The European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade has adopted a mandate for trilogue negotiations on the reform of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). The GSP provides significant tariff reductions to developing countries’ exports to the EU, and is a major opportunity to improve the lives and livelihoods of over 2 billion people. The…
Japanese cuisine has become very fashionable and, in Brussels, there are lots of good exponents of the art. But right there at the top, surely, is one that can be found very close to the popular Foret des Soignes. Anyone in search of good quality and freshly-made food from the Land of the Rising Sun won’t…
On 3 May, the World Press Freedom Day, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism. The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy,…
Organic farming will grow if the market grows, say centre right MEPs. They say the EU must support farmers to increase organic production and also consumers to find their way to these products. That is the message from Austrian EPP Group Member Simone Schmiedtbauer, the Parliament’s author of the EU action on organic farming. “Organic…
The Conference Plenary has concluded its work, with MEPs expressing their approval of the outcome and announcing that Parliament intends to kick-start EU reforms. Parliament’s delegation decided to support the Plenary’s draft proposals. MEPs highlighted the important role that Parliament played in the run-up to this moment, for example by guaranteeing that citizens’ input would…
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have welcomed proposals from the Commission to end the use of abusive lawsuits against journalists, NGOs and civil society in the EU. In November 2021, the European Parliament called for new EU rules to stop abusive legal action intended to intimidate and silence critical voices. A large…
With the public showing unprecedented levels of solidarity with refugees fleeing war, the Socialists and Democrats in Rotterdam spoke to citizens about changing the rules on migration in the EU so that solidarity and fair-sharing of responsibility is always Europe’s first response. As part of a series of citizens debates on the Conference on the…
To turn solidarity with Ukraine into concrete action, the EESC joins the European Parliament initiative “civil society hub” for Ukraine, allowing the NGO Promote Ukraine to use part of its premises at rue de Trèves 74, along with logistical equipment. The official handover ceremony, was held at the EESC Jacques Delors building on 20 April…
On 21 May, after a two-year absence, Belgian Pride will once again be putting the LGBTI+ community in the spotlight and decorating the streets of Brussels in the colours of the rainbow. This year’s theme will be “OPEN”. A call for more inclusiveness, respect and equality for LGBTI+ people. Therefore, the watchword is openness to others,…
The European Parliament’s special COVI committee has elected Kathleen Van Brempt as its Chair, alongside four Vice-Chairs, and will commence its review of the EU’s response to the pandemic. Specifically tasked with looking into how the European response to the pandemic and the lessons learned can contribute to future action in a variety of EU…
