European Parliament (News)

"I am proud of what has resulted from my case, including the establishment of this special committee. I see it as a recognition for my decision to go public", said Antoine Deltour in a hearing with members of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings on Monday.
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Development MEPs called on companies in all countries to adopt country-by-country reporting and make all information public in order to fight tax evasion and illicit money flows in developing countries, in a resolution adopted on Monday afternoon. It also called on the EU's financial institutions to ensure that companies receiving EU support do not participate in tax evasion and avoidance.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : Paying taxes can be complicated, but so can the vocabulary that goes with it. Tax avoidance is legal, but tax evasion isn't and just what exactly is base erosion? As the Parliament's special committee on tax rulings holds a meeting on Monday 1 June to discuss the international aspects of tax rulings, we take a closer look at the jargon. Read on for an explanation of the terms used and follow the hearing live online from 14.00 CET.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : The civil liberties committee discusses passenger name records on Thursday, while the tax rulings committee looks at the international dimension of tax rulings. Parliament and Council negotiators will try to agree on a proposal linking animal welfare with public health. The foreign affairs and development committees discuss upcoming events on development organised by the UN and political groups will prepare for next week's plenary session.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The European Parliament's special committee on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect has initiated its work a few months ago and it has already organised many hearings at the European Parliament as well as several delegations in various Member States in order to gather as much information as possible.
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : In a region still reeling from the effects of the Arab Spring four years, Tunisia is seen as an example, succeeding the transition to democracy. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid visited the Parliament on 28 May to discuss challenges facing his country and the region with EP President Martin Schulz and the foreign affairs committee and the human rights and security subcommittees. We talked to him to find out his views on the migration crisis and the secret of why Tunisia is doing so well.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

An EU-US trade deal should deepen EU access to the US market, but must not undermine EU standards or the right to regulate in the public interest, say Trade Committee MEPs in draft recommendations voted on Thursday. Tools for resolving disputes between investors and states should be reformed and improved, they add.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : Millions of people are on the run in places such as Syria and Nigeria due to the rise of violent extremism, many of them receiving essential aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Its president Peter Maurer was in the European Parliament to meet the foreign affairs committee on 26 May and President Martin Schulz on 27 May. We talked to him to find out what life is like in these crisis-hit areas and how Europe could help to make a difference.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid met the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Human Rights and Security and Defence subcommittees on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in his country. Security challenges, fighting terrorism and tackling migration flows were the key issues raised in the debate.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

A deal struck by MEPs and Council of Ministers negotiators in the small hours of Thursday morning means the architecture of the Juncker plan to unlock €315 billion public and private investments in the real economy in 2015-2017 can now be put to a European Parliament vote on 24 June and the investment programme can kick off in the summer.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : A deal struck by MEPs and Council of Ministers negotiators in the small hours of Thursday morning means the architecture of the Juncker plan to unlock €315 billion public and private investments in the real economy in 2015-2017 can now be put to a European Parliament vote on 24 June and the investment programme can kick off in the summer.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Several major Western news organisations have been hit by politically motivated cyber-attacks over the past few years, mostly in retaliation for their critical coverage of events, countries or movements such as the Syrian regime or Islamic State. MEPs discussed on 27 May how the EU could help to counter such attacks. Check out our timeline to learn more about the attacks and read on to find out how the EU could help.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Europe should focus on saving lives when dealing with migration, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a speech at the European Parliament on 27 May. During the plenary session he called attention to the 1,800 people who drowned while crossing the Mediterranean this year: “Europe has an important role to play and a collective responsibility to act. Saving lives should be the priority.” He also discussed sustainable development and preventing violent extremism.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid, will meet the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Human Rights and Security and Defence subcommittees on Thursday at 9.00. This will be his first visit to the European Parliament since he became Prime Minister in February this year.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Healthy eating habits start young, so the EU and its member states should do and spend more to encourage kids to eat healthy and local foods, Parliament said on Wednesday. To ensure that they get healthy eating lessons, as well as school milk, fruit, and vegetables from EU schemes, Parliament amended draft rules and approved a mandate for MEPs to negotiate their final form with EU member states.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Budgets MEPs welcomed next year's "restricted" but well focused draft budget presented by Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva on Wednesday immediately after it was approved by the Commission.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

"The Central African Republic is doing much better. There is a clear improvement even if it is still very fragile," CAR's interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza, told foreign affairs MEPs on Tuesday. CAR still needs the EU's "multi-dimensional aid", she stressed, calling on member states to redouble their efforts to help the CAR meet its electoral, budgetary and security challenges.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will deliver a formal address to Parliament at 15.15 today. He is expected to address the recent refugee tragedies in the Mediterranean and to support the EU Agenda on Migration.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

A reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), informally agreed with the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, was backed by the Environment Committee on Tuesday. The reform aims to reduce the surplus of carbon credits available for trading in order to support the price of the emission rights. The scheme would start operating in 2019.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : The Parliament is updating its position on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), outlining what issues are important to MEPs. The international trade committee, which is the committee in charge, will on Thursday decide on a draft report, providing guidelines to the current negotiations. MEPs will then vote on it during the June plenary. The European Commission conducts the talks on behalf of the EU, but do you know what role the Parliament plays? Read on to find out.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP