Martin Banks and Julie Levy-Abegnoli

Parliament approves controversial EU copyright reform
13 Sep
Parliament approves controversial EU copyright reform
MEPs have approved controversial EU copyright reform, which includes a proposal for a publishers’ neighbouring right.
EU Parliament backs sanctions against Hungary
12 Sep
EU Parliament backs sanctions against Hungary
A large majority of MEPs has approved plans to trigger Article 7 against Hungary, which is accused of seriously breaching EU values.
Swedish elections: Main blocs tied as far-right makes gains
10 Sep
Swedish elections: Main blocs tied as far-right makes gains
The Swedish election result has been cautiously welcomed by MEPs.
MEPs voice support for new EU pension product
05 Sep
MEPs voice support for new EU pension product
MEPs have backed plans for new pan-European personal pension product (PEPP) which seeks to derail a “potential pension time bomb.”
EU extends civil protection mechanism as fires rage on
24 Jul
EU extends civil protection mechanism as fires rage on
Greece has become the latest member state to ask the European Commission for help in tackling devastating forest fires currently raging across the country.
Migration crisis, monetary union top agenda for EU Council summit
27 Jun
Migration crisis, monetary union top agenda for EU Council summit
The EU’s 28 leaders will try to forge a united front in tackling migration when they meet for the Council summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
MEPs call on Council summit to come up with common European solution to migration crisis
25 Jun
MEPs call on Council summit to come up with common European solution to migration crisis
A mini-summit in Brussels on Sunday where leaders of 16 EU countries tried to reach agreement on migration issues ended without a formal joint statement.
Poland could be referred to ECJ over controversial judicial reforms
14 Jun
Poland could be referred to ECJ over controversial judicial reforms
Several MEPs have joined forces in calling on the EU to take Poland to the European Court of Justice over its controversial judicial reforms.
MEPs again angrily urge EU to act on refugee crisis
14 Jun
MEPs again angrily urge EU to act on refugee crisis
The Italian government has been roundly condemned by MEPs for its refusal to allow the 629 refugees stranded on board the Aquarius to land.
US announces trade tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports
31 May
US announces trade tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports
The European Commission and MEPs have reacted angrily to US President Donald Trump's latest controversial decision.
EU GDPR comes into force
25 May
EU GDPR comes into force
Europe-wide data protection legislation becomes law on Friday with the aim of allowing citizens to have greater control over how their data is stored and managed by third parties.
Mark Zuckerberg to visit European Parliament
18 May
Mark Zuckerberg to visit European Parliament
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to a private meeting with the leaders of Parliament’s political groups.
EU urged to uphold Iran nuclear deal as Trump pulls out
09 May
EU urged to uphold Iran nuclear deal as Trump pulls out
EU political leaders and MEPs says they are dismayed at the US decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement.
Commission fails to impress with EU post-2020 budget proposals
02 May
Commission fails to impress with EU post-2020 budget proposals
The European Commission has published its proposal for the post-2020 EU budget, kicking off the political battle over the rules and priorities that will govern EU spending in the period 2021-2027.
Trump tariffs: EU reacts cautiously to exemption extension
02 May
Trump tariffs: EU reacts cautiously to exemption extension
The decision by US President Donald Trump to extend the deadline for tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from the European Union until 1 June has met with a lukewarm response.
EU Parliament backs resolution criticising Selmayr appointment - but falls short of demanding his resignation
18 Apr
EU Parliament backs resolution criticising Selmayr appointment - but falls short of demanding his resignation
MEPs have backed a motion calling on the European Commission to reassess the procedure used for the controversial promotion of EU official Martin Selmayr.
Emmanuel Macron to EU Parliament: 'We need a European sovereignty'
17 Apr
Emmanuel Macron to EU Parliament: 'We need a European sovereignty'
French President Emmanuel Macron was in plenary on Tuesday to debate the future of Europe with MEPs.
EU leaders react to Syria air strikes
16 Apr
EU leaders react to Syria air strikes
EU leaders and MEPs have given a rather positive response to the series of US-led air strikes in Syria,  although some have warned the move “risks causing a wildfire.”
