Portuguese voters head the polls — again
16 May Foreign & Security Policy

Portuguese voters head the polls — again

Portugal is set to hold its third election in as many years on Sunday amid mounting voter fatigue.
by Eloise Hardy
Poland’s presidential vote puts reform agenda to the test
15 May EU Institutions
Poland’s presidential vote puts reform agenda to the test
Op-Ed: Why mental health must become a political priority for Europe
15 May EU Institutions
Op-Ed: Why mental health must become a political priority for Europe
Albania moves closer to EU membership as Socialists win new mandate
13 May Foreign & Security Policy
Albania moves closer to EU membership as Socialists win new mandate
Issue 529 | 1 February 2021
29 Jan
Issue 529 | 1 February 2021
Gracing the cover this issue is Loucas Fourlas, Chair of the MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) Interest Group. The Cypriot EPP deputy tells Jon Benton and Ana Gallego what drives him in his fight against cancer, his campaign to help those affected and of his own personal tragedy.
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine contract to be made public
29 Jan
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine contract to be made public
It emerged on Friday that the pharmaceutical company has agreed to publish the deal signed with the European Commission.
European Defence Agency: defence spending hit a “new high” in 2019
29 Jan
European Defence Agency: defence spending hit a “new high” in 2019
The agency has published its annual "Defence Data" report, detailing defence spending by the 26 EDA Member States.
Vaping is the gateway out of smoking Partner Content
29 Jan
Vaping is the gateway out of smoking
Recent trends framing e-cigarettes as a gateway to smoking do not stand up to scrutiny, write the Consumer Choice Center’s Maria Chaplia and World Vapers’ Alliance’s Michael Landl.
Commission insists ‘we can and will’ obtain doses of AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine
28 Jan
Commission insists ‘we can and will’ obtain doses of AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine
This is despite the Anglo-Swedish company telling the EU to expect a huge reduction - up to 60 percent - of the doses originally agreed between the two sides.
EU cannot ‘fast track’ Coronavirus vaccine authorisation like UK, admits senior EU official
28 Jan
EU cannot ‘fast track’ Coronavirus vaccine authorisation like UK, admits senior EU official
Despite a high death toll, the UK has been widely applauded for rolling out vaccines to millions of Britons while the vast majority of Europeans are still waiting for their first jab.
Michel Barnier says EU ‘managed to hold its nerve’ in reaching eleventh-hour Brexit deal
28 Jan
Michel Barnier says EU ‘managed to hold its nerve’ in reaching eleventh-hour Brexit deal
Barnier, formerly head of the EU’s Brexit negotiating team, also warned that the EU would be “extremely vigilant” in making sure that the UK sticks by the terms of the agreement.
MEPs up in arms as Polish near-total abortion ban takes effect despite mass protests
28 Jan
MEPs up in arms as Polish near-total abortion ban takes effect despite mass protests
The ruling, which came into effect at midnight on Wednesday, will mean that the only grounds for accessing an abortion in the country will be in the case of rape, incest, or if there is a threat to the mother’s life.
Stimulating creativity as a structured process to foster sustainable innovation in SMEs Partner Content
28 Jan
Stimulating creativity as a structured process to foster sustainable innovation in SMEs
The CreaInnovation Project, an EU Interreg MED project has been looking at how to stimulate innovation through creative thinking.
Many EU workers in UK care homes will fail to register status before deadline, says report
27 Jan
Many EU workers in UK care homes will fail to register status before deadline, says report
The report by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) found that one in three care workers had not heard of the UK Government’s EU Settled Status Scheme and that one in two did not know about the deadline.
COVID-19 crisis will have ‘massive and lasting’ impact on Europe’s culture sector, says report
27 Jan
COVID-19 crisis will have ‘massive and lasting’ impact on Europe’s culture sector, says report
The study on the state of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in Europe also says that the industry can be “one of the drivers to help boost and revamp” the EU economy.
MEPs in talks on holding public hearing with vaccine producers
27 Jan
MEPs in talks on holding public hearing with vaccine producers
Call from European Parliament’s Renew Europe Group follows concerns over vaccine availability and deployment.
Future of Europe: The EU’s Darwinian moment
27 Jan
Future of Europe: The EU’s Darwinian moment
It’s time for the EU to ‘take back control’ and build a more effective and legitimate political union, argues Sandro Gozi.
EU health commissioner says slashing Coronavirus vaccine supplies to EU is ‘not acceptable’
26 Jan
EU health commissioner says slashing Coronavirus vaccine supplies to EU is ‘not acceptable’
AstraZeneca was expected to deliver around 80 million doses to the 27 Member States by the end of March, but now says it will cut deliveries of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to the EU by 60 percent in the first quarter of the year.
MEPs call for Scotland and Wales to be included in EU’s Erasmus programme
25 Jan
MEPs call for Scotland and Wales to be included in EU’s Erasmus programme
Appeal follows decision by UK Premier Boris Johnson to withdraw Britain from the flagship student exchange scheme.
Campaign groups take aim at Commission’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
25 Jan
Campaign groups take aim at Commission’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
This comes after the European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly launched an investigation into what campaigners call the Commission’s “secrecy” around its COVID-19 vaccine contracts with pharmaceutical companies.
Former MEP Kaja Kallas to become Estonia’s first female prime minister
25 Jan
Former MEP Kaja Kallas to become Estonia’s first female prime minister
Kallas, who leads the centre-right Reform Party, will become the country’s premier after forming a coalition government with the centre-left Centre Party.
Navalny arrest an early test for Biden
22 Jan
Navalny arrest an early test for Biden
The Biden Presidency will reaffirm the importance of American leadership in Europe, but will this result in effective, united action against Russia?
EU leaders agree to keep Europe’s borders open
22 Jan
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.
UK in diplomatic spat with EU over ambassador rights
22 Jan
UK in diplomatic spat with EU over ambassador rights
The UK has been accused of “childish petulance” after it refused to grant the EU’s ambassador to Britain full diplomatic privileges.
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
21 Jan
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
Demand comes as EU leaders hold virtual summit on ongoing health crisis.
MEPs greet Joe Biden presidency as beginning of 'new era' for transatlantic relations
21 Jan
MEPs greet Joe Biden presidency as beginning of 'new era' for transatlantic relations
European Parliament welcomes host of US executive orders, including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization.
Future of Europe: The path to prosperity
21 Jan
Future of Europe: The path to prosperity
EU reforms must be built on a broad political consensus and with the widest possible participation of citizens, argues Eva Maydell.
MEPs debate EU’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy
20 Jan
MEPs debate EU’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy
EU must stay unified and ensure equal access to vaccines, says Socialist Group leader Iratxe Garcia.