European Union

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Sunday was probably a defining moment for Brexit. Far from procrastinating or playing for time, Theresa May appeared to make a big strategy call. From the hubbub of the Conservative party conference has emerged clarity on when she will start Article 50 exit talks (by March 2017) and what her goals will be.

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The Committee on Culture and Education will hold an inter-parliamentary committee meeting to share ideas about the way forward in the cultural and creative sectors in the EU, which promote cultural and linguistic diversity, strengthen European and regional identity, and substantially contribute to growth, innovation and employment in the EU economy. This thematic digest provides selected publications provided by Parliament’s Policy Departments which are relevant to the topic of this meeting.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The European Parliament will vote on Tuesday to give its consent to the ratification of the Paris climate agreement by the European Union, after Council gave its green light on Friday. For Environment Committee chair Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT) the decision allows the EU to remain a leader in climate action ahead of the next round of talks to take place in Marrakech in November.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The European Parliament will vote on Tuesday to give its consent to the ratification of the Paris climate agreement by the European Union, after Council gave its green light on Friday. For Environment Committee chair Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT) the decision allows the EU to remain a leader in climate action ahead of the next round of talks to take place in Marrakech in November.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Wednesday 5 October 2016
Brussels Conference on Afghanistan
09.00 Opening statement
10.30 Family photo

Thursday 6 October 2016
10.30 Presentation of letters of credentials of ambassadors
14.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Andorra Antoni Martí (photo opportunity)

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 30 September 2016, in view of the gravity of the situation, the Council prolonged the sanctions against Libya targeting three persons for six months.

On 1 April 2016, the Council added three persons to the list of people subject to EU restrictive measures against Libya.  Agila Saleh, president of the Libyan Council of Deputies in the House of Representatives; Khalifa Ghweil, prime minister and defence minister of the internationally unrecognised General National Congress; and Nuri Abu Sahmain, president of the internationally unrecognised General National Congress, are viewed as obstructing the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement of 17 December 2015 and the formation of a Government of National Accord in Libya.

The Council remains concerned about the situation in Libya, and in particular about acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of the country, and that impede or undermine the successful completion of Libya's political transition. 

In view of the unabated violence in Syria the tone on the international diplomatic stage is growing harsher: Merkel and Obama have condemned the airstrikes on Aleppo, describing them as "barbaric" and UN representatives have accused the Syrian army and its allies of committing war crimes. But why is the West still doing nothing to end the war?

After a long period of wrangling the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) have agreed to cut production by 700,000 barrels per day. The cartel's decision will mainly affect oil prices and the global power game in the energy sector, commentators conclude.

Just over two years after Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine international investigators published their latest findings on Wednesday, according to which the plane was hit by a Buk missile fired by a rocket launcher brought from Russia into the rebel area. Moscow should admit its partial responsibility for the tragedy, commentators urge, arguing that sooner or later the culprits will be brought to justice anyway.

In a referendum on October 2 the citizens of Hungary will vote on whether to accept mandatory quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán rejects the quota system already approved by Brussels. For some commentators the result is already clear. Others believe that a lack of voter participation may put Orbán in a tight spot.