European Union

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EU Heads of State or Government meet on 9 March 2017 in Brussels to focus on economic issues, including trade, single market strategies and the European Semester. Leaders are also discussing migration, external security and defence, as well as the situation in the Western Balkans. The European Council is expected to elect its President for the period 1 June 2017 to 30 November 2019.

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General : Palm oil is extensively used in food, cosmetics and biofuels, however the unsustainable production of the cheap vegetable oil leads to deforestation, loss of nature habitats and greenhouse gas emissions. Czech GUE/NGL member Kateřina Konečná calls on the European Commission to take measure to promote the responsible cultivation of palm oil and phase out its use for biofuels. The environment committee votes on her report on 9 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Palm oil is extensively used in food, cosmetics and biofuels, however the unsustainable production of the cheap vegetable oil leads to deforestation, loss of nature habitats and greenhouse gas emissions. Czech GUE/NGL member Kateřina Konečná calls on the European Commission to take measure to promote the responsible cultivation of palm oil and phase out its use for biofuels. The environment committee votes on her report on 9 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Parliament’s lead MEP on the reform of the Dublin system, Swedish liberal Cecilia Wikström, will propose ways to remedy the shortcomings of the current asylum system in a draft report to be presented to the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday morning.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Parliament’s lead MEP on the reform of the Dublin system, Swedish liberal Cecilia Wikström, will propose ways to remedy the shortcomings of the current asylum system in a draft report to be presented to the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday morning.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

To mark International Women's Day on March 8 commentators criticise the lack of equality between the sexes and argue that more must be done to open doors to future generations of women so that sooner or later the day can be abolished altogether.

The EU member states are not obliged to issue visas to refugees at their foreign missions so that they can travel to these countries and apply for asylum there, the European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday. Instead decisions regarding the issue of visas must be governed by national laws, it decided. Many governments are relieved at this ruling by the EU's highest court, but Europe's press is at odds.

At their mini-summit on Monday in Versailles, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Spain spoke out in favour of a multi-speed Europe. The Spanish press welcomes the fact that Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was present at the meeting. Commentators from other states, however, see good reasons for their countries not being included in Europe's leadership ranks.

The prime ministers of the four Visegrád countries have complained that Western companies are selling inferior goods under the same brand names in their countries. Laboratory tests have confirmed this, they say, demanding that the EU Commission should ensure uniform standards in the single market. In certain countries of Eastern Europe, however, the whole debate fails to take account of the reality of the situation, commentators observe.