European Parliament (News)

Plenary sessions : Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke (NA) will receive a “commensurate penalty” for his unacceptable remarks about the gender pay gap, as soon as an investigation into them has been completed, promised President Tajani at the opening. This language, which “offended every woman in this house” will not be tolerated, he insisted, to loud applause.

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Plenary sessions : MEPs vote Tuesday 14 March on four directives concerning waste management, mainly waste from households and small firms, representing 8% of total waste. These plans are a first step towards creating a circular economy where products are designed in order to facilitate reuse. One of the key issues is how ambitious targets should be for recycling rates and limiting landfilling, which is probably the most harmful way of getting rid of waste.

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General : Antonio Tajani made the case for European unity in his first speech as Parliament President at the start of a Council summit. “Today more than ever we can see how important European unity is,” he told political leaders at the summit in Brussels on 9 March. “Europe needs to be changed not weakened. All the institutions need to work harder to find the answers which ordinary Europeans are looking to us to provide.”

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General : When it comes to gender equality, much remains to be done, be it at home, in the office, at school or in politics, according to MEPs Constance Le Grip and Anna Hedh. We talked to the two member of Parliament's gender equality committee on the occasion of International Women's Day on 8 March, which this year focuses on economic empowerment. Watch our video to find out what they had to say on the subject.

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General : Palm oil is extensively used in food, cosmetics and biofuels, however the unsustainable production of the cheap vegetable oil leads to deforestation, loss of nature habitats and greenhouse gas emissions. Czech GUE/NGL member Kateřina Konečná calls on the European Commission to take measure to promote the responsible cultivation of palm oil and phase out its use for biofuels. The environment committee votes on her report on 9 March.

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Parliament’s lead MEP on the reform of the Dublin system, Swedish liberal Cecilia Wikström, will propose ways to remedy the shortcomings of the current asylum system in a draft report to be presented to the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday morning.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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General : Each year the European parliament draws attention to a specific topic related to women´s situation on the occasion of International Women's Day on 8 March. This year we decided to highlight the issue of economic empowerment. Check out our infographic to see where more work is needed.

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Plenary sessions : The increased migration flows to Europe and the thousands of refugee children currently missing throughout Europe show the limits of the current EU asylum system. Swedish ALDE member Cecilia Wikström presents her report on the reform of the Dublin regulation, which clarifies which EU country is responsible for processing asylum seekers, to the civil liberties committee on 9 March. Today she will outline her main proposals during a press conference starting at 11 CET.

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On 9 March 2017, Parliament’s lead MEP on the reform of the Dublin system, Swedish liberal Cecilia Wikström, will present her draft report to the Civil Liberties Committee.

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General : For this year's International Women's Day the European Parliament highlights the issue of women’s economic empowerment in a series of events. On Wednesday 8 March Spanish Green MEP Ernest Urtasun, author of a report on equality, answers your questions during a Facebook live session. Women are still often paid less, receive lower pensions and are less represented in top corporate posts and politics. Join our debate on Facebook and follow all Parliament events on International Women's Day.

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General : Parliament President Antonio Tajani was in Slovenia on 3 March where he opened the new Europe House in Ljubljana with European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker. At the opening Tajani said: "We need to strengthen our European identity and sense of belonging. We need to be united if we want to compete at the European level in a globalised world.”

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General : On the occasion of International Women's Day Parliament calls attention to women's economic situation. Other issues being dealt with this week include the reform of EU asylum rules and the environmental impact of the production of palm oil as well as a debate on the rule of law in Poland. In addition political groups and parliamentary committees prepare for next week's plenary session.

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General : "Brexit will be a particular challenge for Ireland and its people," said Parliament President Antonio Tajani after welcoming Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny to the Parliament on 2 March. Tajani also expressed his "understanding for the deep political and economic ties that link Ireland and the UK”. Describing Ireland “as a small European country that has been transformed by its EU membership”, Kenny stressed the “fundamental role" that the European Parliament would play in any Brexit deal.

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General : Ever since the Brexit referendum EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals living in other EU countries face uncertainty about their ability to stay where they are. The British government has so far refused to guarantee the rights of EU nationals. Following reports of administrative barriers, MEPs are increasingly concerned that EU citizens’ right to stay in the UK are not being fully respected. They held a debate on the issue on 1 March and will also organise hearings to gather evidence.

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Plenary sessions : New medicine prices in the EU have risen over the past few decades, to the point of being unaffordable for many EU citizens and threatening the sustainability of national health care systems, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday. To strike a better balance between EU countries’ public health interests and those of the pharmaceutical industry, it calls for measures to improve the traceability of R&D costs, public funding and marketing expenditure.

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Plenary sessions : The rules requiring EU member states to inform the EU Commission of their plans to negotiate energy supply deals with third countries before opening negotiations were approved by MEPs on Thursday. This is the first item of Energy Union legislation to be completed.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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