European Union

Democracy and fundamental rights are under threat in Hungary, say most MEPs, who urge the Commission and the Council to protect Hungarian citizens and rule of law.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Democracy and fundamental rights are under threat in Hungary, say most MEPs, who urge the Commission and the Council to protect Hungarian citizens and rule of law.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Court of Justice has ruled against Hungary in a case where people, including asylum seekers, were being detained in a transit zone along the shared border with Serbia. "The persons concerned cannot lawfully leave that zone of their own free-will in any direction whatsoever," noted the court. The court classified it as detention, noting Hungary must release them if there is no valid reason to hold them.

Governments have a choice: stimulate fossil fuel industries or invest in a more resilient recovery, powered by renewable energy.  This is a once in a generation chance, write Achim Steiner and Francesco La Camera.

The French government cried foul Thursday (14 May) after pharmaceutical giant Sanofi said it would reserve first shipments of any COVID-19 vaccine for the United States, saying the move would be "unacceptable" in a crisis that has killed nearly 300,000 people worldwide.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday (14 May) that a vaccine to tackle COVID-19 could be ready in a year’s time under an “optimistic” scenario, in contrast with the European Commission’s ambitious projections of having a vaccine “by...

With men dominating higher managerial positions in Europe's technology sector, there has been no shortage of calls for greater female empowerment in the industry.

Tech firms in Europe are 'losing out' on a wide range of talent and diversity due to their reluctance to hire women across all levels of management, the EU Commissioner for Innovation and Research, Mariya Gabriel has said.

Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said he will recommend member states to support Poland's position to increase the budget for EU's farming subsidies by 10% than proposed by the Commission in 2018.

A group of 100 environmental NGOs are calling on the EU to establish a green investment plan post-coronavirus, financed by the bloc's long-term budget and recovery package - dedicating at least 50 percent to climate and the environment and excluding all fossil fuel subsidies. So far, 17 European countries have also called on the EU to prepare an economic recovery plan that would integrate the green transition.

A coal-fired power plant in Rotterdam intends to sue the Netherlands over their coal-exit strategy under the Energy Charter Treaty - a controversial international agreement that protects foreign investments in the energy sector, according to Investment Arbitration Reporter. The Dutch government said on Wednesday that it will respond to Uniper's position as the consultation period is still running. Uniper's power plant is expected to be closed before 2030.

The EU LNG import terminals currently import LNG that consists of methane of fossil origin. LNG produces lower CO2 emissions than most fossil fuels and has a low level of methane leakages in the long term. However, they need to...

Oxfam on Thursday called on governments and pharmaceutical companies to guarantee that vaccines, tests, and treatments will be patent-free and universally distributed to all nations and people, ahead of the World Health Assembly next week. "Providing a vaccine to 3.7 billion people could cost less than what the 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies make in four months," said Jose Maria Vera, Oxfam international interim executive director.

The German Interior Ministry wants to check whether manufacturers of 5G components are trustworthy. For SPD digital politician Falko Mohrs, this does not go far enough. He demands a political security check, fed with secret service information. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Excessive use of state aid to bail out struggling farmers during the COVID-19 crisis could be a cause for concern for the single market and fair competition in the member states, according to the European Commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski.

Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Advocate General Bobek: Member States must grant compensation to any victim of a violent intentional crime, regardless of his or her residence

Chinese tech firm Huawei has been lobbying the now Danish prime minister for years, according to a cache of Huawei letters to the politician seen by Danish business daily Berlingske. At least one letter was "threatening" in tone. A letter in December said "a perfect storm has enveloped Huawei in the Danish kingdom", referring to Western security concerns on Huawei data networks and broader EU fears on Chinese economic espionage.

Országos Idegenrendeszeti Főigazgatóság Dél-alföldi Regionális Igazgatóság
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The placing of asylum seekers or third-country nationals who are the subject of a return decision in the Röszke transit zone at the Serbian-Hungarian border must be classified as ‘detention’

MEPs will discuss the use of smartphone apps in managing the spread of the pandemic and address the risks posed to personal data and privacy.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP