped” lists or similar initiatives to achieve more gender balance in Parliament.
MEPs welcome new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
26 Nov Health
MEPs welcome new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
The European Commission’s Strategy, which aims to ensure the supply of medicines and vaccines to all citizens, also seeks to encourage innovation by European pharmaceutical companies.
Still ‘strong support’ for EU’s principles and leadership on global issues, says EU-wide poll
26 Nov Jobs & Social Rights
Still ‘strong support’ for EU’s principles and leadership on global issues, says EU-wide poll
The poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank in cooperation with Danish Tænketanken EUROPA, also found that over 40 percent of those surveyed in eight countries have concerns about their country’s influence within the bloc.
EU urged to 'do more' to promote gender equality in distribution of top jobs
25 Nov EU Institutions
EU urged to 'do more' to promote gender equality in distribution of top jobs
The demand comes after MEPs gave the green light this week to a controversial appointment to the European Central Bank’s Executive Board.
Former British MEP says EU stands to lose more than UK from No Deal Brexit
24 Nov International & Trade
Former British MEP says EU stands to lose more than UK from No Deal Brexit
Former ECR Group deputy David Campbell Bannerman said, “I had hoped we would end up with a super Canada deal but the thing currently on offer seems much thinner and I think that is a mistake.”
World ‘must learn lessons’ from Coronavirus crisis to help in fight against superbugs
24 Nov Health
World ‘must learn lessons’ from Coronavirus crisis to help in fight against superbugs
An online debate on Tuesday heard that preparing for a future health pandemic will be crucial in saving the lives of up to 50 million people.
Disinfection robots to be delivered to hospitals across EU to fight COVID-19
23 Nov Health
Disinfection robots to be delivered to hospitals across EU to fight COVID-19
The robots can disinfect standard patient rooms, using ultraviolet light, in as quickly as 15 minutes.
Senior MEP warns that ‘big divergencies’ still threaten to torpedo Brexit deal
23 Nov International & Trade
Senior MEP warns that ‘big divergencies’ still threaten to torpedo Brexit deal
Nathalie Loiseau has tempered expectations that the UK and EU are about to broker a deal, saying, “We are offering an unprecedented partnership with the UK, but this comes with clarity and commitments, and so far they are missing.”
MEPs call for EU action plan to address ‘disastrous’ impact health pandemic has had on sport
20 Nov Health
MEPs call for EU action plan to address ‘disastrous’ impact health pandemic has had on sport
COVID-19 crisis predicted to have serious long-term impact on both sport and young people’s health and wellbeing.
Herman Van Rompuy: EU should continue on path of autonomy
20 Nov International & Trade
Herman Van Rompuy: EU should continue on path of autonomy
The former Council President made the remark at the EPC annual conference, and predicted that geo-politics will “change dramatically” following the election of Joe Biden in the U.S.
ECDC downplays fears that infected mink could infect humans with Coronavirus
19 Nov Health
ECDC downplays fears that infected mink could infect humans with Coronavirus
Following a mass cull of infected mink in two European countries, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has concluded that the risk to humans is “low.”
EU leaders gear up for online summit overshadowed by Poland and Hungary row
19 Nov EU Institutions
EU leaders gear up for online summit overshadowed by Poland and Hungary row
Leaders are hoping to resolve an impasse that is holding up agreement on the €1.85tr budget and Coronavirus recovery plan.
EU and UK in ‘final push’ to reach Brexit deal, says Commission Vice-President
18 Nov International & Trade
EU and UK in ‘final push’ to reach Brexit deal, says Commission Vice-President
The comments by Valdis Dombrovskis on Wednesday come with the two sides locked in talks in Brussels in an effort to resolve the remaining obstacles to a deal.
Report on Parliament’s carbon footprint branded ‘public relations exercise’
18 Nov EU Institutions
Report on Parliament’s carbon footprint branded ‘public relations exercise’
The report says the assembly’s current two-seat arrangement, which sees MEPs regularly switching between Brussels and Strasbourg, is unsustainable.
MEPs urge EU to ensure reciprocal access to fishing waters in ongoing Brexit talks
18 Nov International & Trade
MEPs urge EU to ensure reciprocal access to fishing waters in ongoing Brexit talks
Deputies argue that European fishermen should continue to have “unlimited” access to UK waters, irrespective of whether a deal is done or not.
Hungary and Poland refuse to back EU long-term budget and recovery package
17 Nov EU Institutions
Hungary and Poland refuse to back EU long-term budget and recovery package
The move has plunged the bloc into a new crisis and leaders are hoping to find a way out of the impasse when they hold a virtual EU summit on Thursday.
MEPs say EU must respond to future health crises ‘more quickly and efficiently’
16 Nov Health
MEPs say EU must respond to future health crises ‘more quickly and efficiently’
On Monday, Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee held a preliminary discussion on the European Commission’s proposals to deal with future serious cross-border health threats.
