During the May plenary in Strasbourg MEPs backed plans for an EU bank supervisory system and called on governments to step up their efforts to clamp down on tax evasion. They also approved EU–wide civil law protection for victims of stalking and gender violence and tougher safety rules for offshore drilling. Read on to find out more about the session’s highlights.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
MEPs urged member states to start EU accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia before July in a resolution on the country’s 2012 progress report on Thursday 23 May. However, in another resolution they expressed regret that Bosnia and Herzegovina was still far from meeting the necessary conditions for a prospective membership and that it was falling behind other countries in the region.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
MEPs urged member states to start EU accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia before July in a resolution on the country’s 2012 progress report on Thursday 23 May. However, in another resolution they expressed regret that Bosnia and Herzegovina was still far from meeting the necessary conditions for a prospective membership and that it was falling behind other countries in the region.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Legal measures to protect the victims of stalking, harassment and gender-based violence will be extended to the whole of the EU, thanks to new rules approved by MEPs on 22 May. This is necessary as currently legal measures issued in one country often fail to protect victims in another country, especially women and children escaping domestic violence. We talked to Antonio López-Istúriz White and Antonyia Parvanova, the two MEPs responsible for steering the legislation through Parliament.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Quick and tangible results are needed on tax fraud and youth employment to restore people’s trust in the EU, EP president Martin Schulz warned EU leaders at the opening of the European Council in Brussels on 22 May. He pointed out that public support for the EU had never been as weak as today. Mr Schulz also reminded leaders that the EU was founded in a spirit of solidarity and that it was now time to show “de facto solidarity” with young people struggling to find work.
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria more than 1.5 million refugees have been forced to look for shelter in neighbouring countries and according to the UN this number is set to more than double by December. MEPs will discuss how the EU can help them with commissioner Štefan Füle, speaking on behalf of the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs Catherine Ashton, on Wednesday 22 May from 15.00 CET. Follow the debate live on our website.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
MEPs approved on 21 May stricter safety standards for offshore oil and gas operations. The aim is to reduce the risk of major accidents and limit the consequences if such accidents do take place. The new rules will set minimum European standards for offshore oil and gas safety, regulating licensing, emergency plans and the decommissioning of platforms. Ivo Belet, a Belgian member of the EPP group, was responsible for steering the legislatoin through Parliament.
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In this age of internet, smartphones and social media, it is very easy to share and search for personal information. Maybe too easy. Your loan application could be rejected because you live in the wrong neighbourhood, photos you publish online may come back to haunt you and supposedly free websites earn their keep by selling and using your personal data. The EU is now working to overhaul its data protection rules to help people stay in control of their private information.
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Concrete actions and not words are urgently needed to fight tax evasion and upgrade the EU’s energy infrastructure, representatives from the EP’s political groups said during a debate on Tuesday 21 May. They spoke out ahead of Wednesday’s European Council, however many group leaders were sceptical about how committed EU leaders were to tackling taxation and energy issues.
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Deposits under €100,000 should not be used to prop up failing banks, according to a report adopted by the economic committee on 20 May. Instead, shareholders should bear the losses, followed by bondholders and only as a last resort large depositors. The report is a reaction to a proposal by the European Commission on how to support struggling banks, which also sets out strict rules for using tax payers’ money.
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Nearly 25,000 people from France, Germany and other countries flocked to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Sunday when it opened its doors to the public in honour of Europe Day earlier this month. Visitors were treated to exhibitions, music performances, information stands and debates with MEPs. These were organised by the political groups and the Parliament, as well as the European Central Bank, the European Ombudsman, the Court of Auditors and local associations.
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A few clicks suffice to find out everything about you online: where you live, where you work, even what you like to do on a night out. You might be surprised to learn what your online information is used for and by whom. New EU rules aim to protect your personal data better. This Wednesday you have the chance to discuss it directly with Jan Philipp Albrecht from 10.30 CET. The German Green MEP is in charge of steering the proposal through Parliament. Find out what it is all about.
