European Parliament (News)

Plenary sessions : The Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to wildlife conservation, said Parliament in a resolution adopted on Thursday. MEPs called for measures to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also home to the endangered mountain gorilla species.

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Plenary sessions : Member states must apply the EU's eight-point code on arms exports more rigorously, particularly with the changed security environment in the EU's neighbourhood, the EP said on Thursday. It stressed that these trade flows are not in the EU's direct security interests and national political and economic considerations must not override decision-making on export licences.

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Plenary sessions : A ban on the patenting of products obtained by conventional breeding techniques, such as crossing, is essential to sustain innovation, food security and small businesses, says a non-legislative resolution voted by Parliament on Thursday. MEPs, surprised by the European Patent Office decision to allow patents on such products, call on the EU Commission to clarify existing EU rules as a matter of urgency and protect plant breeders’ access to biological material.

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Plenary sessions : Growing insecurity, the lack of political moves towards reconciliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Burundi, a country that tops the Global Hunger Index, are highlighted by MEPs in a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday. They welcome consultations under the Cotonou Agreement that could lead to suspension of EU aid to the Burundi government, and ask the EU and its member states to consider re-directing non-humanitarian EU aid to civil society there.

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New rules to curb the influx of pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa, caused by increased trade and climate change, stop them spreading and eradicate the most dangerous ones were informally agreed by MEPs and the Luxembourg Council Presidency on Wednesday. The provisional deal also introduces preventive measures for imported plants and fast-response mechanisms for high-risk ones.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

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Plenary sessions : The Commission's recent proposals for completing European Monetary Union (EMU) are insufficient to address the current shortcomings in the institutional framework of the euro area. More parliamentary oversight and public debate is needed to ensure democratic accountability and get citizens on board, Parliament says in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

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New EU data protection legislation, informally agreed on Tuesday and backed by Civil Liberties MEPs on Thursday morning, will create a uniform set of rules across the EU fit for the digital era. It should also improve legal certainty and boost trust in the digital single market for citizens and businesses alike. Clear and affirmative consent to data processing, the right to be forgotten and strong fines for firms breaking the rules are some of the new features.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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Plenary sessions : Parliament calls for the immediate release of an Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa, detained in Egypt, the release of all political prisoners in Maldives, and the withdrawal of the anti-sodomy law in Malaysia, in three resolutions passed on Thursday.

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Plenary sessions : Parliament decided to set up a 45 member inquiry committee to investigate breaches of EU rules on car emission tests and alleged failures by EU member states and the European Commission to enforce EU standards. The committee will present an interim report within 6 months, and a final report within 12 months, of starting its work.

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At its constitutive meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday, members of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings - which will continue to function for 6 more months under a new mandate - have re-elected Alain Lamassoure (EPP, FR) as their chairman by acclamation.
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE 2)

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Plenary sessions : No-one should ever be detained for the sole reason that he or she is an asylum seeker, said speakers in a debate on Wednesday evening. To apply for asylum is a basic human right, and detention can only be used as a measure of last resort, they insisted. Several MEPs criticised declarations by European Council President Donald Tusk about detaining migrants for up to 18 months in order to “screen” them. Other MEPs argued that such decisions are better taken at national level.

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General : A request by 283 members of the European Parliament for the creation of an inquiry committee to investigate breaches of EU rules on car emission measurements will be put to the vote by the full house on Thursday.

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Plenary sessions : EU laws must be as simple and clear as possible to ensure that citizens can easily understand their rights and obligations. The European Parliament Conference of Presidents endorsed on Wednesday, with a large majority, an agreement with the Council and the Commission to improve the quality of EU legislation, which needs to focus on areas where the EU has the greatest added value for its citizens.

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Plenary sessions : The terrorism threat in Europe has boosted calls for stricter arms controls. On Wednesday MEPs debate a report calling for the EU's code on arms exports to be applied more strictly, followed by a vote the next day. In 2013 alone EU member states exported €26.7 billion worth of arms to countries outside the EU. In addition MEPs will soon be asked to have their say on new EU rules to strengthen firearms controls.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament spells out the legal steps needed to improve corporate tax transparency, coordination and EU-wide policy convergence in a resolution voted on Wednesday., Parliament’s drive to persuade EU member states to act to counter aggressive corporate tax planning and evasion by multinationals in Europe was triggered by the November 2014 “Luxleaks” revelations about Luxembourg’s dubious tax deals with them.

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Plenary sessions : The EU should start immediately to monitor threats to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Wednesday. The EU Commission should assess whether the combined effect of government measures there has led to a “systemic deterioration”, which, if the Commission fails to address it, could trigger similar developments in other member states too, it adds.

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Plenary sessions : The EU and China must work more closely together to tackle global challenges and threats, such as terrorism, illegal migration, security, climate change and global financial and market governance, Parliament says in a resolution passed on Wednesday. It calls for talks to be accelerated on a new partnership and cooperation agreement "based on trust, transparency and respect for human rights."

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General : Forty years of ACP-EU cooperation, migration, the post-election situation in Burundi, and COP21 were among the topics discussed by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly at its 30th session, which closed on Wednesday, in Brussels.

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General : MEPs and parliamentarians from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries discussed migration, human rights and refugees during the 30th EU-ACP parliamentary assembly in Brussels on Tuesday 8 December. Most agreed that the roots of migration, such as poverty, war and a lack of human right,s need to be addressed while some also warned that we need to prepare for climate refugees.

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General : Recent events in Europe have brought the issues of marginalisation and extremism to the forefront of public debate. On 7 December Parliament's culture committee adopted a report on the role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values. Ahead of the vote, we spoke to report author Julie Ward, a UK member of the S&D: "We have one world and we have to find some way of being mutually respectful and tolerant of each other."

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP