This week in the European Parliament
18 Oct Justice

This week in the European Parliament

The European Parliament’s second October Strasbourg session is not only packed with key issues coming to fruition, but also comes with quite a few potential moments of reckoning and could turn out to be action packed
by Andreas Rogal
Roberta Metsola: Pro-European Visionary
12 Oct Justice
Roberta Metsola: Pro-European Visionary
Slovenian PM’s ‘tasteless’ twitter spat with MEPs roundly condemned by EU policymakers
18 Oct Justice
Slovenian PM’s ‘tasteless’ twitter spat with MEPs roundly condemned by EU policymakers
New EU journalism prize in honour of Daphne Caruana Galizia awarded to Pegasus Project journalism team
14 Oct Justice
New EU journalism prize in honour of Daphne Caruana Galizia awarded to Pegasus Project journalism team
Issue 540 | 19 July 2021
19 Jul Justice
Issue 540 | 19 July 2021
The latest edition of The Parliament Magazine is now available to read online for free.
EU launches infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland over LGBTIQ discrimination
16 Jul Justice
EU launches infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland over LGBTIQ discrimination
LGBTIQ Intergroup MEPs ‘wholeheartedly’ welcome European Commission’s decision to act against Budapest and Warsaw.
Poland 'on the path to Polexit' after top court deems ECJ measures unconstitutional
15 Jul Justice
Poland 'on the path to Polexit' after top court deems ECJ measures unconstitutional
MEPs have warned that Poland is heading towards ‘Polexit’ - the Polish version of Brexit - after the country’s highest court ruled that Poland is not obliged to follow the order by the European Court of Justice to suspend part of its judicial reforms.
Journalists call for EU policymakers to deliver ‘robust’ Media Freedom Act in face of increasing state-owned harassment
14 Jul Justice
Journalists call for EU policymakers to deliver ‘robust’ Media Freedom Act in face of increasing state-owned harassment
Growing ‘hostile environment’ for journalists across EU, MEPs told during public hearing
Gender-based violence costs EU €366bn a year
09 Jul Justice
Gender-based violence costs EU €366bn a year
A new study by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) estimates that violence against women makes up 79 percent of this cost, amounting to €289bn.
European Parliament votes overwhelmingly to condemn new Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ law
08 Jul Justice
European Parliament votes overwhelmingly to condemn new Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ law
In a resolution, adopted with 459 in favour, 147 against and 58 abstentions on Thursday, MEPs describe the Hungarian law as being in clear breach of fundamental rights.
MEPs lament ‘putinisation’ of Hungary as EU urged to take urgent action
07 Jul Justice
MEPs lament ‘putinisation’ of Hungary as EU urged to take urgent action
A fiery plenary debate on Hungary’s new anti-LGBTIQ law saw deputies entreat the European Commission and Council to “do their job” and put a “democratic lock” on the EU budget.
Editorial: People Power
07 Jul Justice
Editorial: People Power
Does the success of the ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign mean the much-maligned European Citizens’ Initiative is finally bringing Europe closer to its citizens? Not quite yet, suggests Brian Johnson.
From hands-on commissioner to free-speaking MEP... That's Danuta Hübner
06 Jul Justice
From hands-on commissioner to free-speaking MEP... That's Danuta Hübner
She is one of parliament’s most senior MEPs and, as Martin Banks discovered, Danuta Hübner is not afraid of holding back on even the most sensitive of issues.
Issue 539 | 05 July 2021
05 Jul Justice
Issue 539 | 05 July 2021
The latest edition of The Parliament Magazine is now available to read online for free.
Policymakers decry Turkey’s formal withdrawal from violence against women treaty
01 Jul Justice
Policymakers decry Turkey’s formal withdrawal from violence against women treaty
MEPs and rights groups have denounced Turkey’s decision to quit the groundbreaking Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, calling it “a dark day for women.”
Media Action Plan: The power of local
29 Jun Justice
Media Action Plan: The power of local
A strong and independent local media is essential to the democratic process, but this is in danger of withering away. The EU must ensure it gets the support it needs, argues Jan Trei.
Hate Speech: On the cyberviolence frontline
28 Jun Justice
Hate Speech: On the cyberviolence frontline
With over 80 percent of female politicians having suffered cyberviolence, intimidation and harassment, MEPs are calling on the Commission to introduce legislation to curb online hate. Lorna Hutchinson reports.
Hate Speech: A milestone for the LGBTI community
28 Jun Justice
Hate Speech: A milestone for the LGBTI community
The extension of the list of EU crimes to cover hate speech and hate crimes, including when targeted at LGBTI people, will be one of the most important acts of this legislative term, argues Marc Angel.
Hate Speech: Don’t stand for hate
28 Jun Justice
Hate Speech: Don’t stand for hate
The European Commission’s initiative to add hate crime and hate speech to the list of EU crimes should be applauded as an important step in protecting Europe’s citizens, argues Alice Kuhnke.
“The first real resistance to a regressive agenda”: Parliament adopts SRHR report
24 Jun Justice
“The first real resistance to a regressive agenda”: Parliament adopts SRHR report
Predrag Fred Matić’s report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights was adopted on Thursday, with 378 votes in favour, 255 against and 42 abstentions.
ECR group wants SRHR debate to be scrapped; says issue 'overreaches' EU's competence
23 Jun Justice
ECR group wants SRHR debate to be scrapped; says issue "overreaches" EU's competence
The European Parliament is due to debate and vote on a controversial report urging Member States to protect and further enhance women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Editorial: Hammer to fall
23 Jun Justice
Editorial: Hammer to fall
Budapest’s decision to introduce new rules banning the teaching and distribution of educational materials featuring gay people to under-18s may prove to be the last straw for the Commission, says Brian Johnson.
“My body, my rights”: MEPs stand up for women’s sexual and reproductive rights
23 Jun Justice
“My body, my rights”: MEPs stand up for women’s sexual and reproductive rights
Ahead of the vote on rapporteur Predrag Fred Matić’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) report on Thursday, MEPs demonstrated in front of the European Parliament.
Greens MEPs welcome pardon of Catalan separatist leaders
23 Jun Justice
Greens MEPs welcome pardon of Catalan separatist leaders
The nine leaders were jailed for their role in Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid.
MEPs condemn UEFA’s refusal to light up Munich stadium in rainbow colours
23 Jun Justice
MEPs condemn UEFA’s refusal to light up Munich stadium in rainbow colours
UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, has turned down a request to light up Munich’s Allianz Arena in the colours of the rainbow flag for Germany’s Euro 2020 match with Hungary on Wednesday.
EU Member States express ‘grave concern’ over Hungary’s LGBTIQ discrimination
23 Jun Justice
EU Member States express ‘grave concern’ over Hungary’s LGBTIQ discrimination
In a statement, the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Latvia, Italy, Greece, Austria and Cyprus slammed the recent adoption by the Hungarian Parliament of amendments which discriminate against LGBTIQ persons.
Katrin Langensiepen interview: Nothing about us without us
22 Jun Justice
Katrin Langensiepen interview: Nothing about us without us
The only woman with a visible disability among 705 MEPs, Katrin Langensiepen tells Lorna Hutchinson that the fight for diversity, inclusion and dignity is an uphill struggle, but one that is worth waging to achieve a Union of Equality for all.
Gender Equality: Bridging the EU’s pay gap
21 Jun Justice
Gender Equality: Bridging the EU’s pay gap
It will take more than binding pay transparency measures to close the gender pay gaps in Europe’s labour markets, say Gabriella Sebardt and Mira-Maria Kontkanen.