Sustainable development

Towards a sustainable Single Market focused on consumers

Single Market

The European Parliament voted in favour of the report by Greens/EFA MEP David Cormand which is part of the action plan for the Circular Economy, one of the pillars of the European Green Deal. In particular, it calls for the sustainability and reparability of products, reuse and the development of the collaborative economy sector.

Vaccines & medicines must be affordable & accessible to all

Pharmaceutical Strategy

The European Commission presented its Pharmaceutical Strategy. The Strategy aims to ensure the supply of medicines and vaccines to all people in the European Union and to encourage innovation by European pharmaceutical companies. The Greens/EFA group welcomes the Pharmaceutical Strategy and calls for more transparency in investment and the avoidance of pharmaceutical monopolies.

Green industrial policy for climate protection & jobs

Industrial Strategy

The decarbonisation of our industry will pave the way to climate neutrality and create jobs. Protecting the climate is a job creator. We must switch from subsidising coal-fired power stations to investing in renewables. The Green Deal can make the European Union the market leader in energy-efficient and resource-saving industrial processes and cutting-edge technologies

Getting out of the red: The Greenhouse Gas Budget

When the European Union decided to propose a European Green Deal to try and reach the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, they had to start with one important thing: reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission laid out their plans and proposed their own targets. Unfortunately, the targets that have been set are not being backed up with policies.

Plenary Flash 23-26 November 2020

Greens/EFA priorities

During this week plenary session, the European Parliament will debate and vote on tackling homelessness rates in the EU, planned obsolescence, LGBTI equality strategy, new industrial strategy, abortion rights in Poland, pharmaceutical strategy, MFF/Recovery Plan, ...

Offshore energy must be integral part of the Green Deal

Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy

By promoting offshore wind power alongside tidal and wave energy, renewable energies will contribute up to 40% of the energy supply in 2030.

Affordable Housing

18.11.2020

AirBnB and the Digital Services Act - Possibilities for regulating online short-term rental to ensure affordable housing

We want to have a conversation about ‘the AirBnB-effect.’ The expansive growth of short-term holiday rental is extracting housing from the market and driving up prices, and has a negative impact on liveability in large cities and popular tourist destinations in Europe.  This phen...

EU4Health

Quote from Tilly Metz MEP & Michèle Rivasi MEP

The cuts in EU4Health called for by the Council were irresponsible, especially in times of pandemic. It is a success that the European Parliament has tripled the amount envisaged by the Council in the budget negotiations.

Long-term budget stronger on climate, biodiversity & rule of law

MFF/Own resources

Negotiators for the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed on a text for the EU's seven year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The Parliament succeeded in gaining an additional €16 billion in top-ups for EU programmes such as EU4health, Horizon, Erasmus and Rights and Values, on top of the €1,074bn MFF and €750bn Recovery Fund EUCO agreement from July.

Update: Von Der Leyen promises to fix the CAP despite her refusal to withdraw it

On Friday October 24, Bas Eickhout, together with more than 40 other Members of the European Parliament - supported by over 3000 citizens - sent a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking her to withdraw the CAP proposal, since it no longer aligns with the Commission's priorities on climate and biodiversity. Last week we received a reply by President Von der Leyen.

How Trees Can Stop Climate Change

Trees are literally the lungs of the earth. They act as a ‘carbon sink’ absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turning it into oxygen. After oceans, our forests are the world’s largest carbon sinks.

Commission proposal welcome but falls short on ambition to fight poverty & inequality

European minimum wage

The European Commission has just released its draft directive on a European minimum wage. The proposal sets out minimum standards and uniform criteria for the level of EU-wide minimum wages. For the Greens/EFA group, the European Commission's proposal falls short of its stated ambition to fight poverty and inequality.