Fishermen will have two years to “adapt” before sanctions for failing to comply with the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) discard ban take effect, under a tentative deal struck by Parliament and Council on Thursday, with European Commission help. The agreement amends the “omnibus” regulation setting out detailed arrangements for enforcing the ban. "I am … [Read more...]
MEPs May Withhold TTIP Consent If NSA Snooping Continues
The European Parliament should withhold its consent to an EU-US trade deal unless it fully respects EU citizens’ data privacy, says an inquiry report on US National Security Agency (NSA) and EU member states surveillance of EU citizens, approved by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday. It adds that data protection rules should be excluded from the trade talks and … [Read more...]
Stronger, Clearer Environmental Impact Assessments Required
A proposed update of EU law to make environmental impact assessments clearer, build in biodiversity and climate change, and involve the public, was backed by the Environment Committee on Wednesday. This update, already informally agreed with the Council of Ministers, includes beefed up rules to ensure that decisions to authorize development projects are not influenced by … [Read more...]
Tougher Criminal Punishments For Food Fraud
Recent food fraud cases, including the sale of horse meat as beef, should prompt the EU to review the functioning of the food production chain, step up checks and revise labelling legislation, says a non-legislative resolution approved on Tuesday. The European Parliament voices concern at the growth in food fraud, which it says exploits structural weaknesses in the … [Read more...]
Greek Presidency Gets Rough Start Over Economic Fears
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras presented his country's priorities for its six months at the helm of the EU to MEPs. The presidency, which started on 1 January, will focus on boosting growth and jobs, the banking union and an immigration policy based on more solidarity. Mr Samaras said there was a clear need for more and better Europe in all of these areas. However, MEPs … [Read more...]
Troika Time – Klaus Regling Gets Grilled By MEPs
MEPs questioned EU bailout fund chief Klaus Regling on Wednesday as part of their inquiry into the anti-crisis role and operations of the European Central Bank/IMF/EU Commission "Troika". Mr Regling recognised that the remedies had created hardship, but stressed that the severity of the crisis had made the decisions taken necessary. He also said that he envisaged a system … [Read more...]
Climate 2030 – EP Calls For 40% CO2 Emissions Reduction
The EU needs to curb its emissions of greenhouse gases by 40% by the year 2030, says the European Parliament’s Environment Committee. This is a major leap forward compared to the current target of a 20% reduction by 2020. Today’s vote on a Resolution drafted by Anne Delvaux MEP represents the Parliament’s input to the proposal for a new Climate and Energy Package which the … [Read more...]
Snowden Gets European Parliament Audience – Live And Interactive
The European Parliament's Civil Liberties committee has agreed that NSA fugitive Edward Snowden can give evidence to an inquiry into the allegations he has made - but only if he appears in a live and interactive session. European Conservatives and Reformists Group spokesman on the inquiry, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, continues to oppose any platform being given to Snowden, but … [Read more...]
Final Stage Of Banking Union At Risk Says Workmann-Kool
"The final dossier of the Banking Union might be at risk. We demand a more efficient procedure for failing banks", stated Corien Wortmann-Kool, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group and Shadow Rapporteur on the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) dossier. Wortmann-Kool expressed her disappointment on Thursday morning following the start of trilogue negotiations with the Council and … [Read more...]
MEPs To Ban Non-EU Firms From EU Public Procurement, Unless There’s Reciprocation
A draft law that could bar non-EU firms from bidding for public procurement contracts in the EU unless their home countries allow EU firms reciprocal access to their public procurement markets was endorsed by the International Trade Committee on Thursday. The proposed “international public procurement instrument” should strengthen the EU’s hand in trade talks and help EU firms … [Read more...]