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…
Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash MEPs have raised concerns over Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law. The Hong Kong government must, say Euro members, immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy politicians, activists and journalists sentenced on national security charges and drop…
Photo by Altin Ferreira on Unsplash European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has called for more action to combat the bullied victims of domestic violence who, she says, are often left “traumatised” by their ordeal. She was speaking in parliament to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. To honour victims, the…
Some MEPs have signalled their strong disapproval of the new team of EU commissioners to serve under Ursula von der Leyen. MEPs voted to back the new team, or college, at the plenary in Strasbourg. The mainstream parties voted in favour of the new look commission. But the Left Group is particularly scathing, branding the…
Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash A conference has been told that greater use of digitalisation in the construction and housing industry can bring opportunities to tackle the issue of housing affordability in Europe. Since housing is not just a need but a human right a pan-European response to the various challenges is needed, the…
The European Parliament yesterday held an extraordinary plenary session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 1000 days of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Opening the sitting, its President Roberta Metsola said that Parliament would continue standing with Ukraine until it has “freedom and real peace, for as long as it takes.” Speaking in Brussels, she…
Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will this week address MEPs from Ukraine in a special plenary session of the EU parliament. The event marks 1000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This comes after it was revealed at the weekend that the U.S. will allow Ukraine to strike Russia with…
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash In her bid to become Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Commissioner-Designate Teresa Ribera’s fielded difficult questions from MEPs in the European Parliament. Her appearance has now led to a furious row between the two biggest groups in the parliament. The Socialists claim that the EPP’s…
Photo by Melany Rochester on Unsplash When historians look back on pivotal moments that reshaped Europe, they may well choose 2015-16. Not Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nor the way Covid laid bare our economic weaknesses, but when immigration started to tear Europe apart, writes Giles Merritt. Far-right populists have succeeded in inflaming voters across the…
Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash MEPs have quizzed the Bulgarian candidate for the Startups, Research and Innovation portfolio in Ursula von der Leyen’s EU Commission. Ekaterina Zaharieva faced deputies on the the Industry, Research and Energy Committee on Tuesday. In her introductory remarks, Commissioner-designate Zaharieva expressed her desire to place Research and Innovation (R&I)…
