New rules in Hungary in “clear breach of EU values, principles and law” Political censorship and gradual dismantling of fundamental rights in Hungary Commission and member states should take urgent legal action Cut funding where European budget is affected by national legislation that clashes with EU values Parliament “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the […]
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EU Justice Scoreboard 2021: how digital tools help courts
Today, 8th July, the European Commission has published the 2021 EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual overview providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality and independence of justice systems in all EU Member States. This year’s Scoreboard focused on the digitalisation of justice, which kept courts functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic and more generally made justice […]
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LGBTIQ rights in Hungary: debate with Council and Commission
Briefing – Newsletter 5-8 July 2021 – Strasbourg plenary session MEPs will assess the risk of discrimination faced by LGBTIQ persons in Hungary, and the rule of law and fundamental rights situation in both Poland and Hungary. On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament voted almost unanimously (157 votes to 1) in favour of rules […]
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“The Hungarian bill is a shame”, Von der Leyen
Statement by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on the new Hungarian bill that discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation: This Hungarian bill is a shame. I have instructed the responsible commissioners to send a letter to express our legal concerns before the bill enters into force. This bill clearly discriminates against […]
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New EU copyright rules
Monday 7 June marked the deadline for Member States to transpose the new EU copyright rules into national law. The new Copyright Directive protects creativity in the digital age, bringing concrete benefits to citizens, the creative sectors, the press, researchers, educators and cultural heritage institutions across the EU. At the same time, the new Directive […]
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New rules on food transparency and sustainability
New rules on transparency and sustainability will transform the way the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carries out its role as a risk assessor in the EU food safety system. A new regulation adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, which will apply from 27 March, will strengthen the Authority’s ability to […]
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Russia-EU tensions and Parliament’s views
EU-Russia relations have become increasingly strained over the past decade, not least because of the country’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. The Kremlin’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s military intervention in Syriahave only exacerbated matters. Another source of tension is Russia’s disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks, as well as attempts to interfere in Western […]
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Parliament calls for justice and reforms in Malta
The latest revelations about the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia are of great concern, in particular the possible involvement of ministers and political appointees. In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 635 votes for, 46 against and 12 abstentions, the European Parliament takes stock of developments in the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia and other […]
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Council of Europe urges Belarus and Armenia to address electoral reforms
Starting with Belarus, Belarus is urged to carry out comprehensive reform of its electoral system. PACE has urged Belarus to comprehensively reform its electoral system to bring it into line with international standards for democratic elections. Approving a resolution and recommendation based on a report by Lord Blencathra (United Kingdom, EC), the Assembly said that […]
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