The European Parliament ratified the EU- Moldova Association Agreement

By Elvita Mertins

Brussels – During the plenary session on 13th of November the majority of members of the European Parliament (EP) voted in favor of the ratification of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement (AA). The Agreement will bring Moldova closer to the EU by speeding up political association, economic integration, and gradual access to the EU’s Internal Market economy. Furthermore, this includes the setting up of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which is a cornerstone part of the Agreement. To enter into force, the Agreement also needs to be ratified by the national parliaments of each EU member-states.

Women in politics, road to the peace

by Silvia Tovar

Brussels - Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee –also known as FEMM- is the committee within the European Parliament entrusted to tackle gender equality issues. Last 5th of November, this committee celebrated its 30 years of commitment and work for women’s rights. On the same day, the committee organized the high-level conference “Spring Forward for Women”, as part of the EU – UN Women joint regional programme for the Southern Mediterranean region. One of the points discussed during the conference was about the challenges and opportunities to women´s political participation. Many of the participants and speakers were women parliamentarians from countries in conflict as Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq, among others. The attendees of the conference were able to listen from these women many valuable experiences and some were extremely emotional.

How the labor market will respond to the creation of more jobs that require higher qualifications by 2020

by Simona Rusu Beschia

from global.wfu.edu

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs invited the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) at its meeting, of November the 4^th, to address some of the employability issues, within the framework of a mandate formulated by a newly appointed employment committee.

Seeking alternatives to Russian gas: the EU fighting its dependency



from rt.com

by Marco Quaglia

Brussels - The beginning of Juncker’s era has seen as one of the hottest topic the re-launching of EU’s energy security strategy. In this past week, just like in the weeks to come, there is almost no committee nor public meeting where this issue is not brought into discussion. It goes without saying that the bogeyman of the whole story is Putin’s Russia.

 

Grillo in Brussels: A referendum to leave the euro

from news.xinhuanet.com

by Marco Quaglia

Brussels - On 12 November, the morning at the European Parliament was more animated than usual. Beppe Grillo, the outspoken leader of the Five Stars Movement, hold a press conference to present the much anticipated proposal for an Italian referendum to abandon the euro. However, as it is often the case, especially for the Italian mainstream media, the main event of the whole conference according to televisions and newspaper seemed to be its ending.

No more walls in Europe?

by Florence Thibaut
 

from www.udine20.it

As Europe is now celebrating the fall of its most emblematic wall and the victory of its core values, be it democracy, peace or freedom, others walls, physical or mental, remain and some more are getting built against Roma people to separate them from the rest of the citizens. After all these years, stereotypes and prejudices are still causing great damages in the life of thousands of Europeans easily seen as scapegoats. Anti-Gypsysm, exclusion, racism, fear of the unknown are the ingredients of this dangerous phenomenon that arises in countries such as France, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania or Slovakia.

Is the Juncker Commission the ‘last-chance’ Commission?

by Marie Bourdon

from euobserver.com



As a young European citizen, I grew up in the European Union, I studied through the Erasmus programme, I travel easily in the Schengen area, I use Euros, I have friends everywhere in Europe and I have to say, I am worried when I hear Mr Juncker saying he will lead the ‘last-chance Commission’.

"Either we succeed in bringing the European citizens closer to Europe, or we will fail (...) I'd like to take this opportunity together with you to get Europe moving again. Europe deserves our efforts and I count on you President and I count on you Honourable Members to give your support to the Commissions in the many tasks facing all of us," Juncker said.

Migration: the burden of Southern Europe?

by Antonella Masiello

from www.butac.it



A sequence of tragic events that took place on the Mediterranean coasts of Europe - by the Italian island Lampedusa, the Aegean Sea and the Spanish Ceuta coast -placed the Mediterranean migration between the priorities of the EU policy. The governing board of the EU underlined that migration policies should be based on principles like prevention, protection and solidarity but despite that they seem to be not efficient in the reality. 

The European Parliament discusses the Translatlantic Trade Agreement and Investment Partnership

picture from www.euintheus.org

by Marco Quaglia

On 5 November 2014, it was held for the first time under the Juncker's Presidency European Parliament (EP) Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Among many topics, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) was discussed. Under this acronym it lies the free trade agreement that will change dramatically the economic relations between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

What is the aim of the TTIP?

