Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is Managing Editor of The Parliament Magazine

Greek Crisis: EU reaches ageement on new Greek bailout
13 Jul
Greek Crisis: EU reaches ageement on new Greek bailout
Eurozone leaders have agreed on plans for a third Greek bailout deal after marathon talks in Brussels
Schulz and Tsipras reconcile over referendum 'interference' row
08 Jul
Schulz and Tsipras reconcile over referendum 'interference' row
EU parliament president Martin Schulz has said his controversial interview comments in a German newspaper were mistranslated.
Greek debt crisis: Parliament president censured over controversial remarks
06 Jul
Greek debt crisis: Parliament president censured over controversial remarks
EU parliament president Martin Schulz is under fire again following Greek debt crisis comments.
EU drops maternity leave proposals following five year legislative deadlock
01 Jul
EU drops maternity leave proposals following five year legislative deadlock
The European commission has been accused of caving in to member states following the decision to withdraw the controversial maternity leave directive.
Greece seeks support for new bailout deal
01 Jul
Greece seeks support for new bailout deal
Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras bows to creditor's demands in latest letter.
UK's top EU civil servant to head Brexit taskforce
25 Jun
UK's top EU civil servant to head Brexit taskforce
Jonathan Faull to report directly to commission president on UK reform strategy
EU parliament delays TTIP discussions
10 Jun
EU parliament delays TTIP discussions
Senior MEPs and political groups accused of being "afraid of citizens" by Greens deputy Yannick Jadot.
David Cameron's EU renegotiation strategy must focus on alternative to 'ever closer union'
09 Jun
David Cameron's EU renegotiation strategy must focus on alternative to 'ever closer union'
Pivotal moment to position single market as the foundation of future EU-UK relationship, argues leading think tank.
Beer industry regrets NGO walk out from EU alcohol platform
09 Jun
Beer industry regrets NGO walk out from EU alcohol platform
Brewers group hopes European commission can resolve impasse.
EU ombudsman wants more transparency on commission-appointed expert groups
03 Jun
EU ombudsman wants more transparency on commission-appointed expert groups
Emily O'Reilly welcomes commission's proposed improvements, but wants further opening up to public scrutiny
NGOs call time on EU alcohol forum
03 Jun
NGOs call time on EU alcohol forum
European commission chief Vytenis Andriukaitis accused of abandoning efforts to tackle alcohol problems
Cameron UK election victory reignites EU Brexit debate
08 May
Cameron UK election victory reignites EU Brexit debate
UK prime minister David Cameron's shock general election victory is set to bolster supporters of a possible UK exit from the European Union.
Commission guide: Team Juncker well equipped to take on task of 'delivering for Europe'
12 Feb
Commission guide: Team Juncker well equipped to take on task of 'delivering for Europe'
Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker reiterates that the EU should be bigger on the big things and smaller on the small things.
Anti-terrorism plans top European parliament's mini-plenary agenda
26 Jan
Anti-terrorism plans top European parliament's mini-plenary agenda
MEPs set to debate anti-terror measures in wake of Paris terrorist attacks.
Committee guide: FEMM committee to focus on resolving 'unfinished business'
17 Oct
Committee guide: FEMM committee to focus on resolving 'unfinished business'
Despite 'many improvements', there's still a lot of work required to ensure that women and men enjoy equal rights, argues Iratxe García Pérez.
Committee guide: PECH to be involved in 'every step' of CFP implementation
17 Oct
Committee guide: PECH to be involved in 'every step' of CFP implementation
Main concern as committee chair will be to ensure that parliament's powers are effectively used in the implementation of the reformed CFP, says Alain Cadec.
Committee guide: ITRE ensuring EU industry is given freedom to be more innovative
15 Oct
Committee guide: ITRE ensuring EU industry is given freedom to be more innovative
Committee will focus on developing the right tools to bring Europe's economy back on track, argues Jerzy Buzek.
Committee guide: CONT performing EU 'watchdog' role
14 Oct
Committee guide: CONT performing EU 'watchdog' role

Budgetary control committee is parliament's watchdog on EU financial matters, says Ingeborg Grässle.
EU accused of caving in to fossil fuels lobby over tar sands U-turn
09 Oct
EU accused of caving in to fossil fuels lobby over tar sands U-turn

