Parliament

European Parliament Boosts Ukrainian Exports

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by Yellow Cactus on Unsplash

Photo by Yellow Cactus on Unsplash The International Trade Committee in the European parliament has given its green light on for another one-year suspension of EU import duties on Ukrainian exports to support the country’s economy. Members of the International Trade Committee approved a proposal to renew the suspension of import duties, anti-dumping duties and safeguards on Ukrainian…

Countering Foreign Interference

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash

EU political elites “advancing” Gazprom’s agenda and Hungary’s “susceptibility” to Russian intelligence activities are among several examples named in a new report which has been drafted by MEPs. The EU needs a coordinated strategy against foreign interference and information manipulation (FIMI), including measures to enforce better existing provisions to fight it, say MEPs in the…

World Drifting to War

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by Yukon Haughton on Unsplash

Photo by Yukon Haughton on Unsplash A former senior British MEP says he fears the world is “drifting” towards another war. The gloomy assessment by Richard Balfe, now a life peer in the UK, comes amid mounting tensions in various parts of the world. As well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, recent weeks have seen increased tension…

United EU Approach to China Needed

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash

Photo by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash MEPs in Strasbourg have discussed the need for what they call a “coherent strategy” towards China. The call comes against the backdrop of China’s continued rise as a political and economic powerhouse on the world stage. Speaking to the plenary this week, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed the need…

The Finns Party Joins ECR Group in European Parliament

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash

Photo by Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash The members of the ECR in the European Parliament have decided to accept the application for membership of the Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset) and to admit them to its ranks. The new delegation will be made up of Teuvo Hakkarainen and Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, who will join the European Parliament in the coming weeks,…

Democratic Backsliding

by Our Staff Correspondent
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash MEPs have voiced concern about allegations of democratic backsliding in Greece, Spain, and Malta.  They expressed particular concern over press freedom and pluralism, and warn that journalists will continue to be at risk as long as institutions do not prosecute exposed corruption. They also voted on a resolution comprising Parliament’s assessment of…

Healthy Eating for Schools

by James Wilson
Members of the European Parliament have been accused of “downplaying” the need to drastically change eating habits at schools. Euro deputies are also accused of failing to agree that plant-based milks and pulses must be part of an EU-funded healthy eating scheme. The attack was made by Compassion in World Farming EU, a Brussels based group that campaigns for animal welfare. Its head Olga Kilou told this site: “MEPs have voted to downplay the drastic change we need to see with our diets.” She added, “We can’t have our kids overeat on animal products in school, and then expect them to grow up with healthy eating habits and live within the planetary boundaries, in a planet that is already burning.” Kikou went on, “If schools were to continue to fail with this education, school canteens should at least give students the choice of plant-based meals and milks. MEPs now failed to recognise even this need. “The bar is obviously quite low in the Agriculture Committee. We can only hope the rest of the Parliament will be more ambitious when they vote on the file later this year.” In their recommendations on how the EU should change its funding for school meals, which were adopted on 22 March, the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee is said by the group to have “not only failed to acknowledge the need for plant-based meals and milks – it even stated that there should be educational campaigns to promote milk and dairy products.” The group, in a statement, added, “In light of the climate emergency and our diets heavy on animal protein, it is mind-boggling that such a position was adopted.” The European Commission is currently reviewing the EU scheme that supports the distribution of fruit, vegetables, milk and certain milk products to schoolchildren, from nursery to secondary school. As part of the process, CWF called on the EU to revise the scheme in order to shift dietary habits towards healthier and “more sustainable foods and engrain these dietary habits in future generations.” It says, “The position of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, however, does not go far enough for the EU to reform our food systems, as outlined in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the European Green Deal.” CWF campaigns for farm animal welfare and sustainable food and farming. With over one million supporters,it has representatives in 11 European countries, the U.S., China and South Africa.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash Members of the European Parliament have been accused of “downplaying” the need to drastically change eating habits at schools. Euro deputies are also accused of failing to agree that plant-based milks and pulses must be part of an EU-funded healthy eating scheme. The attack was made by Compassion in World Farming EU,…

Work and Residence Permits for Migrants

by James Wilson
Photo by Darren Wanliss on Unsplash

Photo by Darren Wanliss on Unsplash MEPs have backed draft EU legislation to issue work and residence permits more quickly for nationals of third countries and to improve their rights. With 47 votes in favour, 13 against, and no abstentions, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted a report updating the 2011 single permit directive foresees a single administrative procedure for…