Julie Girling

European lawmakers Michaela Sojdrova and Julie Girling from the European People's Party are set to visit Athens and the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos this week to inspect conditions at facilities housing unaccompanied migrant and refugee children.

Britain's ruling Conservatives barred two of their own lawmakers in the European Parliament after they broke the party whip and voted for a motion demanding London do more to meet EU demands in Brexit talks, reported Reuters. 

EU Commission plans for more ambitious national caps on emissions of six key pollutants, including NOx, particulates and sulphur dioxide, were endorsed by Parliament. Air pollution causes about 400,000 premature deaths in the EU yearly, and the plans could save up to €40bn in air pollution costs by 2030.