Calling today a bad day for the climate, GUE/NGL MEP Sabine Wils criticised MEPs for caving in to pressure from manufacturers and major vehicle-producing countries in today's vote on emission standards for vans.

"A large majority in Parliament decided that new light commercial motor vehicles may emit up to 147g CO2/km until at least 2020, substantially weakening the commission proposal of 135g. The GUE/NGL sought a 120g limit."

Strengthening the weakest in our societies ought to be an EU priority/ EPP Group in support of the Commission action plan

Childrens' rights in Europe will be strengthened. The EPP Group in the European Parliament supports the action plan presented by the European Commission today. "It is right to promote childrens' rights at EU level. We need better security on the internet, more information for children on their actual rights and a more children-oriented justice system", said EPP Group Vice-Chairman Manfred Weber MEP.

During a debate on new rules giving bus and coach passengers' rights comparable to those of air, rail and sea passengers in the European Parliament this morning, Czech GUE/NGL MEP Jaromír Kohlíček welcomed the "reasonable compromise", the result of long negotiations and conciliation with the Commission and Council, but identified significant problems.

The Services Directive, adopted in 2006, is a crucial step in improving the functioning of the Single Market for services. It covers a large variety of services accounting for 40% of EU GDP and estimates predict that the implementation of the Services Directive has the potential to bring about economic gains of up to €140 billion, representing up to 1.5% growth of the EU GDP.

The situation in Lampedusa reveals the inadequacy of EU migration policies as well as their dependence on the presence of dictators such as Ben Ali and Gaddafi. Furthermore, the humanitarian situation may soon deteriorate beyond Lampedusa as a series of countries from Morocco to Syria may each present a humanitarian risk.

We all want these revolutions to go well, if not the EU could be faced with its most serious humanitarian crisis, akin to the 1956 Hungarian crisis that prompted the creation of the UNHCR.