Conference of Presidents in Madrid for talks with future Spanish Presidency
Ahead of the Spanish presidency of the Council, which begins in January, EP President Jerzy Buzek and leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament will be in Madrid on Thursday and Friday for meetings with Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, other ministers and members of the Spanish Parliament. The delegation will also be received by King Juan Carlos
"Less Meat = Less Heat" with Sir Paul McCartney and Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri
On Thursday 3 December the European Parliament hosts a major event on global warming and food policy when the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri and environmental activist Sir Paul McCartney will urge legislators and experts to focus on what an individual can do to fight climate change, for example by eating less meat. Source : © European Parliament
Human rights: China, Nicaragua and Laos, and Vietnam
Parliament on Thursday adopted three human rights resolutions: urging the Chinese government to adopt an immediate and unconditional moratorium on the death penalty, calling on President Ortega to respect the constitution of Nicaragua and urging the authorities in Laos and Vietnam to release all human rights defenders, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Source : © European Parliament
Kai Eide on Afghanistan:"I did not want the UN to be involved in a second round"
Kai Eide, the UN Special Representative to Afghanistan, told MEPs on Monday of his reluctance to involve the UN in the presidential run-off, where fraud would have been inevitable.
Lisbon Treaty: Parliament’s new budget powers must be respected from day one
The European Parliament’s beefed-up powers over the EU budget should apply in full from the day the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, without waiting for detailed supplementary legislation, say MEPs.
FAQs on internet access safeguards and the telecoms package
A user’s internet access may be restricted, if necessary and proportionate, only after a fair and impartial procedure including the user’s right to be heard. In the early hours of Thursday 5 November, MEPs and Council representatives agreed on this, the last open issue in the telecoms package. Source : © European Parliament
Vuk Jeremic: Serbia likely to submit its EU application before end of 2009
“The basic groundwork is there for Serbia to submit its official application for EU membership. We hope to do so by the end of this year”, Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic told members of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee this Thursday. However, he would not back a call by MEPs for the Serbian government to encourage Serbian Kosovars to take part in upcoming local elections in Kosovo
Climate protection: "We can do it"
This week a delegation from the European Parliament’s Environment and Industry committees met members of the US Congress and other stakeholders in Washington DC to discuss climate and energy issues with a view to the International Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Today, Thursday, at the conclusion of the visit, Environment Committee Chairman Jo Leinen (S&D, DE) made the following statement: Source : © European Parliament
FYROM, visa liberalisation with Balkans and Turkey: MEPs quiz Olli Rehn
Several MEPs voiced support on Thursday for a proposal made the previous day by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn for EU membership negotiations to be launched with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. MEPs also asked the Commissioner about visa liberalisation with the Balkans and the implementation of the Ankara protocol. Source : © European Parliament