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.

Az erőforrások lehető leghatékonyabb felhasználása versenyképesebbé teheti az EU gazdaságát, miközben a környezetet is kímélné, áll abban az állásfoglalásban, amelyet csütörtökön szavazott meg az EP. Az EP szerint a hulladékokból minden értékes anyagot újból fel kellene használni az égetés vagy a hulladéktelepeken történő elhelyezés helyett. Az EP emellett lépéseket sürgeti a környezetvédelmi adózás felé.

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.

Parliament urged the European Commission to improve existing EU legislation to close the gender pay gap, including stricter sanctions on employers, in a vote on Thursday. The request for a legislative proposal points out that the gender pay gap still averages 16.4% in the EU, and in some member states has even widened.

Az Európai Parlament csütörtökön elfogadott állásfoglalásában arra szólítja fel a svájci hatóságokat, hogy vonják vissza azt a diszkriminatív és jogsértő döntést, amely kvótákat határoz meg a hosszú távú tartózkodási engedélyek kapcsán lengyel, litván, lett, észt, szlovén, szlovák, cseh és magyar állampolgárokkal szemben.

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.

A tervezett pénzügyi tranzakciós adó alanyainak körét úgy kell bővíteni, hogy a pénzügyi termékekkel kereskedőknek ne érje meg kibújni alóla, áll abban a jelentésben, amelyet szerdán fogadott el az EP. A parlamenti vélemény szerint a tranzakciós adó tervét akkor sem szabad feladni, ha nem minden tagállam dönt mellette.

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.