MEPs have agreed on the calendar for the hearings of the EU commissioners-designate. The hearings will start on 4 November and take place until 12 November. The Conference of Presidents also decided on a division of duties among committees for the confirmation hearings. The detailed schedule of which Commissioner-designate will be heard and at what time…
The UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after their meeting this week that they have agreed on the importance of the unique relationship between the European Union and Britain. They said that in line with our shared values they wanted to strengthen ambitiously…
Photo by Fabian Kleiser on Unsplash The new EU Commission will include a Commissioner dedicated to Animal Welfare. The move was “very positively” welcomed by animal protection NGOs. They say it will allow for “better prioritisation of the topic, in line with the demands of EU citizens.” Animal welfare will be included in…
Photo by Tomas Eidsvold on Unsplash EU council president Charles has called for reform of the United Nations. He said the UN Security Council must be reformed “to make it more inclusive, more legitimate, and more effective.” In a speech to the UN he said, “Back in 1945, the world wanted peace at…
Photo by Karan Suthar on Unsplash The Commission is seeking feedback from the public on draft new rules for low carbon hydrogen. It has launched a public consultation on a draft delegated act clarifying EU rules for defining low-carbon hydrogen and derived fuels under the decarbonised gases and hydrogen package. It says this is “another important…
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash Many young, non-white and Muslim, as well as central and Eastern European citizens in the 27 EU members states feel excluded, disillusioned or uninterested in the politics of the European Union, according to a major new report published today by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)…
Photo by Ethan Wilkinson on Unsplash The European Union is introducing two important changes for travel to Europe in a few weeks. These are: EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is planned to launch on 10 November in 2024 and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), due in mid-2025. For those planning to…
Photo by Nico Herrndobler on Unsplash Over 500 participants took part in the 2024 Budapest Forum. They included government ministers, ambassadors, national politicians, academics and policy experts who gathered last week at the Central European University (CEU) in Hungary. The annual event, which seeks to find democratic solutions to challenges facing the world…
Two new hotels have opened close to Brussels airport, helping meet increased demand from the travelling public. A relative lack of accommodation at or near the national airport has sometimes been a cause of complaint from international air passengers. However, the twin openings hope to go some way to addressing such concerns. The two brand-new…
MEPs are calling on the EU to speed up financial aid for victims of the devastating floods affecting a quarter of European countries. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Germany have all been hit by extreme weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of 23 people. MEPs say the loss of life and the…
