Ska Keller and José Bové have been selected to lead the Greens in their upcoming European campaign. The two MEPs won the unique Green Primary, the first ever Europe-wide open online process to select leading candidates for the European elections. Bové and Keller will be the figureheads of the third common Green European campaign, and lead the united Green parties of […]
Tougher Criminal Punishments For Food Fraud
Recent food fraud cases, including the sale of horse meat as beef, should prompt the EU to review the functioning of the food production chain, step up checks and revise labelling legislation, says a non-legislative resolution approved on Tuesday. The European Parliament voices concern at the growth in food fraud, which it says exploits structural […]
Greek Presidency Gets Rough Start Over Economic Fears
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras presented his country’s priorities for its six months at the helm of the EU to MEPs. The presidency, which started on 1 January, will focus on boosting growth and jobs, the banking union and an immigration policy based on more solidarity. Mr Samaras said there was a clear need for […]
EU Firms Get Boost For Third Country Contract Bids
Plans for a tool to allow EU countries to prevent non-EU firms from bidding for public procurement contracts worth €5 million or more unless their home countries reciprocate by allowing EU firms to do likewise were approved by Parliament on Wednesday. The proposed tool, which could be used only with European Commission approval, should strengthen […]
Troika Time – Klaus Regling Gets Grilled By MEPs
MEPs questioned EU bailout fund chief Klaus Regling on Wednesday as part of their inquiry into the anti-crisis role and operations of the European Central Bank/IMF/EU Commission “Troika”. Mr Regling recognised that the remedies had created hardship, but stressed that the severity of the crisis had made the decisions taken necessary. He also said that […]
Climate 2030 – EP Calls For 40% CO2 Emissions Reduction
The EU needs to curb its emissions of greenhouse gases by 40% by the year 2030, says the European Parliament’s Environment Committee. This is a major leap forward compared to the current target of a 20% reduction by 2020. Today’s vote on a Resolution drafted by Anne Delvaux MEP represents the Parliament’s input to the proposal […]
Snowden Gets European Parliament Audience – Live And Interactive
The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties committee has agreed that NSA fugitive Edward Snowden can give evidence to an inquiry into the allegations he has made – but only if he appears in a live and interactive session. European Conservatives and Reformists Group spokesman on the inquiry, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, continues to oppose any platform being […]
Final Stage Of Banking Union At Risk Says Workmann-Kool
“The final dossier of the Banking Union might be at risk. We demand a more efficient procedure for failing banks”, stated Corien Wortmann-Kool, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group and Shadow Rapporteur on the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) dossier. Wortmann-Kool expressed her disappointment on Thursday morning following the start of trilogue negotiations with the Council and […]
Latvia Joins Euro With Smooth Transition
Latvia has adopted the euro as its official currency and “the changeover is running smoothly and according to plan” according to the European Commission. The previous national currency – the lat – is now being phased out during a transitional two-week dual circulation period when both currencies have legal tender status. By the end of […]
Tsipras Meets Rehn. The Bro-mance That Never Was.
In Brussels, Alexis Tsipras, Greek MP and President of Synaspismos, met with Mr Karas and Mr Liêm Hoang Ngoc, to be briefed about the progress of the ongoing inquiry by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on the role of the troika in the countries under Memorandum, Tsipras said: “We came […]