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 […]
Read More“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 […]
Read MoreNew 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 […]
Read MoreNew 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 […]
Read MoreRussia-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 […]
Read MoreParliament 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 […]
Read MoreCouncil 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 […]
Read MoreStop illegal live sports streaming, urge MEPs
The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee adopted on 13 April a report urging the European Commission to propose concrete measures tailored to live sporting events, allowing real-time blocking of access to illegal online sports content, or the removal of such content without interrupting legal broadcasts Broadcasting live sports plays an important role in the economy, […]
Read MoreCouncil agrees its negotiating mandate on the Digital Green Certificate
EU ambassadors today agreed a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposal for a Digital Green Certificate. This certificate will facilitate safe and free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. The […]
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