The European Women’s International Leadership Award (EWILA) 7th edition ceremony took place on November 3, marking a significant moment in the recognition of women leaders worldwide. This year, eight laureates were honoured, representing diverse geographical areas and sectors. They are: Najla Alshami (Yemen/Belgium), Khadija Bendam (Morocco), Violeta Bulc (Slovenia), Nasancia Charles (Jamaica/USA), Klaudia Fliegelova (Slovakia/Italy), Rahwa…
Photo credit: Octavian Carare A senior Taiwan government minister has become the first to give a speech in a foreign parliament. Speaking on Friday (7 November) Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim gave what has been hailed as an unprecedented address at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s Annual Summit in the European Parliament in Brussels. She…
Photo by Nikola Rakic on Unsplash MEPs and others have paid tribute to the dead in the Serbian rail station tragedy one year ago. On 1 November 2024, the canopy of Novi Sad’s railway station collapsed, killing 16 people, and sparking a year of peaceful protests across Serbia. Speaking to mark the sad landmark, Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair…
David McAllister has called on all sides in the bitter conflict in Sudan to do more for peace in the embattled country. Centre-right deputy David McAllister, who is Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said, “The situation in Sudan remains catastrophic. After more than two years of conflict, thousands of people have lost…
Photo images Credit: © L.S/ Belta AFP & Z.T/Netgazeti MEPs have welcomed the decision by European Parliament group leaders to award the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli. Named after the Soviet dissident Andrej Sakharov it is the EU’s highest distinction in the field of human rights. Every…
Photo by Jason Mavrommatis on Unsplash Some MEPs have called for an absolute end of energy dependency on Russia. This, they add, should start with a partial ban from 1 January and leading to a total ban on gas and oil imports from 1 January 2027. The vast majority of members of the lead committees…
Photo by Breno Assis on Unsplash The European Parliament’s special committee on the housing crisis in the EU has discussed its first draft report. The committee has spent months consulting experts and stakeholders in interesting hearings, and missions to EU member states. Members received a lot of valuable input and ideas. But S&D MEPs says…
Photo by LexScope on Unsplash The European Commission has promoted its overhaul of tobacco rules for the EU. These are contained in revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) and the new Tobacco Excise Duty on Raw Tobacco (TEDOR). Both are measures specifically designed to improve public health and curb illicit trade. The EU says…
Photo by Valery Tenevoy on Unsplash The Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament are sounding the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating political crisis in Serbia. The group, the 2nd biggest in the assembly, is also calling out the European People’s Party (EPP) for what S and D calls its complicit silence and…
Photo by David Foodphototasty on Unsplash EU parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the September plenary session in Strasbourg with a minute of silence to remember lives lost in various tragedies in the EU and its neighbourhood. Metsola expressed her deep sadness following the derailment of the Elevador da Glória in Lisbon on 3 September. She…
