Photo by Yellow Cactus on Unsplash Members of the European Parliament have voted to elect Marc Angel (S&D) as Vice President, sitting in the Bureau of the Parliament.The vote was held in the wake of the suspension of the former Vice President Eva Kaili, who was caught up in allegations of corruption at the heart of the ‘Qatargate’ scandal….
Baggy trousers and high heels. Bad haircuts and hairy baddies. Genies and giant birds. Shipwrecks and magic carpets. Lots of tea and even more gin. All this and more, much more awaits in this year’s ECC panto, Sinbad the Sailor. Forget everything you ever knew about the 1001 Nights and Sheherezade the story-teller! This is the definitive…
The EU Digital COVID Certificate helped to coordinate travel restrictions between EU countries and was effective in facilitating travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of other EU tools, however, was modest, a report published on Wednesday by the European Court of Auditors concludes. The European Commission moved fast to propose suitable technological solutions, the…
A solemn commemoration and tribute has been held the late President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli. The Italian Socialist MEP passed away when he was in office, on 11 January 2022, aged 65. His premature death spurred deep emotions among the whole European family and the international community. The Socialist group, in a statement…
Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash A new survey says Brits are falling in love with London again, with the majority preferring to holiday in the city versus other European city breaks. The research, commissioned by London & Partners, which runs Visit London, also says 60% are proud to call London their capital city. The findings coincide with…
Photo by Linda Robert on Unsplash The EU Commission has decided to identify Cameroon as a non-cooperating country in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, giving it a so-called ‘red card’. From now onwards EU Member States shall be able to refuse the importation of fishery products from Cameroon even when accompanied by catch certificates validated by the national authorities….
MEPs have welcomed the release from jail of Somali refugee Mohammad Hanad Abdi. He was sentenced to 142 years in prison in 2021 for “people smuggling” but has now won his appeal in Greece. Abdi, a 29-year-old Somali political refugee, reportedly saved 31 people during a deadly crossing in a dinghy from Turkey to the…
Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash The EU Commission has published an analysis by Commission services on the main drivers affecting food security. It looks at the effects on food security of drivers such as climate change, environmental degradation, the economic consequences of COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Based on the latest scientific evidence, this analysis identifies different types…
Photo by Carlos “Grury” Santos on Unsplash Climate change is the biggest issue facing the future of our planet. As President of COP26 in Glasgow last year it was UK Cabinet member Alok Sharma who secured world-wide agreement of a realistic programme to address it. Sharma would later condemn the Egyptian President of COP27 from failing to build…
Photo by Gabriel Silvério on Unsplash The Left group in the European parliament has criticised supporters of former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro for storming key government sites including the Congress. It has echoes of what happened in the U.S two years ago when far right demonstrators, backed by ex President Trump, stormed the U.S Congress. The disorder comes…
