European & International News

International news globe All the latest news from the European Union, its member states, and beyond.

European & International News
European elections coming up: some useful websites

Posted on 16 May 2014 |

[Brussels, 16 Mayl 2014] European elections are just around the corner. Indeed, from 22 to 25 May 2014, nearly 500 million citizens from 28 EU Member States will go to the polls to elect the new Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) to represent their interests for the next five years. The results will be announced on the evening of Sunday 25 May. This time 751 MEPs will be elected. MEPs’ seats are allocated among the various states, by the EU treaties, on the basis of ’degressive (...) Read more
European & International News
European Grassroots Antiracist Movement tests nightlife places in Europe

Posted on 16 May 2014 |

[Press relase by EGAM, Paris, 10 May 2014] European Testing Night in nightlife places : 1/4 of people discriminated because of the color of their skin. The European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM has conducted, simultaneously in 7 countries throughout the continent, the European Testing* Night to fight racial discrimination in nightlife places.
The action has shown the violent state-of-the-art of racial discrimination in Europe today : one fourth of Arab, Roma, Black,… individuals (...) Read more
European & International News
Check Before You Vote: The European Parliament Resolution on Undocumented Women and the EU Elections

Posted on 15 May 2014 |

[Article on Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants - Blog by Louise Bonneau and Eve Geddie] As Europe prepares to go the polls this month to elect its representatives for the 2014-2019 European Parliament, take a deeper look into the recently passed European Parliament Resolution on Undocumented Migrant Women in the EU. What does it say about your MEP’s position on undocumented women’s rights? What message does it send to EU and national decision makers? And finally, (...) Read more
European & International News
Lack of female film directors is undemocratic, says Cannes head judge

Posted on 15 May 2014 |

[Article of the Guardian, 14 May 2014] Head judge of the Cannes film festival Jane Campion says the industry keeps women’s films out of view, as only two by female directors are up for Palme d’Or. Read the article on the website of the Guardian. Read more
European & International News
Abolition 2012 sur la situation au Nigéria : "Emotion et mobilisation à deux vitesses !" - #BringBackOurGirls

Posted on 13 May 2014 |

[Communiqué de presse d’Abolition 2012, Paris, 13 mai 2014]
200 nigérianes à vendre par Boko Haram... Des milliers vendues sur nos trottoirs au profit des clients prostitueurs français ! François Hollande doit faire preuve de cohérence au sommet africain de samedi.
La France et la communauté internationale sont aujourd’hui mobilisées pour porter secours aux 223 adolescentes enlevées et séquestrées au Nigeria par le groupe Boko Haram. Nous nous en félicitions ! Mais nous tenons à rappeler que sur (...) Read more
European & International News
Eurobarometer survey: trust and optimism are growing across the European Union

Posted on 13 May 2014 |

[Brussels, 12 May 2014] The special Eurobarometer survey “Europeans 2014” published today reveals that optimism and trust towards the European Union and the economic situation is rising across the EU. In view of the European elections that will take place in two weeks (from 22 to 25 May 2014) it is very positive to note that 37% of the citizens believe that their voice counts in the EU, compared to 29% in autumn 2013. (European Commission press release)
Eurobarometer survey: trust and (...) Read more
European & International News
#BringBackOurGirls: A joint op-ed on the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Nigeria

Posted on 9 May 2014 |

[UN Women News, New York, 7 May 2014] A joint op-ed by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, and Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund.
Today more than 200 school girls will wake up to another day in an unthinkable nightmare. Three weeks ago, they were seized in the night by armed men dressed as soldiers who said they were there to protect them. In reality, the men were militant extremists who kidnapped them and set their boarding school on (...) Read more
European & International News
3 things you can do today to help #BringBackOurGirls

Posted on 9 May 2014 |

[Equality Now News, Brussels, 6 May 2014] “Girls are our future. Extremists know this and want to deprive the world of the hope adolescent girls embody. This is not only about Nigeria – it is about protecting the rights of every girl, everywhere to reach her fullest potential without the threat of violence.” Equality Now
It’s been three weeks since armed attackers stormed a school dormitory in Chibok, northern Nigeria and abducted nearly 300 girls—most of whom have not been seen since and are (...) Read more
European & International News
Implementing Commission Recommendation on investing in children

Posted on 9 May 2014 |

[Brussels, 9 May 2014] Child poverty and social exclusion is one of the major challenges facing the European Union, in the same vein, the financial crisis is increasingly threatening children and their rights. Therefore, in February 2013, as a key part of its Social Investment Package (SIP), the European Union and the European Commission issued a major Recommendation on Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
This puts forward a common European Framework that is expected (...) Read more
European & International News
Women’s and human rights organisations welcome new Irish Minister for Justice and Equality

Posted on 9 May 2014 |

[Brussels, 9 May 2014] Yesterday, Ms Frances Fitzgerald was appointed new Minister for Justice and Equality in Ireland, leaving her position of Minister for Children. According to the Irish Times, Her main achievements during her term include passing the children’s referendum and introducing the children’s first legislation. Originally from Limerick, Ms Fitzgerald was formerly chairperson of the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) and vice-president of European Women’s Lobby (EWL). (...) Read more