European Pillar of Social Rights

According to the EESC, the Commission’s Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights is both timely and necessary to thwart the threat of inequalities deepening across Europe in the aftermath of the pandemic. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has welcomed the European Commission’s Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR)…

EU Needs New Strategy to Deal with China

China's Human Rights Violations

The EU should continue talking to China about global challenges like climate change and health crises, while raising its concerns over systemic human rights violations. In a report adopted on Thursday, by 58 votes in favour, 8 against with 4 abstentions, the foreign affairs committee outlines six pillars on which the EU should build a…

Brexit Divorce Bill Sparks Acrimony

Jenny Chapman

Baroness Jenny Chapman, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Task Force Europe, commenting on the news that Britain and EU are £3bn apart on the Brexit divorce bill estimate, said: “Whatever we think of the sums involved, the difference between the EU’s and the UK’s assessment raises questions for Lord Frost. He was supposed to agree a formula…

ECR Group Calls for Action to Support Cuba

Cuban protests

The ECR Group’s Co-Chairmen, Prof Ryszard Legutko and Raffaele Fitto, have condemned the unacceptable repression of the ongoing protests in Cuba and called on the EU to take action. In a joint statement, the two conservative MEPs told this site, “What has been happening for some days now in Cuba is both serious and worrying. The regime led…

Cuba Libre! Declaration of the Centre for a Free Cuba on the Protests Inside Cuba

Free Cuba

July 12, 2021 The Cuban people have suffered 62 years of totalitarian communist dictatorship. During all this time, the island’s regime has wanted to blame the United States for the misery Cubans experience. However, the one that has blocked the possibility of farmers from selling the food they produce to the people is the regime….

ArianeGroup Blazes the Trail for European Space Policy

Ariane 6

All of the headlines in the tabloids are being grabbed by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, and his test flight last weekend. But in the meanwhile without any media hype the ArianeGroup is quietly and systematically laying the foundation stones for the next steps in the development of a robust policy for Europe in space powered…

Hungary Criticised for Dismantling Democracy and Rule of Law

Budapest Parliament

The European Parliament “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the recent anti-LGBTI legislation and denounces the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in Hungary. In a resolution, adopted with 459 in favour 147 against, and 58 abstentions on Thursday, MEPs describe the Hungarian law as being in clear breach of fundamental rights enshrined…

Stop Discrimination and Homophobic Hate Crime in Europe

Stop discrimination and homophobic hate crime

S&D MEPs are urging the Commission and Member States to stand up for LGBTI people in Europe by acting against the offensive and regressive law that blatantly violates their rights in Hungary. The law introduced by Orbán’s government stigmatises and discriminates against LGBTI people by banning content referring to homosexuality, sex change or gender identity…

Fighting Child Sexual Abuse

Fighting child sexual abuse

MEPs have endorsed a temporary regulation that allows web-based service providers to continue fighting child sexual abuse material online on a voluntary basis. In the context of a worrying increase in the volume of child abuse material on the internet exacerbated by the pandemic, the House backed with 537 votes in favour, 133 against and 24…

EU Green Bond Standard

Green Bonds

The Commission has put forward a new proposal for a regulation on a EU green bond standard together with a communication on the Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy. The Renewed Strategy builds on the Action Plan 2018 on Sustainable Finance and covers several areas, from continuing the work on Taxonomy, to climate and sustainability risks in…