Headlines – current highlights in the European Parliament

MEPs debate extending funding for poor housing

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:39:00 GMT

Poor housing remains a blight across Europe and Tuesday evening MEPs will debate a plan to extend EU funding to help renovate and repair housing stock for the poorest people on the continent. Prior to this, money has only been available in the 12 countries - mainly in Central and Eastern Europe - who joined the EU in in 2004 and 2007. The proposals will allow people and communities in Western Europe to benefit also.

Source : © European Parliament

Parliamentary week 8-11 February - what's on?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:37:00 GMT

MEPs voted Tuesday to approve the new "Barroso II" European Commission meaning it can officially take office. Also in Strasbourg next week is a key vote on the interim EU-US data sharing agreement on Thursday. Midweek MEPs debate the progress that Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey have made on the road to joining the EU. Find all the information on the debates and votes here. Get daily updates here.

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EU position on blue fin tuna ban debated Tuesday

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:21:00 GMT

The fate of blue fin tuna hangs in the balance this week as a complete ban on the trade is debated by MEPs. Ahead of a meeting of the Convention for the Protection of Endangered Species (CITES) the European Union must thrash out a position on whether to support a ban proposed by Monaco. The Union is divided although recently two key states, France and Italy, have swung around behind stopping the trade. The debate on Tuesday will be crucial to establishing a consensus.

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SWIFT: MEPs to vote on backing or sacking EU/US data sharing deal

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:30:00 GMT

The rejection by MEPs on Parliament's justice committee of a controversial EU/US data sharing deal has set the scene for a transatlantic row if a majority of MEPs back their decision on Thursday. Prior to the vote a debate will be held Wednesday in Strasbourg. The case centres on the Belgium based SWIFT company which handles 80% of the world's electronic financial transfers from 208 countries. The extent to which the US should be able to access this to fight terrorism is key.

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Men and women - MEPs debate pay & equality gap

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:49:00 GMT

Equal pay for men and women, paternity leave and tackling violence are at the heart of a report being debated Monday evening by MEPs. The state of relations between men and women across Europe will be in the spotlight as Belgian Socialist Marc Tarabella's report is debated. It calls for a change in attitudes so that "no one will still be surprised to find women driving buses or men doing laundry".

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EU hopes of Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia & Turkey

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:32:00 GMT

MEPs will discuss the European Union aspirations of Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey on Wednesday 10 February. The Foreign Affairs Committee has given a mixed opinion on where the countries stand and we asked Parliament's followers on Facebook what they think. Read on to find out more and check out the photo slideshow.

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Making sense of the 2010 EU budget

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Last December the European Parliament adopted the final EU budget for 2010, which will be €141.4 billion in commitments and €122.9 billion in payments. In this focus we look at how the EU budget is adopted, how the money is collected and how it is used.

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MEPs quiz new Bulgarian candidate Kristalina Georgieva

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:53:00 GMT

The confirmation hearing of the last prospective European Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, took place at the European Parliament Wednesday afternoon. She faced questions on her suitability for the international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response portfolio. Learning the lessons of the Haiti catastrophe and improving the EU's response to crisis were among the priorities she outlined to MEPs on the Development Committee. MEPs will vote on the full Commission 9 February.

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Bankers have lost their friends in Davos - EP vice-president

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:31:00 GMT

Reform of the banking system was one of the key themes at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, with bankers coming in for a lot of criticism. "Bankers have lost their friends in Davos. There was general disapproval of the disproportionate self-rewarding in the banking sector," European Parliament Vice-President Silvana Koch-Mehrin said.

Source : © European Parliament

Pensions, unemployment under scrutiny by Crisis Committee

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:51:00 GMT

With over 23 million unemployed in the Europe Union and the jobless figure having risen in every member state since last year, how Europe is coping with the crisis and the effect on pension systems were discussed on Thursday 28 January. The damage the crisis may do to Europe's pension systems and its social model was under particular focus in the hearings by Parliament's special Crisis Committee. MEPs quizzed experts on both unemployment and the pension problem.

