The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) said it welcomes the proposal of the European Commission to enshrine the 2050 climate neutrality objective into law by March 2020. To achieve the goal of becoming the first climate neutral continent, Europe’s climate objectives must be supported with a stronger ambition represented by higher reduction emission targets, while…
PACE has said to Europe’s governments: ‘It is your duty not to let people drown in the Mediterranean’ While welcoming the commitment of NGOs to carrying out sea rescues, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has insisted that “it is the duty of States not to let people drown in the Mediterranean”. In…
Yesterday during International Human Rights Day, the European Court of Human Rights called for the immediate release of Osman Kavala. The court ruled that the actions of the Turkish government and judiciary against Osman Kavala violated his fundamental rights as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. Sergey Lagodinsky, Chairman of the Turkey delegation…
The European Parliament and the Council have submitted their responses on the appeal of the legal action challenging the EU’s 2030 climate target. Despite the political momentum in the EU to increase the 2030 climate target, both institutions argue that the families and the Sami youth who are affected by the climate crisis shouldn’t be heard in…
The world’s eyes are on The Hague and Aung San Suu Kyi as Myanmar goes on trial for genocide, MEP Baroness Mobarik said on Tuesday. “Campaigners for justice and civil rights have been longing for this day for many months and will be watching every detail as the trial unfolds,” she said. Lady Mobarik, Conservative…
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged Greece to implement urgent measures to address severe overcrowding on the Greek Aegean islands and stressed the need for European solidarity, after a three-day visit to the island of Lesvos and to Athens. At a press conference on Thursday to conclude his visit, the High Commissioner outlined…
Member States have agreed on a position which would make it possible for consumers across the EU to go to court as a group when a trader has harmed them. Four years on from the dieselgate scandal, this is a major step for consumers. In 2015, Volkswagen was found to have sold millions of cars…
The Left group has strongly condemned EU member states that have either failed to ratify, or are obfuscating and even revoking measures to implement the Istanbul Convention. With one in three women over the age of 15 having been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence in the EU, the Istanbul Convention is the most…
The spotlight had already been on Romania’s prison conditions due to a report earlier this year by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), writes Dr Charles Tannock. There was further international scrutiny as commentators wondered how Liviu Dragnea, the leader of country’s Social…
On Friday, the Maltese justice confirmed criminal investigations because of suspected money laundering investigations against inter alia the Maltese finance minister Edward Scicluna. Last night Keith Schembri, the ex-chief of cabinet of Malta’s Premier Joseph Muscat, has been released from arrest. The appeal of Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, ‘self-suspended’ minister Chris Cardona and former Tourism…
