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Ayman Nour calls for three key changes ahead of Egyptian elections

ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

Today the ALDE Group spoke to Dr. Ayman Nour, one of the leading Egyptian opposition politicians and former Presidential candidate, during a live video conference in which Nour expressed his  hopes and fears on the future of Egypt.

"Change has to happen now, there is a sense of hope and a collective wish for change but three key issues have to be urgently addressed:

Package deal on bus passenger rights disappointing

ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

The European Parliament today backed a compromise creating a European set of rights for bus passengers. However, whilst a step in the right direction, the regulation is limited in scope and leaves many travellers out in the cold. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) that had pushed for a truly EU-wide package of bus passenger rights withheld their support from the EPP-S&D deal.

European Pensions: Member States will have the lead but EU coordination is necessary. Ria Oomen-Ruijten MEP

EPP Group in the European Parliament

"Safe, adequate and sustainable is the guarantee we wish to give to European citizens on pensions. EU coordination is necessary, particularly for the functioning of the internal market, the EU 2020 Strategy and the Stability and Growth Pact. But Member States will keep the lead," said Ria Oomen-Ruijten, presenting her report on pensions.

Ageing populations in all Member States have put existing retirement systems under massive strain and the financial and economic crisis has only increased this pressure. Unfortunately not all the Member States have put money aside for pensions.

Combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children: aim to adopt Directive in June. Roberta Angelilli MEP

EPP Group in the European Parliament

The proposal for a Directive on combating sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography was adopted unanimously by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament yesterday evening.

The text, which will replace the Framework Decision of 2004, will be approved by the plenary in Strasbourg in June.

Conservative ECOFIN Council goes further down ‘austerity only’ dead end

PES - Party of European Socialists

EU Finance Ministers met in Brussels on 15 February to discuss the direction of the new ‘European Semester’. The European semester is an instruments launched by the European Commission to strengthen the coordination of economic policies in Europe. But in the current political context, this coordination is only intended as a mean for financial surveillance and enforcing punishment for already weakened EU Member States. The PES denounces the approach to the crisis defended by the Commission – and endorsed today by EU Ministers – as an attack on the welfare state.

CO2 legislation for vans sets extremely challenging targets

ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers' Association

Brussels, 16 February 2011 – The CO2 legislation for light commercial vehicles, adopted today by the European Parliament following an agreement with the EU Council, sets extremely challenging targets in particular for the long term.

Kowtowing to manufacturers - commercial vehicles emissions proposal diluted

GUE/NGL Group in the EP

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."

 

Bus and coach passengers' rights. Final green light in the interest of passengers and SMEs. Antonio Cancian MEP

EPP Group in the European Parliament

"With this Regulation, the 70 million European bus and coach passengers will have new rights which were almost non-existent when compared to other transport sectors such as airline, rail and sea. I am highly satisfied with the approval of this text, after two years of negotiations, because it strengthens the rights of passengers also taking into account the peculiar reality of bus and coach companies that have reduced their size and financial resources due to the current difficult economic crisis.

Childrens' rights are fundamental rights. Manfred Weber MEP

EPP Group in the European Parliament

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.

Radioactive contamination of foodstuffs - maximum permitted levels problem lingers following EP vote

GUE/NGL Group in the EP

Following the European Parliament's vote on new rules on radioactive contamination of foodstuffs, GUE/NGL MEP Marisa Matias welcomed the vote in favour of a changed legal base to ensure Parliament is a co-legislator on the proposal but said the problem of maximum contamination levels lingers.

 

"When we speak of radioactive contamination of food or soil, we are talking about a public health problem" she said, explaining that the original rules were introduced after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

 

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