European Union

Irish Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has hit out at recent comments made by the EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, accusing him of making a 'coded partisan intervention,' in Irish politics, ahead of next week's general election.

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU in the global perspective from our foreign affairs news team: Georgi Gotev and Alexandra Brzozowski.

The Luxembourg-based European Court of Auditors (ECA) is set to probe the EU's border and coast guard agency Frontex and will publish its findings next year. "Our audit will ascertain whether it is carrying out its tasks effectively," said Leo Brincat, the ECA member responsible in a statement. Along with expanded powers, Frontex has been slated an €11bn budget for the 2021-2027.

In Burgenland's state elections, socialist Hans-Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) won the absolute majority, bringing a ray of hope to the Austrian socialist party which has suffered a multitude of defeats recently. One would think the party could learn something from this, but a party insider thinks this is unlikely. EURACTIV Germany reports.

MEP approved a resolution on Thursday calling on the European Commission to make "equal pay for equal work" the founding principle of the new European gender strategy to be presented in March. The text was adopted by 493 votes in favour, 82 against and 79 abstentions. According to the commission, the EU gender pay gap in hourly pay is 16 percent, while in pension income it is 37 percent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will gather its expert committee later on Thursday - the third time in a week - to discuss whether to declare a global health emergency over the coronavirus. "We are at an important juncture in this event. We believe these chains of transmission can still be interrupted," said the WHO's emergencies chief, Michael Ryan. The disease has killed 170 people and infected over 7,000.

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “We have to be careful in recognising the difference between paid political advertising and political opinions”. – Commission Vice-President...

The Scottish Parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of holding a second referendum on independence. First minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the case for independence is "overwhelming" due to Brexit, as the majority of Scottish citizens voted to remain in the EU. "I know not everyone agrees with my position on independence, but I'm happy to have that debate and let Scotland decide," Sturgeon said.

The area of the European Union affected by the African swine fever (ASF) is "progressively expanding", the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said in its latest update on the disease, published on Thursday (30 January).

The new EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides wants more information about the controversial issue of gene editing and for now, she seems less enthusiastic than her predecessor Vytenis Andriukaitis.

Each year, during the Lunar New Year celebrations, a small Arctic Chinatown takes shape near Norway's border with Russia and Finland. It's an indication of how China, though a non-Arctic state, is increasingly eyeing opportunities in the region.

MEPs urge the Commission to present an ambitious Gender Equality Strategy, including measures to reduce the gender pay gap.
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

MEPs urge the Commission to present an ambitious Gender Equality Strategy, including measures to reduce the gender pay gap.
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The calendar of European Parliament part-sessions for 2021 and 2022 was approved by MEPs on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The calendar of European Parliament part-sessions for 2021 and 2022 was approved by MEPs on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Parliament calls on the Commission to put forward beefed-up rules on common chargers by July 2020 at the latest.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Parliament calls on the Commission to put forward beefed-up rules on common chargers by July 2020 at the latest.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

As the largest manufacturing sector in the EU, the food and drink industry will be a key stakeholder in the European Green Deal discussions, especially when it comes to the Farm to Fork Strategy. Hubert Weber, president of FoodDrinkEurope, outlines the food and drink sector’s route to more sustainable food systems.

There should be "clear criteria" in the future mass-scale rollout of Biometric Identification Systems in the EU, a recently leaked draft of the EU's Artificial Intelligence strategy seen by EURACTIV reveals.

Welcome to EURACTIV's AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU.