PLENARY FLASH: Greens/EFA Priorities 20 to 23 October
Omnibus I: Sustainability and due diligence rules |
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The Greens/EFA Group will not support the outcome of the final agreement on the Omnibus package, which completely dilutes the EU's sustainability and due diligence legislation. We have shown willingness to compromise, but this deal is not a compromise: 90% of companies will be excluded from the scope of sustainability reporting and 75% will no longer be subject to the due diligence requirements. Furthermore, the European civil liability scheme has been abolished, as have the companies' climate obligations. Vote: Wednesday, 22 October
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UN World Climate Conference COP30: European Parliament follows Greens/EFA call on climate action |
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Before world leaders, parliamentarians, scientists and civil society meet at the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil from 10 November, the European Parliament will hammer out their demands to prevent the climate from collapsing. MEPs want COP30 to reaffirm the commitment to the 1.5°C target, to triple renewables, double energy efficiency by 2030, end dependency on fossil fuels and call on the Commission to come forward with its promised roadmap to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. The resolution on the EU 2040 climate target stresses the need to act in line with science. It deplores that Member States were not able to submit the EU's 2035 climate pledge to the Paris Agreement (NDC) on time and put the Paris Agreement at risk. It urges Member States to agree on a 2035 climate target of at least -72.5% compared to 1990 levels. The Greens/EFA call on the EPP to fully stick to demands agreed in the resolution, to listen to science and to keep the climate promise made to young generations at the Paris climate summit ten years ago. Debate: Wednesday, 22
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Gaza |
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On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the current ceasefire and situation in Gaza. The Greens/EFA Group welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees. The priority now needs to be for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians immediately and at scale. The EU must ensure that any peace plan fully respects international law, defends the right to self-determination and prioritises accountability for crimes committed during the war. True and lasting peace requires tackling the root causes of the conflict, ensuring Palestinian ownership of the peace and reconstruction process. We also emphasise the dramatically escalating situation in the West Bank, which the current mediation efforts leave unaddressed. Vote: Tuesday, 21 October
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Ending all energy imports from Russia to the EU |
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On Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament will debate ending all energy imports from Russia. Following demands of Co-Rapporteur Ville Ninistö, the vast majority of members of lead committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on international Trade (INTA) voted in favour of a strong mandate for the upcoming negotiations with the Council and the European Commission, including the permanent end of fossil fuels dependency from Russia and a total ban on gas and oil imports into the EU market. The European Parliament’s proposal would end fossil dependency of Russia one year earlier compared to the European Commission’s proposal, and eliminate any loopholes and exceptions including imports of Russian gas and oil via third countries such as India. The mandate will be announced at the beginning of the plenary session. Negotiations with the Council will start by the end of October, aiming for the law to enter into force by 1 January 2026. Vote: Wednesday, 22 October
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Hungary: Greens/EFA call for committee of inquiry into spying scandal |
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Next week, the Greens/EFA Group have included a debate on the agenda focusing on the revelations from Direkt 36, De Tijd, Der Spiegel and Der Standard that the Hungarian state may have been spying on EU officials. The Greens/EFA Group are calling for a committee of inquiry to be set up inside the European Parliament to look into the revelations that the Hungarian state may have deployed an espionage network to spy on EU officials in Brussels. The allegations of intelligence infiltration within the European Commission are incredibly serious and must be urgently and thoroughly investigated. Should an inquiry committee find the allegations to be true, the Council and Commission must ensure that espionage can play no part in European-policy making and appropriate action is taken against the Hungarian government. Debate: Thursday, 23 October |
Budget 2026 |
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Next week, MEPs will vote on the Parliament’s reading of the EU’s budget for 2026 as well as the figures negotiated with the Council. The Greens/EFA Group supports the Parliament’s reading of the budget. Despite very limited margins, our group has successfully ensured that the Parliament’s reading gives a strong emphasis on programmes such as the Connecting Europe Facility, Union Civil Protection Mechanism, LIFE program, NDICI and Humanitarian Aid. The House's reading also increases budget lines for the support of the civil society and NGOs, which will be vital given the withdrawal of USAID funding. This limited EU budget underlines the insufficient funding under the current Multiannual Financial Framework to deal with the climate crisis, the cost of living, threats on our eastern border, and the cost of living crisis. This should serve as a lesson both for the Commission and Member States towards the next MFF. Debate: Tuesday, 21 October |
GDPR |
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On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on additional procedural rules regarding the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Seven years after the GDPR came into force, citizens still face delays and inconsistencies in how their data protection rights are enforced across borders. These new rules, negotiated by the European Parliament’s rapporteur, Greens/EFA and Pirate Party MEP Markéta Gregorová, will close these gaps by setting clear deadlines and strengthening the rights of complainants and consumers. This means faster, fairer, and more effective enforcement of privacy rights across the EU. Vote: Tuesday, 21 October
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Google fineOn Monday, MEPs will debate the Commission’s decision to fine Google for abusing its dominance in digital advertising. The Greens/EFA Group successfully requested this debate, which we strongly welcome. The debate will shine a light on how Google’s self-preferencing practices harm media diversity and undermine fair competition. Defending media freedom means standing up to monopolies that defund independent journalism by slowly diminishing their revenue share. We call for strong and consistent EU action to protect a free and pluralistic press from the power of Big Tech. Debate: Monday, 20 October
First anniversary of the DANA FloodsOn Wednesday, MEPs will debate how to improve EU preparedness one year after the devastating floods in Valencia. The Greens/EFA Group reiterate the need for investment in climate resiliency and for addressing the underlying causes of increasing extreme weather events.
Sakharov Prize for Freedom of ThoughtOn Thursday, the Conference of Presidents will choose the 2025 laureate for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. This year’s nominees are: Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, imprisoned journalists fighting for freedom, journalists and humanitarian aid Workers in Palestine and all conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Red Crescent, and UNRWA, and Serbian students, protesting against their increasingly autocratic government.
Russian frozen assetsNext week, Members of the European Parliament will debate the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The Greens/EFA Group have long called for the use of frozen assets, to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
Forest Monitoring LawThe Forest Monitoring Law aims to address the lack of effective monitoring tools by creating an EU-wide coordinated framework for data on our forests. The Greens/EFA Group supports the European Commission regulation which would help remedy the decline of forest ecosystems that is both a cause and a result of the severe wildfires of recent years. Forests are not only important to the EU economy, but they are also central to the EU climate and biodiversity goals and to the welfare of citizens in a warming world. Once again, the Greens/EFA Group have to deplore the EPP’s alliance with the far right to kill this law. Vote: Tuesday, 21 October
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