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The EP’s position on the upcoming negotiations for a trade agreement between the EU and the US will be finalised during the May plenary. MEPs will also vote on resolutions to strengthen media freedom, reports on the progress made by Bosnia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia towards joining the EU as well as the dates for the 2014 European elections. They will also urge EU governments to step up the fight against tax evasion ahead of the EU summit on Wednesday dedicated to this issue.
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Take the opportunity to see where MEPs take their decisions every month when the European Parliament opens its doors to the public in Strasbourg, France, on Sunday 19 May. The day will be packed with activities for all ages and it will be a chance to find out more about how the EP works and how it affects people’s lives every day. The open day is held to mark Europe Day, which is celebrated every year on 9 May. This year it is dedicated to you as 2013 is the European Year of Citizens.
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Creating new EU legislation can get complicated but a new interactive application on the EP website aims to make it easier to understand. The application takes you through the ordinary legislative procedure step by step. Under the procedure proposals are adopted jointly by the European Parliament and national governments sitting in the Council of the European Union and it is used for the vast majority of legislation. Try our new application to become an expert within minutes.
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MEPs will urge member states to step up the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion during the plenary session in Strasbourg from 20-23 May. They will also debate proposals on banking supervision in the EU, adopt a position on the upcoming negotiations for a free trade agreement with the US as well as vote on two draft resolutions concerning media freedom and improved media education. In addition Parliament will adopt a position on dates for next year’s European elections.
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People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) continue to experience widespread discrimination and harassment, according to the largest survey ever conducted among the LGBT community in Europe. Nearly half (47%) of LGBT people said they had personally felt discriminated against or harassed on the grounds of sexual orientation in the past year, while one in four (26%) had been attacked or threatened with violence in the last five years. Find out the facts in our infographic.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
It was dedicated to you and now it is in Brussels for you to see. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the EU last year is on display at Parliament’s visitors centre until 6 October. Inaugurating the exhibition, EP president Martin Schulz said: “Understand what kind of precious gift it is for all of us to live in the EU in an era of peace on a continent that was too long, too often, a continent of war, of hate, of racism, of xenophobia, of anti-Semitism.”
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The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate and the violence threatens to spread to neighbouring countries. MEPs will debate what can be done for the millions of refugees during next week’s plenary session on 22 May. We spoke to Elmar Brok, a German member of the EPP group who is the chair of the foreign affairs committee, about the risks facing the region.
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The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize might have been awarded to the EU, but EP president Martin Schulz made very clear who the honour really belonged to: “This Nobel Peace Prize is for all EU citizens.” He duly accepted the prize during the official ceremony in Oslo on behalf of everyone in the EU. You now have to chance to see your prize up close in Parlamentarium, the Parliament’s visitors centre in Brussels, where the medal will be displayed until 6 October.
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Mali’s acting president Dioncounda Traoré will visit the EP on 16 May to discuss the military situation in his country and the elections scheduled for July 2013. The meeting is organised by Parliament’s foreign affairs and development committees and the security and defence subcommittee and can be followed live on our website.
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From maintaining the peace in Afghanistan and Kosovo to countering pirates off the Somali coast, NATO and the EU regularly work closely together. This cooperation is set to become even more intense. NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited EP on 6 May to discuss the future of European defence with the foreign affairs committee. We took the opportunity to ask him about what is next for the partnership between the two organisations.
