Covid-19
Recovery fund
Parliament is calling for a €2 trillion recovery package to boost Europe’s economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a resolution adopted on Friday, MEPs said funds should be disbursed mostly through grants and warned the European Commission against using misleading figures.
Contingency plan for EU budget
MEPs want the Commission to table a contingency plan to guarantee continuity of EU funding in case the EU’s next long-term budget is not ready on 1 January 2021. The idea behind the resolution adopted on Wednesday is to create a safety net for people and organisations benefitting from EU funding and avoid disruption to EU programmes.
Tracing apps
Any tracing apps used to manage the spread of the coronavirus should respect people’s privacy and any use of personal date should be minimal and time limited, MEPs stressed in a debate on Thursday.
Vaccines and treatments
MEPs discussed on Thursday how to speed up the development of a vaccine and medicines for Covid-19 treatment, emphasising that these should be available to everyone.
Hungary
MEPs urged the Commission and -Council to protect democracy and the rule of law in Hungary. In a debate on Thursday, many members underlined thatthe country’s emergency measures to fight Covid-19 are not in line with EU rules.
Transport
Parliament approved measures on Friday to ease - requirements on - the transport sector including airlines, ships and railway companies, with the aim of minimising the effect of the pandemic on the sector.
Other topics
New tyre labelling rules approved on Wednesday will give consumers the opportunity to make an informed choice based on fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise level when buying tyres.
Parliament approved on Wednesday safety standards for the reuse of water in agriculture. The rules will protect people and the environment and help prevent water shortages.
In a series of votes Parliament gave its approval to the implementation of the EU’s 2018 budget by most EU institutions and agencies. However, MEPs postponed the approval of the Council’s accounts, as they have not received all requested information, , and of the European Economic and Social Committee, giving it time to address alleged problems related to harassment.
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