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The European Commission is hoping to reach a new agreement with Egypt in January as it steps up efforts to curtail irregular migration towards Europe.

Les dirigeants de l’UE ont reporté l’accord visant à renforcer la facilité européenne pour la paix, qui permet notamment de financer la fourniture d’armements pour l’Ukraine, étant donné que certains pays souhaitent modifier les modalités du fonds.

14 Syrer standen dicht gedrängt im Ladebereich des Transporters: Die Kantonspolizei Uri hat am Freitag ein Schleuserauto aus dem Verkehr gezogen. Dieses war zunächst vor den Polizisten geflohen.

The history of EU integration is littered with examples of leaders using creative thinking to work around the bloc’s awkward members when unanimity is urgently needed to move ahead. 

Die internationalen Klubturniere sind in diesem Jahr Geschichte! Zwei Schweizer Mannschaften überwintern europäisch. Wie gut kennst du dich aus? Blick macht das grosse Quiz!

Stefan Bellmont ist der aktuell stärkste Schweizer in der Darts-Szene. Im Video erklärt er, wie der Sport funktioniert und beweist seine Treffsicherheit.

Zur Weihnachtszeit treffen sich die besten Darts-Spieler der Welt in London und messen sich an der WM. Damit auch du über die Feiertage mitreden kannst, gibts hier alles Wissenswerte.

L’industrie allemande a largement critiqué l’accord sur la nouvelle loi européenne en matière de devoir de vigilance des entreprises et a averti que les nouvelles règles qui incombent aux entreprises nuiraient à la compétitivité européenne.

2023 will be remembered as a pivotal ‘year of AI,’ marked by significantly increased engagement with AI across the spectrum - from groundbreaking start-ups to global enterprises.

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

The highlight of the December plenary session was Parliament’s award of the 2023 Sakharov Prize to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. Members held a debate with the Council and European Commission on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and reviewed the Spanish Presidency of the Council. Further debates took place on Council and Commission statements on Parliament’s call for the right to disconnect, the defence of democracy package, European economic security strategy and the planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and the implications for the rule of law. Members also debated the European defence investment programme, and discussed Frontex in the light of the fact-finding mission of Parliament’s working group for Frontex scrutiny. Members debated the outcome of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28). Debates were held on statements by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, among other topics, on the need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospects for a two-state solution in Israel; and in the presence of Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, on the environmental consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Sakharov Prize

Members awarded Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the late Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. Jina Mahsa Amini’s family members were prevented from leaving Iran and could not take part in the ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Amini family lawyer and representative, Saleh Nikbakht, and Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar, Iranian women’s rights defenders, therefore received the prize on behalf of the family.

Critical raw materials

A secure supply of critical raw materials (CRMs) is essential if the EU is to transition to ‘net-zero’ and the digital age. Members debated and adopted the text on the proposed critical raw materials act agreed in interinstitutional negotiations by Members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). To ensure supplies are secure and sustainable, the agreed text requires the EU to extract, process and recycle a certain amount of ‘strategic’ raw materials (SRMs) itself, and emphasises diversifying the EU’s SRM imports. The agreed text adds aluminium to the SRM list, increases the benchmark for EU SRM recycling capacity, and adds rules on waste streams.

European health data space

In the wake of the pandemic and the issues this raised for personal health data, the European Commission proposes to ensure individuals have easy access to their health data and that healthcare systems can exchange data efficiently, by creating a European health data space (EHDS). Parliament debated and adopted a joint Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) report on the EHDS proposal, which sets Parliament’s position for interinstitutional negotiations. The report calls for stronger rights for citizens to access and control their data and to set a framework for data re-use across the Union. It would also create a right for citizens to obtain a remedy against binding decisions by a digital health authority. The report demands that people can opt out from sharing their data, and that personal electronic health data are stored within the EU.

Minimum requirements for commercial drivers’ breaks and rest periods

As driver fatigue is a major danger to all road users, the EU wants to improve minimum requirements for commercial drivers’ breaks and rest periods for occasional passenger transport in the tourism sector. Members debated and adopted a Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) report, which welcomes the Commission proposals on breaks and rest periods, but requires changes to the way break and rest periods are split. It also calls for better multilingual facilities for uploading digital journey forms. The adopted report sets Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council.

Revision of the EU ‘Breakfast’ Directives

Breakfast is an important meal in a healthy lifestyle and the EU’s marketing standards on breakfast foods seek to ensure they are top quality. The EU is proposing to revise the ‘breakfast directives’, a group of standards for labelling of foods often consumed at breakfast: honey, jams, jellies and juices. Members adopted an ENVI committee report setting Parliament’s position on the proposal. The report proposes stricter rules on honey labelling and a traceability system. The committee emphasises that ‘no added sugar’ statements should not lead to increased sweetener content or claims of beneficial health effects.

