The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise

Quote by Heidi Hautala

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise and it is comes at the wrong time when there is an increasing demand for sustainable development. The price for the Mercosur agreement will be paid by farmers, the environment and the climate.

Avoiding ecosystem collapse will require a different Common Agricultural Policy

Report on biodiversity sheds a light on where the future negotiation should go

In Paris a few weeks ago, a report on biodiversity and aimed at global decision makers was released, anouncing the extinction of 1 million species in the coming years - meaning a collapse of our ecosystems and dire consequences for human beings throughout in the world. However, the report, produced by the intergovernmental platform IPBES, also talks at length about the possible solutions, in particular for our farming and food system. What conclusions should we draw when it comes to the European Common Agricultural Policy?

Member States' climate plans need far more ambition

Quote from Bas Eickhout

The European Commission has released its assessment of EU Member States' National Energy and Climate Plans, and found that national governments need to step up their ambitions to meet EU climate and energy targets and be in line with the Paris Agreement.

Phosphate additives in food

EFSA confirms serious concerns for human health

Eighteen months ago, the Parliament voted on an objection, co-tabled by Greens/EFA MEP Bart Staes, to the authorisation of phosphate additives in kebab meat. Whilst the sole aim of the objection was to protect human health, in line with the law governing food additives, it was narrowly rejected. ...

Thirty six objections and counting

Why the European Parliament opposes new EU GMO authorisations in vain

Thirty six. That is the number of objections that the European Parliament has voted through, against the draft authorisations of genetically modified plants in the EU put forward by the European Commission (the most recent objections against a GM soy and a GM maize). In 24 of these cases, the European Commission has happily ignored both the indecision of Member states (and hence the lack of a clear political majority) and the European Parliament’s clear disagreement and went ahead to authorize the GM plants anyway. Nine additional authorisations are expected in the coming weeks.

Parliament approves greater transparency on approval of pesticides and GMOs

Food law

Public interest and people's health is more important than protecting the secrets of chemical giants or not embarrassing the European Food Safety Authority. The complete lack of transparency in the authorisation of pesticides, genetic engineering and food additives, will finally be addressed.

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 15-18 April 2019

A look ahead to the March I plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Leaders developing local communities

11.04.2019

Leader's place in CAP, achievements and prospects post 2020

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE EVENT   CLICK ON THE SPEAKERS' NAMES TO VIEW THEIR PRESENTATIONS PROGRAMME 9:30 – 9:40 Welcome and Introduction   9:40 – 11:00 LEADER/ CLLD IN THE CAP POST-2020: INSIGHTS FROM THE EU POLICY MAKERS Main provisions and tre...

Proposed CAP reform a devastating blow to farmers, consumers and the environment

Agriculture

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted its main report on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The proposals fail to address the current climate crisis and serves to perpetuate an unsustainable agricultural model that is destructive for the planet.

Fund farms, not factories

10 Priorities for the cap reform and beyond

What kind of agriculture do we want? What kind of animal agriculture should the European Union promote through its various policies, including of course its Common Agricultural Policy?

Why we objected to GMOs in the EU - 36 times!

Our Group has always fought against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU. We believe that they pose risks to consumers’ health, animal welfare and the environment. This is why the every time the European Commission proposes the authorisation of a new one, the European Parliament objects to it. Read our top six reasons for saying no (again and again).

Every Farm Counts

Why we need to keep as many farms on the land as we can

A quarter of all farms disappeared in the EU between 2005 and 2016. And corporate power still pushes farmers to go big or go out of business. But there are alternatives! Many small to medium-sized farms provide better income and more jobs and are more resilient than big farms. The key to their success is the adoption of agroecological and organic practices.