Dorien Rookmaker Joins ECR Group

Dorien Rookmaker

MEPs of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament have decided to take on Dutch MEP Dorien Rookmaker as a new Member. She is representing the ‘More Direct Democracy’ party (Meer Directe Democratie). “The EU should be an organisation of individual member states that work together to protect peace and prosperity. Mutual understanding and…

Role of Civil Society and the Social Economy

A two-day seminar in Poland, in the city of Lublin, co-hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Mayor of Lublin, heard how important it was for public authorities and organised civil society to work together to provide effective services meeting basic needs such as health and social care. Cooperation between public administrations and…

EU Solidarity for Asylum Policy

Asylum Policy

The S&D Group says it is laying the groundwork for a solidarity-based response system in the EU’s common and asylum policy when faced with crisis situations.  In the draft report of the crisis regulation, LIBE chair and rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar is proposing a new mandatory relocation framework to share responsibility and wants to…

Europe’s first Polar-orbiting Weather Satellite Successfully De-orbited

Eumetsat

This week marks the end of the successful deorbiting of Europe’s first meteorological satellite in polar orbit, Metop-A, by Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, EUMETSAT, with support from Airbus.  Starting on Tuesday the satellite will spiral downward in progressively lower orbits until it disintegrates upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, a process that is expected to end…

Future Role of the EMA

EMA Head Emer Cooke

Health MEPs quizzed the EMA’s Executive Director on Tuesday on the current situation around COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, as well as the Agency’s future role. In light of increasing COVID-19 cases across the EU and concerns raised by a  new variant members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee focused the debate vaccines, recent developments…

Europe’s Vision for Industrial Leadership in Technology

EU leadership in technology

Europe’s leading telecommunications companies have called on EU policymakers to closely align Europe’s technology ambitions with a supportive policy and regulatory ecosystem. The demand came on Monday by 13 CEOs, including  Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone, who took part in a panel on “Europe’s vision for industrial leadership in technology.” The event was told that after…

REACT EU Budgets Approved for Spain and Hungary

The Commission has approved €654 million to Spain and Hungary under REACT EU following the modification of two Operational Programmes (OP).  In Spain, the OP in Valencia will receive an additional €404 million to provide financial incentives to employers for job creation and maintaining employment, as well as for financial support for the self-employed, and funds to…

EU Capital Markets Package

Capital Markets Package

The European Commission has presented its capital markets package. The package includes changes to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR), the rules for alternative investments such as hedge funds (AIFMD), the European Long-Term Investment Funds framework (ELTIF) and the creation of a single European data hub for company data (ESAP). The proposals are mainly…

Transport Infrastructure in Europe

transport infrastructure

In recent years, EU auditors have repeatedly highlighted various weaknesses affecting the delivery of large transport projects in the EU. How does the EU’s performance compare, however, to other countries in the world, such as Australia, Canada and the US? To answer this question, the European Court of Auditors has carried out a review comparing…