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In this age of smartphones and social media protecting people’s privacy has become more important than ever. The European Parliament is currently working on a major overhaul of EU data protection legislation that should ensure Europeans’ data are safe online and offline. Follow our seminar on 14-15 May which brings together MEPs, experts and stakeholders and learn more about the issues at stake.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
In this age of internet, smartphones and social media, it is very easy to share and search for personal information. Maybe too easy. Your loan application could be rejected because you live in the wrong neighbourhood, photos you publish online may come back to haunt you and supposedly free websites earn their keep by selling and using your personal data. The EU is now working to overhaul its data protection rules to help people stay in control of their private information.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Implanting identity chips in EU citizens: are you for or against? Don’t worry, this is not a new EU proposal, but a topic for debate in a role-playing game designed to teach students visiting Parlamentarium, the EP’s visitors centre, about what it is like to be an MEP. As Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May, take a look at our video to see how young people are learning about the EU, the democratic process and the art of compromise.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
If you missed your chance to visit Parliament when it opened its doors to the public in Brussels on 4 May, you now get to have another opportunity. We have created a 360° panoramic virtual tour of the whole event. It will be just like being there in person, except you will have access to added videos and slideshows. Experience the excitement of the open day without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Seizing criminals’ assets is a key part of fighting crime, yet only less than 1% of their illgotten gains is confiscated. New rules approved by the EP’s justice committe on 7 May aim to make it easier to freeze and confiscate the proceeds of crime across the EU. This will prevent the money being reinvested in organised crime. We discussed the proposal with report author Monica Luisa Macovei, a Romanian member of the EPP group.
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Spanish youth media project Europe on Track picked up the first prize at the 2013 Charlemagne Youth Prize ceremony on 7 May in Aachen. Second prize went to the Polish photo contest Discover Europe, while Estonian youth exchange project the Story of my Life came in third. The Charlemagne Youth Prize is awarded every year to projects that foster a shared sense of European identity and integration among young people.
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Trains might be safer and less polluting than other transport modes, but only 6% of passengers opt to travel this way. The EU’s fourth railway package aims to make rail travel more attractive by creating more competition and a common certification scheme for trains. These plans are currently being debated in Parliament. Find out the facts about Europe’s rail sector in our infographic and follow the debate between MEPs and experts on Tuesday 7 May live on our website.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
When Cyprus applied for financial help from the EU in a bid to sort out its tottering banks, nobody really expected that depositors would be required to share the cost of the bail-out. But that is what happened. The storm of protest that followed was also felt in the European parliament. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem, European commissioner Olli Rehn and ECB board member Jörg Asmussen will explain to MEPs what happened exactly . Follow the debates live.
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Nearly 20,000 visitors flocked to the European Parliament on Saturday when it opened its doors to the public in honour of Europe Day in May. They not only got to enjoy activities such as trying out the electronic voting system or having their picture taken with a life-size cardboard version of EP president Martin Schulz, but they were also treated to film screenings, an ehibition about the Sakharov Prize and a debate between MEPs about a citizens’ Europe.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
Financial aid for Cyprus will be discussed this week with Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem; Olli Rehn, commissioner for economic affairs, and Jörg Asmussen, board member of the European Central Bank. MEPs will also have their say on rules for seizing criminal assets and discuss the railway package. They will also hear from NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen about security issues, while EP president Martin Schulz will present the Charlemagne Youth Prize to the winners in Aachen.
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The role of journalists as democracy’s watchdogs is proving increasingly hazardous. Not only have thousands of them lost their job due to the crisis, but they are also at risk of being arrested, kidnapped or even killed in the line of duty. To ensure the freedom of the press and access to information, Parliament is currently working on new initiatives. As today we mark Freedom of the Press Day, find out about the challenges facing journalism in our infographic.
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Discover another side of the EU and learn more about the Union when the European institutions open their doors to mark Europe Day. This Saturday the European Parliament offers a fun-packed yet informative programme for the whole family in Brussels and Luxembourg. Don’t miss the chance to find out more about how the EU works and makes a difference to your life!
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It takes more than barriers and man power to protect the EU’s borders and ensure the free movement of goods, services and people between member states. The EU has developed IT systems to make it easier for member states to exchange vital information. These systems will now be managed by new EU agency eu-Lisa, located in Estonia. Portuguese MEP Carlos Coelho, who visited the agency recently, welcomed that these systems were finally being managed at EU level in the interest of Europe.
