Problems with Megatrucks in Europe

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Photo by Nigel Tadyanehondo on Unsplash A transport campaign group says that MEPs are supporting the expansion in the number of extra-long and extra-heavy lorries on EU roads. They go on to warn that this poses “serious potential consequences for road safety.” The parliament  this week voted on a proposal published in July last year by the European…

Russia to Blame for Death of Navalny

Navalnaya

 Russia should bear “criminal responsibility” for the death of dissident Alexie Navalny, according to MEPs. The claim, by the Greens, came on the day Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya , made a speech to the EU parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. Her husband died in suspicious circumstances in a Russian jail over a week ago. Sergey…

Anti-SLAPP Directive

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash New rules are set to be introduced which would protect journalists and activists from abusive lawsuits against public participation. The long-awaited anti-SLAPP directive protects journalists and human rights defenders from strategic lawsuits against public participation that aim to silence them.  The new rules contain a set of safeguards to protect victims, such…

Anti-Money Laundering Authority

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Photo by Hans Martin on Unsplash The German city of Frankfurt has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.  MEPs and EU ambassadors chose Frankfurt to host the EU’s central enforcer in the fight against dirty money, the Authority for Anti-Money…

Combatting Child Abuse

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Photo by Jeffrey Riley on Unsplash New rules are set to be introduced with the aim of combating the scourge of child abuse. This comes after the European Parliament and the Belgian Presidency reached an agreement that extends a temporary derogation to EU ePrivacy rules by 20 months to allow the detection of Child Sexual Abuse Material online.  The…

Protecting Children from Unsafe Toys

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Photo by Nong on Unsplash MEPs have backed new rules that aim to decrease the number of unsafe toys sold in the EU single market and protect children better from toy-related risks. On Tuesday, the parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee approved its position on an update of EU rules on toy safety unanimously, with 37 votes…

Speeding Up Fibre Across Europe

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Photo by Umberto on Unsplash Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU Member States have agreed on the EU-Gigabit Infrastructure Act. This is a new law which seeks to speed up the expansion of fibre connections across Europe. The move has been welcomed by some but not so by others. Centre right MEP Angelika Winzig,  the lead negotiator…

Economic Governance Reform

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Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash EU Institutions have reached a final agreement on the reform of the Economic Governance Framework.  On Saturday, the EU Commission said it welcomed the deal between the European Parliament and the Council on what it calls “the most ambitious and comprehensive reform of the EU’s economic governance framework since the aftermath of…

New European Disability Card

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Photo by Elevate on Unsplash MEPs says they are “proud” of an agreement on a new EU law that aims to significantly improve the lives of over 100 million people with disabilities by easing their mobility across Europe. The deal was reached this week in Strasbourg where MEPs have  had their monthly plenary. With this agreement, reached by negotiators…

Combatting Violence Against Women

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Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash The EU Commission has welcomed the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on combating violence against women and girls. The Directive, it says, is a “milestone” – the first comprehensive legal instrument at EU level to tackle violence against women “which is still too pervasive in the European Union.” The…