European Union

Members of the European Parliament's legal affairs committee on Thursday (23 March) adopted a report to update the directive on a single work and residence permit and speed up permit procedures for third-country nationals.

"What is critical is sending ammunition to Ukraine fast, because that might bring a change in this war," Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas said.

The further postponement of the publication of the EU pharma legislation has caused tensions to rise among EU lawmakers and health stakeholders, who have demanded the Commission expedite it to start the legislative process on time.

Polish abortion rights activists Justyna Wydrzyńska was last week sentenced for giving abortion pills to a 12-week pregnant woman. She will appeal. But with a court stacked by politically-appointed judges, her chances of overturning it are slim.

The EU executive’s proposed legislation on carbon sinks is only the first step in a broader effort to certify negative emissions in agriculture, as well as remunerate and potentially trade them, according to a Commission official.

Food companies will be forced to justify claims such as carbon neutral under newly proposed plans from the European Commission as criticisms mount over the ‘rampant’ greenwashing found on supermarket shelves - but farmers warn plans must be fine-tuned for the specificities of the food sector.

Over 200,000 illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers took place at the EU’s external borders in 2022, the Belgian NGO 11.11.11. stated in its latest report.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told EU leaders on Thursday (23 March) that "delays" in sending fighter jets and long-range missiles could extend the war in his country.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev hammered home once again on Thursday (23 March) his opposition to sending Bulgarian ammunition to Ukraine, ahead of an EU summit expected to agree on the immediate provision of ammunition to the war-torn country.

Elections in Europe are often held on Sundays. On Sunday, 2 April, three European countries will vote – Bulgaria, Finland and Montenegro. And the stakes are high.

Dear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at a week in which the EU emerged as the largest donor...

A new report by Corporate Europe Observatory details how German business interests have shaped German and European hydrogen policies.

“We need to strengthen our solidarity with Ukraine, and boost Europe’s investments and competitiveness”, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at the European Council.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The European Commission is expected to know in two to three weeks how to proceed with plans to ramp up European arms production, which would also help secure a quick and steady supply to Ukraine, the EU's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton told EURACTIV Slovakia.

The European Commission’s consumer protection office will launch a voluntary initiative to move away from repetitive cookie banners in what might be the prelude to a legislative proposal. The cookie pledge is set to be announced next Tuesday (28 March)...

The new subcommittee on public health (SANT) elected MEP Bartosz Arłukowicz as Chair, as well as the four Vice-Chairs, at its constitutive meeting today.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The European Parliament and EU ministers struck a deal in the early hours of Thursday morning (23 March) on the bloc's flagship law to cut emissions in the maritime sector, marking a major step forward for the bloc's plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

MEPs backed on Thursday draft EU legislation to issue work and residence permits more quickly for nationals of third countries and to improve their rights.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday (23 March he does not consider it realistic for Romania to set any deadline for joining the eurozone, days after the government said it was looking to adopt the single currency by 2026.

The ongoing inflationary crisis is marred by the ever-growing gap between people’s falling purchasing power and EU multinationals’ posting record-high profits. An offensive stance against tax evasion can help assuage growing political frustration.