European Parliament

Plenary sessions : Recommendations on how to make better use the EU’s trade tools to fight an unprecedented surge in wildlife trafficking were approved by MEPs on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission is legally obliged to take measures temporarily reintroducing visa requirements for US citizens, given that Washington still does not grant visa-free access to nationals of five EU countries. In a resolution approved on Thursday, MEPs urge the Commission to adopt the necessary legal measures “within two months”.

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Plenary sessions : How should the EU evolve in response to challenges such as Brexit and globalisation? Jena-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, presented five possible options to the Parliament on 1 March, ranging from business as usual to deeper integration across most areas. During the subsequent plenary debate most MEPs welcomed the opportunity to reflect on the direction Europe should take. Watch our video for highlights from the debate.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Until the UK leaves the EU, it must obey EU laws on free movement, said a majority of MEPs in a plenary debate with the EU Commission on Wednesday. The EU Commission must ensure that the free movement rights of EU citizens living in the UK are respected, they added. Many speakers also underlined that EU citizens should not be used as ”bargaining chips” in the Brexit negotiations.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs called for safe environments for unaccompanied refugee children, including immediate appointment of guardians, hotlines and increased cross-border cooperation, in Wednesday’s debate with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on the disappearance of migrant children in Europe.

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Plenary sessions : MEPs led a debate with Commission representatives and the Maltese presidency of the Council on Wednesday afternoon regarding the upcoming European Council of 9-10 March. Many stressed the need to continue focussing on an ambitious EU, whereas some decried the EU’s current direction and track record.

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Plenary sessions : Lead MEPs from Parliament’s political groups reacted on Wednesday to the Commission’s Future of Europe White Paper, presented by its President Jean-Claude Juncker to the full House. Some MEPs welcomed the Commission’s decision to outline five possible paths for the EU to take in the coming years, while others criticized it for not picking a clear preferred path or providing concrete examples.

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Plenary sessions : A statement on the EU Commission’s “Future of Europe” White Paper, by its President Jean-Claude Juncker, was added as the first item on the agenda.

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Plenary session and committee meetings, Brussels

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Ukrainian citizens will be able to travel to the EU visa free under an informal deal struck by Parliament and Council negotiators on Tuesday. Once the change enters into force, and provided they have biometric passports, they will be able to enter the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day-period for business, tourist or family purposes.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : The inquiry committee investigating the car emissions scandal votes today on its final report and recommendations, which call for stricter controls and implementation at EU level. “We learnt the lessons from the past and we will now do our homework ... so this scandal will never happen again,” said Jens Gieseke, one of the authors of the final report. Watch the video to learn more.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Montenegro is the most advanced EU accession candidate country, which in 2016 had to face Russian attempts to discredit its achievements, noted Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs on Tuesday. They also reviewed last year’s reform efforts in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, urging the future government to step up the pace of reform and stay on the EU track.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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The recent progress in normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, after months of little or none, was welcomed by MEPs on Tuesday. However, in two resolutions they call on both countries to show more commitment and sustained political will to achieve this goal, which is a condition for their accession to the EU.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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EU citizens could access registers of beneficial owners of companies without having to demonstrate a “legitimate interest,” and trusts would have to meet the same transparency requirements as firms, under amendments, agreed by MEPs on Tuesday, to the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

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Civil Liberties MEPs voted on Monday for stronger protection and a shorter retention period for data stored in the new EU entry/exit system, which is designed to modernise and step up checks on non-EU nationals travelling to the European Union.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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Civil Liberties Committee MEPs discussed the fundamental rights situation in Hungary with Justice Minister László Trócsányi and civil society representatives on Monday afternoon.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Parliament President Antonio Tajani discussed Europe's future and EU-Germany relations during meetings with chancellor Angela Merkel and president Joachim Gauck during a vsit to Berlin on 23-24 February. "It's important to look after the interests of Europeans," said Tajani at the end of his visit. "It is important that Europe stands together and not allows itself to be torn apart."

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : The rights of EU citizens living in the UK, access to medicine and visa reciprocity with the US will be dealt with during this week's plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday on Thursday. In addition committees discuss the reform of asylum legislation while the inquiry committee investigating the car emissions scandal presents its findings and recommendations.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP