The European Union is committed to free trade. However, if European industries suffer as a result of unfair practices by non-EU countries, such as dumping and subsidised imports, the EU can respond with Trade Defence Instruments (TDIs). The European Court of Auditors has looked at this area for the first time. It concludes that the…
Year: 2020
EP Debates EU Recovery Plan
In an extraordinary plenary session, MEPs commented on the 17-21 July European Council deal on EU financing and the recovery plan to tackle the pandemic fallout. “We are not ready to swallow the MFF pill”, said Manfred Weber (EPP). Also, S&D leader Iratxe García would not accept the cuts, “not at a time when we…
Urgent Steps Needed to Prevent National Electricity Blackouts in Ukraine
For more than six months now, Energoatom has been emphasizing that the crisis in the Ukrainian energy sector was caused by the current model of the domestic energy market. Now this position has been confirmed by experts who have made an in-depth and balanced analysis of its causes. The rapid loss of financial liquidity and…
Energoatom Safety Programme
On Thursday 23 July, NNEGC Energoatom received €100 million from the European Nuclear Energy Community for the implementation of the Comprehensive (Consolidated) Safety Improvement Program (CSPP) for Ukrainian NPPs, approved by the government in 2011. This is the third tranche under the loan agreement concluded with Euratom in 2013 and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada…
UK Security Report on Russian Links Published
After a delay of 10 months sitting on the British Prime Minister’s desk, the Intelligence and Security Committee’s Report on Russian interference in the UK is now available for the general public to read. Speaking in the Commons today Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer asked Boris Johnson why he had sat for so…
Stop Parkinson’s!
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 62, Ivo de Bisschop decided to take action to raise public awareness of the disease and raise funds for medical research, such as the programmes managed by Peter Vangheluwe, of the University of Leuven’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine which has set a target of €95…
Wagamama Brussels Open
Parliament Calls for Fairer Corporate Taxes
The European Court of Justice decided to cancel the payment of 13 billion Euros of “unlawful” state aid received by Apple. Following the decision, the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have now called on member states to “take action in order to ensure fairer taxation.” Jonás Fernandez, S&D spokesman on taxation, said “The ruling issued…
MEPs Call for Stronger Controls to Curb Air Pollution from Cars
To ensure that cars meet EU limits on NOx emissions, tests under real driving conditions must be more stringent, said the Parliament’s Environment Committee. The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee adopted an amendment to EU rules on measuring emissions from light passenger and commercial cars with 55 votes to 14 and 11 abstentions….
Journalism Under Threat
Journalism is more dangerous – and more under threat – than at any point in the last decade, according to a report by the globally respected international group, Reporters Without Borders (RWB). Both freedom of speech and information serve as indicators of freedom in society. But journalists, correspondents and reporters, even those who do not…