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Updated: 1 day 14 hours ago

Press release - Robots and artificial intelligence: MEPs call for EU-wide liability rules

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 13:09
Plenary sessions : EU-wide rules are needed for the fast-evolving field of robotics, e.g. to enforce ethical standards or establish liability for accidents involving driverless cars, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Infographic: how Parliament is addressing the terrorism threat

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 12:45
General : Europeans becoming radicalised and travelling to fight in Iraq or Syria represent a growing threat to the EU. Most of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe were perpetrated by home-grown terrorists. MEPs adopted on 16 February new rules to ensure stronger checks at the EU's external borders and prevent the preparation of terrorist acts. Check out our infographic for an overview of measures to tackle terrorism Parliament has been working on.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Parliament sets out its vision for the future of Europe

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 12:42
Plenary sessions : If the EU is to boost its capacity to act, restore citizens’ trust and make the euro zone economy more resilient to outside shocks, it needs to make full use of the Lisbon Treaty. But to go further, it needs to reform itself more fundamentally. This was the key message of three resolutions exploring the future development of the European Union approved by Parliament on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Preventing terrorism: clampdown on foreign fighters and lone wolves

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 12:35
Plenary sessions : To counter the growing threats from “foreign fighters” travelling to conflict zones for terrorist purposes and “lone wolves” planning solo attacks, new EU-wide rules were approved by Parliament on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Stopping foreign fighters at EU external borders

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 12:30
Plenary sessions : All EU citizens and third country nationals entering or leaving the EU will be systematically checked against databases, e.g. of lost and stolen documents, under a regulation voted on Thursday. The new rules were agreed by Parliament’s negotiators and the Council of Ministers on 5 December 2016.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Human rights: Nicaragua, executions in Kuwait and Bahrain, and Guatemala

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 12:15
Plenary sessions : Parliament voices deep concern about the intimidation and harassment of Francesca Ramirez and other human rights defenders in Nicaragua, deplores the recent use of the death penalty in Kuwait and Bahrain, and strongly condemns the murders of human rights defenders and journalists in Guatemala, in three resolutions voted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Justin Trudeau: "Trade needs to work for people"

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 11:44
Plenary sessions : "Ceta is not only about commerce, imports and exports, about profits. It aims to improve people's lives," said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while addressing MEPs in Strasbourg on Thursday 16 February, one day after the the European Parliament approved the EU-Canada trade agreement.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs call for fast-track approval of low-risk pesticides

Wed, 15/02/2017 - 14:38
Plenary sessions : Low-risk biological pesticides, including those made from bio-organisms, pheromones or essential oils, could replace conventional ones that are suspected of harming the environment and human health. MEPs wonder why some member states hesitate or refuse to approve them and want the EU Commission to propose a revision of the rules to accelerate the approval process.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Rise of the robots: Mady Delvaux on why their use should be regulated

Wed, 15/02/2017 - 14:10
General : From drones to medical equipment, robots are increasingly becoming a part of our everyday life. But although some 1.7 million robots already exist worldwide, their use is still not properly regulated. MEPs debate today a report calling for rules to regulate their use, including creating a separate legal status for robots. They will vote on the report tomorrow.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs back plans to cut carbon emission allowances and fund low-carbon innovation

Wed, 15/02/2017 - 14:08
Plenary sessions : Plans to boost greenhouse-gas emission curbs through the EU carbon market (EU ETS), so as to bring EU climate policy into line with the aims of the Paris agreement, were backed by Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs supported the Commission proposal to reduce the number of “carbon credits” (emission allowances) by 2.2% each year, and want to double the capacity of the 2019 market stability reserve (MSR) to absorb the excess of allowances on the market.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs urge legal reform in Albania, rule of law for all in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wed, 15/02/2017 - 13:11
Plenary sessions : Albania should step up the pace of judicial reform, as a key to starting EU accession negotiations, while Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) needs to overcome its ethnic and political divisions and remain united throughout the EU membership application evaluation process, said MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - CETA: MEPs back EU-Canada trade agreement

Wed, 15/02/2017 - 12:41
Plenary sessions : The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which aims to boost goods and services trade and investment flows, was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday. The landmark trade deal could apply provisionally from as early as April 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Ceta: creating opportunities for EU businesses in Canada

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 19:09
Plenary sessions : Negotiated for nearly five years and four months, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada is now ready for the final vote by the European Parliament. After MEPs backed it on Wednesday 15 February, the agreement could already provisionally apply from April. In 2015 EU-Canada trade accounted for more than €60 billion and Ceta is expected to boost this by 20%. Read on and watch our video to find out more about the difference the trade deal could make.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

National angle - Mairead McGuinness elected first Vice President of the European Parliament

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 17:47
Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness was elected first Vice President of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday January 18th.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

National angle - Discussion at Europe House: “Brexit and Trade”

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 17:33
Six months after the EU membership referendum in the UK and much uncertainty remains about the shape that the future relationship between the two. One of the biggest questions are now being asked about the type of trade deal the UK will reach with the EU post-Brexit.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Greece: MEPs say it's time to act on debt crisis

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 17:07
Plenary sessions : Greece and its debt problem are back on the EU’s agenda. A team of EU officials and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are expected to return to Athens to evaluate whether the country has implemented the latest reforms agreed under the current bailout, a necessary step for further international support. MEPs discussed the situation during a debate on Tuesday 14 February and called for urgent action to help improve the situation.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Alexander Van der Bellen: "The European idea is worth the effort"

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 13:48
Plenary sessions : Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen gave a passionate speech in favour of the EU at the European Parliament and said the challenges facing Europe could only be tackled together. Van der Bellen was addressing MEPs in Strasbourg on 14 February as part of his first official foreign trip. During the speech he said: “The European idea is great. It is unique. It is worth all the effort."

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - EU job-search aid: €1.8m for 800 former retail workers in the Netherlands

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 13:10
Plenary sessions : EU job search aid worth €1,818,750 for 800 former retail workers in the Netherlands was approved in plenary in a vote on Tuesday. The workers were made redundant by six retail trade companies which recently went bankrupt in the Drenthe and Overijssel provinces. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid still needs to be approved by the Council of Ministers on 17 February.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Peace in Ukraine and West Bank debates on Tuesday at 16.00

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 13:00
Plenary sessions : The worsening plight of eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels broke the ceasefire and began shelling Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka last week, will be debated by MEPs on Tuesday afternoon with Ian Borg, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency, representing EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. This will be followed by another debate on the situation in the West Bank, including settlements.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs call for EU-wide protection for whistle-blowers

Tue, 14/02/2017 - 12:52
Plenary sessions : An “effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme” should be proposed “immediately” by the EU Commission, urges Parliament in a resolution voted on Tuesday. MEPs deplore the Commission’s failure, so far, to deliver any legislative proposals to establish a minimum level of protection for whistle-blowers who help protect the EU budget against fraud

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP
Categories: European Union

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