The European Media Literacy Week is a new initiative by the European Commission to underline the societal importance of media literacy and promote media literacy initiatives and projects across the EU. From 18 to 22 March 2019, various events around the topic of media literacy will take place in Brussels and in Member States. A […]
MEPs call for EU Magnitsky Act to impose sanctions on human rights abusers
Last week, MEPs backed a resolution calling for new EU human rights sanctions to punish state and non-state actors responsible for gross violations of human rights. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament calls for a new sanctions regime to be established at EU level to impose asset freezes and visa bans on […]
European Commission calls on national political parties to join efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Europe
In September 2018, as part of the State of the Union, President Juncker proposed measures to bolster European democracy and protect free and fair elections in Europe. Ahead of the European elections, Commissioner Vera Jourová has written to national political parties calling on them to ensure transparency of political advertising, to be ready to face cyberattacks and to respect […]
EU report: Stepping up bilateral cooperation with the perspective of concluding a new comprehensive EU-Azerbaijan agreement
Over the last year, EU-Azerbaijan cooperation has intensified: Partnership Priorities were endorsed; high-level security and transport dialogues launched; improvements to human rights and fundamental freedoms sought. Concluding a new comprehensive bilateral agreement remains a top priority. The EU report published today sets out the state of play of developments in Azerbaijan since the last meeting of the Cooperation […]
Pushing the boundaries of transnational biodiversity research
Biodiversity – the variability of life on Earth – is of paramount importance for ecosystems and human well-being. Biodiversity loss and change thus pose major scientific and societal challenges. Addressing biodiversity challenges and providing scientific support requires coordinated interdisciplinary research at national regional and international levels. BiodivERsA an EU network of national and local ministries […]
Climate change is causing fish to disappear
Fish are a major source of food and income for millions of people worldwide. Climate change is here to impact both negatively. According to findings published in the journal ‘Science’ climate change is endangering fish around the world reducing populations by up to 35 % in coastal regions near China and Japan. Ocean warming has […]
European Solidarity Corps: New priorities for the period 2021-2027
The new 2021-2027 programme will include volunteering for humanitarian aid outside EU and offer more opportunities for disadvantaged young people. On Tuesday, MEPs adopted the new European Solidarity Corps programme for the 2021-2027 period, the single entry point for solidarity-related activities across and beyond Europe. Traineeships, jobs and network activities in areas related to […]
European Citizens’ Initiative: Commission registers ‘Housing for All’ initiative
The European Commission has today decided to register a European Citizens’ Initiative entitled ‘Housing for all’. The objective of the initiative is “to bring about better legal and financial framework conditions to facilitate access to housing for everyone in Europe”. The organisers call on the European Commission to ensure “easier access for all to social and affordable housing, […]
European elections: abuse of data to be penalised
Parliament wants to protect democratic debate in the European elections by introducing financial penalties for EU parties and foundations abusing data in political campaigns. More than two thirds (67%) of internet users in the EU are concerned that online personal data is used to target the political messages they see, undermining the free and fair competition between […]