European Parliament (News)

General : Roaming charges are on track to be abolished next June, but the rules setting out when mobile providers can charge domestic charges still have to be finalised. Companies fear consumers will try to buy a SIM card from the EU country with the lowest charges rather than from their own country. We asked Pilar del Castillo, the Spanish EPP member responsible for negotiating with the European Commission and Council on this issue, to answer questions we received from our Facebook followers.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Big data refers to large quantities of data collected from sources such as sensors and the internet. They can be used to improve decision-making and create better products, however they also pose challenges to fundamental rights such as privacy and data protection. Parliament's civil liberties committee discussed the risks and opportunities of using big data on Monday, while MEP Ana Gomes is drafting an own-initiative report on the issue, which MEPs will vote on during a future plenary session.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The recovery in the euro area is expected to continue at a moderate and steady pace, but slower than envisaged in June due to a lower foreign demand outlook, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee members on Monday. On the positive side, he said that the euro area economy showed resilience to global and political uncertainty, notably following the UK referendum outcome.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plans to waive visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens entering the Schengen area were approved by the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday. If approved by Parliament and Council, it will allow Ukrainians who have a biometric passport to enter the EU area without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period, for business, tourist or family purposes.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

In the wake of this summer’s terrorist attacks in Europe, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove debated trends revealed by such attacks and EU counter-terrorism measures with Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Monday afternoon.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Parliament's inquiry committee investigating the Panama papers starts its work on Tuesday 27 September with a hearing featuring the journalists behind the initial revelations. These members of the International Consortium for Investigative Journalism will discuss their work on the files. In addition the committee's working programme will be presented after the hearing. Follow the hearing and the presentation of the working programme live on our website.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The inquiry committee investigating the Panama papers starts its work this week by holding a hearing with the journalists who unveiled how tax evaders have been hiding their funds in overseas tax havens. The industry committee discusses the European Commission's new proposal to prevent consumers abusing the abolition of roaming charges in June 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Draft “fair use” safeguards to prevent mobile phone users from taking unfair advantage of EU rules on “roaming” charges were debated in the Industry Committee on Monday 26 September afternoon.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

From Syrian refugees on their way to being resettled to Europe to Palestine refugees who have been living in camps for years: members from the civil liberties committee delegation got to speak to many different people during their fact-finding mission to Lebanon on 19-22 September. They were there to assess the situation to help prepare future rules on the resettlement of refugees. They also spoke to representatives of local NGOs and large international organisations.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The current situation in Europe of Anti-Semitism and future prospects for Europe’s Jewish communities will be debated at a conference hosted by EP President Martin Schulz and First Vice-President Antonio Tajani in Parliament’s premises on Tuesday afternoon. Anti-Semitism and attacks against Jews in Europe have grown in recent years.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Once Brexit negotiations begin the European Parliament will be a responsible and active partner, Martin Schulz told UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The Parliament President met her during a visit to London on 22-23 September. He said the greatest challenges would be trade and the issue of preserving the freedom of movement of goods, people, services and capital. He also discussed why the Parliament believes article 50 should be triggered as soon as possible.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Members of the Euro-Latin American parliamentary Assembly “expect and hope” that the “historic” peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will be approved in the referendum to be held on 2 October. Once the deal is approved and the definitive and irreversible laying down of weapons is confirmed, they add, the FARC should be removed from the EU’s list of terrorist organisations.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

With around 1.5 million refugees fleeing to Lebanon since the start of the war in Syria, it is clear that the situation in the country is untenable and that substantial help is needed to avoid a complete breakdown, not only in terms of financial assistance, but also through improved resettlement tools, says Civil Liberties Committee Chair Claude Moraes, who this week headed a delegation to Beirut.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Deepening the integration of the EU and Latin America is the best way to respond to common challenges, agreed parliamentarians from both sides of the Atlantic at the opening of the ninth plenary session of the Euro-Latin Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), on Tuesday in Montevideo (Uruguay). The economic situation, trade relations between the EU and Latin America and between both regions and China, managing migration flows and fighting terrorism are also on the agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Workers do not enjoy the same level of social protection within the EU. Faced with increased competition some businesses resort to social dumping in order to reduce their labour costs. This could lead to workers being exploited as cheap labour. During last week’s plenary session, MEPs called for this unfair practice to be ended. They also discussed measures to help reconcile work, private and family life and minimum income schemes.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Over the course of its existence, the European Parliament has transformed itself from an assembly with limited powers to a decision-making body directly shaping EU policies. It has been a long road, but one of the milestones was 20 September 1976, when ministers signed rules allowing direct European elections. The elections, held about three years later, gave new democratic legitimacy to the Parliament and allowed MEPs to seek more powers in shaping European policies.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Following a busy plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs work this week in their constituency or take part in parliamentary delegations. Parliament President Martin Schulz travels to London to meet among others UK Prime Minister Theresa May, while some MEPs are in Lebanon to assess the country's response to the refugee crisis.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

A 7-strong delegation of Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will be in Lebanon this week to look into the situation of refugees and resettlement. MEPs will visit refugee camps and meet UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRWA, international NGOs and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff working with the refugees. They will also meet representatives of the Lebanese Parliament and Minister for Social Affairs Mr Rashed Derbas (tbc).
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Managing global migration flows, trade relations between the EU and Latin American countries, and between both regions and China, plus the setting-up of an EU-CELAC Common Research Area, will be key agenda items at the ninth plenary session of the Euro-Latin American parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat) next week in Montevideo (Uruguay).

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The debate on the state of the European Union with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker dominated the plenary session in Strasbourg taking place on 12-15 September. MEPs also exchanged views with Tibetan leader Dalai Lama and supported the Commission’s decision to order Ireland to recover €13 billion in illegal tax benefits from Apple.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP