Plenary Session - Strasbourg Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Hopes for Libya's June elections, the first in almost 50 years, tempered by worries that arms may be smuggled through its porous borders to restless neighbouring countries, were voiced by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs at a meeting with Libya's Deputy Prime Minister, Mustafa Abushagur, on Tuesday evening.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Europe on the Ground, a Greek youth media project, was awarded first prize at the 2012 Charlemagne Youth Prize ceremony on 15 May in Aachen. Second prize went to Europe Meets School, an exchange programme for Erasmus students (Czech Republic) and the winner of the third prize was the Cycle Me Home project, a documentary road-movie (Hungary). The Charlemagne Youth Prize is awarded annually to projects that foster a shared sense of European identity and integration among young people. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

"Europe on the Ground", a Greek youth media project, was awarded first prize at the 2012 Charlemagne Youth Prize ceremony on 15 May in Aachen. Second prize went to "Europe Meets School", an exchange programme for Erasmus students (Czech Republic) and the winner of the third prize was the "Cycle Me Home" project, a documentary road-movie (Hungary). The Charlemagne Youth Prize is awarded annually to projects that foster a shared sense of European identity and integration among young people. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee took a unanimous stand on the latest bank capital requirements legislation on Monday 14 May. The vote gives Parliament's negotiators, led by rapporteur Othmar Karas (EPP, AT), a strong hand in pushing its reform agenda with Member States. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

The Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday urged the EU to take action on the crises in West, Central and East Africa, particularly the tensions between Sudan and South Sudan. MEPs raised questions about China's role in Sudan – South Sudan relations and said China had been more proactive than the EU and could only gain from the EU's hesitation.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

The welfare of animals in transport must be improved, but cutting transport time to eight hours must be supplemented by other measures, such as support for local slaughterhouses and meat processing plants, upgrading transport vehicles and full and uniform control of compliance with existing rules throughout the EU, said many Agriculture Committee MEPs in a debate on Monday.Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

MEPs welcomed Albania's progress towards EU candidate status in a Foreign Affairs Committee exchange of views with Albanian government and opposition representatives on Monday. The electoral and legal systems should take priority in reform efforts, said MEPs, with a view to the presidential election to be held in July.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

The European Commission should have more control over fiscal policy in EU Member States, but not the free rein it asked for, says the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in texts, voted on Monday, stating a position on the economic governance "two pack". This increased power must be democratically controlled and serve to spur economic growth, MEPs say.Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Bank capital requirements must be strengthened to make banks more risk-resilient and the risk weighting of loans to small firms must be reduced to facilitate lending to the real economy, said Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs in a vote on Monday. Bankers' bonuses must not exceed their fixed pay, they added.Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Committee and political group meetings - Brussels Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : MEPs say the fight against piracy off the east-African coast cannot be won by military means alone. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, by 434 votes to 100, with five abstentions, they urge member states to strengthen the EU naval protection force and finance efforts to tackle the causes of piracy. They also call for special courts for pirates. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : Parliament wants to protect European breeders from excessive patent protection, which it believes could stifle innovation and progress. In a non-binding resolution adopted on Thursday, it says products such as anti-carcinogenic broccoli or high-yield dairy cows, produced by conventional breeding techniques, should not be patented. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : The EU must do more to promote democracy and stability in its southern Mediterranean neighbourhood by boosting mutually-beneficial trade relations in the wake of the Arab Spring, says Parliament. Efforts should be focused on small businesses as the main drivers of job creation and wealth. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : Parliament approved the European Commission's 2010 budget spending on Thursday, under the EU's annual budget discharge procedure. It also endorsed the financial management of almost all the other institutions and agencies and the European Development Fund. However, it postponed the discharges for the Council and the Agencies for Food Safety, Medicines and the Environment. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : Parliament decided on Thursday not to defend the immunity of Corneliu Vadim Tudor (NA, RO), who had asked that it be upheld in connection with proceedings before Romania's High Court of Cassation. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : The reporting of fraud and corruption in Member States' spending of EU funds and collection of customs duties and VAT - the traditional sources of the EU budget - must be improved, so as to protect the EU's financial interests and prevent misuse of its funds, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Thursday. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : MEPs safeguarded strict conditions for the EU's toxic chemical exports in legislation amended on Thursday. The chemicals are those listed in the UN's Rotterdam Convention, which aims to protect the environment and public health in the importing countries. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter

Plenary sessions : Clearer rules are needed to protect not only the victims of cross-border defamation, but also journalists accused of it, says a resolution approved on Thursday. Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP weiter