European Parliament elections

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and her Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani committed to further cooperation between the two counties in the management of illegal migrations as they met in Ljubljana on 17 March. They said they were in agreement about the need for the issue to be addressed at the EU level.

Roberta Metsola achieved a number of firsts when she was elected president of the European Parliament a year ago.

She was the first person from Malta, the smallest European Union country, to hold the job; the first woman in 20 years; and, at 43, the youngest president in the Parliament's history.

The Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva was unable to win the post of Vice-President of the European Parliament.

The MEP from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Elena Yoncheva, is one of the candidates for the position of Vice President of the European Parliament, which until recently was held by Eva Kaili, Politico reports. The group will elect her deputy today at a closed meeting.

The main article of French daily Le Soir focuses on the Belgian MEP Marie Arena, in the investigation it is conducting on Qatargate. The MEP who belongs to the Socialist group has been in the press on other occasions for her possible involvement in the Qatargate scandal, however she is not included among the MEPs for whom the lifting of immunity was requested.

The European Parliament has started an urgent procedure to remove the immunity of two more MEPs involved in the Qatargate scandal.

Defender of people with traditional sexual orientation, but an opponent of abortion. An unwavering fighter for the rule of law in her native Malta, but a much softer stance on similar issues in other EU countries.

Brussels – A short ceremony was held in Brussels on Wednesday to mark the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence. Among the attendees were MEPs from Slovenia and both Slovenian ambassadors in Brussels. Officials pointed to the path Slovenia has walked in the 30 years and the challenges ahead, especially the EU presidency in the second half of the year.

The European Parliament's Democracy Monitoring Group is today discussing the organisation of a mission to look into corruption and the rule of law in Bulgaria. This was announced by Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva, who is the only Bulgarian representative in the group chaired by the Dutch MEP from "Renew Europe" Sophie in't Veld, reported BNT. The group includes 14 MEPs.

Ljubljana – Slovenian MEPs expressed support for the joint procurement of coronavirus vaccines by the EU for member states at a debate organised by the European Parliament’s Office on Friday, but they were more reserved when it comes to the idea of a health passport for those who have already been vaccinated.