Protecting Workers’ Health

Asbestos cancer

The European Parliament’s employment committee will this week vote to reduce the exposure of workers to asbestos, a number one substance known to cause cancer. The Commission is expected to present a legal proposal in 2022. The Socialists and Democrats call on the Commission to update, as a matter of priority, asbestos exposure limits by…

MEPs call for Commission to Act on Migration

In a letter to Vice-President Margaritis Schinas who coordinates the Commission’s work on Migration and Asylum, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, strongly criticised the European Commission’s inaction in the field of migration.  Since the announcement of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, neither the situation at the EU’s external borders…

Throwing Stones in Glass Houses?

Throwing Stones at EU Reporter

The leading Brussels based publication “Politico” appears to have taken umbrage with the editorial practices of EU Reporter, and has fired off two highly critical articles in the past week, one criticising EU Reporter’s links with the Chinese company Huawei and the China People’s Daily, and a second disparaging the information distributed by EU Reporter…

Commission Initiative Against e-Waste

e-waste

The European Commission says it has taken an important step against e-waste and consumer inconvenience, caused by the prevalence of different, incompatible chargers for electronic devices.  Years of working with industry on a voluntary approach already brought down the number of mobile phone chargers from 30 to 3 within the last decade, but could not…

Colombia and EU open new chapter to strengthen bilateral relations

EU Colombia

The EU and Colombia have agreed on a “Memorandum of Understanding on an Agenda of enhanced political and sectoral dialogue and cooperation for the next decade”. It was signed on Wednesday by High Representative Josep Borrell and the Vice-President and Foreign Minister of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez in New York, in the presence of the…

Technology take off for Emirates Airline

Emirates cleaning planes

Emirates Airline is pioneering high-tech solutions to ensure passenger stay safe and healthy. They have tapped into their partnership with the UAE’s Aviation X-lab innovation incubator programme to pilot robot cleaning trials. These are currently in use at its signature lounges at Dubai airport. The robots use special technology to eliminate most viruses and, according to…

ECR Group Supports EP Afghanistan Resolution

Fotyga talks with Stoltenberg about Afghanistan

The ECR Group says that it endorses the European Parliament’s resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, which deplores the violent takeover by the Taliban and expresses strong concerns about the future of the country. The MEPs stress their refusal to recognise the interim all-male Taliban government, made up of 33 mullahs, with many under US…

ECFR Report on Germany’s Impact on EU

Germany and EU

A major pan-European polling round, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) asked citizens of the EU’s 12 most important member states for their thoughts on German leadership within the EU-27, both retrospectively, with regards the Merkel-era, and how they see Germany’s representation in Europe changing beyond this week’s elections.  The findings include: There is enduring support in Europe for Angela Merkel…