European Union

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has announced that MEPs from his Fidesz party will resign from the EPP group in the European Parliament if it approves an amendment to the rules of procedure proposed by the group's leadership on Friday. The change would allow the suspension of the Fidesz MEPs, which has been impossible so far. Who is putting whom under pressure - and who is in the right?

The human rights organisation Amnesty International (AI) has stripped Putin critic Alexei Navalny of his non-violent 'prisoner of conscience' status following complaints about comments he had made in the past. AI was referring to discriminatory statements made by Navalny more than ten years ago against migrants and certain regions and countries which he has never retracted. Whom does Amnesty's decision hurt most?

First Hungary purchased the Russian vaccine Sputnik V and now Slovakia has followed suit, acquiring two million doses even though it has yet to be approved by the EU. In the Czech Republic, President Miloš Zeman has been promoting the Russian vaccine for a some time now. Commentators in both countries are less than enthusiastic.

The Commission proposal for Adequate Minimum Wages has no legal basis, weakens social partner autonomy and undermines existing successful collective bargaining systems. A proposal that causes this level of collateral damage has to be withdrawn.

Living under the reality of a global pandemic, the world has turned to digital tools to maintain a sense of normality. As Europe charts its recovery from the coronavirus, there is a renewed sense of purpose with regards to the importance of technology in our everyday lives, as well as the need to employ various technologies in order to meet wider political goals.

It is high time policymakers recognised the value of next-generation telecommunications in delivering on the EU's long-term sustainable objectives, says Luis Neves, the Global CEO of GeSI, the Global e-Sustainability Initiative. He is responsible for the establishment of the Initiative's strategic goals and for overseeing all GeSI's activities.

MEPs and national parliamentarians will discuss women’s key role in fighting the pandemic during an inter-parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday morning.
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

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