European Parliament

Klaus Hänsch, former European Parliament President, has died at 87. Current President Roberta Metsola confirmed his death and praised his contributions to European unity and civic engagement. Hänsch served as Parliament president from 1994 to 1997 and was an MEP from 1979 to 2009.

At least 72 migrants died during a mass surge to storm the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, sparking a humanitarian crisis and political debate over immigration in Spain and Europe. The influx, involving 50,000-60,000 migrants, led to drownings and a stampede, with far-right leaders demanding stricter border controls and blame shifting between authorities and migrants.

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, experienced a surge of 50,000 to 60,000 migrants who crossed into the territory, leading to at least 72 deaths. Most migrants later returned to Morocco, but the crisis reignited immigration debates in Europe. Far-right politician Alvise Pérez faced protests during a visit to the city, highlighting tensions among residents.

The article discusses how European lawmakers often unfairly label Pakistan's textile industry as complicit in labor abuses without sufficient evidence, despite the sector's formal regulations and compliance mechanisms. It highlights that child labor in Pakistan exists primarily in informal sectors, not in regulated export factories, and cites data showing minimal non-compliance rates in wages and overtime payments.

France has increased border controls with Spain due to concerns over migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which could undermine Schengen area unity. Political reactions across Europe highlight tensions over migration, with calls for stricter border measures and criticism of Spain's immigration policies.

In the 2027 French presidential campaign, centrists face challenges from extreme-right leader Marine Le Pen and hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The center bloc has not yet unified behind a candidate, with Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, and Raphaël Glucksmann as top contenders, while experts note the complexity of defining 'centrist' in a fragmented political landscape.

The EU faces pressure from US tariffs and trade tensions with China, complicating its diplomatic and economic strategies. An EU fine of $1 billion against Google added strain to transatlantic relations, while a European Parliament delegation's visit to Beijing highlighted internal divisions over handling China. A senior European parliamentarian criticized US tariffs as 'crazy,' and Euronews described the EU as 'between a rock and a hard place.'

In 2024, Max Bergmann argued NATO needs structural reforms to strengthen a European pillar. Two years later, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support, prompting pushback from European leaders. The article examines tensions over NATO's leadership and European defense autonomy.

The EU is attempting to finalize its 21st sanctions package against Russia amid disagreements among member states. The European Parliament is also working to reengage with China after a seven-year diplomatic freeze, while a Hollywood culture war erupts in Greece over Christopher Nolan’s film 'The Odyssey.'

A European Parliament delegation is visiting China for three days to address strained relations caused by trade disputes, geopolitical tensions, and EU import restrictions. The delegation, led by David McAllister, will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the National People’s Congress leadership in Beijing and Shanghai.

The European Parliament is launching an internal AI platform, EPGenAI Hub, to provide controlled access to models from OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, and Mistral for legislators and staff. The initiative aims to address concerns over AI-generated errors and misinformation in parliamentary documents, with the platform set to enter testing and potential deployment by September.

Bohdan Vitvitsky argues that Polish politicians' criticism of Ukraine's commemoration of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) risks harming bilateral relations during a period of shared security interests. He criticizes the use of historical grievances by Polish and European Parliament figures, claiming it aids Russian propaganda and undermines Ukraine's war efforts.

The European Parliament is launching an internal AI platform, EPGenAI Hub, to regulate lawmakers' use of artificial intelligence in drafting parliamentary materials. The platform, featuring models from OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, and Mistral, aims to address concerns about AI-generated errors and misleading content in legislative work.

European officials and ambassadors were polled by POLITICO about the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Most predictions favor Spain, with scores like 2-0 or 2-1, while a few remain neutral or highlight Messi's potential impact. Argentina's ambassador expressed hope for a 'best final' and Messi's victory.

A Sinn Fein politician in the European Parliament complained she was not allowed to speak in Gaelic but later backtracked in English when informed she could. The incident involved a language restriction issue during a parliamentary session.

The European Union has criticized China's new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, calling it assimilationist. China views this as hypocritical, noting similar policies in France and the U.S. The EU has also targeted China's trade surplus and tech sector, escalating tensions over internal affairs.

The European Parliament's 719 lawmakers will take a six-week summer break before returning on Aug. 31 for negotiations ahead of a midterm reshuffle. The article also discusses potential social media restrictions for children, issues with the EU's new digital border system differentiating identical twins, and a recurring segment about monkeys.

EU lawmakers face political challenges during summer recess, including negotiations over Roberta Metsola's potential re-election as Parliament president and distribution of key roles like vice-presidencies and committee chairmanships. The European People’s Party (EPP) and Socialists are at odds over an unpublished agreement, while right-wing and far-right groups may gain influence.

The European Parliament's legal affairs committee blocked efforts by Slovenian authorities to lift the parliamentary immunity of Slovenian lawmaker Matej Tonin, who faces allegations of abuse of office. Right-wing political groups, including Tonin's party, voted to overturn a recommendation to remove his immunity, citing inconsistencies in the evidence and claims of political persecution.

