Press releases - all

After long negotiations a compromise deal on new EU legislation to regulate trade in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and make the derivatives market safer and more transparent was struck by Parliament and Council representatives on Thursday. Derivatives trading is widely believed to have contributed to the global financial crisis.

Following the debate with Hungary's Prime Minister Orbán at the Strasbourg plenary session in January, the Civil Liberties Committee will hold a hearing with representatives of the Hungarian government, the media and the civil society to assess the civil rights situation.

Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee on Thursday voted for Spain's new nominee to join the European Court of Auditors, Mr Baudilio Tomé Muguruza.

Draft EU legislation to discourage insider trading and market manipulation was discussed for the first time in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Monday. MEPs focused on how best to define "insider information", ensure proper surveillance, encourage whistle blowers and punish offenders.

A draft law to strengthen the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) was approved by Industry, Research and Energy Committee MEPs on Monday.

A Eurozone financial transaction tax would not only curb high-frequency and intermediary traders, but could even boost overall GDP, said financial experts at an Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee hearing on Monday. MEPs also reiterated their support for the idea, although some said that the Commission proposal needs more fine tuning.

A two-year reprieve for the EU's "food for the needy" programme, on which 18 million of the EU's most deprived people rely, was backed by the Agriculture Committee on Monday. If Parliament as a whole endorses the plan to rescue the programme, it will run until the end of 2013, with a budget of up to €500 million per year.

On Monday, the Budgets Committee started its work on the next year's budget with a debate on the general guidelines for the Commission's 2013 budget, which covers EU spending in the Member States, and a vote on the EU institutions' administrative budgets.

A resolution criticising the management of EU humanitarian aid and, in particular, the way in which EU funds are channelled through the United Nations, was passed by Parliament on Thursday.

Leaders of authoritarian regimes can spend their dubiously acquired wealth in the EU, despite measures to prevent it, because EU Member States provide safe havens for their personal fortunes and give them access to education and leisure services. This has to stop, says Parliament in a resolution passed on Thursday.