PLENARY FLASH : Greens/EFA Priorities 24 to 27 November

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the European Parliament rapporteur Tineke Strik’s report on the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded. The report addresses the worsening democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights situation in Hungary. Under Viktor Orbán’s government, the independent judiciary is under threat, corruption is widespread, major media outlets have fallen under the control of government-linked oligarchs, while attacks on the LGBTIQ+ community continue, also against the organisers of the Pécs and Budapest Pride events.

The report calls on the Council to finally advance Article 7(1) TEU proceedings and at least address recommendations to Hungary. It urges the Commission to fully uphold its responsibility to protect democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights and suggests to trigger Article 7(2) procedure, eventually leading to sanctions. The Greens/EFA Group, together with S&D, will also table an amendment calling for the full suspension of EU funds to Hungary until the government reverses its course, reflecting the growing urgency within Parliament despite ongoing resistance from the right and far right.

A press conference with Greens/EFA MEP Tineke Strik and the report’s shadow rapporteurs is scheduled for Tuesday, 25 November at 16:30.

Vote: Tuesday, 25 November
MEP: Tineke Strik

The European Parliament will vote on the amendments to the Commission proposal which re-opened the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The EUDR was finally due to be implemented at the end of this year, and the Commission’s last minute proposal has caused chaos and opened Pandora’s box. The Council position is an unacceptable weakening of this flagship law, which we cannot support. The Greens/EFA Group urges the Commission to withdraw its proposal in order to protect the integrity of the EUDR, and to find technical solutions to issues with the IT system. We will be tabling a rejection amendment, and an amendment which highlights the link between the EUDR and the Mercosur-EU trade agreement.

Vote: Wednesday, 26 November (no debate)
MEP: Marie Toussaint, Vice-President of the Greens/EFA Group

On Thursday, MEPs will vote on a resolution concerning the escalation of the war and consequent deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Sudan plunged into a war in 2023, when a struggle for power broke between its army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since then, 13 million people have been displaced, over 12 million are at the risk of rape and other forms of gender-based violence, and 25 million are facing extreme hunger, with the UN referring to Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Several foreign actors have been fuelling the conflict, primarily the UAE, which has been supplying arms to the RSF. Backed by the UAE, the RSF militias are using extreme violence against civilians, committing war crimes and crimes against humaniity.

The Greens/EFA Group calls for the EU to take immediate action to protect civilians and make perpetrators accountable. Negotiations on the EU-UAE FTA must be frozen and resumed only once the UAE ceases its support and cooperation with the RSF. We urge the EU to ensure the enforcement of the UN arms embargo on Darfur and work towards its extension to the entire country.

Debate: Tuesday, 25 November
Vote: Thursday, 27 November
MEP: Nela Riehl

While the Commission will present its “Food and Feed Omnibus” in mid-December, the Parliament will vote on Greens/EFA MEP Anna Strolenberg’s report dealing with alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides. Related legislative proposals will be upcoming in the “Food and Feed omnibus” that will once again deregulate the chemical legislation without any prior impact assessment and at the expense of public health and the environment.

Biocontrol is an effective alternative to far more hazardous conventional chemical pesticides. The Greens/EFA Group supports the report, which proposes targeted changes to the pesticide regulation 1107/2009 to allow faster approvals of biocontrol products while not compromising on protecting health and environment. These alternatives are important to decrease the use of conventional chemical pesticides and the overall risk of pesticides as a whole.

MEP: Anna Strolenberg (European Parliament co-Rapporteur) and Majdouline Sbai (ENVI shadow)
Debate: Monday, 24 November
Vote: Tuesday, 25 November

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on the resolution on protecting EU consumers against the practices of certain e-commerce platforms. This follows recent concerns arising from the Shein case in France, where child-like sex dolls, weapons and other illegal items were reportedly made available on the marketplace. The Greens/EFA Group call for a set of measures to further protect consumers, such as stricter obligations and responsibilities for online marketplaces, strong sanctions when they don't comply with the EU law, and an obligation to randomly check whether the products they are selling are already identified as dangerous. Investigations on unsafe and illegal products often take years and suspension of platforms are highly unlikely even in case of blatant non-compliance. The Greens/EFA Group therefore calls not only for faster investigations, but also to immediately suspend online marketplaces in cases of repeated, serious or systemic breaches of EU law, such as the case concerning Shein in France.

MEP: Saskia Bricmont
Vote: Wednesday, 25 November

The UN World Climate Conference COP30 enters into the final and crucial rounds of negotiations, showing what the Brazilian President calls the “COP of truth” will deliver on promises made in Paris ten years ago to limit global heating to 1.5°C to prevent the climate from collapsing. A decade after the Paris agreement, we witness that civil society is back, urging world leaders for bold climate action. This year’s COP is a key test to see if the world can meet the joint challenges of climate adaptation, climate financing and climate justice. We need an ambitious global response plan to tackle the world heading to a 2.8°C warming based on current policies. Global emissions need to be reduced by 43% by 2030, and 55% by 2035 (compared to 2019 levels) to stay below 1.5°C. Thanks to the efforts of the Greens/EFA Group the EU will not be going to the COP empty handed, with a commitment to a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040. We urge for the promised Fossil Fuel Phaseout to become a reality and for COP30 to keep their promise on climate financing.

Three Members of the European Parliament from the Greens/EFA Group, Bas Eickhout, Lena Schilling and Sara Matthieu, are attending the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.

Bas Eickhout, Co-President of the Greens/EFA, and Lena Schilling, shadow rapporteur on the EU 2040 target, represent the Greens/EFA in the delegation of the European Parliament.

Debate: Thursday, 27 November
MEPs: Bas Eickhout, Lena Schilling, Sara Matthieu

You can follow the work of the Greens/EFA delegation and more on our dedicated COP30 page: From Paris to Belém at COP30 — The climate fight hits home

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the Regulation laying down the rules on safety and health that toys must meet to be sold, including a ban on PFAS. After two years of negotiation, the EU will finally introduce much stronger rules to make toys safe and protect children from chemicals and noise. The EU will also place special attention to adaptive toys for children with disabilities. Additionally, when manufacturing digitally connected/AI toys, companies will now have to consider the risks associated with the mental health of children. The Greens/EFA warmly welcome this legislation, which will protect our children and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals for families. Considering the large number of toys containing dangerous chemicals that are entering the EU market from China, this regulation is now more essential than ever.

Vote: Tuesday, 25 November
MEPs: Katrin Langensiepen, Sara Matthieu, Anna Cavazzini

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the trilogue results on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), a joint ITRE–SEDE file. While the overall budget remains limited, EDIP marks real progress, including a dedicated Ukraine Support Instrument with secured funding to help modernise and rebuild Ukraine’s defence industry. Thanks to Greens/EFA pressure, the programme also strengthens EU strategic autonomy, supports SMEs, prioritises regions most exposed to military threats, and reinforces democratic oversight.

Vote & Debate: Tuesday, 25 November
MEPs: Virginijus Sinkevičius (ITRE) & Hannah Neumann (SEDE)