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
Leeds: The UK financial powerhouse planning a digital future at the heart of Europe
15 Apr International & Trade
Leeds: The UK financial powerhouse planning a digital future at the heart of Europe
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
Parliament delays Brexit trade deal ratification; MEP says ‘cool heads must prevail’
14 Apr International & Trade
Parliament delays Brexit trade deal ratification; MEP says ‘cool heads must prevail’
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
15 Mar International & Trade
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Spanish Renew Europe deputy Jordi Cañas. With the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement negotiations approaching the finish line, Parliament’s rapporteur tells reporter Ana Gallego why this may be the last chance to seal a deal with the South American trade bloc.
MEPs lead growing calls for EU to boycott Winter Olympics in Beijing
12 Mar International & Trade
MEPs lead growing calls for EU to boycott Winter Olympics in Beijing
Demand follows concerns over alleged human rights violations in China, and erosion of democratic autonomy in Hong Kong.
Why building a fixed link between Europe and Africa matters PM+
08 Mar International & Trade
Why building a fixed link between Europe and Africa matters
The post-pandemic world needs ambitious projects that respect the environment, generate employment and guarantee social stability, writes Abdelmalek Alaoui.
Will the new EU-Africa Strategy substantially improve relations with African countries?
04 Mar International & Trade
Will the new EU-Africa Strategy substantially improve relations with African countries?
The new strategy is vague and doesn’t consider many of the problems that EU has partly fuelled through its flawed policies, argues German S&D MEP Joachim Schuster.
New EU-Africa strategy moves beyond donor-recipient relationship
04 Mar International & Trade
New EU-Africa strategy moves beyond donor-recipient relationship
Unlike previous approaches, the new strategy has been created in partnership with, rather than for Africa, explains Polish EPP deputy Janina Ochojska.
Why Brexit really means Brexit
03 Mar International & Trade
Why Brexit really means Brexit
Challenges still lie ahead for the EU-UK future economic relationship, writes Pedro Silva Pereira.
Australia & New Zealand: Europe's like-minded partners
03 Mar International & Trade
Australia & New Zealand: Europe's like-minded partners
In times of global uncertainty, strengthening ties with countries committed to the rules-based order, such as Australia and New Zealand, are crucial, explains Ulrike Müller.
The Khojaly Genocide: A Crime against Humanity PM+
26 Feb International & Trade
The Khojaly Genocide: A Crime against Humanity
After almost 30 years, to ensure lasting peace in the Karabakh region, we must not forget such crimes against humanity, writes Konul Nurullayeva.
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.
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.
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.
EU national governments need to present a unified front to Russia
18 Feb International & Trade
EU national governments need to present a unified front to Russia
The naivety shown to Russia in many European capitals and in Brussels at EU level must cease, at least for the time being, argues Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chair Urmas Paet.
The Maghreb: A strategically important region
18 Feb International & Trade
The Maghreb: A strategically important region
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia are geographically strategic countries for Europe, and continuing to work closely with them is key, writes Adriana Maldonado López.
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’.
Georgia’s democratic transition offers hope for the Black Sea country’s future
17 Feb International & Trade
Georgia’s democratic transition offers hope for the Black Sea country’s future
Newly-re-elected government in Tbilisi has NATO and EU membership in its sights, explains Former Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra.
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.
Europe: Time to partner with an old friend PM+
15 Feb International & Trade
Europe: Time to partner with an old friend
Panama has historically been Europe’s key investment and trade partner in Latin America and the Caribbean; it can now play an essential role in the region’s renaissance in relations with the EU, writes Yavel Francis.
Michel Barnier questions ‘level of truth, communications and clarity’ in UK about the impact of Brexit
12 Feb International & Trade
Michel Barnier questions ‘level of truth, communications and clarity’ in UK about the impact of Brexit
Former Chief Negotiator’s comments come as new report says economic blow dealt by Brexit will be four times greater in the UK than in the EU.
Michael Gove and Maroš Šefčovič urged to do more to help ease EU-UK trade barriers
09 Feb International & Trade
Michael Gove and Maroš Šefčovič urged to do more to help ease EU-UK trade barriers
Gove, a UK cabinet minister, and Commission Vice-President Šefčovič are currently trying to resolve trade issues with Northern Ireland but have been told they should broaden the scope of their discussions so that they also apply to the UK’s trading arrangements with the EU.
MEPs set to demand that Borrell quits as EU foreign affairs chief after Russia trip
08 Feb International & Trade
MEPs set to demand that Borrell quits as EU foreign affairs chief after Russia trip
Some members are believed to be drafting a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, calling for Josep Borrell, a former MEP, to step down in the wake of the visit.
‘Trust’ key to future EU-UK relationship, say MEPs
05 Feb International & Trade
‘Trust’ key to future EU-UK relationship, say MEPs
Dutch MEP Kati Piri says the EU should insist that the UK affords full diplomatic privileges to the bloc’s envoy in London.
One year on and citizens are still paying the price of Brexit
01 Feb International & Trade
One year on and citizens are still paying the price of Brexit
One year on, what has become of the UK government’s promise that it would not make citizens pay the price of Brexit, asks Else Kvist.
Issue 529 | 1 February 2021
29 Jan International & Trade
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.
Michel Barnier says EU ‘managed to hold its nerve’ in reaching eleventh-hour Brexit deal
28 Jan International & Trade
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.