European Union

The chairman of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, Jarosław Kaczyński, is to hold a "last chance" tête-à-tête on Tuesday with Zbigniew Ziobro, the leader of a junior coalition partner, the United Poland party, to stave off a split. The two fell out over a bill on animal rights in which Kaczyński, who loves cats, accused Ziobro, who opposed the law, of being "a tail trying to wag the dog".

The UK could see 50,000 new coronavirus infections a day by mid-October, up from 4,400 a day now, if it does not impose new hygiene measures, Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific advisor, said Monday, as Downing Street continued to pave the way for a potential second lockdown. This figure would lead to some 200 deaths a day by mid-November, Vallance added.

The European Commission announced on Monday that fewer companies will be eligible for state-aid compensation for part of their carbon costs, under new rules aimed at forcing polluting companies to reduce their emissions footprint. The new state-aid rules of the EU Emission Trading System will enter into force next year, targeting the sectors at risk of carbon leakage. Only 10 sectors will be eligible for this compensation.

There was "minimal" chance of Russia agreeing to extend a nuclear arms treaty, called New Start, beyond 2020, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state media Monday. "We cannot talk in this manner," he said after the US urged a quick deal before American elections November. New Start limits stockpiles of "strategic" warheads, designed for intercontinental warfare. Russia and the US also recently abandoned a short-range weapons treaty.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday filed a criminal complaint against Greek newspaper Dimokratia for using an offensive headline, reported Anadolu. The daily ran a headline telling "Mr Erdogan" to "f**k off", in Turkish. Turkey's justice minister told his Greek counterpart that he "strongly condemned" the headline. Such offences in Turkey can land people in jail - such as a 16-year old boy who once criticised Erdogan's party.

The Hungarian ministry of foreign affairs inquired from its embassies in EU states if they had any knowledge of professional trips, or training courses, for Hungarian journalists in the host country, the new news portal Telex has revealed. In response, the ministry told Telex, it "does everything necessary to avoid foreign influence in Hungarian internal matters, and in our experience, the Soros-network is usually behind such attacks".

Belarus sanctions have turned into a "high-voltage" crisis for EU foreign policy, its top diplomat has admitted.

The Belarus oppositon leader asked the EU not to support the Belarus authorities financially, and not to recognise Lukashenko as the country's president when his term ends in November.

Azimjon Askarov's death in jail should prompt serious questions about judicial and rule of law reforms in Kyrgyzstan funded by taxpayers through USAID and EU grants.

The centre-right EPP, centre-left S&D, and liberal Renew Europe have all nominated a homophobe for the Sakharov prize - the prestigious annual prize handed out by the European Parliament to people who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The situation caused by the coronavirus in Spain has especially affected NEETs, as the sectors in which these young people normally find their first job opportunity have visibly reduced their activity.

Lufthansa said Monday it will slash more jobs on top of 22,000 previously announced cuts and put more planes out of service with current losses running at some €500 million.

Spanish utility Iberdrola said on Monday (21 September) it would create a new business unit aimed at developing green hydrogen to supply industry and heavy transport.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 127'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

This Special Report looks at challenges that lie ahead for the EU's cohesion policy, as the already vast to-do list for Europe's regional and local authorities keeps expanding with ambitious climate and digital transformation goals.  

Social and territorial cohesion among the EU's region's, as well as their convergence, must remain at the centre of Europe's recovery plans lest efforts to support investment and growth should lead to more regional divides, MEP Younous Omarjee told EURACTIV.

DRAFT REPORT on the effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental defenders on this matter
Committee on Foreign Affairs
María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Isabel Santos

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

On Monday, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged MEPs to continue supporting the creation of a new Belarus “admired by the world”.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP