The Council has definitively adopted a regulation aiming to ensure that gas storage capacities in the EU are filled before the winter season and can be shared between member states in a spirit of solidarity, despite the disruptions in the gas market. This is an important step in strengthening the security of the EU’s energy […]
Provisional agreement reached to make international trade easier
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a single window for customs which sets the appropriate conditions for digital collaboration between customs and partner competent authorities. The aim is to make international trade easier, shorten customs clearance times and reduce the risk of fraud. It will also help reduce the administrative burden […]
MEPs want a special international tribunal for crimes of aggression
The special international tribunal should investigate Russian leaders and military commanders and their allies for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. In the resolution adopted on Thursday, Parliament calls on the EU to take all necessary action in international proceedings and courts to support the prosecution of the Russian and Belarussian regimes for war crimes, […]
Council and European Parliament agree to strengthen cybersecurity across EU
The Council and the European Parliament agreed on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, to further improve the resilience and incident response capacities of both the public and private sector and the EU as a whole. Once adopted, the new directive, called ‘NIS2’, will replace the current directive on security […]
Countries with legislated quotas could achieve gender balance in parliaments by 2026, those without may take close to 20 years
Over the last 20 years, gender balance (quota of at least 40 % of each gender) has improved in EU Member States’ parliaments. And the application of legislative quotas that aims to ensure a minimum proportion of each gender among candidates has played a key role. In fact, evidence suggests that the application of legislative […]
New tool to protect internal market against distortive foreign subsidies
To ensure a level playing field for all companies operating in the internal market, member states agreed a negotiating mandate for the regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market. The regulation aims to address the distortions created by subsidies granted by non-EU countries to companies operating in the EU’s single market. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the […]
Right to repair: MEPs want more durable and more easily repairable products
A new “right to repair” must cover designing long-lasting products that can be fixed, as well as more informative labelling and extended guarantee rights. Parliament adopted on Thursday its demands for an upcoming European Commission proposal on the right to repair planned for later in 2022, with 509 votes in favour, 3 against and 13 […]
Green Deal: EP backs updated guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure
Parliament approved on Tuesday new rules for selecting which energy projects can receive EU funding and aligning the existing regulation with the EU’s Green Deal. The legislation, agreed upon with Council in December 2021, sets criteria and the methodology for choosing energy projects of common interest (PCIs), such as high-voltage transmission lines, pipelines, energy storage facilities and […]
New training programme for young people supported by Parliament
Parliament’s Bureau agreed yesterday to strengthen the institution’s support to journalists with a new scholarship scheme and training programmes for young journalists. The aim is to deepen journalists’ understanding of EU affairs, help the participants to gain relevant experience and enrich the European media sector while ensuring editorial freedom. The European Parliament’s Bureau, comprising the […]