Confederations

Article - Covid-19 recovery: how the main EU instrument will work

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Organizations, Articles, United Nations General Assembly, Confederations, European Union, Inflation, Next Generation EU

Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the instrument in December 2020.

Key Points: 
  • Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the instrument in December 2020.
  • It will offer large-scale support to EU countries for the investments and reforms needed to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the pandemic and to prepare the EU economies for a sustainable, digital future.
  • The grants will amount to 312.5 billion in 2018 prices (the actual amount will be adjusted upwards to take account of inflation).
  • EU recovery money will go to EU priorities.

Press release - Portuguese Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 29, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

This press release will be updated regularly.

Key Points: 
  • This press release will be updated regularly.
  • Foreign Affairs On 26 January, Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva outlined a range of external action priorities to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  • MEPs quizzed the minister on several topics, such as the EUs strategy vis--vis China, the Presidencys approach to Russia, and migration issues.
  • They welcomed the initiative to hold the EU-India summit in Porto this year as well as Portugals readiness to further engage in enlargement efforts.
  • MEPs complained about the uncertainty around fishing conditions following Brexit and how the Brexit Reserve Adjustment is to be distributed among countries.
  • Serro Santos assured them that these are all priorities for the Portuguese Presidency.
  • Therefore, the Presidency will strive to contribute to a swift recovery and transformation of the transport sector, to make it more resilient, greener and smarter.
  • They urged the Presidency to advance further on the Connecting Europe Facility, air passenger rights and alternative aviation fuels draft rules.
  • The Presidency will focus on promoting structural development within the food system, sustainability in rural areas, digital growth and supporting organic farming.
  • They called on the Presidency to highlight the strong link between the rule of law mechanism and respect for gender equality.
  • Likewise, most MEPs underlined that China must commit to ending forced labour in light of the EU-China investment agreement.

EU Bank appoints Alessandro Bragonzi the new Head of its Regional Representation for the Western Balkans

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Articles, Confederations, European Union, COVID-19 pandemic, Pandemic

The European Investment Bank has appointed Alessandro Bragonzi the new Head of the Regional Representation for the Western Balkans.

Key Points: 
  • The European Investment Bank has appointed Alessandro Bragonzi the new Head of the Regional Representation for the Western Balkans.
  • These initiatives are essential to generating a more competitive regional market integrated within EU value chains and better living conditions for the people of the Western Balkans.
  • The Western Balkans have been severely impacted by the pandemic and remain vulnerable to further shocks.
  • In 2020 alone, the EU bank mobilised more than 1 billion to alleviate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Article - Plenary highlights: vaccines, new US president, right to disconnect

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 22, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, Member of the European Parliament

On Wednesday, MEPs discussed the political situation in the US and welcomed the inauguration of the new president.

Key Points: 
  • On Wednesday, MEPs discussed the political situation in the US and welcomed the inauguration of the new president.
  • This is an opportunity for the EU and US to further strengthen relations and tackle common challenges, MEPs said.
  • The resolution calls on the European Commission to propose legislation protecting the right to disconnect.
  • Affordable and decent housing should be a fundamental right for all, enforceable through legislation, according to a resolution adopted on Thursday.

Press release - Portuguese Presidency wants EU to deliver on vaccines, recovery and transition

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations

MEPs discussed the programme for the next six-month presidency of the Council of the EU this morning with Portugals Prime Minister Antnio Costa.

Key Points: 
  • MEPs discussed the programme for the next six-month presidency of the Council of the EU this morning with Portugals Prime Minister Antnio Costa.
  • Other challenges, such as the climate crisis, also deserve the EUs full attention, said the Prime Minister.
  • The green, digital and fair recovery must be a jobs recovery, she stressed.
  • EU aid for recovery should help in the green and digital transitions as well.

Consultation to national associations on local and regional experiences in implementing COVID-related measures

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

19/01/2021 | Cross-border and territorial cooperation; Public health

Key Points: 
  • 19/01/2021 | Cross-border and territorial cooperation; Public health
    The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has required a large-scale and comprehensive response in various areas in our society.
  • As the levels of governance closest to the citizens, local and regional authorities across Europe have been in the front line in the response to the crisis.
  • The aim is to bring forward practical suggestions and recommendations to the EU level and highlight the crucial role of local and regional authorities and their National Associations, in the response to the crisis and in the recovery, with a view to achieving a more efficient common response based on better regulation at national and EU level.
  • The questionnaire can be accessed through this link and will run until 29 January 2021.

Press release - EU will have stronger powers in trade disputes

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Organizations, Articles, Trade blocs, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, Ukraine–European Union relations

The strengthening of the so-called enforcement regulation allows the EU to protect its trade interests against partners acting illegally.

Key Points: 
  • The strengthening of the so-called enforcement regulation allows the EU to protect its trade interests against partners acting illegally.
  • MEPs stress that these account for a large and growing share of world trade and are covered by international trade agreements.
  • The EU now has another credible, efficient and ambitious tool at its disposal to bolster its trade policies and ensure its strategic autonomy.
  • The new rules are part of efforts to have better EU tools to promote compliance and enforce EU trade agreements in an altered geopolitical context.

Article - 2021: the European Year of Rail

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Articles, Organizations, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

On 15 December, the European Parliament approved a proposal by the European Commission to designate 2021 as the European Year of Rail.

Key Points: 
  • On 15 December, the European Parliament approved a proposal by the European Commission to designate 2021 as the European Year of Rail.
  • Several activities have already been planned to promote rail across the EU to encourage its use by people and businesses.
  • Rail is largely electrified and it is the only mode of transport that has considerably reduced its emissions since 1990.
  • The legislative package aims to creating a fully integrated European Railway Area, removing the remaining institutional, legal and technical obstacles and supporting economic growth.

Article - Coming up in Parliament: vaccines, EU-UK deal, recovery

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 11, 2021
Organizations, Articles, United Nations General Assembly, Confederations, European Union, Brexit negotiations, Israel–European Union relations

EU-UK agreement

Key Points: 
  • EU-UK agreement

    On Monday, the international trade committee starts examining the deal on the future EU-UK relations concluded on 24 December 2020.

  • The international trade committee and the foreign affairs committee will hold a joint debate on Thursday.
  • Other committees (transport, fisheries, economic affairs and internal market) will also discuss the impact of the deal in their respective policies.
  • MEPs will also discuss how the EU biodiversity strategy for the next decade can address the problem.

Article - Season’s greetings from the European Parliament

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Organizations, Articles, International organizations, Confederations, European Union

When Europe and the world locked down, the Parliament found new ways of working online and at a distance so that MEPs could approve urgent measures to tackle the pandemic and work on long-term priorities.

Key Points: 
  • When Europe and the world locked down, the Parliament found new ways of working online and at a distance so that MEPs could approve urgent measures to tackle the pandemic and work on long-term priorities.
  • Find out more about 10 things the EU is doing to support the economic recovery after Covid-19.
  • As the EU continues to work to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, it will also focus on key issues such as climate change and a digital future.
  • Find out about some of the key issues coming up during 2021 in our article at the beginning of January.