Confederations

Connecting Europe Facility: informal agreement with European Parliament on the post-2020 programme

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 12, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

Today, negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the second edition of the EU's flagship programme the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Key Points: 
  • Today, negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the second edition of the EU's flagship programme the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
  • It will run from 2021 to 2027, with a significant overall budget of 33.71 billion (in current prices).
  • The programme also aims to mainstream climate action, taking into account the EU's long-term decarbonisation commitments such as the Paris Agreement.
  • Once adopted by both the Council and the European Parliament, the CEF regulation will enter into force the day after its publication in the EU Official Journal.

Press release - Parliament adopts InvestEU programme for strategic and innovative investments

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Articles, Organizations, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, Sustainability, Next Generation EU

Parliament endorsed the provisional agreement reached with the Council with 496 votes in favour, 57 against and 144 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • Parliament endorsed the provisional agreement reached with the Council with 496 votes in favour, 57 against and 144 abstentions.
  • The new programme is part of the 750 billion Next Generation EU recovery package, and will foster strategic, sustainable and innovative investments and address market failures, sub-optimal investments and the investment gap in targeted sectors.
  • Sustainable and strategic investments

    InvestEU supports strategic investments in manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and supplies - crucial in the midst of a pandemic - as well as the production of Information and Communication Technology, components and devices in the EU.

  • It will also finance sustainable projects that can prove their positive environmental, climate and social impact.

Article - Companies should be held accountable for their actions, say MEPs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

Doing the right thing does not give businesses a competitive advantage at the moment.

Key Points: 
  • Doing the right thing does not give businesses a competitive advantage at the moment.
  • The lack of a joint EU-wide approach on this matter could lead to a disadvantage for those companies that are proactive regarding social and environmental matters, the report said.
  • In addition, the MEPs want the rights of stakeholders or victims in non-EU countries, who are particularly vulnerable, to be better protected.
  • Read more on how the EU trade policy helps to promote human rights and environmental standards

Article - Coming up: Women’s Day, future of EU, investment and health

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, Member of the European Parliament, The Parliament Magazine

MEPs will be dealing with an EU health plan, investment for small businesses and fair supply chains

Key Points: 
  • MEPs will be dealing with an EU health plan, investment for small businesses and fair supply chains
    MEPs will mark International Womens Day, vote on EU investment and health programmes, call for greater corporate responsibility and support LGBTIQ rights during the next plenary session.
  • Find out more about other events surrounding International Women's Day events organised by the Parliament .
  • The Conference will be an opportunity for Europeans to express their opinions and get involved in setting the EUs priorities.
  • On Wednesday, MEPs will debate recent action by Polish, Hungarian and Slovenian authorities that could put the situation of independent media at risk.

REGHUB 2.0 officially launched!

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 5, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, European Commission

I am more than pleased to see the launch of RegHub 2.0 and what the network has achieved so far.

Key Points: 
  • I am more than pleased to see the launch of RegHub 2.0 and what the network has achieved so far.
  • Now, the RegHub network is given formal recognition as part of the Fit for Future Platform of the European Commission.
  • At the same time, the RegHub consultations will strengthen and enlarge the evidence base of the Platform's opinions.
  • RegHub is also an established sub-group of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform .

Council approves €330 billion cohesion legislative package

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, Interreg

New investment priorities

Key Points: 
  • New investment priorities

    The 2021-2027 cohesion package provides for multiannual investment, with most of the resources focused on less developed countries and regions in order to foster social, economic and territorial cohesion across the EU.

  • Simplification and efficiency

    The new legislation simplifies the rules, reducing red tape and ensuring that resources are spent more efficiently.

  • In addition, access to cohesion resources is conditional on compliance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  • Crisis response

    In 2020, cohesion policy proved essential to the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Article - Understanding Covid-19's impact on women (infographics)

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Articles, Gender and society, Confederations, European Union, Gender equality, Pandemic

Find out how the European Parliament fights for gender equality

Key Points: 
  • Find out how the European Parliament fights for gender equality

    More women on the Covid-19 frontline

    Of the 49 million care workers in the EU, who have been most exposed to the virus, around 76% are women.

  • The biggest EU imbalance was in Latvia with women making up 88% of the healthcare work force, compared to 53% in Malta).
  • In addition, women are over-represented in essential services ranging from sales to childcare places, which remained open during the pandemic.
  • In the EU, women account for 82% of all cashiers and represent 95% of workers in domestic cleaning and home help fields.

Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Georgia with Prime Minister Garibashvili and representatives of opposition political parties

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

We had a very important meeting with the leaders of the political parties in the opposition and with the Prime Minister.

Key Points: 
  • We had a very important meeting with the leaders of the political parties in the opposition and with the Prime Minister.
  • And we understand that there are many difficult topics that need to be tackled by the political actors.
  • I proposed the support of the EU in order to encourage all the positive efforts on the different elements.
  • It doesn't mean that there are no difficult topics that will be discussed between the political parties with the government.

Article - Sassoli on the pandemic: “There can be no return to how things were before”

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 26, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

I urge you to stand firm; do not succumb to the temptation of vaccine nationalism.

Key Points: 
  • I urge you to stand firm; do not succumb to the temptation of vaccine nationalism.
  • A common approach also allows us to monitor, investigate and come down hard on any scams targeting member states.
  • Sassoli also stressed the need for the EU to play a bigger role in public health.
  • Our task now is to develop a European health policy, by allocating clearly defined competences to the EU institutions.

Press release - Press Conference by EP President Sassoli on EU summit and COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

He will also comment on the European Security and Defence Policy and EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood.

Key Points: 
  • He will also comment on the European Security and Defence Policy and EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood.
  • Interpretation will be available at the press conference in Italian, English, French and German.
  • Journalists wishing to actively participate and ask questions, please connect via Interactio by using this link.
  • Journalists are asked to connect a few minutes before the start of the press conference to perform a connection test.