El Parlamente Europeo aborda temas de desarrollo y pobreza

by Silvia Tovar

image from www.austral.edu.ar

El Parlamente Europeo constantemente aborda temas de desarrollo y pobreza en el mundo. Una prueba de ello es la existencia del comité de desarrollo de entre los 20 comités permanentes en esta institución. Estos órganos tienen una especial relevancia en la labor legislativa del parlamento y además mantienen relaciones con otros organismos relacionados con las cuestiones analizadas. En su última cita, el 3 de noviembre, DEVE ha incluido algunas de las cuestiones de mayor actualidad y preocupación para la opinión pública y los gobiernos tales como las crisis humanitarias del Ebola y de los refugiados sirios.

The European Parliament and Development Cooperation

by Silvia Tovar

from www.astral.edu.ar

The European Parliament constantly tackles the problematic of development and poverty worldwide. Proof of this is the existence of the Committee on Development (DEVE) between the 20 committees that are permanents in this institution. These structures are of particular importance in the legislative work of the EP and also maintain relationships with other actors involved in the issues analyzed, as for example the UN, and with other EU institutions, as the European Commission. 

For its last meeting, on November 3rd, DEVE has included some issues of major concern for public opinion and governments such as the humanitarian crises of Ebola and the Syrian refugees.

Violence against women: A burning problem of the European Union

by Antonella Masiello 

from marciokenobi.wordpress.com

The conference hosted on the 6th of November by the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee represented another example to retake the never-ending debate about violence against women. In the words of Mr. Martin Schultz, the President of the European Parliament, at the conference, “ when a girl comes into the world, she already has less possibilities and less participation in economic, social, political and cultural life compared to a man”, and her fighting against these differences lasts all her life.

Many times what we see is this lack of rights is often expressed by violence against women, becoming a persistent and burning problem of the EU. Moreover, this reality is not only a serious violation of women's rights but also the root of gender inequality.

A women networking for helping women: spring forward for women

by Sara Borraccino

photo from www.usaid.gov

On the last 5th and 6th of November the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) of the European Parliament has hosted the “Spring forward for women” conference, co-organised by UN women and the European Commission. This event was part of the “Economic and political empowerment of women in the Southern Mediterranean region programme”. It aimed to bring together women parliamentarians from the States of the Arab Spring and members of the European Parliament.

European Parliament debating the EU engagement on helping the Kurds in Iraq and Syria

By Ana Maria Sarmento

Bruxelles - The European Parliament (EP) has been exchanging views on the current situation of Kurds in the regions of Syrian and Iran.

Last week, both Conferences and EP Committee hearings discussed the urgent need for European leaders to help Kurds. Masrour Barzani, Chancellor of the Security Council of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has expressed his gratitude towards the EU (European Union) and U.S. humanitarian aids.

Western Balkan countries should do more to fight the corruption

by K. M.

Brussels—“Western Balkan countries should do more to fight the corruption”,- was said during the hearings of the Subcommittee on Human Rights - in the European Parliament on Wednesday, November 5^th 2014.

“European Parliament can contribute to improve the information on the situation of these countries and also will going to be focused on Human Rights, rule of law and the starting of the legislative frameworks and access to justice,” - said the Chair of the hearing of Human Rights.

EU Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2014-2015

The Case of the Western Balkan countries

by Elvita Mertins

 

Enlargement is one of the most powerful and important policy tools used by the European Union (EU) to serve its strategic interests in security, stability, conflict prevention, and increased economic prosperity. Having grown since 1950’s from 6 to 28 member states, the EU now has another number of countries wanting to join in. 

The current enlargement agenda covers the countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland. Moreover, the enlargement door remains open to any European country which is able to meet and implement the political and economic criteria for membership, which are known as the ‘Copenhagen criteria’. Without going into details, the 2014 EU enlargement package is based on three main pillars: the rule of law, economic governance and public administration reform¹.

The EU pleased with the Tunisian Election

by Ana Maria Sarmento

The general reaction of the European Parliament (EP) on the results of the latest Parliamentary Election in Tunisia was highly positive. The European Union (EU) believes that the Tunisian Parliamentary Election held on 26 October 2014 showed hope for a democratic future in Tunisia.

In the EP Committee hearing of last week many speakers have congratulated Tunisia on showing an ability to reorganize itself and to proceed with a constitutional process just shortly after the revolutionary wave that started in December 2010.

Be ready 4 EU on air from Brussels!

Europe HOpes believes that youth political participation (and in principle, the political participation of all the EU citizens) may be enhanced by non-formal education, which has a strong potential in shaping the knowledge, skills and attitudes of people in getting politically involved at EU level.

In line with this belief, with the project “Be ready for EU”, we intend to strengthen “youth empowerment”, as intended by the Trio Presidency (Italy, Latvia, and Luxembourg) for July 2014 - December 2015.

Over three months, a group of young volunteers with different educational backgrounds will be engaged in the EU decision making process.