By Dori Felber. Read: 3 minutes 42 seconds

Time to redefine the outdated definition of rape in France? As the horrific testimony of Gisele Pélicot unfolds, many have argued for a redefinition of rape in France. This specifically followed after lawyer Guillaume de Palma, who is defending 6 of the accused, argued that “In France proof of intent is required” in order for it to qualify as rape. 

Gisele Pélicot is a survivor of a series of rape, orchestrated by her husband Dominique Pélicot. Over a period of 9 years (July 2011 to October 2020) Gisele Pélicot was repeatedly raped by her husband and individuals who he would invite, whilst she was drugged and unconscious. In total, Gisele Pélicot was raped 92 times by 72 men, as her husband filmed the abuse. These horrific acts came to light when Dominique Pélicot was arrested by the police for taking upskirt photographs of women in supermarkets. The police discovered thousands of images and videos that Pélicot had taken of the rapes and stored on his computing equipment. Pélicot is further accused of training Jean-Pierre Maréchal on how to drug and rape his own wife.

By Yana Chakarova, 7 minutes.

On the 27th of February 2024 the European Parliament adopted a number of revolutionary environmental measures enshrined in the Environmental Crimes Directive that penalized environmental crimes much more stringently compared to the past. The Greens/EFA Group from the European Parliament called for the establishment of a serious criminal liability in the case of destruction or widespread and substantial damage which is long-lasting or irreversible to an ecosystem, a habitat or the quality of air, soil or water. More specifically, the MEP of the Greens/EFA Group stated that:

By Felix Kraft, 5 minutes. Global warming forces Europe to rethink its industrial production and sets national decision-makers before a legislative paradox. Meanwhile, Brussels has come up with a controversial solution that has the potential to either harmonise or rip apart the world’s entire supply chain network.

By Ilaria Settembrini, 9 minutes. I bet you did not know it. Fair enough. Still, the warming of the Mediterranean Sea is one of the fastest in the world and requires fruitful engagement by the EU. As an essential and historically contentious resource, water can offer Brussels new pathways for intergovernmental cooperation with the southern shores.

Beatriz Santos Mayo, 6 minutes. Did you know that eating fast food products inside the EU is healthier than eating them elsewhere? Did you know some food additives have been restricted in the EU due to potential health risks? The European Food Safety Authority seeks to protect the food chain from the farm to the table and banned everything that may imply a risk to European Citizens.

By Eleonora Pizzini, 8,5 minutes. Maastricht is a city full of international students from all over Europe and the whole world. You may have friends coming from the most unusual places and have discovered new countries thanks to them, but have you ever heard about Golden Passports or Golden Visas? These two procedures are common in many states, among which some are Member States of the European Union, and have recently been highly criticised.

By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 5 minutes. Do you normally use Facebook, Instagram, or Whatsapp? Have you ever read the terms and conditions of these gatekeepers? Do you know what the EU is doing to protect your data? The new two legislative acts, Digital Service Act and the Digital Markets act are the new two legislations that, form part of the “A Europe fit for the digital age” regulatory project that manages the digital regulatory landscape.

By Leonie Kluver, 5 minutes. Do you know that 2022 is the European Year of Youth? Have you ever participated in or benefited from an EU initiative specifically supporting the European youth? For example, the Erasmus+ program? Are you curious about the European Year of Youth and maybe how you can get involved? This article discusses what it is, why it was founded, and how you can participate!

By Aari Helmelaid, 7 minutes. The EU Member States are often praised for their respect for democracy and human rights, but recent trends demonstrate that media freedom in the EU is under threat and the journalistic profession is no longer as simple, stable, or safe. Lack of transparency, threats of violence or murder, draconian laws toward the press, censorship, and cybersecurity risks are only the tip of the iceberg of the tough barriers that journalists and media companies face in their everyday operations. Read the article to find out how the EU is tackling the decline of press operations in the member states, and what to expect from the upcoming Media Freedom Act in 2022.

By Aydın Clara Orberk, 13 minutes. You may have heard about the European Green Deal (EGD), Europe’s roadmap to climate neutrality by 2050. How is this climate neutrality to be achieved? This article entails updates about measures being taken. A set of proposals aims to make the industry of products more sustainable and circular. Some measures concern the textile industry, specifically - why is this so important? Check the article to find out more!