Energy giant Repsol abandons oil and gas exploration in Canary Island waters

Climate campaign blog

Last Friday energy giant Repsol announced that it was putting an end to its oil and gas exploration in Canary Island waters, saying that reserves are too small and of too poor quality. The Greens - who have supported the local resistance groups against drilling in this region- will continue their advocacy work for this important cause, pressing the European Commission to take a clear stand and move towards an EU-wide ban of such projects in the future, in the Canary islands and elsewhere.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 12-15 January 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included the Charlie Hebdo attack and freedom of expression; EU GMO authorisations and the Trojan horse of the opt-out; migration; borders and more Mediterranean tragedies; Ukraine, Russia and the EU's role; the EU Commission's work plans and 'better regulation’; Turkey, freedom of expression and the EU's role; recent atrocities by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria; TTIP, trade policy and controversial investor-state settlement schemes; EU investment plan; tax evasion - EU Parliament inquiry committee gains cross-political support.

Focus on minorities and languages in European Parliament

The European Parliament's Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages has held its inaugural meeting of the new parliamentary term in Strasbourg. The group is a cross party gathering of MEPs...

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Issue n°8 January 2015

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Vote on GMO authorisation: New EU scheme eases way for GMOs without addressing flawed authorisation process  FOOD FOR THOUGHT  The European Parliament's Su...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 15-19 December 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included tar sands, EU GMO authorisations, EU Commission's work plans and 'better regulation', European economic governance, EU budget shortfalls, EU summit, LuxLeaks, recognising Palestine, CIA abuses and the complicity of EU member states,...

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Issue n°7 December 2014

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY GMO authorisation: New scheme fails to changed flawed GMO authorisation process  FOOD FOR THOUGHT EU Sustainable food strategy: Join the Growing call for action! Conference i...

COP20 - The final hours…

Climate campaign blog

The climate summit in Lima will probably probably continue until Sunday. Last night the poorer countries expressed too many objections to the draft ADP text, which will be the text that will have to be agreed upon at the climate summit in 2015 in Paris.

COP20: Success in Paris next year will depend on the agreement in Lima!

Climate campaign blog

We are now quickly approaching the end of the COP20. While it is clear that negotiators will be able to strike some kind of deal in Lima, it is important to underline the importance of making serious good progress on all these three elements: the draft text agreement for the 2015 agreement, the ADP decision on INDCs and a agreement on a pre-2020 work plan to close the mitigation gap.

Let’s stop subsidizing the past!

Climate campaign blog

Richest states promised to phase out fossil fuel in 2009 and reinterred their promise last year. However, the various reports on the subject compiled by NGOs, think tanks or banks cannot be clearer: only very little has been done at national level. If the world if serious about agreeing on a climate deal that will limit global warming well below 2°C it is about time for action!

Climate March in Lima: Citizens are on the move, but what about our climate negotiators?

Climate campaign blog

Next year Paris cannot and should not be Copenhagen, neither in the expectations, in the preparation process nor in the mobilisations. As we are in the middle of the political segment of COP20, a new large-scale citizen mobilisation is taking place today to remind our negotiators on the emergency to act but also to show them that a growing bigger number of people are ready for the transition to a green economy. So what exactly are our Heads of States and governments waiting for?

Towards awareness and action against IBD’s

Last week in the European Parliament representatives of the European Commission, professors and patients were brought together by the European Greens to exchange information on the alarming raise of IBD’s amongst the...

The Green Climate fund – A key element to strike an ambitious climate deal in Paris

Climate campaign blog

With the announcement by Norway at COP20 last Friday to contribute with $258 million dollars the Green Climate Fund has now almost received the $10 billion demanded by its board before the end of this year. However too many unclear elements remain to ensure trust between the developped countries and more vulnerable states and thus good progress and success of the future climate deal...

COP 20 in Lima must be more than a dress rehearsal

Climate Campaign Blog

After quite some celebration, media hype and self-gratulations over the US and China deal, time for a cold shower: the prospects of a Paris 2015 agreement that delivers a path to a below 2°C warming are anything but certain. This negotiation round, Conference of Parties in Lima, Peru, that started last Monday will need to deliver key decisions to know wether the pledges, such as those made by US and China, will match what climate science says is necessary.

TTIP talks

What's cooking?

  Producers of good food and farming practices need to keep a keen eye on the EU-US talks TTIP talks are currently the hot topic on the European Commission trade menu. But what’s cooking? How much should...

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Issue n°6 November 2014

  GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Novel foods: EP sends clear signals on food from clones and nanomaterials in food GMO authorisation: 'No must mean no', as MEPs vote to strengthen GMO opt-outs ...