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Commission proposals to top up the EU’s budget for 2013 to cover existing and expected shortfalls will not be enough, warns Giovannia La Via, the MEP in charge of negotiating the 2013 budget on behalf of Parliament. Member states have pre-financed projects, which they should be paid for, but money is running out. The EP insists that all legitimate bills have to be settled. We talked to Mr La Via, an Italian member of the EPP group, about the budgetary difficulties.
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Women account for only 30% of Europe’s seven million people working in the information and communication technology sector, but boosting their number will be an economic necessity. The sector creates 120,000 new jobs each year and at this rate there will be up to 700,000 unfilled ICT-related vacancies by 2015. Experts discussed how to attract more women during an EP meeting organised by the industry and women’s rights committees on the occasion of Girls in ICT Day on 25 April.
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Brain diseases cost Europe €798 billion in 2010 and this will go up drastically in the coming years due to the continent’s ageing population. By 2025 one in five Europeans will be 65 or over, resulting in more degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. In May the European Month of the Brain will be held to call attention to brain research and health care issues. A special workshop was held at the EP on 23 April to discuss what could be done about brain disorders.
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The increasing use of drones could lead lead to security and the rule of law being undermined, according to specialists taking part in a joint hearing organised by the human rights and security and defence subcommittees on 25 April. MEPs were especially concerned about drones being used for targeted killings and called for a worldwide debate on the use of unmanned aircraft and the creation of global standards.
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Visitors can enjoy concerts, exhibits and guided tours when Parliament opens its doors to the public in Brussels and Luxembourg on Saturday 4 May. Meanwhile MEPs will meet their constituents and delegations will travel to countries such as Portugal to discuss the economic reform programme and to Spain to talk about youth unemployment. EP president Martin Schulz meets French president François Hollande on Monday and attends Prince Willem-Alexander’s coronation in the Netherlands on Tuesday.
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Cyprus, crisis and austerity – there was no shortage of topics to discuss when Sharon Bowles, chair of the EP’s economic committee, took part in a chat with our Facebook fans on Tuesday 23 April. The British member of the ALDE group fielded many questions about the EU’s economic policy, including how the Cyprus bailout had been handled. Ms Bowles said she worried about the precedent it sets for other small countries, which is why better rules and better oversight are needed
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Enjoy a day of fun and Europe when the EU institutions open their doors to mark Europe Day in May. The European Parliament will be offering a varied programme for the whole family in Brussels and Luxembourg on 4 May and in Strasbourg on 19 May, so don’t miss the chance to have fun and find out more about how the EU works and makes a difference to your life!
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
The environment committee has approved new rules for making it possible for the EU to meet an ambitious target for cleaner cars by 2020. CO2 emissions will need to come down from 130gCO2/km in 2015 to 95kgCO2/km by 2020. This is important as one fifth of all CO2 emissions in Europe comes from cars, while emissions from road transport increased by 26% between 1990 and 2008. The proposal approved this week sets out the concrete steps needed to achieve the 2020 target.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
“A shield protecting our peaceful fight” – this is how Cuban protest group Ladies in White praised the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which they were awarded in 2005. This week they were finally able to pick the award up in person after Cuban authorities refused for eight years to let these mothers and wives of political prisoners travel to Europe to collect it. Berta Soler, speaking on behalf of the group, answered our questions and those received from EP’s Facebook fans.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
More unemployed youths will be helped to work or training, thanks to plans approved by the EP’s employment committee on 23 April. It will allow more people to qualify for a proposed youth guarantee, entitling them to a job, training or an apprenticeship if they have been unemployed for more than four months. This will be a welcome boost at a time when one in four young people in the EU is out of work. Find out the facts about youth unemployment in our infographic.
Source : © European Union, 2013 – EP
The international trade committee will vote this Thursday on the EP’s position on the EU-US free trade agreement, which will be followed by a press conference. The resolution also highlights the advantages and disadvantages a possible deal would have for people and companies in the EU. Vital Moreira, a Portuguese member of the S&D group who wrote the draft resolution, will explain Parliament’s position during the press conference. Follow the vote and the press conference live on our website.
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