Think Tank

Parliament's first session of November 2024 opened with Members observing a minute of silence for the victims of the recent devastating floods in Spain. Members discussed the urgent need to support the victims, to improve preparedness and to continue to tackle the climate crisis. Parliament agreed a resolution calling for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia's 'shadow fleet', which by transporting oil ultimately finances Russia's war on Ukraine. Members heard and debated European Commission ...

In 2021, the European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals in the area of anti money-laundering efforts and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). One of them, a proposal on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, became Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, adopted on 31 May 2024. Its detailed, directly applicable provisions will replace the minimum rules of the existing EU AML directives. Most provisions will ...

Child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are among the worst forms of violence against children, and are crimes that know no borders. The constant rise in these crimes is exacerbated by the use of digital technologies. Harmonised national laws and international cooperation are essential to improve prevention, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. The European Day helps to raise awareness to that end.

Mihály Varga, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, of Hungary is participating in the ECON Committee in his capacity of President of the ECOFIN Council during the Hungarian Presidency (July - December 2024). In accordance with the Treaty of the Union, “Member States shall regard their economic policies as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate them within the Council”. This document provides an overview of the Hungarian Presidency priorities in ECON matters, including the Council ...

This briefing has been prepared for the public hearing with the Chair of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), Claudia Buch, scheduled for 18 November 2024 in the ECON Committee. The previous hearing took place on 2 September 2024.