Antonio Tajani

EU Parliament backs opening next round of Brexit talks

Strasbourg - Muslimchronicle

The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its backing to opening the next phase of Brexit talks, but said Britain must "fully and faithfully" turn last week's hard-fought divorce deal into a final exit treaty. Parliament President Antonio Tajani welcomed the vote in Strasbourg, eastern France, as "an important step forward" but said MEPs still had concerns about citizens' rights andRead more

EU parliament chief wants Europol probe of Maltese journalist murder

Strasbourg - Muslimchronicle

European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani on Tuesday demanded an international investigation into the car bomb murder of Maltese journalist and anti-corruption campaigner Daphne Caruana Galizia. The call comes after the family of Caruana Galizia accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of being complicit in the killing, with fears rife that the assassination will not be fairly handled by national investigators. "IRead more

Catalonia crisis: EU's Tajani blasts those 'sowing discord'

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani on Friday blasted those who "are sowing discord by deliberately ignoring laws" during a speech in Spain, as the country grapples with a political crisis over Catalonia's independence drive. "I think we need to remind ourselves of the importance of respecting the rule of law," he added as the European Union accepted Spain's Princess ofRead more

Euro parliament chief says UK Brexit budget offer is 'peanuts'

London - Muslimchronicle

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani has described Britain's financial offer on Brexit as "peanuts" ahead of a crunch European Union summit this week. Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to maintain Britain's contributions for two years after Brexit in March 2019 to complete the current EU budget period, totalling around 20 billion euros ($24 billion). But Tajani told the BBC'sRead more

Erdogan revives spectre of death penalty in Turkey

Istanbul - Arab Today

"What George, Hans or Helga say does not interest us!" roars Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "What counts for us is what Ayse, Murat, Mehmet, Hatice say! What Allah says!". This mantra -- setting common European names against Turkish ones and finally invoking God -- has become Erdogan's standard rhetoric to tell the European Union he does not care aboutRead more

EU Parliament head bans top Syrian official after attack

Brussels - Arab Today

European Parliament head Antonio Tajani has banned a top Syrian official from a conference on the conflict after the suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town earlier this week. Tajani sent a message to leftwing MEP Javier Couso warning that Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan would not be allowed to attend the conference planned by the lawmaker on Monday,Read more

Eurogroup chief regrets drinks remarks but won't quit

Brussels - Arab Today

Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Wednesday expressed "regret" over his comments that southern European countries blew their money on "drinks and women" but rejected calls to resign. Dijsselbloem faced a firestorm with Portugal's prime minister and former Italian premier Matteo Renzi calling for his immediate departure, and the head of the European Parliament condemning the "racist and sexist" remarks. "IRead more

Sarraj invites European Parliament head to visit Libya

Tripoli - Arab Today

Libya's Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj has invited newly-elected European Parliament President Antonio Tajani to pay a visit to the north African country to exchange views on the latest developments. Tajani, during a meeting with Sarraj in Brussels, praised efforts of the Libyan presidential council to achieve national reconciliation, the website of the media office of the Libyan premier said onRead more

European Parliament Elects Antonio Tajani as Next President

Brussels - Arab Today

The European Parliament has elected center-right Antonio Tajani of Italy as its new President over fellow Italian Gianni Pittella, after a lengthy election process on Tuesday. Tajani's victory came after an unusually contested race to succeed current president Martin Schulz, who is leaving Brussels to return to German politics. The 63-year-old lawyer from Rome, who has been at the EURead more