European Parliament

General : From all of us at the European Parliament, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : It’s time to put your knowledge of European languages to the test. Do you know how to say chocolate or reindeer in Finnish? Or gift in Portuguese? Test, learn and play.

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The social, economic and legal aspects of transport networking companies like Uber were at the centre of a debate in the Transport and Tourism Committee on Monday. MEPs heard the views of Uber head of policy for Europe, Middle East and Africa, representatives of the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and International Road Union (IRU) and European Commission.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

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Committees and holiday recess

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General : "It is easy to blame Europe or Schengen for security failures in our Member States, and wave the illusion that retreating behind national borders somehow immunises against - often home-grown - terrorists", said the EP President Schulz in his opening speech before the European Council of 17-18 December dedicated to pressing issues, such as migration, counter terrorism and the British referendum. "If we want to preserve our freedom of movement, then we must act fast and decisively."

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Ensaf Haidar accepted the 2015 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Wednesday on behalf of her husband Raif Badawi, a Saudi human rights activist who remains in prison. A day earlier, Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem attended plenary for the first time to discuss the euro, while the European Commission presented its plan for reinforcing the EU's external borders.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New rules on data transfers for policing and judicial purposes, informally agreed on Tuesday and backed by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Thursday morning, will set high standards of data protection to protect citizens' rights and freedoms. They should also enable police forces across Europe to work together faster and more efficiently to counter serious crime and terrorism.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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Plenary sessions : The Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to wildlife conservation, said Parliament in a resolution adopted on Thursday. MEPs called for measures to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also home to the endangered mountain gorilla species.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Member states must apply the EU's eight-point code on arms exports more rigorously, particularly with the changed security environment in the EU's neighbourhood, the EP said on Thursday. It stressed that these trade flows are not in the EU's direct security interests and national political and economic considerations must not override decision-making on export licences.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A ban on the patenting of products obtained by conventional breeding techniques, such as crossing, is essential to sustain innovation, food security and small businesses, says a non-legislative resolution voted by Parliament on Thursday. MEPs, surprised by the European Patent Office decision to allow patents on such products, call on the EU Commission to clarify existing EU rules as a matter of urgency and protect plant breeders’ access to biological material.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Growing insecurity, the lack of political moves towards reconciliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Burundi, a country that tops the Global Hunger Index, are highlighted by MEPs in a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday. They welcome consultations under the Cotonou Agreement that could lead to suspension of EU aid to the Burundi government, and ask the EU and its member states to consider re-directing non-humanitarian EU aid to civil society there.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New rules to curb the influx of pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa, caused by increased trade and climate change, stop them spreading and eradicate the most dangerous ones were informally agreed by MEPs and the Luxembourg Council Presidency on Wednesday. The provisional deal also introduces preventive measures for imported plants and fast-response mechanisms for high-risk ones.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

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Plenary sessions : The Commission's recent proposals for completing European Monetary Union (EMU) are insufficient to address the current shortcomings in the institutional framework of the euro area. More parliamentary oversight and public debate is needed to ensure democratic accountability and get citizens on board, Parliament says in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New EU data protection legislation, informally agreed on Tuesday and backed by Civil Liberties MEPs on Thursday morning, will create a uniform set of rules across the EU fit for the digital era. It should also improve legal certainty and boost trust in the digital single market for citizens and businesses alike. Clear and affirmative consent to data processing, the right to be forgotten and strong fines for firms breaking the rules are some of the new features.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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Plenary sessions : Parliament calls for the immediate release of an Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa, detained in Egypt, the release of all political prisoners in Maldives, and the withdrawal of the anti-sodomy law in Malaysia, in three resolutions passed on Thursday.

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Plenary sessions : Parliament decided to set up a 45 member inquiry committee to investigate breaches of EU rules on car emission tests and alleged failures by EU member states and the European Commission to enforce EU standards. The committee will present an interim report within 6 months, and a final report within 12 months, of starting its work.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

At its constitutive meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday, members of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings - which will continue to function for 6 more months under a new mandate - have re-elected Alain Lamassoure (EPP, FR) as their chairman by acclamation.
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE 2)

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Plenary sessions : No-one should ever be detained for the sole reason that he or she is an asylum seeker, said speakers in a debate on Wednesday evening. To apply for asylum is a basic human right, and detention can only be used as a measure of last resort, they insisted. Several MEPs criticised declarations by European Council President Donald Tusk about detaining migrants for up to 18 months in order to “screen” them. Other MEPs argued that such decisions are better taken at national level.

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General : A request by 283 members of the European Parliament for the creation of an inquiry committee to investigate breaches of EU rules on car emission measurements will be put to the vote by the full house on Thursday.

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Plenary sessions : EU laws must be as simple and clear as possible to ensure that citizens can easily understand their rights and obligations. The European Parliament Conference of Presidents endorsed on Wednesday, with a large majority, an agreement with the Council and the Commission to improve the quality of EU legislation, which needs to focus on areas where the EU has the greatest added value for its citizens.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP