“We will have the opportunity to discuss directly with US counterparts the alleged surveillance activities of US authorities and any impact they have in terms of EU citizens fundamental right to privacy,” said Claude Moraes, head of a European Parliament civil liberties committee delegation to Washington. The delegation is in Washington from 28 to 30 October […]
“We are the richest continent. We can do more” – Schulz On Migration Solidarity
“Lampedusa has become a symbol of a European migration policy,” European Parliament President Martin Schulz told EU leaders at the October European Council, in Brussels. “It should also become a turning point for that migration policy”, he added, calling for greater support of the Mediterranean countries, which receive most irregular migrants trying to enter the […]
The Slim Summit. Barroso Gets Refit And Focused On SMEs
David Cameron is always convinced the EU is losing a few pounds, but more evidence of health fads at the Commission emerged post-Summit. Gone was mention of a well-toned financial Six-Pack, but, wait for it, we’re all buzz with REFIT… Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is King of the Political Treadmill, but everyone […]
Socialist Swoboda Must Apologise For UK Slur, Insists Callanan
Martin Callanan, British MEP and leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, has strongly criticised Socialist group leader, Hannes Swoboda. Callanan insisted that Swoboda, a close ally of United Kingdom Opposition leader, Ed Miliband, should apologise for his “outrageous slur” against the British government, after claiming that the tragic murder […]
Brok Insists On Proactive EU Foreign Policy
It can’t be business as usual for Ashton’s successor, MEPs insisted, Thursday. Deputies called for a new approach to EU foreign policy based on leadership and the defence of the EU’s interests and values. Above all, they insist, the EU must be proactive, set priorities and make full use of EU and member states’ resources […]
We Avoided EU Budget Default Says Giovanni La Via
“I want to strongly emphasise that today’s approval of the draft amending budget (DAB 6/2013) does not eliminate the need for fresh money to pay the bills already submitted by the Member States, not to mention those coming up in November and December, which will inevitably affect the already tight 2014 budget”, said Giovanni La […]
Fight Club. Parliament Reverses Council Budget Cuts
The European Parliament reversed the Council’s proposed cuts in research and employment expenditure in 2014 in a plenary vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday. MEPs also reversed cuts in funding for international policy, such as humanitarian aid to the Middle East and Syrian refugees and added funds for the external border control agency Frontex. Parliament proposes […]
Suspend EU-US Bank Data Transfer Say MEPs, Response To NSA Snooping
The EU should suspend its Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) agreement with the US in response to the US National Security Agency’s alleged tapping of EU citizens’ bank data held by the Belgian company SWIFT, says a non-binding resolution voted by Parliament on Wednesday. The resolution, tabled by the S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA groups, was […]
Lady In Waiting. Aung San Suu Kyi Receives The Sakharov Prize
Myanmar/Burma militant and parliamentary opposition leader finally received the Sakharov Prize, awarded to her in 1990, at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 October. Ms Suu Kyi was released from house arrest three years ago. The prize was presented at a special ceremony during the plenary session, chaired by European Parliament President, Martin Schulz. “You […]
Colombia, Peru and UAE May Get Right To Visit EU Without Visas
Citizens of Colombia, Peru and the United Arab Emirates should be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa, said the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday, amending a draft update of the EU visa regulation to this effect. The Commission’s initial proposal envisaged a visa waiver only for citizens of five Caribbean island […]