Plenary Flash: 5 - 8 May 2025

GREENS/EFA priorities for the plenary session are the Habitat Directive, the Golden Passports debate, the Multiannual Financial Framework, CO2 emission standards, the Vote on budget discharge, EDIP and much more. 

Habitats Directive

On Thursday, MEPs will vote on the downgrading of the protection status of the wolf in the Habitats Directive. The Greens/EFA Group is against downgrading the status of wolves, as well as the downgrading of other species. There is no scientific justification behind this decision, which is  based on political grandstanding  and sets a dangerous precedent for EU decision making on wildlife and conservation issues. The Group is also strongly opposed to any weakening of the Habitats Directive, which is a cornerstone of EU environmental legislation and provides a foundation for the Green Deal.

Vote: Tuesday, 6 May
MEP: Jutta Paulus
More: Greens/EFA campaign on nature protection

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Malta Golden Passports Ruling 

This week, the European Court of Justice ruled that Malta’s ‘golden passport’ scheme of citizenship for cash  is not compatible with EU law and Valetta must now end the scheme as soon as possible. The Greens/EFA Group have long fought against golden passports and welcome the ruling that EU citizenship cannot be sold. Golden passports increase inequality and create avenues for criminals and the corrupt to buy European citizenship. The European Commission should now look into risks associated with residency by investment or ‘golden visa’ schemes which are running in multiple Member States. The Greens/EFA Group called for the debate, which will take place on Wednesday afternoon.

Debate: Wednesday, 7 May
MEPs: Saskia Bricmont, Daniel Freund
More: Court of Justice rules against Malta’s golden passport scheme

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Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

Next week, MEPs will vote on the Parliament’s strategic position paper on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), ahead of the Commission proposal expected on July 9th. The EU’s next long term budget comes at a time of increased political challenges within a constrained financial environment. The Greens/EFA Group wants to ensure that the MFF underpins and strengthens European values and finances long term political priorities, while providing flexibility for challenges in the years to come. There are positive elements in the text on climate and biodiversity mainstreaming, and the report is particularly good on housing, rule of law, humanitarian aid and disaster prevention which are all priorities for our Group.

Debate: Tuesday, 6 May
MEP: Rasmus Nordqvist 

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CO2 emission standards: Postponement against consumers’ demands, creating uncertainty for industry

Postponing the EU 2025 CO2 emission target for cars and vans for two years will result in more CO2 emissions, create market uncertainty and goes against consumers´ demands for affordable and smaller e-cars made in Europe. The Commission´s proposed change to the existing regulation means car manufacturers do not need to comply anymore with meeting CO2 emission targets set for the year 2025, watering down already existing rules and creating unpredictability. In the end, Chinese car manufacturers will be the ones to benefit. The Greens/EFA are deeply concerned about the future of EU car industry and demand planning certainty and massive investments in e-mobility infrastructure to make European car industry competitive on the international market. 

The Greens/EFA will vote against the targeted amendment provided by the European Commission.

Vote on urgency procedure: Tuesday, 6 May
Vote on targeted amendment: Thursday, 8 May
MEP: Kai Tegethoff (Volt)

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Vote on budget discharge 2023 

Next week, MEPs will vote on the Discharge reports for the EU institutions and agencies.  The Discharge procedure is an annual process where the Parliament evaluates how the Commission and other institutions have managed and spent the EU budget. In this year’s discharge, a key success for the Greens/EFA Group has been the proposal to postpone the discharge of the European Agency for Asylum (EUAA), based on worrying findings from OLAF. In committee, the Commission discharge report sparked heated discussions regarding the LIFE programme and treatment of NGOs, with far-right groups attempting to push target NGOs with financial screening. The Greens/EFA Group strongly opposed these narratives, defending the essential role of NGOs and called for proportionate transparency without undermining fundamental rights. 

Debates: Tuesday, 6 May
Votes: Wednesday, 7 May
MEPs: Daniel Freund, Erik Marquardt

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EDIP

Next week, the European Parliament’s position on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) is expected to be adopted before entering trilogue negotiations. After last week’s agreement in the responsible committees, SEDE and ITRE, MEPs will decide on Monday,if the text will be voted on in plenary as well.

The EDIP Regulation aims to strengthen the resilience and independence of the European defence industry. It focuses on improving joint procurement and increasing production capacity among EU countries, particularly by supporting products free from restrictions by non-EU countries. It also includes support for modernising and rebuilding Ukraine’s defence sector,. €1.5 billion shall be allocated for EU projects. The Greens/EFA Group managed to push for stronger support for SMEs and mid-caps, and improved parliamentary oversight. Regrettably, references to climate-proofing and further sustainability requirements were not included 

MEPs: Hannah Neumann (SEDE), Virginijus Sinkevičius (ITRE)
Vote: tbc on Monday, 5 May

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Blackout on the Iberian Peninsula

On Wednesday, 7 May, MEPs  will debate the major blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula on 28 April 2025, the causes of which have yet to be determined. The Spanish power system was able to bounce back, after around 10 hours, with sufficient generation from renewables and dispatchable electricity to meet demand, while nuclear power plants are yet to be reconnected. The incident highlights the need to strengthen EU electricity grids. The Greens/EFA group advocates for investing in energy efficiency, batteries and other non-fossil flexibility services and infrastructure, and decentralised grids for local energy production by prosumers and energy communities, which can make our power system more resilient, as well as by promoting further integration into a European super grid.

Debate: Wednesday, 7 May
MEPs: Michael Bloss, Ville Niinistö

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Türkiye - Annual Report

On Wednesday, 7 May, the Commission publishes its reports on Türkiye. The report acknowledges Türkiye’s lasting aspiration for EU membership, but highlights the growing divergence between Türkiye's political practices and the EU's core values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The Greens/EFA Group strongly condemns the arrest of young Activist Cemre Nayir alongside 90 others, accused of taking part in the organisation of illegal demonstrations, reflecting the ongoing suppression of fundamental freedoms in Türkiye. The Greens/EFA demand the immediate release of Cemre and the other activists.

Debate: Tuesday, 6 May
MEP: Vladimir Prebilič

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Tariffs

In the morning on Tuesday, 6th of May, MEPs will debate “A unified EU response to unjustified US trade measures and global trade opportunities for the EU”. 

Debate: Tuesday, 6 May
MEPs: Anna Cavazzini, Sergey Lagodinsky

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End of WWII in Europe

On Thursday, 8 May 2025, the European Parliament will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. MEPs will commemorate the millions of civilian and military casualties, among them at least 11 million victims of the Holocaust, during a plenary debate at 9am.