All actions aimed at suppressing the freedom of expression and assembly in Azerbaijan should stop immediately, says a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday. Azerbaijan's hosting of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in its capital Baku on 26 May should be an opportunity for it to show its commitment to democracy and human rights, it adds. In a separate resolution, also passed on Thursday, Parliament calls on China to stop deporting North Korean refugees back to North Korea.

MEPs criticize the recent decision of the High Court of Ukraine to postpone its ruling on the appeal by former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko against her seven-year prison sentence, in a resolution adopted on Thursday. They warn against delaying the legal proceedings, condemn the use of force against her by prison guards and remind Ukraine of its obligation to examine any complaints of cruel treatment.

Emergency financial assistance from the EU for cash-strapped neighbours must depend on respect for human rights and democracy, said Parliament on Thursday. MEPs also oppose plans to cut Parliament out of future decisions on granting this aid.

Парламентът призова Европейската комисия да предложи подобрения на съществуващото законодателство за премахване на различията в заплащането между мъжете и жените, включително и по‑строги санкции за работодателите с гласуване днес. В приетото законодателно предложение се посочва, че разликата в заплащането между половете все още е средно 16,4% за ЕС, като в някои държави членки дори се наблюдава тенденция към увеличаването ѝ.

ЕС трябва да използва ресурсите, с които разполага по‑ефективно в името на бъдещия икономически растеж и опазването на околната среда, според резолюция, приета от Европейския парламент днес. Ценните материали трябва да се рециклират, вместо да се депонират или изгарят, а данъчното облагане трябва да санкционира разхищаването на ресурси, за да спомогне за увеличаването на конкурентоспособността на ЕС, считат депутатите.

Parliament has called on the Swiss government to revoke a "discriminatory and unlawful" decision to reimpose quotas on long-term residence permits for Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Slovene, Slovak, Czech and Hungarian citizens, in a resolution adopted by MEPs on Thursday.

Devising a "European Investment Plan" to create new jobs, reallocating EU structural funds to projects to create them for young people, and introducing a "European Youth Guarantee" to ensure that they are not without jobs for more than four months, are among the proposals set out by MEPs in a resolution, adopted Thursday, on measures to tackle youth unemployment.

EU Member states should set an example in fighting homophobia, says Parliament in a resolution adopted by a clear majority on Thursday. MEPs condemn homophobic laws and violence in European countries, and call on EU member states to consider giving access to cohabitation, registered partnerships or marriage to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Предложеният данък върху финансовите сделки (FTT) трябва да бъде направен така, че да обхване максимален брой пазарни участници и избягването му да бъде неизгодно, заяви Европейския парламент в становище, гласувано в сряда. В него депутатите призовават също приемането на данъка да не бъде блокирано, дори ако само някои от държавите членки застанат зад него.

MEPs backed new international measures to further reduce illegal catches of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, in a vote on Wednesday aimed at ensuring more sustainable development of stocks. They also called for more advice on the identification of spawning grounds and the creation of sanctuaries.