Source: European Parliament |

Members of European Parliament to push for ambitious outcome at (UN Climate Change Conference) COP27 in Egypt

MEPs will meet with ministers, parliamentarians, and other delegates from non-EU countries including USA, China, Canada, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Maldives, Bangladesh, Marshall Islands

A European Parliament delegation arrives in Egypt today to participate in the COP27, where they will meet with key parties to the negotiations. An official delegation from the European Parliament are in Egypt this week to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, taking place in Sharm el Sheik. The…

Source: European Parliament |

Coronavirus - Libya: The situation in Libya and on the migration route to Europe

The fate of migrants and asylum-seekers attempting to reach European shores from Libya has become even more uncertain due to COVID-19

MEPs will discuss with Commission, Frontex, UNHCR, Council of Europe and NGOs the migration situation in Libya and on the Central Mediterranean route. Civil Liberties MEPs will hear about the conditions that thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers stranded in Libya are facing, often in locked camps and lacking the most…

Source: European Parliament |

Parliament President Sassoli to meet Fayez Al-Sarraj today at 14:30

The meeting is taking place during a visit by Mr Al-Sarraj to Brussels to discuss the ongoing situation in Libya with various EU leader

EP President David Sassoli will meet Fayez Al-Sarraj, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, today at 14:30. The meeting is taking place during a visit by Mr Al-Sarraj to Brussels to discuss the ongoing situation in Libya with various EU…

Source: European Parliament |

Guinea-Bissau: unconstitutional step by President undermines elections

Declaration by the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on the recent political developments in Guinea-Bissau

The Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Carlos Zorrinho (S&D, PT) and Mr Joseph Owona Kono, express their deep concern with the current political developments in Guinea-Bissau and deem the Presidential decree aiming to dismiss Prime-Minister Gomes and his Government as unconstitutional and therefore illegal. They believe that…

Source: European Parliament |

Cyclone “Idai”: initial EU emergency aid package for EUR 3.5 million

Joint Press Statement by the Co-Presidents of the ACP – EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on Cyclone “Idai”

Joseph Owona Kono, Co-President and Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, acting Co-President said: “It is with great sadness and dismay that we learned of the devastating effects of tropical cyclone “Idai” that affected Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe just a few days ago. This tropical cyclone, ravaging southern Africa, is possibly the…

Source: European Parliament |

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopt new Fisheries Partnership with Morocco including Western Sahara

A new agreement on the legal, environmental, economic and social governance of EU vessels’ fishing activities in Morocco and Western Sahara waters was approved on Tuesday

Sets fishing opportunities for EU vessels; does not prejudice political process on final status of Western Sahara; promotes sustainable fishing policy. The new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) includes the waters of Western Sahara and aims to take into account the conclusions reached by the EU Court of Justice on…

Source: European Parliament |

Preferential tariffs to help Western Sahara to develop

It guarantees that products coming from the Western Sahara can be clearly tracked, to make sure the benefits of the lower tariffs go to the local population

Western Sahara will enjoy preferential trade tariffs on its exports to the EU; origin of products will be traceable; agreement allows region to develop even before a political solution is found On Wednesday, Parliament backed a proposal to lower tariffs in the territory of Western Sahara to the same level…

Source: European Parliament |

Libya: Situation of migrants and rescue operations up for discussion

The situation of migrants in Libya and the conditions under which the Libyan coast guard is conducting rescue operations will be up for debate in the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will try to get clarification from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Frontex and the Search and Rescue Observatory for the Mediterranean (SAROBMED) about Libya being assigned a Search and Rescue area in the Mediterranean. Being in charge of managing a SAR area implies that vessels carrying…

Source: European Parliament |

The EU and Africa are bound by common values, says South African President

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed Members of European Parliament in a formal sitting on Wednesday

Commemorating the centenary of the birth of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who in 1994 became the country’s first black head of state following the dismantling of the oppressive apartheid regime, Mr Ramaphosa said: “As we celebrate the birth of Nelson Mandela, the founding father of our democratic nation,…

Source: European Parliament |

Tajani: In the absence of a central role for the EU, the future of Libya will be in the hands of other countries

In the absence of a stable Libyan government that can control the country´s borders and territory, managing migration flows from Libya´s coast will become more difficult

“The future of Libya is being decided now, and the EU has to play a central role in managing this crisis. If we are not able to carry out this task, we will leave the door open for the ambitions and interests of countries, such as Russia, Egypt or the…