The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee has adopted a report supporting the Citizens’ Initiative “My Voice, My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion”. The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) adopted a draft resolution and an oral question for the Commission on Wednesday, by 26 votes in favour, 12 against and with no […]
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Proxy voting in Parliament’s plenary during pregnancy and after childbirth
The Committee on Constitutional Affairs has put forward a proposal to allow MEPs to vote in plenary by proxy during pregnancy and in the months following childbirth. The proposal, seeks to introduce a clearly defined exception to the current rule that all votes in Parliament’s plenary sessions must be cast personally. This would allow Members […]
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Commission releases €8.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 5,800 dismissed workers in Sweden
The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €8.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to help 5,800 workers dismissed after the bankruptcy of Northvolt in Sweden. Founded in 2016, Northvolt faced major production challenges and global oversupply in the battery market. Its bankruptcy in March 2025 led to nearly 6,500 job losses. […]
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Violence against women and domestic violence: EU equality ministers call for stronger focus on prevention, early detection and intervention
Recognising the vital role that ordinary citizens can play in preventing abuse, the Council has approved conclusions calling for greater efforts to empower bystanders to help combat violence against women and domestic violence. In their conclusions, EU equality ministers underline that awareness, education and societal support are key to ensuring that bystanders can recognise abuse, […]
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Regions and cities call for specific measures to fight poverty in the EU
The CoR study highlights uneven progress and rising poverty in some developed EU member states, including France and Germany. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an opinion on the forthcoming EU anti-poverty strategy at its plenary session on 14 October, following a debate with Roxana Minzatu, executive vice-president for social rights and empowerment. […]
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MEPs set out their red lines for air passenger rights changes
To help air passengers, MEPs suggest maintaining the current right to compensation after a three-hour delay, plus unlocking new rights on free children’s seats and cabin luggage. On Monday, the Transport and Tourism Committee adopted its negotiating guidelines on changes to EU air passenger rights by 34 votes in favour and two abstentions. The MEPs […]
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Afghanistan: aid for earthquake victims and an end to gender apartheid
MEPs call for aid for all victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan, hampered by the Taliban regime’s restrictive gender policies. MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday, with 504 votes in favour, 74 against and 3 abstentions, calling for a stronger emergency response in the aftermath of the earthquake in Kunar, Afghanistan. More help needed MEPs […]
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Commission builds on Union of Equality with adoption of new LGBTIQ+ Equality strategy
Everyone in the European Union should feel safe and free to love whomever they wish and be their authentic self. To this end, today the European Commission adopted its LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030. It builds on the strong foundation of the first LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 to pave the way for further progress, and ensure LGBTIQ+ equality […]
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MEPs seek to improve trainees’ working conditions across the EU
To prevent abusive practices against trainees, the Employment Committee wants traineeship contracts with clear provisions on pay, duration and social protection. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee has proposed changes to new EU rules on traineeships, in a report adopted on Tuesday by 42 votes to nine, and with six abstentions. The objective is to […]
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