Greens/EFA Round-up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 24-28 November 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included tax evasíon and the LuxLeaks, plastic bags rules, the Pope's visit and the role of his church, the EU-Canada PNR agreement, migration and tragedies in the Mediterranean, the recognition of Palestine and peace in the Middle East, the UN climate talks and the EU's role, the Commission proposal on an investment plan for Europe

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Brussels plenary week 10-14 November 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Brussels Plenary included the ongoing Luxembourg Leaks revelations and controversy surrounding massive tax avoidance, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the ongoing reform of how GMOs are authorised in the EU.

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 20-24 October 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included the Ebola crisis and the EU's response, the Energy and climate policy and the EU summit, Hungary's crackdown on civil society, the election of the European Commission, the EU budget, bullfighting, lobbying and the single seat and rounding up migrants in coordinated EU action.

43 Student teachers missing in Mexico

Horrendous crime must be solved and impunity ended

Six people were killed and 43 student teachers disappeared on the 26th September 2014 in Guerrero, Mexico.

EU climate and energy summit

The 2030 targets: what's at stake?

EU heads of state and government are meeting at a high-level summit today and tomorrow (23-24 October) to decide on the EU's climate and energy policy to 2030. With headline targets on greenhouse gas reductions, renewabl...

Commission Test

Blog on the nominations and hearings for the new Commission

The game is over. The new College of the European Commission was voted by the European Parliament. Our group voted against. Read our blog for an analysis of the proposed EU Commissioners, their remits and the hearings

Fundamental Rights and the new Commission

Same old story, or less talk and more action?

Plenary speech from Judith Sargentini For several years now there have been signals that Hungary is moving away from the core values of the European Union. This was affirmed this year by Hungarian Prime Minister...

GMO (In)digest

Issue 15 of the GMO Campaign Newsletter

  EU Work: Renationalisation proposal (Opt-out) See (GMO (In)digest 14) The political agreement on the renationalisation, or “opt-out” proposal has been formally adopted at the Council of Gener...

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Issue n°5 October 2014

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Any hope for sustainable and safe food policy with new proposed EU commissioner? EP Hearings and EU Food agenda: mixed feelings about the 3 Commissioners involved Join the pledge for the Publication of the Communication on 'Building a Sustainable European Food System'

Transport

Greens/EFA Transport coordinator Karima Delli assesses commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc

Given the time Mrs. Bulc had to prepare, her performance was passable. She displayed an open, straight-forward attitude and showed some knowledge on transport policy. However, her answers on all key green issues she was asked about were substandard.

Stop European subsidies on bullfighting!

Support the Green amendment and sign the petition

On 22 October, Members of the European Parliament will vote on a Green proposal to stop EU funds for bullfighting and the related industry for this brutal and cruel activity. Help convince them by signing the petition

European Day of Action against TTIP

Disarm the TTIP

Greens/EFA MEPs are taking part in the European Day of Action against TTIP, CETA and TISA this week-end. Let's join together in the fight against the TTIP EU-US deal.

Lithuanian Government shall not force unsafe shale gas technologies

Letter from MEPs to Lithuanian authorities

Today, 10 October, over 30 Members of the European Parliament in their letter have addressed the President, Chair of the Seimas (Parliament) and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania expressing their concern ab...

EU medicine regulation in the new Commission

About-turn on Medicines Agency ensures patients remain the priority

The European Medicines Agency, which is responsible for the evaluation and supervision of medicines in the EU, has been something of a political hot potato over the past weeks. President-elect Juncker tried to shift resp...

Join the Food Revolution!

Join the pledge for the Publication of the Communication on 'Building a Sustainable European Food System'

In April 2013, the European Commission announced that the Communication entitled "Building a Sustainable European Food System" would be published by the end of 2013 or early 2014. The Commission has not only invested a lot of resources in creating this important document, it also held a very successful public consultation last year, and the final Communication was agreed by three Commissioners (DG AGRI, DG ENVI and DG SANCO).

Digital Single Market

Greens/EFA MEP Julia Reda gives our assessment of commissioner-designate Andrus Ansip

Jan Philipp Albrecht assesses Andrus Ansip Julia Reda assesses Andrus Ansip What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Ansip performed? Given the short time to prepare, Ansip seemed ...

Press Briefing Note

What is the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear subsidy case and why is it so important?

The European Commission plans this Wednesday 8 October to take a final state aid decision on: THE UK’s €20 BILLION OFFER ... The UK government has offered a package of operating subsidies and other measures to enable the construction of two new nuclear power plants at Hinkley Point in SW England. The twin 1600 megawatt reactors would be built and owned by a consortium of four firms, two French and two Chinese, with Électricité de France (EDF) in the lead.

