EP Plenary Debate on Afghanistan

During a plenary debate on the situation in Afghanistan, the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament expressed its concerns about the unfolding humanitarian, economic and migration crisis in the country, which needs a stable and inclusive government that respects fundamental human rights in order to be able to end the free fall of the…

EU Recognises Moroccan Vaccination Certificate

In a decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union today, the EU Commission has announced that it recognises the vaccination certificate issued in Morocco, allowing holders of the Moroccan vaccination certificate to travel without restriction to the EU 27 Schengen countries. The decision applies to Moroccans, European citizens vaccinated in Morocco, and…

Algeria: Proxy Hitmen in Mali

Mali Terrorists

In his The Dark Sahara (2009) and The Dying Sahara (2012), Jeremy Keenan  argues that there is a danger of proxy hitmen in Mali, writes Abdelkader Filali. Keenan is an anthropologist and an associate professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London who works as a consultant on the Sahara and the Sahel for many international…

The Value and Culture of Good Healthy Food

good and healthy food

Europe is well known across the world for developing, preserving and exporting the value and the culture of good and healthy food.  European food is a benchmark at a global level for its safe, nutritious and high-quality standards. Socialist MEPs say that is  “it is time for Europe to become a global reference for sustainability and…

As Election Day approaches in Russia, the idea of a boycott gains traction

Duma elections. Navalny stifled.

The Socialist Alternative movement has called on all rational and responsible Russian citizens to actively boycott the State Duma elections scheduled for September 17-19, 2021. It seems that this call is gaining traction with citizens who support opposition parties. With two days to go before the elections to Russia’s national parliament, the State Duma, it…

Promoting Plant Rich Diets

Two powerful European Parliament committees have called on the European Commission to promote healthy plant-rich diets as part of a sustainable EU food strategy. The NGO Compassion in World Farming EU welcomes this call, as ambitious measures are needed in order to improve our food systems for the benefit of people, animals and the planet….

Statement on Afghanistan by EESC

The following statement was issued by Christa Schweng, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Dimitris Dimitriadis, president of the EESC section for External Relations We express deep concern for the events that followed the US and NATO retreat from Afghanistan, mourn the brutal loss of human lives and call for urgent…

Winners of the Atomium Prizes kick off Comic Strip Festival.

Shih-hung Wu

Each edition of this month-long festival showcases comic strip professionals. This edition on Friday was no exception with over €100,000 in prizes that will be distributed between the winners. Brussels is a hotbed of creativity and the comic strip industry is particularly well represented there. Nevertheless, comic strip creation has been weakened in recent years…

Member State National Recovery and Resilience Plans

A hearing organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) discussed opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans in the various Member States, revealing that civil society is still far from being effectively involved in the process. There were calls for improved consultations in the upcoming implementing phase,…

EPP Wants More Health powers for EU

Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the EPP Group says it wants more health powers for the EU. It will vote in favour of increasing cross-border health cooperation and of strengthening the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).  The European Parliament will debate and vote this week on the two new laws. “One…