EU commission 'lacks ambition' on future conference
The commission's draft communication on the EU's two-year reform excercise drops any mention of treaty chages, and remains "vague" on details.
News in Brief
- UK watchdog unveils online child-privacy standards
- Alleged 'bully' nominated for EESC presidency
- Greens/EFA fail to agree on accepting Catalan MEPs
- MEPs approve over 55 gas projects for EU funding
- Italy deputy PM Di Maio quits as Five Star party leader
- EU investment bank to keep pressure on Turkey over gas
- 'Rare' migrant boat from Belgium to UK sinks
- First annual rule of law report expected this year, Reynders said
This is the (finally) approved European Commission
MEPs gave the green light to the entire new European Commission during the plenary session in Strasbourg - but with the abstention of the Greens and a rejection by the leftist group GUE/NGL.
Magazine
Welcome to the EU engine room
Welcome to the EU engine room: the European Parliament (EP's) 22 committees, which churn out hundreds of new laws and non-binding reports each year and which keep an eye on other European institutions.
Opinion
Stop the misuse of EU funds under new budget
It is tempting to shun the issue of the misuse of EU funds altogether, as it might play into the hands of eurosceptics. But keeping silent pre-empts the healthy debate that is so vital to a genuine European democracy.
Magazine
EU diplomacy 2.0
MEPs on the foreign affairs committee ought to be like second-tier EU diplomats on the Western Balkans and Russia, according to its German chairman, but foreign policy splits could bedevil its work.
Magazine
Which parties and countries chair the EP committees?
Although the European Parliament tries to keep a geopolitical balance within the committees, the breakdown of the actual chairs of the committees by political party and nationality is uneven - with a clear under-representation of central and eastern EU countries.
Exclusive
Senior Polish member at EU body faces Belgian abuse probe
A Polish official seeking to become president of the European Economic and Social Committee, a minor EU institution, could face Belgian charges for psychological harassment after the EU's anti-fraud office Olaf alerted authorities.
Opinion
Brexit - Europe's 'Versailles moment'?
The spectre of another peace agreement looms: that of the doomed Versailles treaty, which, by sowing resentment and perpetuating misunderstanding of each other's true ambitions and principles, created more tensions than it dissolved.
Catalan MEPs Puigdemont and Comin look for a party
The former head of the Catalan regional government, Carles Puigdemont, and one member of his government, Toni Comín, have requested to join the Greens/EFA group - but they do not close the door to other political groups.
Exclusive
Big Oil sponsors Croatia's EU presidency
Croatia's national oil company has become the EU council presidency's "official gasoline supplier" - in a move that appears to clash with aspirations of the European Green Deal. Critics say such sponsorships pose a reputational risk with the wider public.
Boost for Right in post-Brexit EU parliament
The far-right Identity and Democracy will overtake the Greens as the fourth-largest party in the European Parliament on 1 February, after the UK's MEPs vacate their seats.
Parliament calls for citizens' 'agoras' to shape future EU
Details have been revealed by the European Parliament of its proposals on how to conduct the two-year post-Brexit reform exercise of the EU. But a final format will have to be determined in talks with member states and the commission.
Two Catalan MEPs take their seats - with a third in jail
Catalan separatist leaders Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comín arrived at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to take their seats as MEPs on Monday, pledging "the Catalan crisis is not an internal matter, it is a European one".
Croatia's EU presidency optimism beset by problems
Croatia wants to focus on economic development, connectivity, internal and external security and a globally more assertive Europe over its six-month presidency - but Brexit and the next budget negotiations may put pay to that.
Sassoli stuck in middle as Catalan MEPs enter building
The parliament's legal services are analysing whether three Catalan leaders elected in the European elections in May - former president Carles Puigdemont, former vice-president Oriol Junqueras and former minister Toni Comín - can now be accredited as MEPs.
Interview
Irish EU watchdog pledges 'energetic' approach
EU officials can expect five more years of needling investigations at the hands of their ombudsman, "energetic" Irish woman Emily O'Reilly.
