European Parliament

General : More than 20 million people living today around the world have been trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour and other activities across the world, generating a profit of €117 billion a year. It is also a very lucrative crime in Europe. On the occasion of the EU's Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October, check out the facts in our infographic and discover what the EU and Parliament have been doing to tackle human trafficking.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The inquiry committee into emission measurements in the car industry (EMIS) continued its work on Monday afternoon by hearing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Chief Technical Officer Harald Wester, who was quizzed mainly on possible “defeat devices” in Fiat diesel engines and gap between emission values in laboratory testing and real driving conditions.
Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector

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General : The migrant situation in Calais and the creation of a European Defence Union will be debated by committees this week, while the inquiry into how car emissions are measured continues. In addition President Martin Schulz will address the European Council, where migration, trade and EU-Russia relations are on the agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Young European could be receiving a free InterRail pass to discover Europe by rail once they turn 18.The proposal received a warm welcome in the Parliament, but what is InterRail exactly? Check out our infographic for some basic facts about the pass and rail travel in Europe.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Environment MEPs advocate a full and immediate EU-wide ban on ivory and rhinoceros horn trade, and call for common sanctions at EU level against wildlife trafficking, in a resolution voted on Thursday. Wildlife trafficking is worth an estimated €20 billion annually. It has grown in recent years, becoming one of the biggest and most profitable forms of organised cross-border crime.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

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An EU country facing an emergency gas shortage could call on other member states to supply it with gas via “supply corridors” that would link EU countries into seven transnational regions, under a draft law enshrining a “regional solidarity mechanism”, as amended and approved by the Energy Committee on Thursday. The committee also approved a separate draft law that would require member states to notify the EU Commission when they negotiate energy supply deals with third parties.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

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General : Young and eager to change things. These are the winners of the Charlemagne Youth Prize, awarded by Parliament and the Charlemagne Prize foundation on 3 May. On 10-11 Octobery, they visited the European Parliament, where they presented their projects to the culture committee, spoke with President Martin Schulz and followed several MEPs during their daily routine.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : People and organisations from across Europe came to Parliament in Brussels on 12 October for the European Citizens’ Prize award ceremony that sought to highlight their contributions to Europe. Parliament Vice-President Sylvie Guillaume, who chairs the jury, said: “Europe is going through particularly hard times and it sometimes seems to be disintegrating before our eyes. Yet European citizens show us that Europe is alive and they put European values into practice every day."

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

New rules to curb the growing influx into the EU of plant pests, such as olive grove killer Xylella fastidiosa, and better equip member states to tackle their spread, were endorsed by the Agriculture Committee on Thursday. The draft rules, informally agreed by MEPs and member states last year, will introduce new preventive and rapid response mechanisms for suspect plant imports, step up pest surveillance efforts in the EU and require all member states to draw up outbreak contingency plans.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

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General : Ever heard of pangolins? Chances are you will never have a chance to see them up close. These mammals are the most trafficked worldwide and like rhinos and elephants are now on the brink of extinction. It's another example of wildlife trafficking poses a serious threat to the survival of our ecosystems. On Thursday 13 October, the environment committee votes on a report by Catherine Bearder on how EU and its members states should step up their efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Parliamentarium, the Parliament’s visitors centre, has proved to be one of Brussels' most popular attractions since opening. Its permanent exhibition shows Parliament's work and explains the history of European integration in 24 languages. On Thursday 13 October it celebrates its fifth anniversary. If you are in Brussels that day, don't miss the chance to join the celebration from 17.00 to 22.00 CET.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

International Trade Committee MEPs, farmers, businesses, public health and trade union representatives debated the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada on Wednesday morning. CETA can only enter into force with the European Parliament’s approval.
Committee on International Trade

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There is a need to ensure a strategic framework for the cultural and creative industries as they now represent a major and growing part of our economies, Members of the Culture Committee and of National Parliaments agreed on Tuesday evening at the interparliamentary meeting on the subject.
Committee on Culture and Education

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The Budgets Committee demanded more funds, in a vote on Tuesday, to help young people into jobs, to boost economic growth and assist third countries with a view to mitigating the migration crisis. MEPs had earlier reversed all the cuts proposed by the Council to the draft 2017 EU budget. Part of the additional funds are expected to be financed via new appropriations to be obtained through the ongoing mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Committee on Budgets

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General : Can Dündar and fellow defenders of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey, the Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzemilev, the Yazidi survivors and public advocates Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar are this year's finalists for the Sakharov Prize following a vote by the foreign affairs and development committees on 11 October. The laureate will be selected by the EP President and the political group leaders on 27 October and the award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on 14 December.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Europe should continue to support film creation and distribution as important tools for our cultural diversity, MEPs and filmmakers underlined on Monday evening in a Lux Prize 10th anniversary debate. Translation and subtitling help to circulate works and promote European values, especially in time of crisis, they added. Film directors Ken Loach, Céline Sciamma and Andrea Segre participated in a very animated debate with Members of the Culture Committee on this occasion.
Committee on Culture and Education

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Plans to prolong a 10% increase in the EU contribution towards project costs in Greece until 30 June of the year following the end of its economic adjustment programme were approved by Regional Development Committee MEPs on Tuesday. MEPs also approved a special provision whereby the EU would pay up to 85% of project costs in Cyprus until the current programming period ends in 2020.
Committee on Regional Development

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Propaganda pressure on the EU from Russia and Islamic terrorist organisations is growing, say Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Monday. It seeks to distort the truth, incite fear, provoke doubt and divide the EU. However, this pressure should be countered, not with more propaganda, but with positive messaging, awareness raising and education to increase the information literacy amongst EU citizens, MEPs add.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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CoderDojo, the Irish winners of the European Citizen's Prize 2016, received their medal on Thursday 29 September in Dublin. Seán Kelly ME, EPP presented the prize to Giustina Mizzoni, Executive Director of Coder Dojo at a special Irish prize-giving ceremony in Dublin. CoderDojo will also take part in the official EU Citizen’s Prize ceremony to which will be held in Brussels in October.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP