European Union

The European Commission has demanded its staff delay "non-essential" travel to China following the outbreak of the coronavirus. Crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic told reporters on Wednesday that commission officials and EU diplomats have been advised "to postpone or suspend all non-essential travels to China".

European crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday they are coordinating with Chinese authorities to repatriate citizens from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Britain. Some 600 citizens from EU states are expected to be repatriated from China as fears of the coronavirus outbreak swell.

The premier of Catalonia, Quim Torra, announced Wednesday an early regional election amid tensions between the two pro-independence parties in his coalition. The Catalan Republican Left (ERC) did not support Torra's attempts to retain his voting rights, after he refused to comply with Spanish authorities to give up his seat in the regional parliament. ERC was essential for the success of the coalition led by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

British MEPs said goodbye to the European Parliament as Brexit becomes reality. In the council of member states the UK microphone went silent.

EU lawmakers rubber-stamped the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the bloc on Wednesday (29 January) after an emotionally charged but largely good-natured debate that marked the United Kingdom's final act in the EU assembly.

The Withdrawal Agreement was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday evening by 621 votes in favour, 49 against and 13 abstentions.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Withdrawal Agreement was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday evening by 621 votes in favour, 49 against and 13 abstentions.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Parliament on Wednesday passed the Brexit withdrawal agreement with 621 votes, 49 against and 13 abstention in the final act of the ratification process. All legal hurdles are now cleared before the UK leaves the bloc on Friday. MEPs bid farewell to their British colleagues in an emotional plenary meeting in Brussels. The UK is the first member state to leave the EU.

The Coronavirus outbreak in China will be debated with the Council and Commission today at 18.30 in Parliament’s plenary chamber in Brussels.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Coronavirus outbreak in China will be debated with the Council and Commission today at 18.30 in Parliament’s plenary chamber in Brussels.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Senator-for-life Liliana Segre shared her experience of the evil inflicted in Auschwitz and the duty to bear witness, in a ceremony to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Senator-for-life Liliana Segre shared her experience of the evil inflicted in Auschwitz and the duty to bear witness, in a ceremony to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

President Sassoli opened the January II plenary session in Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

President Sassoli opened the January II plenary session in Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

MEPs held a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

MEPs held a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The race for the Eurogroup presidency is (unofficially) on and it is still unclear if the current holder, Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno, will stay in the job. But the names of possible candidates to chair eurozone meetings during a critical period for the common currency are already doing the rounds.

Modernisation and structural problems are some of the biggest challenges for rural areas across Europe, along with shrinking demographics, urban migration or digital transformation. Smart villages, an increasingly popular concept among EU members, are set to counter all those negative trends.

With one of its important members seceding, the EU is navigating dangerous and uncharted waters and will need to take a more proactive approach in terms of communication to ensure that the ship stays on course, writes Anthony Spota.

Greek agriculture minister Makis Voridis has called on the European Commission to look again at its ambitions to further reduce pesticides and fertilisers in the new Farm to Fork strategy. He said no additional pressure should be put on growers...