Private international law: Parenthood

When travelling between EU countries, some parents continue to face issues regarding the recognition of their parental status. Members debated and adopted, under the consultation procedure, a Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee report on proposed legislation to harmonise jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood. A European Certificate of Parenthood is also proposed. The committee report calls for adding a remedy for a Member State’s rejection of parenthood status established in a different Member State. It also calls for guidelines to be developed and to link this piece of legislation to that on digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation.  

EU-United States relations

With both European and United States (US) elections coming up next year, Members took stock of EU-US relations. Members considered and adopted an own-initiative report from Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), which recommends deepening cooperation on foreign, security and defence policy. As recent US legislation on green and chip manufacturing subsidies, as well as ‘Buy American’ rules, create a challenging environment for the EU, the AFET report lists a number of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening transatlantic unity in the face of deteriorating global security. The committee also calls for reinforced parliamentary diplomacy and exchange between European Parliament and US Congress committees in charge of foreign affairs.

EU-China relations

In view of the recent 24th EU-China Summit in Beijing, Parliament debated and adopted an AFET own-initiative report on EU-China relations, stressing China’s international responsibilities: to uphold sanctions against Russia, to pressure Russia to end its war against Ukraine, and to commit to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030. Although partnership with China is essential to tackle global challenges like climate change and debt relief, China’s actions have led the EU to emphasise its role as competitor and systemic rival. The draft report, scheduled for debate on Tuesday, also calls for UN investigation into human rights violations in China, which Parliament has repeatedly criticised. The committee calls for action to suspend extradition treaties with China and Hong Kong, de-risk trade flows, and combat disinformation originating in China.

EU Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Kiribati

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the protocol to the EU-Kiribati Fisheries Agreement. Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH) report recommended consent to the protocol, which reactivates an agreement that has been dormant since 2015. It will allow four (usually very large) EU tuna purse seine vessels access to Kiribati fishing grounds, in return for a financial contribution and support for its sectoral fisheries policy. A five-year implementing protocol has applied provisionally since October 2023.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Sixteen decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations were approved: four from the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee, six from the TRAN committee, two from the LIBE committee, two from the ITRE committee and one from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and JURI Committees.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – December 2023‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Am 31. Dezember steigt im Kongresshaus in Zürich die Lollipop Silvesterparty. Sei auch du dabei, wenn die Stubete Gäng und verschiedene DJs mit Partykrachern für Stimmung sorgen. Wir verlosen 25 x 2 Tickets.

Nach dem Amokalarm an einer Schule in Cortaillod NE wird der mutmassliche Täter ausgeschafft und den deutschen Behörden übergeben. Dort hatte der Algerier seinen ersten Asylantrag gestellt.

Die Zahl der weltweit im Zusammenhang mit ihrer Arbeit getöteten Journalisten ist in diesem Jahr auf den niedrigsten Stand seit 20 Jahren gesunken. Dieser Rückgang wird weitgehend auf Fortschritte bei der Sicherheit von Journalisten zurückgeführt.

La plus haute juridiction de l’UE a rejeté jeudi (14 décembre) une décision datant de 2017 de la Commission européenne ordonnant à Amazon de rembourser 250 millions d’euros d’impôts impayés au Luxembourg.

Weil Schüler die Toiletten verstopften und beschmierten, hat eine Schule in Muhen AG beschlossen: WC-Türen müssen offen bleiben. Bei den Eltern sorgt diese Massnahme für Entsetzen.

Dem jungen Tennisspieler Jannik Sinner ist 2023 auf der ATP-Tour der Durchbruch gelungen. Dafür erhielten seine zwei Trainer die Auszeichnung als Trainer des Jahres. Für Novak Djokovic ist das nicht begreifbar. Er kann sich eine bissige Anspielung nicht verkneifen.

Das oberste Gericht der EU hat am Donnerstag (14. Dezember) eine Entscheidung der Europäischen Kommission zurückgewiesen, die Amazon 2017 aufgefordert hatte, 250 Millionen Euro an nicht gezahlten Steuern an Luxemburg nachzuzahlen.

The Council and the European Parliament agreed on Thursday (14 December) on the revision of safe and quality standards for substances of human origin (SoHO), setting new safety rules to ensure the quality of transplants and the EU’s autonomy.

Member states want the interim regulation on online child sexual abuse material to be extended until 3 August 2027, according to a document shared with EU ambassadors, seen by Euractiv.

Das französische Kulturministerium kündigte am Mittwoch (13. Dezember) an, dass die Einnahmen von Streaming-Plattformen zur Förderung der französischen Musikindustrie besteuert werden sollen. Spotify und Deezer haben dies kritisiert.