European Parliament (News)

General : The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought embodies Parliament's support for human rights. Throughout the year the Sakharov Prize network of former laureates meets to highlight issues. On 23 and 24 May nine former Sakharov laureates met in Brussels to discuss, among others, how to adapt to the challenges facing human rights defenders in the digital era.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Every day 315 million Europeans use the internet, but challenges still remain for consumers and companies alike. The European Commission presented its strategy for a digital single market in 2015. In addition Parliament and the Council agreed to ban roaming fees in 2017 and guarantee equal treatment for all internet traffic. On 25 May MEPs debate new Commission proposals to further boost e-commerce in plenary. Read our digital glossary to get up to date with the terminology ahead of the debate.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The European Commission's proposal for an EU anti-tax avoidance directive was welcomed by Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in a resolution voted on Tuesday. MEPs nonetheless advocated stricter limits on deductions for interest payments and an effective corporate tax rate of 15%.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Data on your online activities - from social media to shopping - is regularly sold to American advertisers. Strong data protection standards are in place in the EU to protect your privacy, but this is not the case in the US. The EU is now negotiating a new agreement with the US called Privacy Shield to safeguard your data. MEPs debate whether this deal will offer enough protection in plenary on Wednesday 25 May. Read on for an explanation of the issues involved.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The rise in jihadist attacks, terrorists' profiles and the special role of women in ISIS, recruitment of young people on social media and ISIS communication strategies, terrorist financing, the links between terrorism and crime and striking the right balance between privacy and security on encryption were among the topics debated by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs and Head of the Europol Counter Terrorism Centre Manuel Navarrete Paniagua on Monday afternoon.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : A delegation from the civil liberties committee visited Greece last week to assess refugees' situation at the EU's external borders and the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal to manage the influx of migrants and refugees. The delegation was led by Hungarian S&D member Péter Niedermüller. Members also met with representatives from the Greek authorities, international organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Budgets Committee MEPs approved €5,146,800 in EU aid on Monday to help 2,132 road haulage and delivery workers, made redundant by road transport company MoryGlobal SAS across France, to find new jobs. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid still needs to be approved by Parliament as a whole and by the Council of Ministers.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Budgets Committee MEPs approved €6,468,000 in EU aid on Monday to help 557 workers made redundant by the “Larissa” supermarket in Greece to find new jobs. A further 543 young unemployed people should also benefit. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid still needs to be approved by Parliament as a whole and by the Council of Ministers.
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Want to know Europe's future? Ask the people who will shape it! Last weekend more than 7,500 young Europeans attended the European Youth Event (EYE) at the Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss the continent's most pressing issues with MEPs and leading figures from civil society and the business world. Thousands of people also joined the discussions online: the hashtags #EYE2016 and #EYEtv were used nearly 26,000 times during the two-day event. Relive the experience with our slideshow and video.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Energy poverty and how to give consumers a better deal are debated during this week's plenary session in Brussels. In addition MEPs vote on a resolution on protecting Europeans' privacy when their data is being handled by American companies and discuss how to improve access to digital goods and services. In additions committees discuss genetically modified food as well as Europol reports on terrorism. On Saturday the European Parliament in Brussels holds an open day.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The second edition of the European Youth Event (EYE2016) takes place at the EP in Strasbourg on 20-21 May. "Together we can make a change" is the motto of the event where 7,500 young Europeans (aged 16-30) will make their voices heard in debates and workshops with Members of the European Parliament and other political decision-makers and opinion-builders. The ideas discussed at the EYE will be presented to MEPs. Journalists not present in Strasbourg can follow key parts of the event online

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : 16 MEPs from the GUE/NGL group withdrew their signature from a motion of censure on the Commission which was announced in plenary on Thursday 12 May.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The European Youth Event (EYE) taking place at the Parliament in Strasbourg this Friday and Saturday is not just for the 7,500 Europeans who will be in attendance. Regardless of where you are, you can make your views heard during the event where participants will exchange ideas and perspectives on the EU’s future. It will be opened by EP Vice-Presidents Sylvie Guillaume, Ulrike Lunacek, Mairead McGuinness, Rainer Wieland on Friday morning. Read on to see how you can play your part.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : More than one in four Europeans smoke. Half of them will die prematurely, shortening their life by 14 years on average. From 20 May new European legislation will be in place to make smoking and cigarettes less attractive, especially among young people. Read on to find out what will change and check out our infographic about smokers in the EU.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

A Civil Liberties Committee delegation will travel to Greece from 18 to 20 May to check the situation of refugees at the external borders of the EU and assess how the EU-Turkey deal to manage migrant and asylum-seekers flows into the EU is being implemented. MEPs will visit the Greece/FYROM border, the island of Lesvos and Athens. They will also meet representatives of the Greek Government, and EU and international bodies, as well as NGOs.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : An upgrade of the EU lobbyist register is in the works after the European Commission launched a public consultation on switching from voluntary to mandatory registration for anyone interested in speaking to EU institutions to influence their work. EP Vice-President Sylvie Guillaume holds a debate with experts together with Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on 2 May at 15.00 CET in Parliament’s premises in Brussels. Follow it online and watch our video to learn more.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Plans to set up a mandatory EU lobbying register are discussed by MEPs and stakeholders on Monday. The next day Parliament President Martin Schulz is in Aachen to award the 2016 European Charlemagne Youth Prize and on Sunday the Parliament opens its doors to the general public in Strasbourg to celebrate Europe Day. Meanwhile political groups prepare for next week's plenary session in Strasbourg.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : From tomorrow, surcharges for phone calls and data usage when you’re in another EU country are capped even further, while from 15 June 2017 using your mobile phone abroad should cost the same as doing so at home. As of tomorrow non-discriminatory net neutrality rules also enter into force. Read on for more details.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The EU police agency Europol will soon be able to step up efforts to fight terrorism, cybercrime and other criminal offences and respond faster, thanks to new governance rules endorsed by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Thursday. The new powers come with strong data protection safeguards and democratic oversight.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Domestic workers and carers, most of whom are migrant women, should be given an official status in the EU. Recognizing their work as "real" jobs would discourage exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday. MEPs recommend establishing easy-to-manage models for legal employer-worker relationships, citing examples in Belgium and France, to end precariousness and undeclared domestic work.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP