As a consequence of the virus outbreak, the tourism sector within the EU is facing unprecedented challenges, reads an open letter by the EP Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN)  MEPs to EU leaders, who are discussing on Friday and Saturday the next MFF and recovery fund.

The EP Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) adopted on Tuesday a draft resolution urging the Commission to take the measures foreseen in EU legislation in order to ensure full visa reciprocity. Citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, still need a visa to travel to the US.

The lawmakers from the EP Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee adopted by overwhelming majority a report on the shortage of medicines, which addresses the root causes of the issue.

With cutting Erasmus+ funding by further 14%, the latest proposal for long-term EU budget, tabled by EUCO President Charles Michel, is at odds with the idea of 'Next Generation EU', Culture and Education Committee (CULT) members warned ahead of European Council summit.

The EU Employment Guidelines must be revised, said MEPs in a resolution adopted on Friday, calling for radical measures to cushion the employment and social shock caused by the pandemic. Social inclusion and people’s wellbeing should be at the heart of EU economic policies, with equal priority given to social, environmental and economic objectives, they said.

During the European Parliament sitting in Brussels, MEPs voted on Wednesday the new amendments to the divisive Mobility Package I. All three motions to scrap the Council’s position on posting on drivers, driving time and rest periods and market access and cabotage were rejected, the EP announced late in the evening. Thus the new rules, which have been provisionally agreed with the Council in April, are considered adopted. 

The future of the EU financing and economic recovery dominated the agenda of the first day of the EP session in Brussels, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel came in person, which was her first trip after the pandemic outbreak, to present the main tasks of the country’s Presidency of the Council that started on 1 July. At the discussions on the MFF and New Generation EU the floor took as well EC President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. 

The top priority of the German Council Presidency is that Europe comes out of the crisis united and stronger, said Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech at the European Parliament, during her first trip since the start of the pandemic. 

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will debate with German Chancellor Angela Merkel the strategy and main goals of the German Presidency. Under the motto “Together for Europe’s recovery”, Germany will focus on the EU’s long-term budget as well as the recovery plan post Covid-19, on the future relationship with the UK, climate change, digitalisation, migration and Europe’s role in the world.

Greek and EU authorities must investigate recurrent reports of violent pushbacks at the border with Turkey, which if true would mean Greece is not ensuring the right to asylum, urged MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE).