Parliament

Press release - Human rights breaches in China, Sudan and Tajikistan

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 19, 2024

They call for the PRC to end its domestic and transnational surveillance, control and suppression of religious freedom.

Key Points: 
  • They call for the PRC to end its domestic and transnational surveillance, control and suppression of religious freedom.
  • The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
    MEPs strongly condemn the continuing violence between rival armed factions in Sudan, alongside human rights violations and food insecurity.
  • Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
    MEPS strongly condemn the ongoing crackdown against independent media, government critics, human rights activists and independent lawyers, and the closure of independent media and websites in Tajikistan.
  • They call on the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to increase support for civil society, human rights defenders and independent media workers in Tajikistan, including funding.

Press release - Fundamental rights report finds threats to key freedoms, equality and dignity

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Friday, January 19, 2024

The report on the state of fundamental rights in the EU was approved with 391 votes in favour, 130 against, and 20 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • The report on the state of fundamental rights in the EU was approved with 391 votes in favour, 130 against, and 20 abstentions.
  • MEPs call for justice for the killing of journalists and welcome the agreement on the media freedom act.
  • poverty and social exclusion, digital poverty); and
    - improving institutional safeguards (including establishing the Fundamental Rights Agency as an independent human rights authority).
  • Quote
    Rapporteur Katarina Barley (S&D, Germany) commented: “Fundamental rights violations are widespread in EU member states.

Press release - The Hungarian government threatens EU values, institutions, and funds, MEPs say

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Friday, January 19, 2024

The EU must not give in to blackmail, they highlight.

Key Points: 
  • The EU must not give in to blackmail, they highlight.
  • Further, MEPs condemn the reported systemic discriminatory practices against academia, journalists, political parties and civil society when allocating funds.
  • They regret the use of manipulated public procurement procedures, takeover bids by the government and entities with ties to the Prime Minister, and the use of EU funds to enrich the government’s political allies.
  • The measures required to release EU funding under different rules must be treated as a single package, and no payments should be made if deficiencies persist in any area.

Press release - Better product labelling and banning greenwashing: press briefing with lead MEP

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Better product labelling and banning greenwashing: press briefing with lead MEP

Key Points: 
  • Better product labelling and banning greenwashing: press briefing with lead MEP
    On Wednesday at 14.30, Biljana Borzan will explain the outcome of the final plenary vote on the empowering consumers directive banning misleading claims and greenwashing.
  • Where: European Parliament in Strasbourg, Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201).
  • Background
    The new rules aim to improve product labelling, fight greenwashing and help consumers make informed choices while shopping.
  • The new directive is meant to work together with the green claims directive, currently being discussed at committee stage in Parliament.

Article - Stopping greenwashing: how the EU regulates green claims

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Many products have these labels, but very often those claims are not proven.

Key Points: 
  • Many products have these labels, but very often those claims are not proven.
  • The EU wants to make sure that all information on a product’s impact on the environment, longevity, reparability, composition, production and usage is backed up by verifiable sources.
  • EU countries will then have 24 months to incorporate the update into their national law.
  • Find out how the EU is working to build a circular economy

Press release - Parliament ready for talks on an EU-wide Disability Card

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Equal rights and conditions for EU Disability Card or Parking Card holders when travelling or visiting other EU countries

Key Points: 
  • - Equal rights and conditions for EU Disability Card or Parking Card holders when travelling or visiting other EU countries
    - EU Disability Card to be issued within 60 days, EU Parking Card within 30 days, both free of charge
    - MEPs want those moving to another member state for work or study to also be covered by the directive
    Parliament today adopted its mandate for negotiations with the Council on the EU disability card and the parking card for persons with disabilities.
  • Parliament’s mandate, prepared by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, introduces deadlines for issuing and renewing the cards - within 60 days for the EU disability card and within 30 days for the parking card.
  • Parliament also introduces the option to request a digital version of the parking card, to be ready in 15 days.
  • MEPs propose that both cards should be available in physical and digital format and free of charge.

Press release - MEPs debate EU summits and situation in Hungary

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

On Wednesday morning, MEPs discussed the December European Council, the upcoming 1 February special summit, and assessed the situation in Hungary.

Key Points: 
  • On Wednesday morning, MEPs discussed the December European Council, the upcoming 1 February special summit, and assessed the situation in Hungary.
  • Regarding Hungary, she said the Presidency will continue working on the ongoing Article 7(1) procedure and announced that a new hearing with Hungary will take place in June.
  • She stressed that assessing the implementation of reforms by the Hungarian authorities – to allow for unfreezing EU funds - is a Commission task.
  • Addressing the situation in Hungary, President von der Leyen defended the Commission's recent decision to release a part of withheld EU funds.

Press release - Music streaming sector: EU must ensure just pay for artists and fair algorithms

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Music streaming sector: EU must ensure just pay for artists and fair algorithms

Key Points: 
  • Music streaming sector: EU must ensure just pay for artists and fair algorithms
    - Revenues from the EU music streaming market are not distributed fairly
    - Call for transparent algorithms and recommendation tools
    - MEPs suggest the possibility of imposing quotas for European musical works
    On Wednesday, the European Parliament called for EU rules to ensure the music streaming sector is fair and sustainable, and to promote cultural diversity.
  • They insist on a new EU legal framework for the sector, for which currently no European Union rules apply, even though streaming services are the main way that people access music.
  • Transparency of AI tools
    The EU bill should oblige platforms to make their algorithms and recommendation tools transparent,to prevent unfair practices, such asmanipulation of streaming figures, allegedly used to reduce artists’ fees.
  • Streaming represents 67% of the music sector’s global revenue, with an annual revenue of 22.6 billion USD.

Press release - MEPs adopt new law banning greenwashing and misleading product information

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

MEPs adopt new law banning greenwashing and misleading product information

Key Points: 
  • MEPs adopt new law banning greenwashing and misleading product information
    - Generic environmental claims and other misleading product information will be outlawed
    - Only sustainability labels based on approved certification schemes or established by public authorities will be allowed
    - Guarantee information has to be more visible and a new guarantee extension label will be introduced
    Parliament has given its final green light to a directive that will improve product labelling and ban the use of misleading environmental claims.
  • To achieve this, a number of problematic marketing habits related to greenwashing and the early obsolescence of goods will be added to the EU list of banned commercial practices.
  • Durability in focus
    Another important objective of the new law is making producers and consumers focus more on the durability of goods.
  • The upcoming green claims directive will be more specific and elaborate the conditions for using environmental claims in greater detail.

Press release - Parliament concerned about the rule of law in Slovakia

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Need to protect the rule of law

Key Points: 
  • Need to protect the rule of law
    MEPs are particularly concerned about the unjustified use of a fast-track procedure for the criminal code reform and the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office that handles corruption cases and serious crimes.
  • These changes threaten the integrity of judicial processes and undermine the EU’s fight against fraud according to MEPs.
  • MEPs stress that any criminal law reform must ensure the continuation of ongoing criminal cases and the effectiveness of new ones.
  • Parliament is very concerned by plans to adopt legislation undermining the civic space, restricting the work of NGOs and stigmatising organisations receiving foreign funding.