EU Parliament defies frugal capitals by seeking €7bn more for the EU’s popular Erasmus+ student scheme
The parliament overwhelmingly supported an increased budget and scope for the Erasmus+ programme under the new EU budget on Thursday.
Zuzanna Stawiska
-
-
Polish parliament liberalises abortion law – but conservative president likely to veto changes
The Polish governing coalition voted in parliament to loosen abortion law on Tuesday – but conservative president is expected to block the change.
-
MEPs push to use EU regional funds for affordable housing and climate‑proofing cities
The European Parliament called on more spending to build affordable houses, using funds for regional development that currently comprise up to a third of the present EU budget.
-
EU ministers seek balance between workplace rights and competitiveness in 21st century jobs act
The Quality Jobs Act covers common standards for being able to ‘go home’ and disconnect from remote work, and limits AI’s role in recruitment or scrutiny of workers’ performance.
-
Denmark lashes out again at Sánchez over Spain’s migration regularisation, but EU summit avoids linking migration to crime
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen lashed out again at Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez on migration during a summit debate in Brussels on Friday.
-
EU leaders uniting on tougher China trade defence, but clash over carbon pricing rules
Unity is emerging among EU leaders on a more aggressive trade defence strategy against China, say EU diplomats ahead of a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
-
Low pay and stress forcing Europe’s care workers to quit jobs, unions warn
Almost half of workers helping families care for children, older people, and people with disabilities in Europe have considered quitting due to low pay and bad working conditions.
-
French kitchenware giant Tefal faces legal ultimatum over harmful chemicals, as Europeans’ health at stake
Environmental NGOs have threatened to sue the owner of Tefal, a leading French kitchenware company, over failing to phase out forever chemicals from their products, at a high price for consumer health.
-
French school protests to continue, after prime minister ignores demands
Two-weeks long protests by French high-school students demanding better education conditions risk getting more heated due the French government’s lack of response.
-
EU needs to solve the cost-of-living crisis to stop far-right populists, Portuguese PM Luís Montenegro tells MEPs
Portuguese prime minister told MEPs that solving the cost of living crisis is key to keeping the far-right out of power, as ultra-nationalist party reaches record popularity at home.
-
French far-right leader Bardella denies writing antisemitic messages
Jordan Bardella, a leader of the French far-right National Rally, has denied writing antisemitic messages in 2013.
-
[Interview] 70% of Montenegro supports EU membership – so will it happen in 2028? We ask lead MEP Marjan Šarec
EUobserver spoke to Marjan Šarec, former Slovenian prime minister, MEP for Renew Europe, and the parliament’s rapporteur for Montenegro. He’s keeping his optimism for the country’s accession.
-
MEPs vote for €47bn in new Erasmus+ funds, as frugal states seek cuts to EU budget
With 24 votes in favour and one abstention, MEPs proposed to increase the European Commission’s original proposal from €40bn to €47bn on Tuesday.
-
EU’s Costa calls out ‘dangerous escalation’ by Russia amid increasing hybrid attacks
Russia’s hybrid attacks on Europe are “unacceptable,” EU Council president António Costa said in New York, as threats increase across the continent.
-
Dutch fossil-fuel exit plan shows EU struggle to set binding deadlines
The Dutch fossil fuel phase-out plan falls short of outlining clear deadlines, as EU countries struggle to fulfil the 2050 climate neutrality goal.
-
Civil partnership from abroad not enough to stay in EU country, according to ECJ preliminary opinion
As Romania does not recognise same-sex partnerships, having a partner there is not a basis for residency, according to a European Court of Justice opinion on Thursday.
-
Turkey’s anti-LGBTI+ crackdown draws meek EU criticism
Turkey has arrested dozens of LGBTI+ activists in nationwide raids, drawing meek criticism from EU officials and calls for Europe-wide solidarity protests on Friday.
-
EU sanctions needed against Russian bot and troll factories, MEPs say
The parliament supports the European Democracy Shield proposal and calls for sanctions to fight Russian disinformation campaigns.
-
EU promises to look beyond ‘price alone’ in reform of public procurement rules
The European Commission says that new public procurement rules would allow more flexibility in choosing the best offer, stopping the “race to the bottom” for the lowest bid.
-
EU lags behind in fight against illicit tobacco, report found
The EU should collect more data and standardise country legislation on illicit tobacco to fight fraud, reports the European Court of Auditors.
