Speaking of Europe

06/08/2022

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26/07/2022

The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament call for Member States and the European Commission to introduce taxation on windfall profits.

The tax is supposed to keep vulnerable European citizens from having to tighten their belts, while energy companies with skyrocketing profits pay little or no share of the burden.

The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament call for Member States and the European Commission to introduce taxation on windfall profits.

27/06/2022

In a fast-track procedure, the European Parliament and Council of the European Union adopted new rules for gas storage on Monday, 27 June. The law will improve energy security in light of Russia's war against Ukraine. What do the new rules mean for Member States? Find out here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/new-gas-storage-rules-for-energy-security/

In a fast-track procedure, the European Parliament and Council adopted new rules for gas storage on Monday, 27 June, only two months after the Commission’s initial proposal. The rules will foster energy security in light of the Russian war in Ukraine that is affecting the EU’s energy market.

24/06/2022

Ukraine and Moldova are now officially candidates for joining the European Union. But how did they get here? And when will they become full members? Find out here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/ukraine-and-moldova-are-eu-candidates/

Ukraine and Moldova are now officially candidates for joining the European Union. This is the conclusion reached by EU leaders at the European Council summit on Thursday, 23 June.

22/06/2022

The war in Ukraine has brought Europeans' support for the EU to the highest levels in fifteen years. This is the key takeaway from the latest European Parliament Eurobarometer survey, published today. Get the full story here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/war-in-ukraine-increases-support-for-the-eu/

The war in Ukraine has brought Europeans’ support for the EU to the highest levels in fifteen years. This is the key takeaway from the latest Eurobarometer survey, published on Wednesday, 22 June.

20/06/2022

The European Commission should not classify nuclear energy and gas as sustainable economic activities in their new law. That's the conclusion reached by two committees of the European Parliament ahead of the final vote in the next plenary meeting. Click here to find out more:

https://speakingofeurope.com/meps-nuclear-power-and-gas-are-not-sustainable/

In a committee vote on Tuesday, 14 June, Members of the European Parliament objected to the Commission’s proposed classification of some nuclear and gas energy activities as sustainable economic activities in the EU Taxonomy.

16/06/2022

Laws as envisioned by the European Parliament, no more Hungary blocking sanctions against Russia because of its de facto veto power. This is what Members of the European Parliament want for the future of the EU. What changes do they want exactly? Find out here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/eu-parliament-start-treaty-change-now

Laws as envisioned by the European Parliament, no more Hungary blocking sanctions against Russia because of their de facto veto power. This is what Members of the European Parliament want for the future of the EU.

09/06/2022

On Tuesday, 7 June, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a political agreement on a Directive to improve gender balance in large EU companies. Through a quota of women on company boards, female representation should be strengthened. Click here to get the full story:

https://speakingofeurope.com/eu-to-impose-quota-for-women-on-company-boards/

On Tuesday, 7 June, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on a Directive to improve gender balance in large EU companies.

07/06/2022

On Monday night, the European Parliament and the Council came to a political agreement on a Directive for minimum wages in the EU. The legislation aims to ensure that minimum wages allow for a decent standard of living in all Member States. To find out more about the proposal and key policies, click here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/eu-legislation-for-adequate-minimum-wages/

On Monday night, the Parliament and Council came to an agreement on the Commission’s proposal for a legal text on adequate minimum wages in the EU. The Directive aims to ensure that adequate minimum wages that allow for a decent standard of living exist in all Member States.

31/05/2022

European leaders finally reached a consensus on the Commission's proposed sixth sanctions package in the late evening of Monday, 30 May. The new sanctions include a phase-out of Russian oil by the end of this year, which has been the main point of contention in the negotiations over the past weeks. Click here to find out more:

https://speakingofeurope.com/russian-oil-embargo-secured/

European leaders finally reached a consensus on the Commission's proposed sixth sanctions package in the late evening of Monday, 30 May. The new sanctions include a phase-out of Russian oil by the end of this year, which has been the main point of contention in the negotiations over the past weeks.

26/05/2022

In light of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russian oligarchs, the European Commission proposed new rules that would allow it to confiscate and sell frozen assets. Find out more about how this would work here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/commission-wants-new-rules-to-seize-russian-assets/

In light of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russian oligarchs, the Commission proposed new rules on freezing and confiscating assets on 25 May.

26/05/2022

European Council President Charles MICHEL visited Sweden and Finland on 25 May to show the EU's support in their bid to join NATO after Turkey vetoed their application. To find out more about the visit, click here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/michel-to-stockholm-and-helsinki-eu-supports-your-bid-for-nato-membership/

European Council President Charles Michel visited Sweden and Finland on 25 May to show the EU's support in their bid to join NATO after Turkey vetoed their application. Their membership is of high importance, he says.

26/05/2022

The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament condemn 'the disinformation spread by Turkish government-controlled media against EU Member States and politicians'. To find out what this has to do with NATO, click here:
https://speakingofeurope.com/sd-condemns-disinformation-by-turkish-media/

The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament condemn what they call ‘the disinformation spread by Turkish government-controlled media against EU Member States and politicians’.

26/05/2022

Eurojust, the EU's agency for Criminal Justice and Cooperation, will soon be able to preserve and analyse evidence related to war crimes. This is particularly relevant in light of the war going on in Ukraine. To find out more about Eurojust's role, click here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/eurojust-authorised-to-preserve-evidence-of-war-crimes/

The Council and European Parliament will sign off new rules for Eurojust, the EU’s agency for Criminal Justice and Cooperation, on 30 May, allowing it to store and preserve evidence related to war crimes and process and share it with relevant authorities.

26/05/2022

The European Commission is allocating close to 1 billion euros to the 2022 European Defence Fund work programme to improve European Defence capabilities. What will the money be used for? Click the link to find out:

https://speakingofeurope.com/close-to-a-billion-euros-to-increase-eu-defence-capabilities/

The European Commission is allocating close to 1 billion euros to the 2022 European Defence Fund (EDF) work programme. Together with a number of new tools, the fund is meant to improve European defence capabilities.

20/05/2022

The European Parliament wants the Council of the European Union to start accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in light of the war in Ukraine. Even though the Council agreed to this step in March 2020, negotiations have not yet been launched. To find out more, click here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/albania-and-north-macedonia-the-next-eu-members/

The European Parliament wants the Council to start accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in light of the war in Ukraine. In two reports adopted by the plenary on Thursday, MEPs acknowledge the progress both countries have made on the way toward EU membership.

18/05/2022

The European Commission and High Representative Josep Borrell presented their plans to improve the EU's defence standing on Wednesday in light of the war waging in Ukraine. Member States should make joint investments to procure military equipment, which could be the first step towards a European Defence Union. But what is going wrong in EU defence? And how can the EU be a stronger military power? Click the link to find out.

https://speakingofeurope.com/commission-joint-procurement-of-military-equipment-to-counter-russia/

The European Commission and the High Representative Josep Borrell presented their plans to improve the EU’s defence standing on Wednesday, 18 May, in light of the war waging in Ukraine. Their plans focus on Member States making joint investments to procure military equipment, on supporting the ind...

11/05/2022

Almost half of the Member States are not happy with the treaty change proposed by the European Parliament that would strengthen the European Parliament’s powers as a legislator and would strengthen the role of citizens in electing their representatives, also in the Commission. To find out what reforms thirteen Member States oppose, click here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/member-states-oppose-parliaments-proposed-treaty-change/

Almost half of the Member States are not happy with the treaty change proposed by the European Parliament as an outcome of the Conference on the future of Europe. In a non-paper, thirteen of the 27 Member States declare their dismay at the proposals that would strengthen the European Parliament’s ...

09/05/2022

On Thursday, members of the European Parliament endorsed Moldova's application for EU membership and acknowledged the enormous challenges the country is facing in light of the war in Ukraine. To get the full story, click the link:

https://speakingofeurope.com/eu-parliament-supports-moldovas-move-towards-eu-membership/

In a resolution adopted last Thursday (5 May), MEPs endorsed Moldova’s application for EU membership and acknowledged the enormous challenges the country is facing in light of the war in Ukraine.

04/05/2022

On day 70 of the Russian invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her plans for the sixth package of sanctions against Russia. Most importantly, these foresee a phase-out of Russian oil supply by the end of the year. To find out more, click the link below:

https://speakingofeurope.com/embargo-on-russian-oil-to-come-in-sixth-sanctions-package/

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her plans for a sixth package of sanctions against Russia to the European Parliament on Wednesday, 4 May.

04/05/2022

On 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, Reporters Without Borders published their yearly World Press Freedom Index which paints a bleak picture of the European media environment. Why are the Netherlands and Greece doing particularly bad? And is there any hope for Europe's journalists? Click the link to find out:

https://speakingofeurope.com/on-world-press-freedom-day-european-politicians-get-confronted-with-the-consequences-of-their-actions/

A pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation, an energy crisis, and heated elections in several European countries such as Hungary and France. It does not take an expert to see that these events that have taken place over the past year have severely influenced the overall state of press fre...

02/05/2022

The executive director of , Fabrice Leggeri, resigned on Friday, following evidence that his organisation has been involved in human rights violations. To find out why Leggeri will be going to court and for the rest of the story, click the link here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/frontex-director-leggeri-resigns-in-light-of-evidence-of-human-rights-violations/

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) executive director, Fabrice, Leggeri, resigned from his post on Friday, following a meeting of the Frontex Management Board on 28 and 29 April to discuss consequences of the European Anti-Fraud Office’s (OLAF) report on their investigations.

27/04/2022

Following efforts from Renew Europe, the European Parliament has now established a committee of inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus spyware. But how did this scandal affect Europe and what will the work of the committee entail? Click the link below to find out:

https://speakingofeurope.com/ep-committee-to-investigate-use-of-pegasus-spyware/

Last week Tuesday (19 April), the first meeting of a new European Parliament committee investigating spyware such as Pegasus took place. In the constitutive meeting of the Pegasus Inquiry Committee (PEGA), the chair and three vice-chairs were elected, being Jeroen Lenaers (EPP) as chair, and Sándor...

25/04/2022

The Russian war in Ukraine has been going on for over two months and the EU has responded with five packages of sanctions. Yet, an end to Russian aggression is not in sight. In a meeting of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister chaired a debate about the effectiveness of the EU sanctions. To find out more, click the link here:

https://speakingofeurope.com/russian-aggression-are-eu-sanctions-effective/

The Russian war in Ukraine yesterday reached its gruesome two-months anniversary. While thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing their country to seek refuge in Western Europe, the EU is trying to stop Russia through a myriad of sanctions.

07/04/2022

With Viktor Órban starting his fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister, the European Commission is triggering a new conditionality mechanism that could deprive the country of up to 40 billion euros of EU funds.

‘’Our victory is so big you can see it from the moon, let alone from Brussels’’, Viktor Órban says to a cheering crowd in Budapest after winning his fourth consecutive term as Hungary’s prime minister on Sunday. And he turns out to be right. Not only did the bloc see Órbans victory, but ...