The new legislation on seizing criminal assets would ensure fast and efficient freezing operations everywhere in the EU, and quicker compensation for victims. To speed up asset freezing and confiscations and close loopholes, MEPs on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee adopted on Tuesday a draft position on new rules with 50 votes […]
Language app for refugees wins European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2023
Every year national and European juries select a project from each EU country. 26 national winners were invited to the award ceremony in Aachen on 12 May, where the three EU winners were announced. European winners The first prize of €7,500 went to AILEM from Belgium – the first ever language app tailored for refugees and […]
European Parliament adopts three resolutions on respect for human rights in Algeria, Belarus and Myanmar
Media freedom and freedom of expression in Algeria, the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi Parliament urges the Algerian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and charged for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including prominent journalist Ihsane El-Kadi, who was convicted in April to a five-year sentence and hefty fines on unfounded […]
Parliament warns of impact of recovery costs on EU budget by 2024
Parliament warned on Wednesday about the impact of recovery costs on the bloc’s 2024 budget, putting the bloc’s main plans at risk. MEPs are “deeply concerned that, if the necessary measures are not taken, the cost of increased funding for European recovery instruments could severely constrain the EU budget in terms of financing EU priorities […]
Parliament votes in favour of fighting planned obsolescence and eco-posturing
MEPs on Thursday approved draft legislation to improve the labelling and durability of products as well as cracking down on misleading advertising. The proposed new directive, which gives consumers greater decision-making rights in the process of organic processing, was adopted in plenary by 544 votes to 18, with 17 abstentions. Its main aim is to […]
European Parliament gives green light to EU accession to Istanbul Convention
On Wednesday, Parliament approved the EU’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention – the first legally binding international instrument on preventing and combating violence against women and girls – it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of […]
EU is one step closer to first Artificial Intelligence rules
To ensure a human-centric and ethical development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Europe, MEPs endorsed new transparency and risk-management rules for AI systems. On Thursday, the Internal Market Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee adopted a draft negotiating mandate on the first ever rules for Artificial Intelligence with 84 votes in favour, 7 against and […]
Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls before the European Parliament for a geopolitical, larger and reformed EU, open to the future
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz debated with MEPs during the ‘This is Europe’ series, calling for a united Europe capable of changing to secure its place in the world of tomorrow. Chancellor Scholz stressed that Europe has a global responsibility beyond its borders “because the well-being of Europe cannot be separated from the well-being of the […]
European Parliament warns of risks to democracy from spyware, calls for reforms
EP spyware inquiry committee has adopted its final report and recommendations, condemning spyware abuses in several EU member states and setting out a way forward. On Monday evening, the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) adopted its final report and recommendations following a year-long inquiry […]