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Hague Prosecutor Brammertz: Balkans "still suffering" from Yugoslav wars

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:36:00 GMT

"I was once beaten up so badly, I spent four days in a coma. I was thrown out onto a heap of corpses, and I was found there by one of my comrades." This is the testimony of just one victim of the Yugoslav wars who testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague. Chief Prosecutor, Belgian Serge Brammertz held talks with MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee on 26 January. We spoke to him.

Source : © European Parliament

European Capitals of Culture: Essen, Istanbul and Pécs

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:56:00 GMT

Essen in Germany, Istanbul in Turkey and Pécs in Hungary are the three European capitals of culture for 2010. A variety of cultural events will be held throughout the year with the aim of showcasing the attractions the cities offer. The choice of Istanbul has a particular significance as it is a country that is a candidate for future EU membership.

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Terrorists or passengers exposed? MEPs voice doubts on body scanners

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Doubts over the merits of body scanners at Europe's airports were aired when MEPs discussed the issue on Wednesday (27 January). In the wake of the Detroit "underpants" bomber, the devices have been touted as effective deterrents. Thus far, the Netherlands, Britain and Italy have said they may use them on US bound flights. The EU's anti-terror Tsar, Gilles de Kerchove, told MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee that they should be used if they are "privacy friendly and health friendly".

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World Anti-doping Agency's David Howman on fight against sports' cheats

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:56:00 GMT

The "shame" that athletes "bring on themselves, their family and their country" by using illegal drugs is something athletes don't consider according to David Howman, Director General of the World Anti-doping Agency. He met with MEPs on the Culture Committee Monday (26 January) to discuss doping in sport. Prior to speaking to us he briefed MEPs on some of the problems the Agency faces, notably keeping track of scientific developments, genetic doping and the different sanctions countries impose.

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European Earth Observation Programme under scrutiny

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:43:00 GMT

A European monitoring system that can detect floods and help target help in natural disasters like in Haiti is being discussed by MEPs. The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security system (GMES) can provide data on a range of issues from climate change and environmental pollution to security. But, with rising costs in a time of economic crisis, is this the right time to bring European support (and finance) to this project?

Source : © European Parliament

Medical treatment is getting to those in need in Haiti - De Gucht

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:36:00 GMT

Medical treatment is reaching those in need and water and food is being distributed in the camps, EU Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht told MEPs Monday evening (25 January), when he presented the findings of a visit to Haiti. He warned that the need for shelter will become more acute as the rainy season approaches.

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MEPs to discuss the Le Foll report on EU agriculture & climate change

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:36:00 GMT

Within four decades another 3 billion people will occupy the earth. How we feed the planet in the face of that growth and the effects of climate change will be discussed by agriculture committee MEPs on Wednesday morning. A report by French Socialist MEP, Stéphane Le Foll, ahead of the meeting suggests better use of water, investment in energy efficient farming techniques and maintaining the capacity of soils and plants to absorb carbon. We spoke to Mr Le Foll ahead of the hearing.

Source : © European Parliament

EU Ombudsman Diamandouros clears vote and pledges service culture

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:46:00 GMT

European Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros was re-elected by MEPs Wednesday (20 January) on a platform to improve access to EU documents and a culture of good administration. His role will continue to deal with complaints about the European Union's Institutions and it agencies. In 2008 he received 3406 complaints, 802 of which were found to be admissible. High on the list of complaints is a lack of transparency.

Source : © European Parliament

Hearings for new Commission - what's next?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:33:00 GMT

With the 26 parliamentary hearings for the new European Commission completed it was just the Bulgarian candidate, Rumiana Jeleva, who was forced to withdraw. She will now be replaced by her compatriot Kristalina Georgieva who is currently Vice-President of the World Bank. Her hearing with MEPs will be on Wednesday 3 February. These changes push back the approval vote on the whole Commission for 9 February.

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European Parliament Prize for Journalism 2010: applications open

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:01:00 GMT

Ines Possemeyer's article "How Europe is renewing itself" broke new ground when it looked at work and migration for people who lived in countries that joined the EU in 2004. Its impact led to it winning one of the four categories of the European annual journalism prize which is again open to journalists from the written, radio, TV and internet media.

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