Latest European Parliament News

Head of union organization fired after EU donation probe

Mar. 12, 2023 16:29 PM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — An organization representing trade unions around the world has fired its general secretary after he admitted accepting donations from a suspect in a major European cash-for-influence scandal, saying that the affair has severely damaged its reputation. The...

EU commission tightens rules after Qatar free travel uproar

Mar. 07, 2023 08:53 AM EST

The European Commission announced Tuesday that it is tightening rules that allow foreign governments or organizations to pay travel expenses for its staff, a day after the institution conceded that Qatar had provided free flights and accommodation to a top official without independent oversight. ...

EU countries postpone vote on combustion engine ban

Mar. 03, 2023 07:43 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — The adoption by European Union member countries of new carbon dioxide emission standards for cars and vans has been postponed amid opposition from Germany and conservative lawmakers, the presidency of the EU ministers' council said Friday. The vote initially...

EU pandemic fund inspectors say no sign of fraud in Spain

Feb. 22, 2023 11:47 AM EST

MADRID (AP) — The European Parliament´s budget control committee said Wednesday it has found no evidence of deceit or fraud in Spain’s handling of the 31 billion euros ($33 billion) it has received so far in special European Union post-pandemic recovery funds. But a visiting...

EU assembly lifts immunity of 2 lawmakers linked to scandal

Feb. 02, 2023 05:47 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s parliament on Thursday removed the protective immunity of two lawmakers linked to one of the bloc’s biggest-ever corruption scandals, paving the way for them to be questioned by Belgian investigators. In a show of hands, the assembly voted...

EU watchdog seeks powers, funds for lawmaker probe body

Jan. 30, 2023 05:49 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — A European Parliament body supervising anti-lobbying and lawmakers' conduct rules must be given the power and money to launch independent investigations into abuses in the wake of a major corruption scandal, the European Ombudsman’s office warned Monday. European...

EU corruption case suspect takes aim at detention conditions

Jan. 19, 2023 12:15 PM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — Lawyers for a former European Parliament vice president at the heart of the corruption scandal rocking the European Union's assembly complained Thursday about her detention conditions and sought her release. Greek European lawmaker Eva Kaili was removed as vice...

EU assembly wants Iran's Revolutionary Guard on terror list

Jan. 19, 2023 11:44 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Parliament on Thursday called for Iran's Revolutionary Guard to be put on the European Union's terrorist list and insisted that sanctions targeting Tehran had to be expanded after the violent suppression of protests. In a nonbinding resolution, the...

Key EU corruption suspect makes deal to earn leniency

Jan. 17, 2023 13:29 PM EST

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The alleged ringleader of a European Union cash-for-influence corruption scandal linked to Qatar and Morocco has decided to reveal information about the affair in exchange for a lighter sentence, Belgian prosecutors said Tuesday. Pier Antonio Panzeri, who...

Scandal-hit EU political group starts damage limitation work

Jan. 16, 2023 02:53 AM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — The major center-left political group embroiled in a corruption scandal at the European Parliament will seek this week to insulate itself from more fallout in the cash-for-influence affair linked to Qatar and Morocco as Belgian justice authorities target its members. ...