Catalan party: release leader after MEP 'immunity' verdict
The European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled on Thursday (19 December) that imprisoned Catalan leader, Oriol Junqueras, enjoys parliamentarian immunity as MEP, in a legal victory for the separatist movement which saw nine of its leaders jailed earlier this year.
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Latest News
- EU warned on 'vigilance' after Davos spy fail
- What's Libya's impact on EU foreign policy?
- EU commission 'lacks ambition' on future conference
- Will US privacy-lite hollow out GDPR?
- Senior Polish member at EU body faces Belgian abuse probe
- Why isn't Germany helping gay rights in Hungary, Poland?
- US retiree, scammed by former EU official, awaits justice
- Vienna-Brussels night train returns amid EU green talk
EU reappoints 'fearless' Irish ombudsman
MEPs have tasked Irish woman Emilly O'Reilly to hold EU institutions' feet to the fire for another five years.
Investigation
The dark side of 'egg' building: workers without papers
An investigation of the Belgian newspaper De Standaard reveals that the Europa Building, where EU summits take place, was partly built by undocumented migrants and workers without proper contracts.
Opinion
Election of EU Ombudsman: Think before you choose
It is disconcerting that some prominent members of the European Parliament use the Selmayr case to accuse Emily O'Reilly of party political actions.
Leaders face crucial EU summit for climate action
EU leaders are meeting on Thursday and Friday in three different formats: a regular summit to discuss the EU's long-term budget and the 2050 climate-neutrality goal, a European Council (Article 50) meeting, and a European summit.
Opinion
Does Malta's Labour Party now belong in S&D?
The Maltese Labour Party is a curious creature. No minister, MEP, MP, president, or former president has yet criticised Joseph Muscat publicly and outright over the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Zahradil 'conflict of interest' probe may flounder
The European Parliament's internal body, designed to sanction MEPs for conflicts of interests, has failed to deliver any meaningful verdicts. Some are hoping a future proposal for a new independent ethics body will help hold MEPs accountable.
Exclusive
Zahradil 'conflict of interest' over EU-Vietnam trade deal
Right-wing Czech MEP Jan Zahradil is leading European Parliament negotiations on a trade deal with Vietnam. As rapporteur, he is supposed to be neutral but has neglected to declare his involvement in a group with ties to the Communist party.
EU Commission defends Eurobarometer methodology
The EU executive responds that its public opinion survey is not a statistic, but a snapshot, after concerns were raised over the method that could result in pro-EU bias.
Swedish candidate adds heat to EU ombudsman vote
"I have not been a lobbyist" the Swedish woman who wants to oversee good conduct by EU institutions, Cecilia Wikström, has said.
Von der Leyen warns on EU budget cuts
The new EU Commission president will tell EU leaders next week that they need to put money behind their pledges for border protection, defence policy and fighting climate change.
Analysis
Von der Leyen team voted in by MEPs - amid warnings
The first female commission president and her (almost) gender-balanced team can take office on 1 December. Despite a large majority of MEPs backing the new commission, many warned that their support was not a "blank cheque".
EU gears up for post-Brexit renovation
Both EU member states and the parliament want to be ready in January with an agreement on how to involve citizens in a serious attempt to rethink the future of the EU. But institutional issues would come first.
Hungary's breaches back on EU agenda next month
EU affairs ministers will have a second round of hearings on political and legal developments in Hungary. But the MEP in charge of the file worries that the next commission will be less vocal on Hungary's breaches of EU rules.
Magazine
Parliament should have 'initiation' role
As EU leaders are keen to transform the way politics is performed in the bloc, the constitutionals affairs committee will play a key role in the next five years in reforming electoral processes and initiating laws.
EU agrees 2020 budget deal
EU governments and the parliament agreed in marathon talks ino next year's budget - which will boost spending on climate, border protection, and the European satellite system. It will also be a benchmark if there is no long-term budget deal.
Von der Leyen commission on track for December start
After socialist and liberal MEPs gave the green light to Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi to become commissioner, the new EU executive is on track to take office in December.
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