MEPs call for more to be done to help staff working from home during pandemic
13 Nov Health
MEPs call for more to be done to help staff working from home during pandemic
Call comes after European Parliament went into effective lockdown in bid to curb sharp rise in Coronavirus cases.
EU calls for speedy approval of newly agreed seven-year budget
13 Nov EU Institutions
EU calls for speedy approval of newly agreed seven-year budget
Concerns that Poland and Hungary could delay sign-off because of opposition to rule of law mechanism.
MEPs welcome Joe Biden presidency as new era in transatlantic relationship
13 Nov International & Trade
MEPs welcome Joe Biden presidency as new era in transatlantic relationship
European Parliament urged to invite US president-elect to address MEPs.
Senior MEP takes aim at UK government over Internal Market Bill
12 Nov International & Trade
Senior MEP takes aim at UK government over Internal Market Bill
Greens/EFA vice-chair Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield has condemned the UK government for refusing to comply with the House of Lords vote and remove the offending parts of the Brexit legislation.
MEPs hail Commission’s decision to charge Amazon with breaching EU antitrust rules
12 Nov Industry & Finance
MEPs hail Commission’s decision to charge Amazon with breaching EU antitrust rules
This comes after EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said the company had misused data of third-party merchants that rely on Amazon’s online marketplace to favour its own products.
UK and EU in ‘last chance saloon’ to reach Brexit deal, say senior MEPs
11 Nov International & Trade
UK and EU in ‘last chance saloon’ to reach Brexit deal, say senior MEPs
The resumed Brexit talks are continuing in London for the rest of the week with fisheries and the Irish border issue among the main sticking points.
European Commission close to finalising Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine deal
10 Nov Health
European Commission close to finalising Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine deal
The news comes after it emerged that Pfizer and BioNTech have developed a vaccine that is 90 percent effective against the Coronavirus, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Europe and globally.
ECA calls for ‘robust and efficient management’ of Coronavirus recovery package
10 Nov EU Institutions
ECA calls for ‘robust and efficient management’ of Coronavirus recovery package
The demand by the European Court of Auditors, the EU’s spending watchdog, comes after publication of its annual report for the 2019 financial year.
UK imposes ban on non-UK citizens coming from Denmark
09 Nov Health
UK imposes ban on non-UK citizens coming from Denmark
The move, which Denmark has branded “drastic”, comes amid concerns over a new Coronavirus strain that has spread from mink to humans.
Viktor Orbán threatens to veto EU budget and Coronavirus recovery plan
09 Nov Justice
Viktor Orbán threatens to veto EU budget and Coronavirus recovery plan
This comes after Member States and Parliament reached an agreement on a new mechanism allowing the EU to cut funding over rule of law concerns in Member States.
European Parliament returns to lockdown
06 Nov EU Institutions
European Parliament returns to lockdown
However, parliamentary activities such as committee meetings, hearings and plenaries will continue online.
EU’s Beating Cancer Plan more ‘vital’ than ever, says EU Health commissioner
03 Nov Health
EU’s Beating Cancer Plan more ‘vital’ than ever, says EU Health commissioner
Addressing MEPs from the new Special Committee on Beating Cancer, Stella Kyriakides said the Plan will help plug the gaps in national cancer care treatment.
European Parliament’s new IMCO chair told she has ‘big shoes to fill’
29 Oct International & Trade
European Parliament’s new IMCO chair told she has ‘big shoes to fill’
Newly appointed Committee chair Anna Cavazzini says Coronavirus crisis has shown that achievements of the EU’s internal market shouldn’t be taken for granted.
#EPGenderEqualityWeek: Women still ‘incredibly underrepresented’ in senior posts, says new study
29 Oct EU Institutions
#EPGenderEqualityWeek: Women still ‘incredibly underrepresented’ in senior posts, says new study
Report’s author, German MEP Hannah Neumann, says process of achieving gender balance needs speeded up.
MEPs call on EU to take action against Polish abortion ban as protests spread across the country
28 Oct Health
MEPs call on EU to take action against Polish abortion ban as protests spread across the country
Abortion ruling condemned as an attack on women's rights and sexual self-determination.
European Commission unveils new measures to help limit COVID-19 spread
28 Oct Health
European Commission unveils new measures to help limit COVID-19 spread
Announcement comes as EU executive reveals that nearly 450 staff and officials have tested positive for Coronavirus.
European Commission backs France in its ‘war of words’ with Turkey
27 Oct International & Trade
European Commission backs France in its ‘war of words’ with Turkey
Move comes amid increasing tension between Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
EU struggles to hold Member States to account over animal transport breaches
27 Oct Agriculture & Food
EU struggles to hold Member States to account over animal transport breaches
MEPs voice concern about the injury and suffering caused to animals during transport across Europe.
EU investigating whether Hungarian state aid spending is undermining media freedom
26 Oct EU Institutions
EU investigating whether Hungarian state aid spending is undermining media freedom
Press freedom watchdog warns that Hungarian Foreign Affairs Ministry has written to embassies instructing them to monitor Hungarian journalists.