Photo by Mihaela Holhos on Unsplash Poland has taken over the rotating six-month Council Presidency, the first since the appointment of the new Commission. It comes at a turbulent time in world history, with multiple wars being fought, a global cost of living crisis and uncertainty about a second Trump presidency. In a parliamentary plenary…
Parliament
The Prison that is Belarus
Photo by Andrew Keymaster on Unsplash MEPs are this week expected to adopt a resolution on the need for actions to address what have been called the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus. Greens/EFA MEP Mārtiņš Staķis (Progresīvie) from Latvia, shadow rapporteur on the text, commented on the situation in the country. Stakis said, “Every day,…
And So It Begins…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The European Union has been told it must stand on its own two feet, to fight both climate collapse and the rise of autocrats. The blunt message came from the European Greens as Donald Trump started his 2nd term as US president on Monday. It also follows President Trump’s…
Middle East Peace Deal
Photo by dadalan real on Unsplash MEPs have been quick to respond to news of the tentative peace deal in the Middle East. On Thursday, the European Green Party (EGP) said it welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, marking a step that will hopefully end the cycle of violence that…
The Defence of Europe
Photo by Arkana Bilal on Unsplash MEPs have discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. In his first public discussion with MEPs since taking office as NATO Secretary General, former Dutch PM Rutte said he is deeply concerned about…
Concern for Corina Machado
MEPs have voiced concern about the fate of the opposition leader in Venezuela. The ECR Group said it stands by María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic opposition in Venezuela and winner of the 2024 Sakharov Prize. The statement last Friday comes in the light of current events in Venezuela. The ECR stated that it…
MEPs Respond to Guidelines on Fact Checkers
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash MEPs have given a mixed reaction to plans by Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg to overhaul content moderation on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Zuckerberg said Meta is abandoning the use of independent fact checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with X-style “community notes” where commenting on the accuracy of…
UK Citizens’ Rights
Photo by Toni Pomar on Unsplash The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Citizens’ Rights, which looks at issues facing EU citizens in the UK and Britons abroad, is being relaunched and will meet for the first time next week. It will be hosted at the House of Commons by British MP Manuela Perteghella. Once MPs…
Citizens’ Rights in the UK
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Citizens’ Rights, which looks at issues facing EU citizens in the UK and Britons abroad, will relaunch in the new year. New Europeans UK, which acts as the secretariat of the APPG, will hold the inaugural meeting at the House of Commons on 15 January, which will be hosted…
Iratxe García Meets Zelenskyy
A senior MEP has used a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to warn that the West is facing a critical geopolitical period. S&D leader in the EU Parliament Iratxe García met with Zelenskyy on 11 December and reiterated her group’s continued full support to Ukraine for whatever it takes to win the war. The…