Selmayr appointment 'lacks transparency', says Parliament's budgetary control committee
29 Mar
Selmayr appointment 'lacks transparency', says Parliament's budgetary control committee
Parliament’s budgetary control committee has concluded that the appointment of Martin Selmayr as Commission Secretary General lacked transparency.
EU leaders stay mum on Russia election result as Salisbury attack case escalates
19 Mar
EU leaders stay mum on Russia election result as Salisbury attack case escalates
Results from this weekend’s election confirm that Vladimir Putin will serve a fourth term as Russian President. Officially his vote share - in an election in which strong opposition had not been allowed - was put at more than 76 per cent.  
Selmayrgate: Commission on the defensive as MEPs demand answers
13 Mar
Selmayrgate: Commission on the defensive as MEPs demand answers
On Monday night at the start of the Strasbourg plenary, MEPs quizzed European budget and human resources Commissioner Günther Oettinger on the Commission’s appointment policy. 
Western Balkans enlargement a priority, says EU Parliament
07 Feb
Western Balkans enlargement a priority, says EU Parliament
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has said that continued EU enlargement should be a priority.
EU plastics strategy welcomed by MEPs and industy
19 Jan
EU plastics strategy welcomed by MEPs and industy
MEPs have joined the business and recycling communities in giving a guarded welcome to the European Commission’s much-vaunted plastics strategy.
Parliament to set up pesticides committee
18 Jan
Parliament to set up pesticides committee
MEPs have welcomed the decision to set up a special committee to look into the EU’s authorisation procedure for pesticides.
Commission presents EU plastics strategy
16 Jan
Commission presents EU plastics strategy
The European Commission has unveiled its long-awaited strategy on plastic waste.
MEPs welcome EU decision to trigger article 7 procedure against Poland
20 Dec
MEPs welcome EU decision to trigger article 7 procedure against Poland
MEPs have welcomed the European Commission’s decision to open the rarely-used ‘article 7’ procedure against Poland.
MEPs vote down infamous kebab resolution
14 Dec
MEPs vote down infamous kebab resolution
A resolution opposing the authorisation of phosphate additives in kebab meat has failed to win an absolute majority of MEPs.
EU Parliament approves Panama Papers committee recommendations
14 Dec
EU Parliament approves Panama Papers committee recommendations
Open registers of beneficial owners, effective whistle-blower protection and rules for intermediaries are a must to fight tax evasion, say MEPs.
EU leaders agree to deepen military cooperation with PESCO
15 Nov
EU leaders agree to deepen military cooperation with PESCO
New plans for closer cooperation between member states on defence and security have met with a positive response.
Paradise Papers: MEPs call for permanent committee of inquiry into tax dodging
07 Nov
Paradise Papers: MEPs call for permanent committee of inquiry into tax dodging
MEPs from across the political divide have called on member states to take more action to fight tax evasion following the Paradise Papers revelations.
EU Parliament votes to ban glyphosate within five years
24 Oct
EU Parliament votes to ban glyphosate within five years
Parliament has formally objected to the Commission’s proposal to extend the EU licence for glyphosate-based herbicides by 10 years.
MEPs call on EU Commission to investigate murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
18 Oct
MEPs call on EU Commission to investigate murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
MEPs from across the political divide have demanded a deep and thorough investigation by the Commission into the murder of Maltese investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Juncker and May fail to impress after latest Brexit meeting
17 Oct
Juncker and May fail to impress after latest Brexit meeting
MEPs have been left unimpressed by the outcome of a meeting in Brussels on Monday between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
MEPs urge dialogue in Catalonia crisis
11 Oct
MEPs urge dialogue in Catalonia crisis
MEPs have been quick to react to Catalan First Minister Carles Puigdemont decision to “pull back from the cliff edge” in an address to the Catalan Parliament Tuesday night.
EU Commission deals €250m tax blow to Amazon
04 Oct
EU Commission deals €250m tax blow to Amazon
The European Commission has ordered Luxembourg to recover €250m’s worth of illegal tax benefits from Amazon.
Insufficient progress on Brexit talks, warn MEPs
03 Oct
Insufficient progress on Brexit talks, warn MEPs
MEPs in Strasbourg adopted by a huge majority a resolution stating that there has not been sufficient progress on the EU’s priority aims in the ongoing Brexit talks.