European Parliament (News)

Plenary sessions : The situation in Hungary justifies the triggering of the procedure which may result in sanctions for Hungary, MEPs say in a resolution adopted on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : EU job-search aid worth €2,641,800 for 821 former ICT workers in Finland was approved by the European Parliament in a vote on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The International Day against Homophobia is marked every 17 May to raise awareness about the importance of non- discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people around the world. To mark the occasion, MEPs discussed on 16 May reports by independent Russian media and human rights organisations alleging atrocities against homosexual men in Chechnya. They also adopted a resolution on it on 18 May.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The plight of migrants risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean has shaken Europe to the core in recent years. With frontline countries such as Greece and Italy affected the most, relocation is one way to share the burden. Ahead of a September deadline for the relocation of 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU countries, today MEPs accused national governments of dragging their feet on refugee transfers. MEPs vote on a resolution on relocation on 18 May.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs advocate efforts to halve by 2030 food waste in the EU, by lifting existing restrictions on food donations and eliminating confusion about “best before” and “use by” labels.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Globalisation is the greatest challenge facing EU citizens, suggested MEPs during a debate Tuesday with Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen when they welcomed the Commission’s recent assessment of globalisation.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Globalisation offers great potential to create wealth and jobs, but it also has the capacity to disrupt. The EU has always tried to make the most of it, while mitigating its negative effects by setting rules and working together with other countries. As MEPs debate on Tuesday 16 May a reflection paper by the European Commission on how the EU should deal with globalisation in the future, we take a look at what Parliament has already done recently.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Globalisation offers great potential to create wealth and jobs, but it also has the capacity to disrupt. The EU has always tried to make the most of it, while mitigating its negative effects by setting rules and working together with other countries. As MEPs debate on Tuesday 16 May a reflection paper by the European Commission on how the EU should deal with globalisation in the future, we take a look at what Parliament has already done recently.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Some 88 million tonnes of food are wasted in the EU every year, equivalent to 173 kilos per person. Not only is this a waste or resources, it also contributes to climate change. Parliament is working on new measures to cut food waste in the EU by 50%. Check out our infographic to find out which sectors and countries waste the most food and read what is being done at EU level and what you can do yourself.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : This Sunday you enjoy the opprtunity to discover that the European Parliament is about more than procedures and documents when it opens its doors to the public in Strasbourg. You will have the chance to ask MEPs questions, join a debate on issues affecting Europe, and even learn some salsa. Every year the European institutions welcome guests to celebrate the 1950 speech by then French Foreign minister Robert Schuman which led to the creation of the EU.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The EU and the UK government should negotiate a deal on the situation and rights of citizens as a matter of urgency and before starting the other Brexit talks, MEPs say.
Committee on Petitions
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

EU job-search aid worth €2,641,800 for 821 former ICT workers in Finland was approved by the Budgets Committee in a vote on Thursday.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Migration has been an EU priority for years. Since 2015 the EU has taken several measures to manage the migration crisis as well as to improve the asylum system. According to the latest Eurobarometer poll, 73% of Europeans still want the EU to do more to manage the situation. However, 58% of respondents think the EU’s actions regarding migration are inadequate, eight percentage points less than last year. Read on to discover what measures the European Parliament is working on.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

New rules to make more books available in formats designed for blind and visually impaired people were informally agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators on Wednesday.
Committee on Legal Affairs

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General : Although few of them were allowed to vote during the referendum, the millions of EU citizens living in the UK will be among those affected the most by Brexit. The EU wants to reach a deal to protect their rights as soon as possible during the upcoming negotiations with the UK. This week Parliament is holding a hearing on the situation and rights of EU citizens in the UK. Watch the meeting live online and check out our infographic for the facts.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Globalisation offers great potential to create wealth and jobs, but it also has the capacity to disrupt. The EU has always tried to make the most of it, while mitigating its negative effects by setting rules and working together with other countries. As the European Commission publishes on 10 May a reflection paper on how the EU should deal with globalisation in the future, we take a look at what Parliament has already done recently.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Europe Day, celebrated on 9 May, is all about our common journey from war to peace and cooperation. It was on 9 May 1950 that then French foreign minister Robert Schuman put in words a dream of a different Europe working together to overcome conflicts and growing stronger step by step. In 1958, this dream took shape in the Rome Treaties that set the basis for the European Union. Francesco Fresi was present in Rome at the signing and shared with us his thoughts on Europe’s extraordinary journey.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : The European Parliament’s official Twitter accounts have hit the one million follower milestone. Parliament first dipped its toes into Twitter back in April 2009, launching accounts in 22 EU languages. Eight years later, it boasts more than a million followers for its 26 accounts, including Europarl_photo, where you can find the best images of the Parliament and the people in it.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : The rights of EU citizens living in the UK and how they will be affected by Brexit is the focus of a hearing organised by three parliamentary committees this week. In addition the inquiry committee investigating the Panama papers holds a meeting with representatives from the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Madeira to discuss their tax regimes.Political groups also prepare for next week's plenary session.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Europeans increasingly realise the need for common solutions to the most pressing problems, yet question whether politics will be able to deliver, according to a new survey. The Eurobarometer survey, carried out in March, was commissioned by the European Parliament to get an idea of what people want. Check out our infographic to see in which areas people expect more from the European Union and read on for an overview of the survey's main findings.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP