Confederations

Press release - COVID-19 and German constitutional court decision top meeting with ECB’s Lagarde

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, Withdrawal from the European Union, World, Confederations, European Union, Brexit

During the quarterly Monetary Dialogue with Ms Lagarde on Monday, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs focused almost exclusively on the ECBs actions to dampen the pandemics negative effects on the economy and the decision of the German constitutional court on the ECBs Public Sector Purchase Programme.

Key Points: 
  • During the quarterly Monetary Dialogue with Ms Lagarde on Monday, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs focused almost exclusively on the ECBs actions to dampen the pandemics negative effects on the economy and the decision of the German constitutional court on the ECBs Public Sector Purchase Programme.
  • German constitutional court decision

    Numerous MEPs asked about the effects of the German constitutional courts unprecedented decision in May to dismiss a ruling of the European Court of Justice on the ECBs Public Support Purchase Programme launched in 2015 to stabilise the Eurozone.

  • Others asked about the potential effects on how the ECB would structure its other purchase programme (the PEPP), going forwards.
  • Other topics

    During the meeting, some MEPs touched on some other topics including Brexit, the ECBs role in greening the economy and Greece.

Article - This week in Parliament: Brexit, Covid-19, road transport

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 8, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, World, Confederations, European Union, Member of the European Parliament, Brexit negotiations, United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

Ahead of a vote in plenary next week, this Friday the foreign affairs and trade committees will vote on recommendations about the continuing negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and UK.

Key Points: 
  • Ahead of a vote in plenary next week, this Friday the foreign affairs and trade committees will vote on recommendations about the continuing negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and UK.
  • Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, will discuss the banks response to the Covid-19 outbreak with the economic affairs committee on Monday.
  • On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on changes to EU capital requirement rules for banks, which aim to allow them to better support businesses and households.
  • On Monday, the transport will vote on an agreement reached with EU countries on new road transport rules.

Western Balkans: Council calls for enhanced cooperation in migration and security

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Politics of Europe, Europe, Politics by country, Confederations, European Union, Salzburg Forum

The Council today adopted conclusions on enhancing cooperation with Western Balkans partners in the field of migration and security.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today adopted conclusions on enhancing cooperation with Western Balkans partners in the field of migration and security.
  • The conclusions call for continued support to the Western Balkans to:

    The conclusions put a focus on reinforcing operational cooperation between the Western Balkans and the EU, notably by developing information exchange and cooperation with the EU Agencies.

  • The conclusions also call to reflect on developing new tools, based on existing EU ones such as Eurodac, to enable information exchange within the Western Balkans region.

European Judicial Training Network virtual study visit to FRA

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, World, European Union law, Confederations, European Union

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the European Judicial Training Networks study visit of EU member states judges and prosecutors to FRA took place online, as a webinar.

Key Points: 
  • Due to the COVID-19 situation, the European Judicial Training Networks study visit of EU member states judges and prosecutors to FRA took place online, as a webinar.
  • During this virtual study visit, FRA presented its mandate and selected areas of work.
  • Participants discussed the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights added value as well as FRAs Charter tools.
  • FRA also introduced its work on child rights, rights of victims of crime and access to justice, including legal handbooks, and FRA report and online database on criminal detention conditions in the EU.

Next Generation EU recovery plan – An unprecedented exercise in solidarity

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, World, Confederations, European Union

All participants agreed on the importance of this ambitious initiative, an example of the solidarity and the political will of all EU Member States in times of uncertainty.

Key Points: 
  • All participants agreed on the importance of this ambitious initiative, an example of the solidarity and the political will of all EU Member States in times of uncertainty.
  • All participants in the webinar, called "Recovery Now: How to turn the Commission's #NextGenerationEU plan into a success, leaving no one behind" agreed on the timely and ambitious response given by the European Commission in its proposal.
  • The money is already there, and it is reaching companies and citizens.
  • He also pointed to the strongly positive reaction of the financial markets after the plan was announced, and explained that this was because the proposal shows solidarity, clear goals and is in line with the main EU strategic priorities, namely the Green Deal and digitalisation.
  • She also pointed out that the Commission's proposal includes not only an ambitious recovery plan, but also a long-term investment plan to ensure the EU finds its place in a complex world.

The issue of implementation

    • What matters most now is implementation.
    • This is mostly in the hands of individual Member States, but we need clear rules to make sure that money reaches the people that need it, said Luca Jahier.
    • Member States must prepare recovery plans that are in line with the needs identified and with EU strategic policies, Mr Dombrovskis said.
    • The issues of timing and implementation were also mentioned by Amlie de Montchalin, who insisted that all proposals should be in place after the summer.

Cohesion and partnership must be the driving force for European recovery

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, World, Confederations, European Union

The EU's Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and Recovery Plan must focus on cohesion as a fundamental value of the European Union, to pursue major challenges such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the digital transformation.

Key Points: 
  • The EU's Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and Recovery Plan must focus on cohesion as a fundamental value of the European Union, to pursue major challenges such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the digital transformation.
  • The extension of the current Operational Programmes will allow for a quick implementation of crucial investment.
  • The strong link of the Facility to the European Semester and to country specific recommendations can lead to a further centralisation of the recovery plans.
  • The partners of the Cohesion Alliance 2.0 will launch the new declaration during their next meeting in early June.

Press release - EU citizens want more competences for the EU to deal with crises like COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Articles, World, Organizations, Confederations, European Union, Pandemic

Conducted at the end of April 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for the EU in fighting this crisis.

Key Points: 
  • Conducted at the end of April 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for the EU in fighting this crisis.
  • In parallel, almost six out of ten respondents are dissatisfied with the solidarity shown between EU Member States during the pandemic.
  • Around two-thirds of respondents (69%) agree that the EU should have more competences to deal with crises such as the Coronavirus pandemic.
  • Respondents from Italy, Spain and Greece are among the most dissatisfied, followed by citizens from Austria, Belgium and Sweden.

Press release - EU citizens want more competences for the EU to deal with crises like COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Articles, World, Organizations, Confederations, European Union, Pandemic

Conducted at the end of April 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for the EU in fighting this crisis.

Key Points: 
  • Conducted at the end of April 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for the EU in fighting this crisis.
  • In parallel, almost six out of ten respondents are dissatisfied with the solidarity shown between EU Member States during the pandemic.
  • Around two-thirds of respondents (69%) agree that the EU should have more competences to deal with crises such as the Coronavirus pandemic.
  • Respondents from Italy, Spain and Greece are among the most dissatisfied, followed by citizens from Austria, Belgium and Sweden.

Press release - COVID-19: MEPs debate how to best protect cross-border and seasonal workers

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, Labor relations, World, Confederations, European Union

Slovakia provide social and long-term care services for the elderly in Austria and other member states.

Key Points: 
  • Slovakia provide social and long-term care services for the elderly in Austria and other member states.
  • The European Commission issued guidelines to ensure that mobile workers within the EU who qualify as critical workers in the fight against COVID-19 can reach their workplace.
  • The European Labour Authority (ELA) ensures that EU rules on labour mobility and social security coordination are enforced in a fair and effective way.
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Press release - Rule of Law in Poland: concerns continue to grow among MEPs

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 25, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, World, Confederations, European Union, Member of the European Parliament, Democracy

He pointed to the recent worrying developments in the country related to the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights.

Key Points: 
  • He pointed to the recent worrying developments in the country related to the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights.
  • Most MEPs shared the concern over the state of EU core values in the country.
  • The Polish authorities have presented their positions in front of the Council on three occasions, between June and December 2018.
  • MEPs warned this may undermine the concept of free, equal, direct and secret elections as enshrined in the Polish Constitution.