Migrants; a protest, an aggressive police response. A familiar combination? Not when the Strasbourg police forcefully corralled Members of the European Parliament, protesting right outside the Parliament, and using the public demonstration to call attention to civil liberties issues. Excessive police action did not deter a group of 15 organisations launching an appeal to citizens, […]
€325bn Boost For Europe’s Regions
Key rules and regulations for implementing EU cohesion policy in 2014-2020 were endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. In a compromise deal struck with the Council after more than a year of tough negotiations, MEPs secured substantial funding for EU regions to invest in their development projects, on terms fairer to them. They also pruned back […]
Parliament Approves €840K For Unemployed Valencia Construction Workers
Parliament approved €840,000 in European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGAF) aid on Tuesday to help 300 redundant building workers in Valencia (Spain) to back into the labour market. The aid was approved by 603 votes, with 71 against and 17 abstentions. Some 630 workers were made redundant by Valencian manufacturers of non-metallic mineral products (such as […]
The Nuclear Option – Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia Get Decommissioning Cash
EU financial aid to help Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia to complete the decommissioning of the Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice nuclear power plants in the next EU budget period (2014-2020) was approved by MEPs on Tuesday. These power plants are “too dated and could not be cost-effectively upgraded to meet the minimum required safety standards” said […]
She’s On The Money – Sophie in’t Veld Welcomes SWIFT Probe, Condemns Double Standards
“Just last week, the Belgian and Dutch data protection authorities announced an inquiry into alleged unauthorised access to the SWIFT servers; I wholeheartedly welcome this,” said Dutch MEP, Sophie in’t Veld (D66, ALDE). “The main server is located in the Netherlands, and SWIFT headquarters are based in Belgium,” said in’t Veld, adding: “The Dutch authorities […]
It’s Democracy, Dam It Brazil!
Amazon deforestation increased by 28% between August 2012 and July 2013. Brazil’s Environment Minister, Izabella Teixeira, said the government is trying to reverse this “crime” – much like the ruling party has tried to reverse charges against politicians and businessmen convicted in the nation’s biggest corruption trial. Jose Dirceu, Chief of Staff to former President, […]
The Mother of All Budgets. Budget Committee Approves MFF…
The Mother of All Budgets is inching towards the maternity suite. Parliament’s Budgets Committee has approved the EU’s long-term budget (Multi-annual Financial Framework – MFF) for 2014-2020 and the deal struck in this week’s negotiations on the budget for 2014, the first year under the new MFF. Parliament’s final votes on these budgets are scheduled […]
Claude Moraes, Facing Facts. Surveillance Delegation In Washington
“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 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 […]