News

Established minority rights should not be diminished

2014. 01. 21.

"The 21st of January is about the launching of the accession negotiations between Serbia and European Union and Serbia deserves maximum praise for all its efforts hitherto. It is regrettable, however, that there is something of a shadow over this day in the light of the decision of the Serbian Constitutional Court of 16 January, which looks as if it intensifies the centralising tendencies coming from Belgrade" - drew attention to these developments MEP György Schöpflin, EPP shadow rapporteur for Serbia.

Only fully trained sign language interpreters can ensure full accessibility

2013. 12. 17.

MEP Ádám Kósa, Chair of the Disability Intergroup together with MEP Werner Kuhn hosted a conference today in the European Parliament on the importance of fully trained sign language interpreters. The event was organised on the occasion of the publication of the study Learning Outcomes for Graduates of a Three Year Sign Language Interpreting Training Programme written by the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli).

Strategy on the blink: why the EU should fast track Roma inclusion

2013. 11. 26.

One of the greatest challenges for Europe’s future prosperity is how we can convince governments to view social inclusion as a chance for inclusive and sustainable growth. This new thinking is all the more pressing now, when our Union is put to the test to see how we can grow under the economic recession and simultaneously maintain and develop our social achievements. And you can be sure that if we retreat in our combat against social exclusion, Roma will be at the short end of it.

EP adopted the legislative package on cohesion policy

2013. 11. 20.

The European Parliament adopted today the new legislative package concerning cohesion policy, regional development and social funds. The package contains numerous improvements on the planning and implementation of cohesion and social programs. Due to the adopted changes, the extent of funds to be spent on fight against poverty has been increased, the regulations on the accessibility of people with disability have been extended and many rules concerning regional payments have been simplified. Numerous amendments tabled by Hungarian EPP Group MEPs Csaba Őry, Ádám Kósa and Tamás Deutsch (Fidesz) have been incorporated into the adopted legislative package.

Azerbaijan: A model of peaceful co-existence of Islam and minority religions

2013. 11. 13.

Yesterday was dedicated to Azerbaijan in the European Parliament as two programmes have been organised in connection with the country. In the afternoon, Vice-President László Surján hosted a conference whereby the Human Rights Without Frontiers international organisation launched its report on Non-Muslim Minorities in Azerbaijan. While in the evening, Latvian EPP Group MEP Inese Vaidere opened an exhibition on religious tolerance in Azerbaijan. Both events were attended by Elshad Iskandarov, Minister of Religious Affairs in Azerbaijan. The main message of these events was that this country which is massively populated by Muslims shows a good model of secularism and the culture of tolerance gives us a role model on how to accommodate minority denominations in a majority Islamic country.

One million European children looking for home

2013. 11. 06.

MEP Ádám Kósa (Fidesz) hosted a conference today in the European Parliament on the tragedies and depressing human rights issues of children living in overcrowded institutions. The conference took place just two weeks before the new Structural Fund Regulations will be tabled in the European Parliament, whose proposals – among others – aim to replace these obsolete institutions by community based services. As was revealed on the debate, only a minor part of children living in such facilities are actually orphans.