European Union

Boosting recycling in the fisheries sector and substantially cutting the use of plastics are key to clean our seas, say MEPs.
Committee on Fisheries

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Europe and Africa must move away from a donor-recipient relationship, Parliament says, as MEPs vision for a deeper relationship between the two continents.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Europe and Africa must move away from a donor-recipient relationship, Parliament says, as MEPs vision for a deeper relationship between the two continents.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Parliament is prepared to take legal action should the Commission delay the application of the budget’s Rule of Law conditionality mechanism any further.
Committee on Budgetary Control
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Parliament is prepared to take legal action should the Commission delay the application of the budget’s Rule of Law conditionality mechanism any further.
Committee on Budgetary Control
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Some African countries consider the EU's planned carbon border levy to be "protectionist". That was the upshot of a conference organised by the French government on Tuesday (23 March), which examined the challenges posed by the EU's upcoming mechanism. EURACTIV France reports.

DRAFT REPORT on EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Antonio López-Istúriz White

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Ranbaxy (UK) v Commission
Competition
The Court of Justice dismisses the appeals of a number of manufacturers of medicines involved in an agreement seeking to delay the marketing of the generic antidepressant citalopram

A lack of equalities data across the EU contributes to structural and institutional inequalities, stakeholders say. The European Commission has promised to pursue better data collection on race and ethnicity to better tackle discrimination. “Over the past few years, we...

According to available data from the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and other organisations, encroachments on fundamental rights are widespread in European countries.

Organic food is "healthier" than its chemically produced counterparts, EU Agricultural Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski told journalists at an event to mark the launch of the EU's organic action plan on Thursday (25 March).

The Biden administration is wasting no time with its foreign agenda. Under the thumb of a very capable diplomat, Anthony Blinken, the US is mobilising its Asian allies against China in a way reminiscent of how NATO was built in the period after the Second World War, only faster.

The European Commission's upcoming June package of energy and climate laws will “propose the extension of the emission trading scheme to sectors such as building and road transport,” the EU's energy commissioner Kadri Simson said on Thursday (25 March).

MEPs put pressure on Bulgaria on Thursday (25 March) to lift its veto on the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia but failed to pass an amendment criticizing the Bulgarian position.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the eating habits of the French, according to Agence Bio's 18th barometer on consumption and perception of organic products. In 2020, more people tended towards eating more local, in season, and organic. EURACTIV France reports.

On Tuesday 16 March, MEPs examined with Rafael Grossi the IAEA's activities and challenges related to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy focused on the challenges posed by the global non-proliferation regime, questions related to nuclear safety and security, as well as peaceful ways to use nuclear energy, including applications designed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

MEPs also assessed the consequences of Iran's recent decision to suspend the application of its safeguard agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). MEPs questioned the IAEA Director General about how the agency can carry out its monitoring tasks in the future and ensure that the Iranian nuclear programme is being used solely for peaceful purposes.
EP Press release: MEPs quizzed the head of the IAEA about nuclear non-proliferation - 16 March 2021
Opening remarks by Ambassador Rafael GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
IAEA statement: IAEA Director General Highlights Global Impact of Cooperation with European Union, Calls for Closer Partnership - 16 March 2021
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs will go over ways of strengthening EU-NATO cooperation to better respond to common security and defence challenges in providing security to citizens in the Euro-Atlantic area. The meeting will take place on 15 March, with the participation of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Security challenges potentially stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for closer cooperation on military mobility, the fight against hybrid threats and the use of disruptive and emerging technologies are some of the key issues that are expected to be addressed during the debate. In the current context, the question of enhancing cohesion among the Allies, when unilateral initiatives threaten the security of all partners, are also set to be discussed.
Live streaming
Meeting agenda and documents
Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
EU Fact Sheets: External relations policy
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Summary: EU-NATO relations: a stronger partnership to face common dangers
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

SEDE organises a public hearing on 'Defence planning and procurement in the EU - a joint approach' on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 from 14.45 to 16.15hrs in room ANTALL 4Q1 and remotely, with external experts.
Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

On Monday, 1 March and Thursday, 4 March 2021, AIDA will hold a public hearing on the external policy dimension of AI in association with AFET and SEDE. The event will be divided into two panels, with a first panel on "AI diplomacy and governance in a global setting: towards regulatory convergence" and a second panel on "AI, cybersecurity and defence".

The two panels will allow AIDA, AFET and SEDE Members to exchange views with international panelists on a range of emergent policy issues relating to AI, ranging from the developing global regulatory dialogue on AI to the uses of AI in the fields of cybersecurity and defence.
Meeting documents and programme
Follow via webstreaming
AIDA hearings
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence will look into the on-going security crisis in the Central African Republic, on 24 February. The debate will focus on possible ways of enhancing international support and the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in the region, the involvement of Russia, and the possible implementation of the European Peace Facility to equip the Central African Armed Forces (FACA).
Meeting agenda and documents
Live streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
EU Fact Sheets: External relations policy
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP