Welfare of Animals in Transit

Animal Welfare in Transit

The European Parliament has endorsed the outcome of eighteen months of work by the committee of inquiry on the protection of animals during transport (ANIT).  In particular, the plenary in Strasbourg has voted a full set of recommendations to the Council and the Commission following the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application…

Fugitive oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov risks losing asylum rights in France.

Mukhtar Ablyazov

Stéphane Bonifassi writing in an article published by Swiss-based French language Gotham News has reported on the possibility of Kazakh “opposition leader” Mukhtar Ablyazov, who has been in exile in France since 2013, losing the status of a political refugee granted to him in 2020.  The State Council, it is reported, has just overturned this decision on the…

MEPs call for boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Boycott Beijing 2022

On Thursday, Parliament adopted a resolution on violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. Parliament condemned in the strongest terms the deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong, including severe restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association and press freedom. MEPs called on the Hong Kong government to release all political prisoners and drop…

Investigation Demanded into Crimes against Kazakh People

Kazakh Protests

Reacting to the violent events in Kazakhstan earlier this month, the S&D group says it is supporting the European Parliament resolution calling for the international community to investigate the crimes committed against the people of Kazakhstan, including disappearances, reports of torture, arbitrary detention and snipers killing or wounding peaceful protesters.  The resolution also calls for…

Azerbaijanis Mark Black January Tragedy

Azerbaijanis mark Black January Tragedy

The Azerbaijan Embassy has issued a press release marking 20th January 2022 as the 32nd anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Black January tragedy.  In 1987 anti-Azerbaijani pogroms broke out in Armenia with attacks on Azerbaijani villages, killing hundreds of civilians. As a result, 250,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia.  Territorial claims of Armenia, armed separatism instigated by…

Call for Higher Standards for Animal Transport

Animal Welfare

MEPs will this week vote on the recommendations of the Special Inquiry Committee for Animal Transport (ANIT), which was launched on the initiative of the Greens/EFA group. The recommendations will be the basis for the Commission’s new legislation on transporting animals in the EU, with proposals expected by 2023. The Greens/EFA group say they have…

Digital Single Market Needs Clear Rules

Arba Kokalari

The EPP group has welcomed what it calls “new and strong” rules for online platforms. “The European Parliament will send a strong signal that we want a Digital Single Market with clear rules, strong consumer protection and a business-friendly environment”, said Arba Kokalari, speaking during plenary debate on the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the…