Meeting on Tuesday, leading members of the European Parliament and of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada signalled their strong support for Ukraine’s EU accession process. At their second meeting, held remotely on Tuesday, European Parliament and Verkhovna Rada parliamentary committee chairs, MEPs and Ukrainian parliamentarians discussed the ongoing cooperation between the two institutions to prepare Ukraine […]
Parliament green lights update of VAT rules to make them fit for digital times
The update will notably require that VAT be paid for services provided through online platforms, putting an end to an unfair distortion of competition. It will also fight VAT fraud. On Wednesday, Parliament’s plenary approved the changes to the rules that member states indicated in November they wished to make to the VAT Directive. MEPs […]
Two Spaniards elected as Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament Fourteen Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament elected
On Tuesday MEPs elected the 14 vice-presidents for the first half of the 10th parliamentary term. Eleven vice-presidents, including the Spanish Esteban González Pons (EPP) and Javi López (S&D), were appointed by secret ballot in a first round, and the remaining three in a second round. The new Vice-Presidents are: Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany) Ewa […]
The European Parliament is ready to negotiate new European legislation on trafficking in human beings
Parliament adopted its mandate for negotiations with member states to revise rules on combating human trafficking, ahead of a first round of talks in November 2023. The mandate prepared by the Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights committees would expand the scope of the existing directive to include forced marriage, illegal adoption, surrogacy for the purposes of reproductive […]
Corruption scandal: MEPs insist on reforms for transparency and accountability
Parliament has reacted to recent allegations with immediate changes and demands for measures to close loopholes in existing transparency rules. Following Tuesday’s debate, Parliament has adopted a resolution on the suspicions of corruption by Qatar and the broader need for more transparency in the EU institutions, with 541 votes in favour, two against, and three abstentions. […]
MEPs call on UK not to adopt new bill
The UK Contact Group co-Chairs David McAllister, Bernd Lange and Nathalie Loiseau issued the following statement on Tuesday after a meeting with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič. “We are deeply concerned with the UK’s unilateral action, which constitutes a serious and unacceptable breach of international law. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill puts into question the credibility […]