Digital economy



On Thursday, MEPs called for clear rules, fair competition and respect for workers’ rights in the sharing economy, which involves companies using on-line platforms to match service providers and consumers. The sector has been growing rapidly, but it has also attracted controversies over poor working conditions.



MEPs adopted on Thursday an own-initiative report on online platforms and the digital market, which among others calls on online platforms to allow users to report fake news and urges the European Commission to look into legal measures to limit fake news.



Other issues



Serbia and Kosovo must make more effort to come together and get closer to the EU, while FYROM should commit to robust European reforms, MEPs said. They also welcomed the recent improvement in relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as well as progress in adopting EU law.



Women receive a pension that is up to 40% less than that of men. To narrow the gap, gender inequality in employment and pay need to be tackled better, for example through education and giving incentives for men to use their parental leave, MEPs said.



MEPs questioned the safety assessment of glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide, during a discussion with European Commission representatives on Tuesday, with some even calling for it to be phased out.



MEPs adopted a full list of countries hosting European Capitals of Culture in 2020-2033 on Wednesday.



The EU’s cohesion policy, which supports initiatives in underdeveloped regions, should be adequately funded after 2020, said MEPs in a resolution adopted on Wednesday. In addition procedures should be simplified and synergies improved to help reduce regional disparities.