Convictions show the need for urgent EU protection of whistleblowers
The verdict of the LuxLeaks trial shows just how urgently we need a directive offering a minimum level of protection at the European level to guarantee the rights of whistleblowers, across all sectors.
European political parties should respect European values
MEPs have been discussing a request to review how the European parliament funds European political parties. The main concern is to avoid a misuse of public money and to ensure that European political parties respect European values.
Revised legislation will improve long-term performance
The European Parliament has given its approval to the revised directive on shareholders' rights. This will strengthen both the long-term commitment of shareholders in listed companies and the link between directors' pay and long-term performance.
Improvements to the firearms directive backed by the European Parliament include the prohibition of certain semi-automatic firearms and converted firearms, better measures for deactivation, tracing and storage of weapons, and more information exchange between EU countries.
The European Parliament adopted Tuesday 14 March a report on minimum standards for the Protection of Farm Rabbits 2016/2077(INI) calling for specific legislation on minimum standards. Animal welfare is of a very high priority for the Greens/EFA group.
European Parliament wants EU to get serious on "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"
The European Parliament has voted on a series of reports to revise legislation related to waste and packaging, under the banner of “the Circular Economy”. The Greens/EFA group has argued that creating a circular economy will create jobs and would be hugely beneficial for the environment.
Stalled progress shows need for greater effort at EU level
MEPs have backed a report from Greens/EFA rapporteur Ernest Urtasun on equality between women and men in the EU. The report forms the European Parliament's response to the European Commission’s report on progress on gender equality in the EU for 2014-15.
New rules will protect vulnerable and put an end to dangerous storage
The European Parliament has approved new legislation on the regulation of mercury. The new law will reduce the trade and use of mercury, the risk of contamination, and bring legislation in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury signed in 2013
Many of the current nuclear reactors in the world are the result of technological choices of people who are not necessarily alive anymore. Yet the consequences of those choices affect people today all around the world, as well as generations to come, far beyond political borders and timeframes.
The Fukushima nuclear disaster showed us once again that nuclear reactors will always remain extremely dangerous. Nuclear disasters damage the health of the local population but also create a huge financial burden for society.
