European Union

The EU could set global standards on Artificial Intelligence (AI), but to reap its benefits the rules must come fast and be flexible, said Axel Voss, the MEP responsible for a report on AI.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The EU could set global standards on Artificial Intelligence (AI), but to reap its benefits the rules must come fast and be flexible, said Axel Voss, the MEP responsible for a report on AI.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

In the framework of the LIFE TACKLE project, we not only look at professionals in the sporting sector but also at the fans, who breathe so much life into football.

The European Parliament’s spokesperson will hold a last-minute briefing on the 22-25 November plenary session today at 16.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Parliament’s spokesperson will hold a last-minute briefing on the 22-25 November plenary session today at 16.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

A fresh wave of protests broke out in Brussels and several European cities on Sunday (21 November), as protesters reacted, sometimes violently, to moves to reintroduced coronavirus restrictions.

Written by Jaan Soone.

On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of proposals to equip the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – the ‘fit for 55’ package. The package includes a proposal to revise the 2014 directive on alternative fuels infrastructure and turn it into a regulation.

In the draft regulation the Commission proposes binding targets for electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen refuelling points, electric charging for stationary aircraft at airports and on shore power supply for ships at ports. It also contains provisions for EU Member States to ensure coverage of refuelling points for liquefied natural gas (LNG) dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles and LNG refuelling points in maritime ports.

In the European Parliament, the file has been referred to the Transport and Tourism Committee.

Versions

• November 2021: Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure: Fit for 55 package (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council Committee responsible:Transport and Tourism (TRAN)COM(2021) 559
14.07.2021Rapporteur:Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany)2021/0223(COD)Shadow rapporteurs:Jens Gieseke (EPP, Germany)
Caroline Nagtegaal (Renew, the Netherlands)
Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (Greens/EFA, Germany)
Roman Haider (ID, Austria)
Carlo Fidanza (ECR, Italy)
Elena Kountoura (The Left, Greece)Ordinary legislative procedure (COD)
(Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Publication of draft report © teksomolika / Adobe Stock

Around 31 million Europeans were living in energy poverty in 2019, a figure that is set to rise this year because of the coronavirus crisis and soaring energy prices, affecting the most vulnerable in society.

Energy prices have skyrocketed in the past months, increasing the concern that millions of Europeans will have to choose between paying their bills and putting food on the table this winter.

Finland has come out against the EU's draft “Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act” saying the proposed classification of biomass under the EU's green finance rules goes against the country's national interest.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about France promising to 'continue the fight' in the fisheries dispute with the UK, more EU countries considering mandatory vaccines and lockdown as COVID-19 cases rise, and so much more.

A group of MEPs have infuriated the authorities in Belgrade after they called on them to end “modern slavery” in Serbia, the alleged victims being Vietnamese workers employed by a Chinese company in the EU candidate country.

Those found throwing litter or dumping waste in Albania will now face high fines according to Prime Minister Edi Rama, although proper waste collection and recycling remains unavailable.  Over the weekend, Rama and environmental minister Mirela Kumbaro met with mayors...

The ongoing silent “war” over which EU state will have the Mediterranean region under its sphere of influence threatens EU goal for a more coordinated approach in foreign matters. France has signed a defence deal with Greece. In response, Spain...

Bulgarian president Rumen Radev won a second term in office by a wide margin on Sunday as voters in the European Union's poorest country backed his strong anti-corruption message, exit polls showed, Reuters writes. The election comes amid widespread discontent against high-level graft that ended the decade-long rule of former premier Boyko Borissov in April and led a new anti-corruption party to victory in last week's parliamentary elections.

China has punished Lithuania for letting Taiwan open a quasi-embassy in Vilnius by withdrawing its ambassador. "The Chinese government had to lower diplomatic relations between the two countries … in order to safeguard its sovereignty and the basic norms of international relations," the Chinese foreign ministry said Sunday. Lithuania had "created a bad precedent in the international arena" and "must bear the consequences," it added.

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili agreed on Friday to end a 50-day hunger strike once authorities transferred him to a military hospital, his lawyers said, France24 reports. The transfer, proposed by Georgia's justice ministry earlier in the day, appeared to mark a breakthrough in a long stand-off that had prompted the United States and others to raise concerns for his health.

A group of 39 Palestinians flying from Egypt to Colombia and Ecuador used a stopover in the Spanish town of Barcelona to demand asylum, Spanish authorities said Friday. "They are in a special room and all their necessities are being taken care of," a Spanish spokeswoman said. The incident comes after 21 passengers from Morocco ran away after landing in the Spanish island of Mallorca earlier this month.

The Kremlin accused the West of artificially whipping up tensions around Ukraine with repeated statements suggesting Russia was poised to launch an attack on its neighbour and told Washington and its allies to stop a military build-up nearby.

Promoters of the controversial Super League football tournament have sent a letter to EU lawmakers ahead of this week's vote in the European Parliament on a sports-related report, attacking what they said was the monopoly of Europe’s "self-established" football governing body UEFA.