By Martin Banks MEPs are calling on the EU to speed up financial aid for victims of the devastating floods affecting a quarter of European countries. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Germany have all been hit by extreme weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of 23 people. MEPs say the loss of […]
By Martin Banks Two new hotels have opened close to Brussels airport, helping meet increased demand from the travelling public. A relative lack of accommodation at, or close to, the national airport has sometimes been a cause of complaint from international air passengers. However, the twin openings hope to go some way to addressing such […]
By Martin Banks Former Italian PM Mario Draghi has outlined his ambitious blueprint for improving Europe’s competitiveness through “closer cooperation” in core areas and massive investment in shared objectives. Draghi is the author of a major report on European competitiveness commissioned by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. Draghi, the ex […]
By Martin Banks The new-look European Commission has been unveiled by its president Ursula von der Leyen. Outlining the new team to MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the German official told deputies that gender balance had been uppermost in her thoughts. The college, as it is formally called, comprises 11 women, 40 per cent of […]
By Imane Belguenani (Brussels MP) The two-year postponement of the next phase of the LEZ (the low emission zone) in Brussels is not a proposal burdened with community-based issues. I am Dutch-speaking and co-submitted the proposal. So why is it, as we say in Belgium, being “played out as a community issue”? Let’s go back […]
By Martin Banks Panto preparations in September? Oh yes they are It must, surely, be too early to talk about pantomine? Oh no it isn’t. Yes, preparations for that much-loved of English traditions – the panto – are back in full swing. The panto season does not actually start until nearer Christmas but, as they […]
By Martin Banks More than 700 workers “united” on Tuesday in front of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France, to call upon the EU institutions for urgent action to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains and labour intermediation. The European action was organised by the EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers), EFFAT (the European Federation of […]
By Martin Banks Brussels Airport is providing a much-need boost for the local economy – while its second most popular long-haul airline is doing the same for the travelling public. Both the airport and Emirates are celebrating “success stories” – particularly welcome as the post-pandemic recovery continues. According to a new study, the airport remains […]
By Martin Banks European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented the proposal for the new European Commission. On Tuesday, speaking in Strasbourg to MEPs, she told MEPs her thoughts on the new line up. The former German defence minister said, “We do not have the extra layer of Vice-Presidents. Leaner structure, more interactive […]
By Martin Banks Media freedom in Italy has been steadily declining in recent years, says a new report. This, it claims, is marked by “unprecedented attacks and violations often initiated by public officials in an attempt to silence critical voices.” The claims are made by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) which has just published […]
