European Parliament News

Lates news and information from the European Parliament.

Euro-MPs call for equal rights for part-time and contract workers — 06 July 2010, 22:58 CET

Any reform of labour law should seek to protect workers in "non-standard" employment, such as part-time or temporary work, and make it easier to move between various types of work and unemployment, says a resolution adopted by European Parliament on Tuesday.

Euro-MPs set to cut red tape in maritime transport — 06 July 2010, 22:49 CET

Ships entering and departing from EU ports will no longer be subject to complex, repetitive administrative formalities thanks to a new directive approved by European Parliament on Tuesday.

Euro-MPs propose 4-month limit on unemployment for young people — 06 July 2010, 23:00 CET

A "European Youth Guarantee" to ensure that young people who are unemployed do not remain jobless for more than four months is among proposals made by MEPs in a resolution on improving access to the labour market for young people.

Euro-MPs call for food price transparency — 28 June 2010, 22:13 CET

New legislation is needed to ensure fair returns to farmers and transparent prices to consumers, by enforcing fair competition throughout the food supply chain, said the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee on Monday.

New EU trust label to make e-trading more reliable — 24 June 2010, 22:03 CET

The European Parliament's Internal Market Committee approved today new proposals for a European trust mark to encourage cross-border e-trading by building consumer trust.

Euro-MPs call for more EU powers in the financial sector — 22 June 2010, 23:24 CET

The European Parliament's Economic Affairs Committee passed today two resolutions, calling for legislation on remuneration in the financial service sector and on the management of cross-border banking crises.

EU to tighten derivatives trading regulation — 15 June 2010, 23:54 CET

Proposed EU rules on derivatives trading must be made clearer and tougher, so as to reduce speculative trading and ensure that as many derivatives as possible are traded through open channels that are subject to rules, the European Parliament said in a resolution adopted on Tuesday.

Euro-MPs urge application of common EU energy rules — 09 June 2010, 17:08 CET

The EU should accelerate the application of common energy policy rules, and the policy itself must aim to improve competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability, concluded a joint meeting of over 250 MEPs and MPs from EU Member States in Brussels on Tuesday.

Euro-MPs call for closer ties between universities and industry — 20 May 2010, 23:22 CET

Links between business and the academic world need to be strengthened but higher education institutions must retain their autonomy and public support, says a resolution adopted on Thursday by the European Parliament.

Energy Labelling Directive - Briefing — 20 May 2010, 00:41 CET

The European Parliament today adopted the Energy Labelling Directive, a recast of the existing Labelling Directive which introduced the energy label for household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, air-conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines, washer-driers, tumble driers and lamps. The recast of the Directive extends its scope to also cover products in the commercial and industrial sectors in the future.

New energy labels for EU household appliances — 20 May 2010, 13:04 CET

Labels on household appliances such as fridges, washing machines and ovens will have to include more information on energy consumption, following a vote by MEPs on Wednesday.

Parliament proposes standard maternity leave rights for self-employed women — 18 May 2010, 18:11 CET

EU Member States should grant standard social protection, including at least 14 weeks' maternity leave allowance, for self-employed women and for wives or life partners of self-employed workers, says the European Parliament in a binding proposal to update an EU directive.

Parliament seeks equal treatment for self-employed — 14 May 2010, 23:23 CET

Euro-MPs want to promote female entrepreneurship and are proposing new rules to bridge the gender gap for self-employed workers and their partners and to ensure everyone has social protection.

"Bulk data" transfers to the US against EU law, warn MEPs — 05 May 2010, 22:46 CET

Euro-MPs warned today that any new agreement on providing bank data to the United States must avoid "bulk data" transfers until they can be processed within the EU.

Euro-MPs urge tightening of animal welfare rules — 05 May 2010, 22:49 CET

More frequent inspections and tougher penalties will be needed to enforce the next EU Animal Welfare Action Plan, says a resolution adopted by the European Parliament today.

Incoming British government 'must tackle rising debt' — 05 May 2010, 17:56 CET

EU forecasts on the eve of the British general election put Britain under the highest public deficit levels in Europe, with Brussels warning the next government must focus first on the shortfall.

Euro-MPs urge more time for combustion plants to comply with emission limits — 04 May 2010, 23:15 CET

Certain combustion plants, including some fossil-fuel power stations, should be allowed extra time to meet stricter rules on industrial emissions, Euro-MPs said today. The proposal will be voted in July.

Progress on services directive too slow, say Euro-MPs — 28 April 2010, 23:34 CET

The hotly contested services directive was due to be implemented in national law by 28 December 2009. This Tuesday, four months after the deadline, MEPs and members of national parliaments held a meeting in Brussels to discuss whether the EU Member States have done their duty in this regard.

MEPs want rules on working hours to apply to self-employed drivers — 28 April 2010, 23:29 CET

Members of the European Parliament have voted against a Commission proposal that self-employed drivers be exempted from the 2002 Working Time Directive on the road transport industry.

Euro-MPs vote to curb energy consumption — 28 April 2010, 23:28 CET

MEPs approved today EU energy efficiency legislation for buildings and the new layout of the EU energy efficiency label.

MEPs want say on EU employment guidelines — 24 April 2010, 00:28 CET

The European Parliament is calling on the European Council to postpone adopting the EU 2020 economic competitiveness strategy until the autumn, to give MEPs time to properly analyse the proposals.

CAP reform must benefit society as a whole, say MEPs — 14 April 2010, 00:00 CET

EU plans to reform the much-maligned Common Agricultural Policy must be shaped with the help and backing of EU citizens, say MEPs, to ensure that the post-2013 CAP benefits society as a whole.

MEPs propose further amendements to the regulation on biocidal products — 13 April 2010, 00:28 CET

MEPs last week proposed further amendments to a regulation concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products.

MEPs to vote on amendments to the rules of invoicing — 09 April 2010, 23:56 CET

MEPs are set to vote on 22 April on a proposal on the common system of value added tax as regards the rules on invoicing.

Fisheries: MEPs debate imports, wages and quality — 09 April 2010, 23:56 CET

At a public hearing on the common organisation of the fishery market on Thursday, MEPs debated how to ensure fair income for fishermen and how European producers can compete with third countries.