For several months now, Hungary has been the subject of much scathing criticism. Among the topics of discontent: a new restrictive constitution which threatens press and religion freedoms, a no longer independent central bank and judiciary authority, and the confiscation by the ruling party (the Fidesz and its leader Viktor Orban, Prime minister since May 2010) of appointment power. Few months...  

The CAP was created in particular to enable European citizens to be independant in terms of food distribution. Starvation and food shortage during World War 2 and its aftermath was indeed a tremendous shock. However people suffering from malnutrition are rising in Europe. Since 2008 the world is experiencing a dramatic increase in food prices creating instability in the world market and...  

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is known for two things: its complexity and the exclusive competence of the European Union for the preservation of fisheries resources. These two characteristics do not make the topic very attractive at first, but actually that is the ground for a passionate and decisive fight for the future of fisheries and marine resources in the European Union. However, it...  

In recent times there has been a rather surprising resurgence in federalist sentiments in the pronouncements of several European leaders. Since the financial crisis took hold in 2008 European leaders have continued to cry for "more Europe". Their actions however have often moved in the opposite direction. This was never more clear than when several member states openly challenged the Schengen...  

The "least bad of all systems of government” is on the crest of a wave. Democracy has never been so present in some many states around the world. Yesterday, the Soviet Empire fell apart. Today people in the Arab world have stood up against their dictators. However the differences between those two events, at least in Europe, are at least as important as their common features.   A WALL CAN...  

On Tuesday April 26th, in a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi called for a discussion on "the possibility of restoring temporary control at internal borders in the event of exceptional difficulties in the management of common borders". The request takes place at a time when France and Italy are battling to...  

In 1979, the European Parliament achieved its first major democratic breakthrough with the direct election of its members by European citizens. A few days ago, one of its members, the Irish liberal Andrew Duff, attempted to take a new step on democracy path with the publication of a report that calls for the Parliament to hold transnational elections. With this proposal Duff has breathed new life...  

Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas, this year's winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, had to be represented by an empty chair at the prize award ceremony on Wednesday as he did not receive permission to leave his country and travel to Strasbourg to receive the prize. "The Sakharov Prize is the trademark of the European Parliament in the fight for human...  

The European Parliament adopted the 2011 EU budget at its plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The adopted budget reflects most of MEPs' priorities, while respecting the total limits laid down by the Council. The 2011 budget, as adopted by the full Parliament, includes more funding for the priorities set out by MEPs, including youth, innovation, the Middle East peace process and...  

The 18th of november, Dacian Ciolos,European Farm Commissioner presented his proposals on Common Agricultural Policy reform to members of Parliament's agriculture commitee. Those proposals were welcomed by the greatest CAP defenders. Regulation on farm products prices, stable income for farmers, competition and fight against climate change were the key components of Dacian Ciolos proposals to...  

Today, the European Commission adopted its Enlargement Package. This presents the Commission's annual assessment of the European Union's enlargement agenda. It outlines the current state of preparations, the challenges ahead, and the way forward for the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland. The Commission proposes Candidate Status for Montenegro, and recommends that accession negotiations with...  

Last Wednesday (October 20th) Reporters without borders published its 9th Press Freedom Index. First of all it seems that economic development does not automatically go along with fundamental rights respect. The BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are behind as far as press freedom is concerned. Indeed the last three countries mentioned are at the back of the pack (respectively 140th, 122nd...  

The Culture Committee of the European Parliament will vote at the end of October a report on the creation of a European Heritage Label, as an answer to the European Commission proposal published in March 2010. Before the vote in plenary session in December, let’s have an overview of the initial proposal from the Commission. The European Heritage Label was launched in April 2006 by several Member...  

The two first week of october, the 2010 European Job Days gave jobseekers a chance to meet employers from all over Europe, and find out about working in other EU countries through seminars and workshops. This autumn, jobseekers can hook up with employers at over 500 events being held all over the EU. The European job days are an ideal opportunity for school-leavers, graduates and people who...  

One in three men and one in five women aged 25 to 34 live with their parents, this is what appears from the last Eurostat survey on young people. In the EU27 in 2008, 20% of women and 32% of men aged 25 to 34 lived with at least one of their parents. Among these young women and men still living at home, 13% were in education. For the age group 18 to 24, as would be expected, the share living with...  

Today the European Commission launches the Young Reporters Against Poverty contest – an invitation to all journalism students in the EU Member States to send in a report on development issues to be selected to cover the European Development Days in Brussels in December. The final winners will be invited to a field trip to one of the Commission's partner countries in Africa. "The media has...  

In the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal ALDE group, Green/EFA group co-chair Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Sylvie Goulard(ALDE, France) and Isabelle Durant current Parliament Vice-President Isabelle Durant (Greens/EFA; Belgium) presented the 15th of September the creation of the Spinelli group. A way to relaunch federalism within the EU. Who said European Union is only about...  

“Youth on the Move”, that is the name given to this new initiative to address youth mobility and presented last week (September, 15th) by the European Commission. This initiative aims to improve youth employment perspectives, to adapt education and training to their needs, and to inform young people on the European grants available to study or volunteer abroad. These are interesting and...  

WHAT’S THE ISSUE? • European citizens’ initiatives, introduced by the Lisbon treaty, enable the public to call on the European Commission directly to act on specific issues by passing new laws. • Initiatives must be supported by at least 1 million people from a significant number of EU countries. • A regulation setting out basic rules and procedures for citizens’ initiatives is needed....  

The island of Haiti was hit by a catastrophic earthquake...