This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Revolution in Romania, an event that put an end to the communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu. The European Parliament has now recognised its significance in Europe’s common history. During a debate in Strasbourg, MEPs shared their views on the topic, ahead of the vote on a resolution…
Like Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, civil society should occupy the influential fringe of European politics says a prominent EU civil rights campaigner. Former Labour MP Roger Casale, who heads up civil rights organisation New Europeans, made the calls at Volonteurope’s annual conference attended by leading civil society organisations. He said: “Like Edinburgh’s Fringe festival which has…
Yuri Vilkul the Mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih was in Brussels last week to receive the award on behalf of his city at the European Parliament. Vilkul said: “We highly appreciate this award. I would like to thank our European partners for their work and objective approach to evaluation. We have always…
The European Parliament President David Sassoli says the next few years will be decisive for the EU. He was speaking in the wake of the December European Council meeting On the current state of Europe, he said, “Last May, European citizens sent a very clear message that they are willing and able to resist the sirens of populism…
PACE has said to Europe’s governments: ‘It is your duty not to let people drown in the Mediterranean’ While welcoming the commitment of NGOs to carrying out sea rescues, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has insisted that “it is the duty of States not to let people drown in the Mediterranean”. In…
Yesterday during International Human Rights Day, the European Court of Human Rights called for the immediate release of Osman Kavala. The court ruled that the actions of the Turkish government and judiciary against Osman Kavala violated his fundamental rights as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. Sergey Lagodinsky, Chairman of the Turkey delegation…
The European Parliament and the Council have submitted their responses on the appeal of the legal action challenging the EU’s 2030 climate target. Despite the political momentum in the EU to increase the 2030 climate target, both institutions argue that the families and the Sami youth who are affected by the climate crisis shouldn’t be heard in…
A delegation from the European Parliament arrived in Madrid this week to participate in the COP25, where they will meet with key stakeholders in the negotiations. An official delegation from the European Parliament will take part in the UN conference on climate change, the COP25, in Madrid in Spain this week until 14 December. It…
New rules on plant health, designed to stop diseases spreading or jumping borders, will become effective on Saturday. The EU Regulation 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests was steered through the European Parliament by UK member Anthea McIntyre, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands. It became law in December 2016 and is directly applicable…
The world’s eyes are on The Hague and Aung San Suu Kyi as Myanmar goes on trial for genocide, MEP Baroness Mobarik said on Tuesday. “Campaigners for justice and civil rights have been longing for this day for many months and will be watching every detail as the trial unfolds,” she said. Lady Mobarik, Conservative…
