European Union

Following the deal reached in Glasgow, the MEPs leading Parliament’s delegation to the COP26 commented on the outcome of the negotiations.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Following the deal reached in Glasgow, the MEPs leading Parliament’s delegation to the COP26 commented on the outcome of the negotiations.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Press conference following the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting will take place on Monday 15 November 2021 starting at 17.15.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Parliament and Council have suspended the talks on the EU budget for 2022 on Friday without agreement.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Parliament and Council have suspended the talks on the EU budget for 2022 on Friday without agreement.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Waves of desperate people are trying to reach the EU: Images coming from the Poland-Belarus border this week have reopened the wounds in the very tissue of Europe that have barely scarred over since the first migration crisis in 2015. 

Another week, another public consultation. Whether it’s deforestation or the EU’s new animal welfare legislation, there’s plenty of opportunities for everyone to give their two cents on the Commission’s policy plans. This is important given that this feeds into and...

Five years on from the Brexit referendum and nearly two years after leaving the bloc, most Britons would vote to rejoin the EU if a plebiscite were held, according to a new survey released on Friday (12 November).

The Commission has adopted the first three work programmes for its Digital Europe Programme, totalling almost €2 billion in green and digital transition funding.

European cities are using online tools to engage their inhabitants, but a lack of digital skills and access could amplify existing inequalities.

British farmers have set an ambitious strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture by 2040. But for all farmers to be able to contribute, the government should step in and provide the necessary means, the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales (NFU) told EURACTIV.

Rewatch this Intel event, in partnership with our media partner EURACTIV, to learn more about the importance of leading-edge semiconductors for the European economy. 2.12.0.0

Written by Katarzyna Sochacka and Clare Ferguson.

The November I 2021 plenary session in Brussels was the first to be held without the use of remote voting since March 2020. During this mini-session, Parliament debated, in particular, a statement from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, on the escalating humanitarian crisis on the EU/Belarusian border, in particular in Poland. Members also heard an address by Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Another debate covered the outcome of the first meeting of the new EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Several resolutions and legislative acts were adopted, inter alia on strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU, the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations, the European Education Area, disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches, the European Partnership on Metrology, the European Union Agency for Asylum, and on serious cross-border threats to health.

Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU

Members adopted an own-initiative resolution on strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU. Parliament has always been very active in the defence of freedom of expression and opinion, and this resolution addresses the issue of lawsuits taken out against journalists in the interests of silencing their reporting. Known as SLAPPS (strategic lawsuits against public participation), such legal action attempts to avoid public scrutiny of their initiators’ activities, by intimidating journalists and activists. Parliament’s Legal Affairs (JURI) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committees prepared a report that proposes that the Commission bring forward both legislative and non-legislative measures to protect victims of SLAPPs, including training for judges, funding for victims and awareness-raising regarding such abusive legal actions.

Disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches

Responding to citizens’ expectations regarding fairness in taxation, the EU has long aimed to lead the world in promoting financial and corporate transparency. Following protracted negotiations, Members debated and approved a political agreement reached with the Council, which should ensure that multinational corporations publish full information on the taxes they pay and where they pay them. Corporations with revenues over €750 million will be obliged to report on their activities in each EU country, and to disclose income tax information in a standard format on the internet. The measure aims to fight corporate tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning.

Statute and funding of European political parties and foundations

An important element in raising awareness of EU values and encouraging pan-European political understanding, European political parties are non-profit political alliances of national parties. They must have a presence in at least 25 % of EU countries to be considered truly European and therefore eligible for EU funding. Members considered and adopted the findings of the latest report by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFET) on the implementation of the regulation that governs the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations. The committee proposes several changes to make it easier to start a European party, and to improve transparency regarding their functioning and financing.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Members confirmed without vote a mandate for negotiations from the ITRE committee on the proposal for a directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union.

Read this ‘at a glance’ on ‘Plenary round-up – November I 2021‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament

Despite participants fears that the Conference on the Future of Europe is not making headlines and therefore might not be as impactful as hoped, the Commission has reassured them that the media is listening and their voices will be heard.

In theory, all Europeans have the right to vote in local and national elections. But in practice, people with disabilities often face significant hurdles to exercising their voting rights.

Buildings are at the center of our daily lives, where we work, live and rest. On average, people spend 80% of their lives inside buildings – from office buildings, schools, hospitals, to homes. With the Covid 19 crisis, we have never spent so much time indoors since the last 18 months. 2.12.0.0 2.12.0.0 2.12.0.0 2.12.0.0 2.12.0.0