EU Parliament

Cuban activists who made it to Brussels called on the EU to put pressure on Cuba to respect human rights.

The new strategy sets the stage for North Macedonia and Albania accession's battles - which Paris blocked last year.

Triumphant Brexit-supporting MEPs marched out of the European Parliament for the last time on Friday as the countdown to Brexit was underway.

In this special edition we look at how British MEPs feel as they leave Brussels and what exactly will change in the European Parliament when they go. Aside from less Brexit drama, the loss of British voices and political representation could strengthen some and weaken others.

This week in The Brief we bring you special coverage about Brexit and how it will impact Brussels - from British MEPs packing up to the changing shapes of the political groups. In this edition we meet a British MEP proposing a final piece of legislation before being made redundant.

There were mixed feelings among British MEPs this week as they sat in Strasbourg for the final time before Brexit. But there was delight among Catalan separatists after Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin were finally allowed to take their seats.

The European Parliament has voted on a resolution saying that rule of law in Hungary and Poland is still deteriorating. Which means that the EU is failing to bring these countries to realign with the Union’s core values.

Now fully accredited MEPS, they are here to attend the first plenary of the year. After expressing his joy, Carles Puigdemont told the press the Catalan independence question was a European issue.

The European Parliament has recognised the Catalan independentist leader, Oriol Junqueras, as an MEP. It comes despite the fact that he has been sentenced to thirteen years in prison and that the debate on his disqualification is still pending a resolution in Spain.

Oriol Junqueras, former Vice President of Catalonia, became a Member of the European Parliament as soon as he was elected – so says the EU's top court in Luxembourg. That means he enjoyed parliamentary immunity from that moment on, even if he was in pre-trial detention.

Centre-right MEPs have torn into Muscat over rule of law in Malta and his administration's alleged links to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The European Health Parliament meets in Brussels to come up with innovative policies for future healthcare

A look at how The Lisbon Treaty has positively and negatively affected the European Union 10 years after its adoption.

In Strasbourg, MEPs voted in favour of a resolution that would require Europe to keep in mind the environmental effects of all future legislation.

In the State of the Union this week we look at how Ursula von der Leyen won support for the make-up of her new commission by MEPs

The tale of a woman standing up to patriarchy in a small Macedonian village has won the prestigious LUX Film Prize. Its director says it is important to stand up to misogyny in the Balkans and across Europe.

In Strasbourg, MEPs voiced their opinions on what they believed to be the most important priority of the incoming Commission.

These young activists are "dying" to be heard. Bringing their calls for urgent climate action inside the European Parliament and forcing politicians to climb over them, to get to their meetings.

Parliament voted overwhelmingly to condemn a bill proposed by the Polish government that would criminalize sex education in schools.

After receiving criticism for the Protecting our European way of life portfolio, the president-elect has changed the title less than one month before she is due to take office.

David Sassoli, elected as President of the Eurpean Parliament in July, says rejection of three nominated commissioners and the current block on accession talks for potential new members are simply the normal, healthy functionings of democracy.

The ECJ has ruled the 2017 reforms that lowered the retirement age for judges in Poland compromise the independence of courts and are gender discrimination.

In the State of the Union, we look at the delay to Brexit that Boris Johnson promised wouldn't happen, the call from MEPs for EU sanctions for Turkey and the farewell to Tusk and Juncker.