In the EU, around 87 million people have some form of disability. Yet barely five percent of members of the European Parliament identify as disabled — why is there so little political representation of people with disabilities? Is the existing system failing them when it comes to standing for election?
The EU is facing an increasingly worrying housing crisis, with average rents rising by almost 23 percent and house prices by almost 48 percent between 2010 and the end of 2023.
Lowering the voting age is a way of making mid-to-late teenagers feel listened to — but it is also a way of creating a habit, increasing the likelihood of them voting throughout their lives. And also possibly a youthful and idealistic ‘shield’ against more reactionary and right-wing middle-aged voters?
The EU should use “all means” possible to end the violence in Gaza, including sanctions, a peace conference, and a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, Belgian development cooperation minister Caroline Gennez told EUobserver.
Oxfam demands more action from MEPs, as the EU governments lose €33 million every hour in unpaid taxes from Europe’s super-rich.
The EU provisionally agreed new fiscal rules to reduce debt ratios and deficits while protecting investment in key areas — new analysis shows that only 3 countries could afford to meet their green and social goals in 2027 under them.
Plenary session, single market and economy in focus this WEEKThis week, get ready to dive into another plenary session of the EU Parliament and an agenda packed with economic and financial issues, ahead of a special EU summit in Brussels that will focus on competitiveness and the economy.
With 15 votes in favour, nine against and no abstentions, MEPs agreed to introduce concrete sanctions for any elected office-holder who fails to complete mandatory anti-harassment training within the first six months of their mandate.
On 1 April, an Israeli air strike killed seven aid workers from the US-based charity World Central Kitchen, the organisation said after immediately pausing its operations in the region — while the EU Commission calls Israeli authorities for clarification.
The so-called “European degree” is to be a new type of diploma, awarded after transnational programmes run at national, regional or institutional level — and on a voluntary basis.
The EU will have to step up its efforts to tackle looming demographic challenges over the next five years. If not, the bloc faces “sleepwalking into dark scenarios”, warns EU commission vice-president Dubravka Šuica.
Facing a predicted shift to the right after the EU elections, anti-discrimination organisations are calling on the bloc’s institutions to ensure that equality, anti-racism and fundamental rights are at the top of the EU’s agenda in the next mandate.
Environment, Ukraine imports, fish and Easter this WEEKThis week, expect no more than talks on environment, agriculture and fisheries, including discussions between the Polish and Ukrainian governments over angry protests by Polish farmers objecting to cheap grain imports from Ukraine.
EU leaders agreed at their summit in Brussels to call for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire” in the Israel-Gaza war — their first common statement on the situation in the Middle East since October.
Member states gave the political green light for the opening of accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but noted the need for further progress.
Renew Europe is currently the third political force in the parliament, but could lose around 15 seats in the upcoming elections in June — so it has now presented not one but three top candidates, and entered ‘election mode’.
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a new package to improve the rights of trainees, including a directive to tackle bogus internships — but not a ban on unpaid internships.
Illegal profits from forced labour around the world have increased by 37 percent in the last decade to a total of $236bn a year — 73 percent of it comes from the commercial sexual exploitation of victims, new report shows.
70 percent of northern Gaza is facing famine, new data shows. There is one shower per 5,500 people, and 888 people per toilet. ‘How can you live in these conditions?” asked Natalie Boucly of UNRWA at the European Humanitarian Forum.
Member states have formally, and finally, adopted the corporate sustainability due diligence directive — but the landmark legislation was severely watered-down, and will not come into force for most companies until the end of the decade.