The Red Cross has been accused of direct complicity in Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainians, thereby aiding and abetting the Russian NaZi policy of ethnic cleansing of the territories it has illegally occupied. This is the only interpretation possible for the decision of the Red Cross to open a refugee assistance centre in Rostov-on-Don. A…
Against the background of the European Council summit, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted this week a resolution on the Ukraine conflict. The members expressed their solidarity with Ukraine and highlighted the role of the civil society in assisting Ukrainian people and refugees. Opening the debate, President Christa Schweng stressed: “This invasion has put our security and…
The European Parliament and the French Council Presidency have reached an agreement on the Digital Markets Act (DMA). “The agreement is the beginning of a new era for tech regulation worldwide. The Digital Markets Act puts an end to the ever-increasing dominance of big tech companies”, said Andreas Schwab MEP. Schwab leads the negotiation team…
The Brussels Holiday Fair 2022 has opened amid fresh optimism that the battered tourism sector is now ready for a restart from the huge impact of the health pandemic. The 4 day event at Brussels Expo boasts 250 stalls representing countries around the world. It is expected to attract more than 50,000 people by the…
The European Commission has endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Portugal’s payment request for €1.16 billion, of which €553.44 million of grants and €609 million of loans under the RRF, the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU. On 25 January, Portugal announced reforms in the areas of health, social housing, social services, investment and innovation,…
The EU has been told to increase food production in order to stave off possible food shortages. “The European Commission must take a clear line to support European farmers to grow as much food as possible now”, said Herbert Dorfmann MEP, the EPP Group Spokesman in the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. “The Russian attack on…
The pan-European personal pension product (“PEPP”) Regulation, adopted in 2019, starts to apply from 22 March. This will pave the way for a new voluntary EU-wide scheme for people to save for their retirement, and a broad range of financial institutions across the EU will be able to offer it. PEPP – a key part…
Creative Commons CEO Catherine Stihler, a former Scottish MEP, has been elected to the Fellowship of Scotland’s national academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). The Fellowship is made up the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland today. Catherine has been an international champion for openness as a legislator and practitioner…
The president of the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, this week met with the Bulgarian Minister of Justice, Nadezhda Yordanova. They discussed together the rule of law crisis in Bulgaria over the last years. According to them, there are too many questions that need answers, especially…
The “right to repair” must encompass designing products that last longer and can be fixed, as well as labelling to better inform consumers and extending guarantee rights. In a resolution approved on Wednesday with 41 votes in favour, none against and 4 abstentions, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee stresses that an effective right…