European policymakers criticized Anthropic for sending a junior technical employee, Donny Greenberg, instead of a senior official to address concerns about AI models Mythos and Fable, which pose cybersecurity risks. EU officials accused the company of dismissing Europe’s regulatory priorities, as Greenberg struggled to answer policy questions during a virtual hearing.

A Swedish MEP filed a police complaint against a Danish colleague for racist hate speech after being targeted on social media for condemning anti-immigration chants in the European parliament. The incident followed right-wing MEPs chanting 'send them back' after a vote to increase EU deportations.

An appeal court upheld Marine Le Pen's guilty verdict for misappropriating European Parliament funds but reduced her public office ban to fifteen months. The National Rally, France's most popular party, no longer has Le Pen as its presidential hopeful.

The European Parliament passed a resolution on July 8 addressing the Sudan conflict and RSF attacks in El Obeid. The EU has called for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to be designated as a terrorist group.

Belgium's 2-0 victory over the United States in a World Cup match overshadowed controversies surrounding FIFA's reversal of a red-card suspension for American player Folarin Balogun. While Belgian fans celebrated the win as a resolution to the dispute, political tensions remained, with 72 European Parliament members calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino's relationship with Donald Trump, who publicly credited himself for the suspension reversal.

The European Parliament urges EU member states to classify Sudan's Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist organization. Kenya's Rastafarian community awaits a court decision on marijuana legalization, while Morocco processes its World Cup defeat to France.

The European Parliament passed Chat Control 2.0, a law allowing companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft to scan users' messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The European Parliament voted to send a revised bill allowing tech companies to scan for child sexual abuse material to EU member states for approval, despite previous rejection in March. The bill now includes an amendment exempting end-to-end encrypted services like WhatsApp and Signal, leading to disappointment among both supporters and critics.

The European Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019, but the EU continues to struggle with severe heatwaves and heat domes. This summer's record-breaking temperatures are causing widespread suffering, raising questions about whether the EU has neglected short-term measures to address these crises.

EU lawmakers demanded an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino after FIFA overturned a red-card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a call from Donald Trump. The lawmakers criticized FIFA's mid-tournament rule change as a perversion of justice and accused Infantino of yielding to Trump's influence. A letter from 72 members of the European Parliament urged football federations to support the probe.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted NATO leaders in Ankara while Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, representing the Republican People’s Party, defended himself in court against corruption charges. Imamoglu faces 142 charges, including leading a criminal organization, and the court has limited his defense time, with potential prison sentences exceeding 2,000 years if convicted.

France’s highest court will rule on Marine Le Pen’s appeal of an embezzlement conviction before the 2027 presidential election. Her guilty verdict was upheld, leading to potential house arrest, and the case may impact her campaign ahead of the April 18 first-round vote.

Marine Le Pen remains in charge of France’s far-right presidential campaign after a court ruling allowed her to continue seeking the 2027 presidency. She is running alongside Jordan Bardella, positioning him as her potential prime minister, despite a court conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. Bardella, previously designated as the party’s alternate candidate, is now campaigning with Le Pen.

Marine Le Pen, French far-right leader, will run for president in 2027 despite a Paris Court of Appeals conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. She plans to challenge the verdict in a higher court and claims innocence, while National Rally President Jordan Bardella is positioned as a potential successor.

A Paris appeals court allowed Marine Le Pen to run for French president in 2027 but required her to wear an electronic bracelet after convicting her of misusing European Parliament funds. The court reduced her office ban and prison sentence, but she faces uncertainty over campaigning with the bracelet, potentially paving the way for Jordan Bardella to replace her.

The European Parliament adopted a digital assets report urging further evaluation of DeFi, staking, crypto lending, and NFTs following the end of MiCA’s transition period. The policy stance aims to address regulatory gaps in emerging crypto technologies.

A French court allowed far-right leader Marine Le Pen to run for president in 2027 but required her to wear an electronic bracelet, a condition she has rejected. The court reduced her prison sentence and elected office ban compared to a prior conviction related to misuse of European Parliament funds.

Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, faces trial for 'apology for terrorism' over her criticism of Israel and a post quoting Kozo Okamoto, a militant linked to a 1972 attack. She alleges political and judicial harassment, citing disproportionate surveillance and 16 legal cases, 13 of which were dismissed.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's eligibility for the 2027 presidential election is under review by a Paris appeals court following a 2025 conviction for misusing European Parliament funds. A potential five-year ban on holding elected office could end her political career and shift leadership to Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party.

Marine Le Pen faces a Paris court decision on her eligibility to run for the 2027 French presidency after being found guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds. Jordan Bardella, the National Rally President, is positioned as her substitute if she is barred from running.

French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan faces trial for sharing a quote attributed to Kōzō Okamoto, a militant linked to a 1972 Israeli airport attack, which prosecutors allege constitutes an apology for terrorism. Hassan argues the case is politically motivated and aims to silence pro-Palestinian voices, emphasizing her advocacy for Palestinian rights and resistance philosophy.