MEP calls abandonment of EU scheme to restrict import of 'highly polluting' fuels 'bad news for Europe'.
EU's north-south social divide intensifying
16 Sep
EU's north-south social divide intensifying
Growing social imbalance threatening 'future of European project', warns new report.
Fast-tracked EU membership for Scots could be achieved by spring 2016
11 Sep
Fast-tracked EU membership for Scots could be achieved by spring 2016
'No doubts' that Scotland already fulfils EU membership requirements, argues senior MEP.
EU membership and UK currency union key battleground in Scottish independence debate
08 Sep
EU membership and UK currency union key battleground in Scottish independence debate
Two senior Scottish MEPs are backing claims made by former economics and monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn, that an independent Scotland would be forced to choose between EU membership or retaining the pound.
Tusk appointment marks 'beginning of a new EU chapter', says former Polish PM
02 Sep
Tusk appointment marks 'beginning of a new EU chapter', says former Polish PM
Jerzy Buzek argues that Donald Tusk's election as European council president marks the end of the EU's division between 'old' and 'new' Europe.
Consensus building key to Tusk's success in new council president post
02 Sep
Consensus building key to Tusk's success in new council president post
Richard Corbett suggests that Donald Tusk will need to utilise all his considerable powers of persuasion in his new role as European council president.
EU parliament told of 'serious reservations' over Irish commission nominee
02 Sep
EU parliament told of 'serious reservations' over Irish commission nominee
Irish MEP Nessa Childers has written to the European parliament's 190 strong socialist group highlighting what she calls "serious reservations" regarding the suitability of Ireland's commissioner-designate Phil Hogan.
Donald Tusk extends EU olive branch to David Cameron
01 Sep
Donald Tusk extends EU olive branch to David Cameron
Newly elected European council president Donald Tusk has said he will lend a sympathetic ear to UK premier David Cameron's calls to reform the EU.
Worsening EU-Russia relations may dash Mogherini's hopes of EU foreign policy post
18 Jul
Worsening EU-Russia relations may dash Mogherini's hopes of EU foreign policy post
The suspected shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine could have a direct impact on who becomes the EU's next foreign policy chief.
Juncker pressing for Georgieva as new EU foreign affairs chief
16 Jul
Juncker pressing for Georgieva as new EU foreign affairs chief
Special summit talks likely to last through the night as EU governments wrangle over remaining top jobs.
Jean-Claude Juncker woos MEPs with call to 'be proud of Europe'
15 Jul
Jean-Claude Juncker woos MEPs with call to 'be proud of Europe'
Tells Strasbourg sitting that the Juncker commission will be 'highly politicised.

 
Female EU commissioners call for more women in Juncker's new team
11 Jul
Female EU commissioners call for more women in Juncker's new team
Barroso II female commissioners sign letter supporting call for at least 10 women to be nominated by member states.
MEPs set to name new committee chairs
04 Jul
MEPs set to name new committee chairs
Check out our full parliament committee composition list including the latest potential names in the frame for committee chairmanships.
ALDE deal will secure parliament presidency for Schulz
30 Jun
ALDE deal will secure parliament presidency for Schulz
The inclusion of Guy Verhofstadt's 67 ALDE group MEPs in a 'grand coalition' with the EPP and S&D groups is likely to provide a comfortable majority for Martin Schulz's European parliament presidency bid.
ECR and Greens/EFA candidates blast parliament president 'stitch-up'
25 Jun
ECR and Greens/EFA candidates blast parliament president 'stitch-up'
Call for MEPs to 'think hard' about endorsing backroom deal between parliament's main groups.
EU must pick 'best candidate' for commission president
12 Jun
EU must pick 'best candidate' for commission president
The European parliament must listen to voters and change in order to 'restore pride' in EU, writes Brian Johnson.
Martin Callanan to be Britain's next European commissioner?
27 May
Martin Callanan to be Britain's next European commissioner?
British Conservative MEP Martin Callanan could be in the running to replace Catherine Ashton as the UK's next European commissioner.
Juncker stakes claim to EU commission's top job
26 May
Juncker stakes claim to EU commission's top job
Jean-Claude Juncker, Europe's centre-right candidate for the post of European commission president, has reiterated that he is the right person to lead the EU executive.