European Union

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Despite fears that Montenegro's new ruling coalition, which ousted the previous pro-Western government last year, would lean towards the east and marginalise the EU, this has not happened. Djordje Radulovic explains what can be learned from this in order to curb anti-EU sentiments across the Western Balkans.

Existing Covid-19 vaccines should be effective against the new variants, experts told MEPs on 15 March.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

China is deeply concerned over the EU's likely imposition of human rights sanctions on Chinese officials and its ambassador in Brussels warned the bloc on Tuesday (16 March) to "think twice" before engaging in confrontation, because China "will not back down". 

The EU’s upcoming ReFuelEU proposal, aimed at cutting emissions in the aviation sector, will apply a staggered blending mandate for green jet fuel, with the percentage scaling up in roughly five-year intervals, EURACTIV understands.

Length of video : 95'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Length of video : 95'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

If we fail to grasp the potential of our cities, we will put Europe’s recovery at risk.  Cities can be engines for recovery from the coronavirus crisis. But only if we revitalise them, building on the twin principles of equality...

The European Commission and BioNTech/Pfizer agreed on Tuesday on accelerating the delivery of 10 million doses during the second quarter of 2021 (April to June). These would be drawn forward from the 100 million additional doses scheduled to be delivered later this year. "These accelerated 10 million doses will bring the total doses of BioNTech/Pfizer in Quarter 2 up to over 200 million," said commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

A group of scientists made another plea for making the colour-coded nutrition label mandatory at the EU level while Mediterranean countries are still up in arms against it.

The Cypriot government will purchase 50,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine once it’s approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), a government official in Nicosia has said.

What is so special about France when it comes to streaming platforms’ content? Netflix Director of Acquisitions and Co-productions for France and Italy Sara May sheds some light on the French market, one year after the opening of a brand new office in Paris. She also told us about how they kept the shows on the road in spite of the pandemic restrictions.

The European Commission is set to table a draft law by the end of June that will require companies to ensure that their supply chains are free of human rights and environmental abuse and corruption. That follows years of campaigning by EU lawmakers and civil society groups, and a shift in attitude from much of the business community. This event report looks at what is likely to be in the legislation and the challenges ahead.

Airhelp
Transport
According to Advocate General Pikamäe, a strike organised by pilots’ trade unions constitutes, in principle, an extraordinary circumstance that may release the air carrier from its obligation to pay compensation for the cancellation or long delay of the flights concerned

Commission v Poland
State aid
The Polish tax on the retail sector and the Hungarian tax on advertisements do not infringe EU law on State aid

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India at the end of April in what will be his first major international trip after Britain's exit from the EU as part of efforts to boost UK opportunities in the region.

On 17 March Foreign Affairs MEPs will welcome Dritan Abazović, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, several months after the elections, leading to the first transition of power since the introduction of the multi-party system in the country. The debate will offer an opportunity to re-confirm the EP support for Montenegro's EU-related reforms and to discuss government priorities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected Montenegrin economy particularly hard.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

On Friday 12 February 2021, AFET will discuss the details of the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
The debate follows the publication of the Joint Communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new Agenda for the Mediterranean. The exchange of views will be web-streamed live from 8:30 to 10:00.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The AFET and INTA committees will hold a meeting under the joint committee procedure on 4 February, with all opinion-giving committees invited to present their positions on the draft EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
This will be followed by another joint AFET-INTA committee meeting on 5 February, where the co-rapporteurs, Ms Kati PIRI (AFET, S&D, NL) and Mr Christophe HANSEN (INTA, EPP, LU), will present their draft recommendation for consent.
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
Open remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
EU Fact Sheets: External relations policy
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP