Paziņojumi presei — visi

Democracy, freedom and the rule of law in Hungary were the focus of a Civil Liberties Committee hearing on Thursday with representatives of the Hungarian media, civil society and government. Some MEPs called for a "fundamental rights check" to on whether there is a risk of a serious breach of EU values, while others suggested awaiting the outcome of the European Commission's dialogue with the Hungarian government.

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.

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.

Vajadzīga saskaņotāka ES rīcība, lai cīnītos pret dopinga lietošanu sportā, vardarbību sporta spēļu skatītāju rindās, iepriekšēju vienošanos par sacensību iznākumu un citiem negodīgiem sportistu aģentu darījumiem, Eiropas Parlaments uzsver ceturtdien pieņemtajā rezolūcijā.

Deputāti šodien pieņēma rezolūciju ar aicinājumu novērst to, ka autoritāro režīmu līderi savu "bieži vien apšaubāmā ceļā iegūto bagātību" tērē Eiropas Savienībā, neraugoties uz to, ka ES oficiāli pret viņiem piemēro sankcijas. ES dalībvalstis piemēro dubultstandartus un bieži uzglabā diktatoru līdzekļus, ļauj viņiem iegādāties īpašumu un dod iespēju izglītoties vai ceļot ES valstīs.