PLENARY FLASH: Greens/EFA Priorities 9 to 12 March

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the US-Israel military operation against Iran, its consequences and the need to support the people of Iran. The Greens/EFA Group calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges all parties to halt hostilities, respect international law and revert to diplomacy. Trump and Netanyahu's attack as well as Iranian strikes across the region put millions of civilians at risk and threaten to destabilise the entire region, with serious consequences for Europe. The Greens/EFA Group stresses that peace and security cannot be achieved through military force and warn that ignoring international law risks replacing the rules-based order with the rule of force. The EU, in concert with its partners in the region, must act as a voice for de-escalation, prioritising the protection of civilians and preventing further cycles of retaliation.

Debate: Wednesday, 11 March
MEPs: Bas Eickhout, Terry Reintke, Hannah Neumann, Villy Søvndal

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on its report on the Housing Crisis in the European Union. The Greens/EFA Group believes this report fails to reflect the real issues citizens face in finding decent and affordable homes across the EU. Conservatives want to ensure that the businesses who have been profiting off the housing crisis keep lining their pockets, and have teamed up with the far-right to push forward their agenda. Stopping speculation is essential to tackle the housing crisis. We believe that houses are for people, not for greedy corporations, and we will keep fighting to make sure that everyone in the EU has a decent place to live.

Debate & vote: Tuesday, 10 March
MEPs: Maria Ohisalo, Gordan Bosonac, Marie Toussaint, Rasmus Andresen

On Tuesday, the European Commission is expected to present the Citizens Energy Package proposal. Up to half of Europe’s population could produce their own renewable energy, covering roughly half of the EU energy demand by 2050. Energy communities can generate up to eight times more local economic value compared to a private developer. As long as Europe depends on imported fossil fuels, our security and our bills are hostage to geopolitical chaos.

This is why the Greens/EFA welcome the upcoming Citizens Energy Package and pushed for a plenary debate on an initiative that makes our energy independent from fossil autocrats and keeps our energy bills low. As advocates of private energy producers, we Greens/EFA want to ensure that local investments in wind and solar will make us less dependent on fossil autocrats and big energy companies, save private households up to 930 euros per year, fight energy poverty and make citizen-owned energy production to drive climate action.

Debate: Tuesday, 10 March
MEP: Nicolae Ștefănuță

Next Monday in the LIBE Committee, MEPs will vote on the Parliament's position on the Returns Regulation ahead of trilogue negotiations, which seeks to overhaul the existing Returns Directive from 2008. The regulation, which is being fast tracked through Parliament and could be voted on in plenary later next week, contains a raft of draconian measures. The regulation could see extremely long detention periods, including the detention of unaccompanied minors as well as the establishment of offshore return hubs and harsh punitive measures towards migrants. The Greens/EFA Group opposes the way the file has been forced through in another opaque procedure and the regulation’s harsh assault on the rights of people seeking protection in Europe.

Votes: Committee: Monday, potential plenary vote: Wednesday or Thursday
MEPs: Melissa Camara, Erik Marquardt, Tineke Strik

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on extending the interim ePrivacy derogation that allows companies to voluntarily scan every users’ communications for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The Greens/EFA Group opposes this proposal, because it is ineffective and risks enabling mass scanning of private communications and undermining encryption. Protecting children must go hand in hand with protecting fundamental rights and ensuring that any law adopted is legally sound and effective.

You can learn more on why scanning all our private messages is a bad idea in our Greens/EFA webinar.

Debate & vote: Wednesday, 11 March
MEP: Markéta Gregorová

On Tuesday, to mark International Women’s Day, MEPs will hear the testimony of Jackie Fox, who will speak in memory of her daughter, a victim of cyberbullying. In two plenary debates, MEPs will also address the European Commission’s gender equality strategy, which was presented on 5 March, and review the progress made in addressing the gender pay and pension gaps in the EU.

Debates & vote: Tuesday, 10 March (International Women’s Day) & Monday, 9 March (gender pay gap)