European Parliament

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

If European elections were held on Sunday… Greens gain ground
With just over a year to go until the June 6-9, 2024 European elections, the tone between European parties is gradually getting harsher. At the beginning of May, Iratxe García Pérez, the Socialist group leader in the European Parliament, said that “cooperation is no longer possible” with the Christian Democratic EPP. Frans Timmermans, Commission Vice […] continue reading →
Anti-corruption agenda: laborious implementation in the EP
After the corruption scandal involving the deposed Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, became public, Parliament President Roberta Metsola set up an anti-corruption agenda. The implementation of her 14-point plan has begun, but is proving slow. This is because changes to the rules of procedure are also necessary. To do this, a legislative text […] continue reading →
How to turn away from the ideology of unlimited growth
More than 4,000 people will gather this week – in the European Parliament and online – for the Beyond Growth 2023 conference. The event is a cross-campaign initiative to which we, as Members of the European Parliament from five different political groups, are inviting together with more than 60 partner organizations. The goal of the […] continue reading →
EP pension fund: On average €2200 a month for each
The European Parliament is looking for a solution for the voluntary pension fund for MEPs, which is facing insolvency. The fund, which has not accepted members since 2009, still had €50 to €55 million at the end of 2022. Payment obligations total €363 million and are not expected to end until after 2070. The fund […] continue reading →
Scholz earns little applause for speech in European Parliament
Each of the heads of state and government from the 27 member states is invited once to present their plans for the future of the EU to the European Parliament. On Europe Day, it was Chancellor Olaf Scholz's turn. In the ensuing debate, he was criticized for despondency and a lack of initiatives. continue reading →
One year after the Future Conference: poor reform results
The Conference on the Future of Europe was supposed to be the start of a thorough renewal process for the Union. What have the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission achieved to implement the proposals from the final report? continue reading →
Ethics authority should not be able to punish violations
The Commission intends to adopt the proposal for an overarching ethics authority for the institutions before the end of May. According to information from Table.Media, the concept envisages that the ethics authority will primarily serve the technical exchange on the respective standards, rules and codes of conduct in all EU institutions, including the European Parliament, […] continue reading →
European election: For the first time, a woman is first on the CDU list in Baden-Wuerttemberg
For the first time, a woman will be the number one candidate for the Christian Democrats in Baden-Wuerttemberg in a European election in 2024. Andrea Wechsler will head the CDU’s state list. Wechsler was born in 1977, is a lawyer, and works as a university teacher in Pforzheim.The top spot was previously held by Rainer […] continue reading →
Stricter lobbying rules for former MEPs
As a consequence of the EU corruption scandal, the European Parliament wants to tighten lobbying rules for departed MEPs. In the future, they will only be allowed to work as lobbyists in the Parliament after a so-called cooling-off period of six months, according to a statement from the EU Parliament on Tuesday. This was agreed […] continue reading →
Kaili: Two more months in custody
An investigating judge in Brussels ruled on Friday that the former vice president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, will remain in pre-trial detention for at least two more months. It was also ruled that MEP Marc Tarabella, who is also one of the main suspects in the corruption scandal, will remain in pre-trial detention […] continue reading →
Klaus Welle: ‘EU institutions are largely unprotected’
As Secretary General of the European Parliament, Klaus Welle has been one of the most influential people in Brussels over the past 14 years. In an interview with Markus Grabitz, he talks about the next European elections, the corruption scandal and what it has to do with the secret services. continue reading →
Corruption affair: Tarabella in custody, Cozzolino in house arrest
After the European Parliament lifted the immunity of MEPs Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino (both former S&D) at the beginning of February, the prosecutors in Belgium and Italy have acted. An arrest warrant has been issued for Tarabella, a Belgian, and he has been questioned since Friday. According to prosecutors, the 59-year-old is accused of […] continue reading →
Methane law: EPP demands withdrawal of Green rapporteur
The EPP demands the resignation of Jutta Paulus (Greens) as rapporteur for the EU legislative project “Reducing methane emissions in the energy sector”. In a mail to the Green MEP from Giessen, the head of the responsible environment committee, Pascal Canfin (Renew) and others, Christian Ehler (CDU), coordinator in the committee and EPP shadow rapporteur […] continue reading →
Stricter transparency rules in the EP: further discussions needed
The heads of the political groups in the EP and Parliament President Roberta Metsola were unable to agree on stricter transparency rules yesterday evening. The basis of the discussions was a catalog of 15 points, which is available to Table.Media.Accordingly, in the future, information about the MEPs should be visible in a prominent place on […] continue reading →
How Eva Kaili used the EPRS
In the EU Parliament, the main figure in the corruption scandal was responsible for a panel on scientific foresight. Kaili used the chairmanship of the EPRS for her own political work – and awarded posts to her sister and the quasi-governmental Qatar Foundation. continue reading →
EP drops RED trilogue
Parliament’s negotiators on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), Nils Torvalds (Renew) for the Environment Committee ENVI and Markus Pieper (CDU) for the Industry Committee ITRE, have canceled the trilogue scheduled for today.The reason is that the Commission has still not submitted the Delegated Act with the definition of green hydrogen. In a letter to the […] continue reading →
Emma Wiesner – a tech nerd in parliament
At just before two on the night of December 17 to 18, 2022, sparkling wine was served in coffee cups: During the trilogue negotiations, Parliament, the Council and the Commission had agreed on the new rules for the European Emissions Trading System (ETS). Emma Wiesner from the liberal Renew Group helped negotiate on behalf of […] continue reading →
Bullmann to head Human Rights Committee
SPD MEP Udo Bullmann is to head the Human Rights Committee (DROI) in the European Parliament. S&D group leader Iratxe García Peréz announced at the group conference on Monday that the 66-year-old MEP from Hesse is the Socialists’ candidate in the election for the leadership of the subcommittee. The election is necessary after the resignation […] continue reading →