More Ammunition for Ukraine

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Photo by Joe on Unsplash A new deal between EU institutions could mean “more ammunition” being freed for Ukraine. This comes after negotiators from the European Parliament and the Member States agreed on the initiative to increase the ammunition production capacity of the European defence industry (the so-called ‘ASAP’ package), which will also be to the benefit of…

Crucial Need for Nature Restoration Law

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Heatwaves are sizzling around the world, not least in Europe.  But, on 5 June, the north of the Netherlands was hit by the worst summer storm ever recorded there. Responding, the Greens says “responsible” politicians all over the European Union must press the ‘fast-forward’ button on actions to reduce climate change and its…

Punishment for Violation of Sanctions

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Photo by camilo jimenez on Unsplash A new law will, it is claimed, ensure that EU sanctions are enforced uniformly across member states, with common definitions and dissuasive penalties. On Thursday, MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee  of the EU parliament adopted a draft negotiating mandate on violating and circumventing EU sanctions by 36 votes in favour, 2…

Parliament Approves Support for Workers Laid off in Nivelles

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Photo by Documerica on Unsplash The 603 employees of “Logistics Nivelles SA”, who were left jobless after the parent company decided to close down their site, should receive €2.2 million in EU aid, say MEPs. On Thursday, the Committee on Budgets approved Belgium’s request for support from the EGF fund. MEPs acknowledged that “the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian…

Solidarity with Ukraine

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Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash “Solidarity with Ukraine is as existential to Ukraine as it is to Europe”, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to European leaders at the European Council. The Maltese MEP gave an opening speech on the first day of the summit, expected to be dominated again by events in Ukraine. She said, “The…

Importance of Vocational Training Stressed

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Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash MEPs have unanimously adopted a report highlighting the importance of modern vocational education and training (VET). This, it was said, will meet the challenges of the labour market in terms of changing forms and activities of employment and the skills they require. The own-initiative report by ECR rapporteur Anna Zalewska was backed…

Britons in Europe

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Photo by Ludovic Morlat on Unsplash A major project has been launched which partly aims to “bust some of the myths” about Britons who live abroad. Another objective of the exercise is to garner support for the creation of overseas constituencies in the UK parliament. It is argued that being able to vote for an MP in the…

“CLOSE” Wins 2023 LUX Award

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Photo by John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash “Close” by Belgian director Lukas Dhont won the 2023 LUX European Audience Film Award on Tuesday, in a ceremony in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Brussels. The film, co-produced by Belgium, France and Netherlands, tells the story of an intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi.  When their…

The EU Nature Restoration Law

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Photo by Richard Loader on Unsplash Following a lengthy vote, there is no majority amongst MEPs on the Environment committee for the Commission’s proposal as amended for a Nature Restoration Law. Following votes on amendments to the Commission’s proposal on Thursday 15 June and continued on Tuesday 27 June, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety finally…

Georgia’s Steps Towards Euro-Atlantic Integration

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Photo by Kent Tupas on Unsplash The ECR Group in the European Parliament says it supports the interim verbal assessment of progress made by Ukraine and Moldova in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations on European integration and shares the hope that Georgia will stay on the same strategic course. For ECR Foreign Affairs Coordinator Anna Fotyga, the assessment delivered…