The European Parliament is the world’s only directly elected transnational assembly and the only EU body elected by the people. This June, EU citizens across 27 countries will elect 720 MEPs. But how does someone become an MEP? Is it the same process in every EU country? Do you have to be nominated by a…
Migration remains a polarising and salient issue in many European Union countries, including in Ireland. A comprehensive strategy for migration and asylum has long been absent at the EU level, with past policies relying on emergency solutions. In December 2023, after almost ten years (two legislative terms) of political gridlock, European Parliament and Council negotiators…
On 10 March 2024, over six million Portuguese voters headed to the polls to elect a new Parliament. In November 2023, Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, called a snap election after the forced resignation of the Socialist Prime Minister, António Costa, who is currently subject to a judicial investigation regarding corruption. This is Portugal’s…
On Sunday 25 February 2024, Belarusian voters headed to the polls to vote in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections. The opposition decried Sunday’s elections as “fake”. Belarus’ President, Alexander Lukashenko, has ruled for almost 30 years and has been dubbed “Europe’s last dictator”. This Just the Facts looks at the election results, Lukashenko’s regime…
On 22 February 2024, the European Parliament and the Council voted together to choose Frankfurt as the home for the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority, or AMLA for short. AMLA’s key objective will be to protect EU citizens and the EU’s financial system against illicit money flows and terrorist financing. Nine capitals in total applied…
On Sunday 11 February 2024, Finnish voters headed to the polls to elect a new President. As no candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round, Sunday’s election represented a second-round run-off. This high-stakes election was the first since the country’s accession to NATO in April 2023. Former Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, of…
2024 is an immense year for elections. This year, more voters than ever in history – over three billion people – will head to the polls in 40 different countries, representing around 41% of the world’s population and 42% of the world’s GDP. From India and Indonesia to the United States of America and Russia…
Differences have arisen between the European Parliament and the Council regarding the inclusion of an Article about rape in the proposed EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women. Here’s why. The European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the EU’s first directive combating violence against women expressed disappointment and anger that the Council decided to omit provisions…
On 22 November, the Netherlands went to the polls for a snap general election which was called after the collapse of the outgoing coalition in July 2023. With 26 parties contesting the election, the campaign period saw tensions rise over issues such as immigration, a brand-new party among the front-runners, and the possibility of the…
From toothpaste to make-up, the European cosmetics industry affects the lives of consumers almost every day. Why can the EU ban ‘ultra-dark’ fake tan? Is glitter leaving the European market? Will skincare products be affected by new rules on Vitamin A consumption? From micro-plastics to animal testing, this Just the Facts dives into the origins…