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Updated: 4 days 19 hours ago

Article - EU-Turkey: anatomy of a difficult relationship

Wed, 22/03/2017 - 10:06
General : “Unacceptable.” President Antonio Tajani was clear this week in his condemnation of Turkey accusing Germany and the Netherlands of Nazi methods for preventing Turkish ministers from campaigning in their countries in favour of a referendum to give the president additional powers. Although the EU and Turkey cooperate on anything from trade to migration, relations have become strained in recent year. Read on for an overview of the current state of affairs.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - A to G energy scale for home appliances: EP/Council strike informal deal - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 23:50
A new, tougher, A to G scale showing the energy efficiency of household appliances should be introduced to keep pace with technological progress, agreed the Parliament’s and Council’s negotiators on Tuesday.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Citizens’ Parliament: the people say how they see the future of the EU

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 17:42
General : People from across Europe gathered in the European Parliament on Tuesday to share their views on the future of the European Union with MEPs. This event, called the Citizens’ Parliament, contributes to ongoing reflection on the EU as an asset for future, ahead of the EU heads of state or government meeting in Rome on 25 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Agenda - The Week Ahead 20 – 26 March 2017

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 14:33
Committee meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Conflict minerals: the bloody truth behind your smartphone

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 13:10
Plenary sessions : High-tech equipment such as smartphones, tablets and cars are able to run thanks to minerals and metals such as tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. However, as their mining and illegal trade are often controlled by armed groups, they also help to feed a vicious circle of conflicts.On 16 March MEPs voted in favour of making EU companies take responsibility for the origin of the minerals they import. Watch our video for more details.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs say unregistered lobbyists should be denied entry to Parliament’s premises - Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 11:53
All EU lobbyists looking to influence legislation, should be required to sign the transparency register before being allowed to enter the European Parliament, says a resolution approved by the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - E-commerce: EU-wide rules to protect consumers better and stop rogue traders - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 11:37
New powers for national authorities to check whether e-commerce websites geo-block consumers, track down rogue traders or even, subject to safeguards inserted by MEPs, order that websites hosting scams be shut down, were approved by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Rule of law in Poland: Civil Liberties Committee to debate state of play - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 11:20
Civil Liberties Committee MEPs questioned Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans about the respect of the rule of law in Poland on Wednesday. The Commission began investigating the situation in Poland under the "Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of Law" on 13 January 2016. MEPs discussed the progress of the investigation procedure and possible further developments, including the advisability of otherwise triggering the Article 7 of the Treaty against Poland.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Textile imports: development MEPs call for rules to curb worker exploitation - Committee on Development

Tue, 21/03/2017 - 10:00
The EU Commission should propose rules obliging all players in the textile and clothing industry supply chain to respect the labour and human rights of their workers, say Development Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Tuesday. They also advocate introducing EU tariff preferences and labels for sustainably-produced textiles.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Agenda - The Week Ahead 13 – 19 March 2017

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 19:52
Plenary session and committee meetings in Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Context: MEPs concerned about consequences of global gag rule

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 17:37
Plenary sessions : Several EU countries have decided to raise money for organisations offering sexual health and family planning services after US President Donald Trump decided to reintroduce a rule banning US financing for NGOs providing or promoting abortion to women in developing countries. This policy is often referred to as the global gag rule. Most MEPs criticised the US decision during a debate on 14 March, asking for action from the EU while some insisted on respecting the rights of unborn children.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - US “global gag” anti-abortion rule a major setback for women’s health, say MEPs

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 17:34
Plenary sessions : Political group speakers reacted to President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of the “global gag” rule in a debate with EU humanitarian aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides on Tuesday. The executive order, signed on 23 January, obliges US-funded foreign NGOs to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - From farm to fork: strengthening food checks in Europe

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 16:29
Plenary sessions : Consumers are entitled to know that the food they buy and eat is safe, however food fraud cases such as the 2013 horsemeat scandal show that is not always the case. On Wednesday 15 March MEPs vote on new rules to tighten up official inspections throughout the food chain. We talked to Austrian S&D member Karin Kadenbach, the MEP responsible for steering the proposal through Parliament, about the benefits of the new legislation.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Debate on March EU summit and Rome declaration with Tusk, Juncker, and Gentiloni

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 16:15
Plenary sessions : On Wednesday from 9.00, MEPs will take stock of the outcome of the 9-10 March European Council and discuss the “Rome declaration” on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome with Council President Donald Tusk, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Waste: boost recycling, cut landfilling and curb food waste, Parliament says

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 13:47
Plenary sessions : The share of waste to be recycled would rise to 70% by 2030, from 44% today, under draft legislation adopted on Tuesday. MEPs also want the “waste package” plans to limit the share of landfilling, which has a big environmental impact, to 5% and to deliver a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030. Parliament will now negotiate with Council of Ministers.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs back mercury pollution curbs, in line with UN Minamata convention

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 13:23
Plenary sessions : New legislation restricting the use of mercury, a persistent pollutant that has adverse effects on the environment and human health, was adopted by Parliament on Tuesday. The bill, already informally agreed with the Council of Ministers, aims to close the gap between existing EU legislation and the United Nations Minamata Convention against mercury pollution.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - EU is stuck half way to achieving gender equality, MEPs say

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 13:18
Plenary sessions : The EU and its member states should step up their efforts to achieve equality between women and men. Despite progress on some issues, much remains to be done to reduce pay gaps, remove “glass ceilings” blocking women’s careers, remedy their lack of economic independence and improve their work/life balance, say MEPs in a non-legislative resolution voted on Tuesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Sanctions against MEP who offended women

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 13:09
Plenary sessions : Sanctions of unprecedented severity were announced by EP President Antonio Tajani on Tuesday, against Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke for his unacceptable remarks against women during a plenary debate on the "Gender pay gap" on 1 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Parliament approves revised EU gun law to close security loopholes

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 12:39
Plenary sessions : Tighter controls on blank-firing and inadequately deactivated weapons, like those used in the Paris terror attacks, and an obligation for EU member states to have an appropriate monitoring system in place for the issuance or renewal of licences and to exchange information, are among the updates approved by MEPs to the 1991 firearms directive on Tuesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Stronger rights for shareholders in EU companies

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 12:35
Plenary sessions : New tools to sharpen big EU firms’ focus on their long-run performance, by fostering their shareholders’ commitment to it, were approved by Parliament on Tuesday. They will include giving shareholders a say on directors’ pay and making it easier for firms to identify their shareholders.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

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