The European Parliament plans to summon FIFA President Gianni Infantino for a hearing regarding his controversial proposal to allow private investment in FIFA competitions. This plan has prompted strong opposition from European football associations and concerns among MEPs about transparency and governance, with threats of a World Cup boycott.
Socialist MEP Bernd Lange warns the EU to prepare for US retaliation following the European Commission's €890 million fine on Google and new US tariffs targeting the EU over forced labor. Lange expects further US action and hopes US courts and Congress will address the tariffs.
A European Parliament delegation is on a three-day visit to China to manage strained ties amid escalating trade friction and geopolitical uncertainty. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged strengthening exchanges for a multi-dimensional perspective, while discussions will cover economic imbalances, the Russia-Ukraine war, and human rights.
The European Parliament is developing EPGenAI Hub, an internal AI platform offering models from Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral, to provide a secure alternative for MEPs and staff drafting legislative work, addressing concerns over public AI tool use and quality degradation.
The EU's return regulation is nearing adoption, allowing offshore migration processing hubs despite human rights concerns. Countries like Austria, Denmark, and Germany are poised to establish these centers, raising alarms due to past failures in Australia, Israel, and the US. Critics urge strict human rights safeguards before implementation.
The EU is considering restricting Chinese access to its 450 million consumer market by an October deadline to address a record trade deficit. German MEP Engin Eroglu warns such measures could destabilize China's economy and government due to its flawed model and high youth unemployment.
A Swedish MEP has filed a police complaint in Sweden against a Danish MEP for alleged racist hate speech after the latter told her to 'go home' on social media. The incident follows far-right chants of 'send them back' in the European Parliament.
The European Parliament has passed legislation allowing tech firms to scan messages for child sexual abuse material until 2028. Critics call it "chat control." An amendment exempts end-to-end encrypted messages, but voluntary mass scanning was approved.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stated the digital euro will complement, not replace, cash and is not designed for payment tracing. The European Parliament approved its negotiating mandate, moving closer to adoption by end-2026. Lagarde emphasized strengthening Europe's payment autonomy.
The European Parliament voted to support renewed negotiations for a digital euro, aiming for a deal by 2026 and potential availability in 2029. The digital currency seeks to reduce reliance on US payment systems and enhance user privacy, though concerns exist about its impact on bank deposits.
The European Parliament voted to send a controversial child abuse scanning bill back to EU member governments, with changes ensuring scanning won't affect end-to-end encrypted services. The vote followed a tense session where lawmakers debated the bill's future, potentially leading to a "conciliation" procedure if member states disagree.
The European Parliament has voted on its negotiating position for the digital euro, paving the way for talks with member states. The digital euro, backed by the ECB, aims to complement cash and banking services, offering privacy and supporting online/offline payments. Key negotiation points include compensation models for financial institutions and fee sharing, with retail availability expected from 2029.
Marine Le Pen announced her 2027 French presidential candidacy despite a recent embezzlement conviction, drawing parallels to Donald Trump's legal battles. An appeal court upheld her conviction, but shortened her ban on running, allowing a fourth bid. Her sentence of a year with an electronic tag is on hold pending a higher court appeal, creating uncertainty for the campaign.
The European Parliament criticized Ukraine's decision to rename a military unit after WWII Nazi collaborators, sparking a diplomatic dispute with Poland. The move, seen as an "unnecessary escalation" and "disregard for Polish sensitivities," undermines neighborly relations and European values.
Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election and will appeal her conviction for embezzling EU funds, which includes a jail sentence and an electronic ankle tag. The appeal to the court of cassation suspends the sentence, allowing her to campaign freely.
Marine Le Pen announced she will run for president in 2027 after an appeal court reduced her ban on holding public office. The court upheld her conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened the ban, allowing the far-right leader to stand in the election.
Marine Le Pen found guilty of embezzling EU funds, sentenced to house arrest with an electronic tag. Her 2027 presidential bid is now uncertain due to restricted movement, though her ban on holding office was shortened.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces uncertainty for the 2027 presidential election after a Paris appeals court sentenced her to one year under house arrest with an electronic tag and upheld a ban from public office. The ban is set to expire later this year, but Le Pen may not run if campaigning is hindered.
A French court of appeal upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling EU parliament funds but reduced her ban on holding office to 15 months. She received a 3-year jail term, with 2 suspended, and must wear an electronic tag, potentially complicating a 2027 presidential run.
EU lawmakers have adopted a position paper on digital assets, urging the European Commission to assess the regulatory scope of DeFi, crypto lending, staking, and NFTs. The paper calls for consistent MiCA application and warns against market fragmentation.
Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen's chosen successor, is under legal scrutiny as police investigate irregular expenses within the National Rally's former European Parliament group. The probe into alleged misuse of €4.3 million and nearly €280,000 in new group spending could impact the party's image ahead of the 2027 French presidential election.
MEP Bernd Lange doubts the EU's October deadline for "tangible results" with China is realistic for a binding trade agreement. The EU faces a large trade deficit and seeks to rebalance trade, while China threatens retaliation against protectionist measures.
The European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament has proposed expelling Slovenian MEP Branko Grims. The move follows his cooperation with far-right lawmakers and failure to adhere to the group's voting positions on key legislation, including Rule of Law reports and the Digital Services Act.
MEPs have warned Albania that its EU accession talks are at risk due to plans for a luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner. Tineke Strik stated the government is "playing with fire" and jeopardizing EU ambitions, particularly concerning environmental policies and rule of law.