A lesson well recited

Sven Giegold, Jean Lambert and Monika Vana assess commissioner-designate Dombrovskis

At first glance, Valdis Dombrovskis made an acceptable performance during his hearing. But when you scratch the surface his presentation seemed more like a well-rehearsed recital of a neoliberal version of a Juncker lesson. It remains to be seen if his prolific use of social trigger words will now be turned into commitments and actions.

Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Green MEP Barbara Lochbihler gives our assessment of High Representative Federica Mogherini

What is your overall impression of how the High Representative designate Federica Mogherini performed? All in all, Federica Mogherini left a rather positive impression. She was able to answer most questions and...

Sakharov Prize 2014

Support for the nomination of Leyla Yunus

Make a difference, vote for Leyla Yunus  Letter of support for the nomination of Leyla Yunus for the 2014 Sakharov Prize by 2009 Sakharov Laureates, Russian NGO Memorial   With this letter, we would like...

EP Hearings and EU Food agenda: mixed feelings about the 3 Commissioners involved

Members of the European Parliament last week held hearings with the three Commissioners-designate with food-related portfolios.

Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship

Green MEP Helga Trupel gives our assessment of commissioner-designate Tibor Navracsics

What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Navracsics performed? He is a very talkative and eloquent person, but absolutely not ready for any self criticism and not ready to adm...

Agriculture and Rural Development

Green MEP Martin Hausling gives our assessment of ommissioner-designate Phil Hogan

What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate performed? Well briefed and prepared. For the complex issues he read his answers nicely. Mr Hogan clearly has a neoliberal world view. Were there par...

Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality

Green MEP Heidi Hautala gives our assessment of Commissioner-designate Vera Jourová

What is your overall impression of how Commissioner-Designate Jourová performed? It certainly seems that she has been given a portfolio with such breadth and depth that tending to all relevant issues satisfactorily see...

Canete: not fit for the job

Green MEPs Bas Eickhout and Claude Turmes deem energy and climate commissioner-designate Cañete unsuitable

Green MEPs Bas Eickhout and Claude Turmes deem energy and climate commissioner-designate Cañete unsuitable. He has failed to allay the serious concerns about the conflicts of interest regarding his nomination as EU climate and energy commissioner, notably the continued involvement of his brother-in-law in the oil industry. For the Greens/EFA group, his candidacy is clearly untenable.

Regional Policy Commissioner Hearing

Greens/EFA assessment

Green MEP Monika Vana Delli gives our assessment of Regional Policy Commissioner nominee Corina Cretu

Our health and food in safe hands?

Green MEP Bas Eickhout assesses the EP hearing of Vytenis Andriukaitis, commissioner-designate for health and food safety

Green MEP Bas Eickhout gives a generally positive assessment of the EP hearing with Vytenis Andriukaitis and health and food safety under the new Commission.     What was your overall impression ...

Juncker's persisting environmental blind spot

Sustainable development and environmental protection completely relagated in new proposed Commission

The complete relegation of sustainable development and environmental protection in the proposals by president-elect Juncker for the coming EU Commission term has been under fire for some time. Last week, our group wrote ...

Experienced Politician

Green MEP Judith Sargentini assesses Migration and Home Affairs Commission candidate Dimitris Avramopoulos

Green MEP Judith Sargentini gives a cautiously positive assessment of the EP hearing with Dimitris Avramopoulos and Migration and Home Affairs under the new Commission. What was y...

A smooth but maybe too cautious operator

Greens/EFA assessment of Carlos Moedas, following his hearing

  Greens/EFA MEP Reinhard Bütikofer comments the hearing of Carlos Moedas What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Moedas performed? He certainly is an experienced politician and a smoo...

Greens call for a truthful and reliable climate and energy commissioner

Blog - climate campaign

The Greens/EFA group questions the links of Commissioner designate Miguel Arias Cañete and his family to the oil industry and believes these pose serious concerns about his independence and commitment to the general public interest.

Transport Commissioner Šefčovič?

Green MEP Karima Delli gives our assessment of Transport Commissioner nominee Maroš Šefčovič What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Šefčovič performed? Mr. Šefčovič performed better than...

Sustainability and the environment under Team Juncker

Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms express concern sustainable development is an inconvient afterthought

With the European Parliament set to vet the College of Commissioners proposed by president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker, Greens/EFA group co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts give a sceptical assessment of Team...

New Trade Commissioner?

Yannick Jadot on Trade Commissioner nominee Cecilia Malmstrom

What is your overall impression of how the candidate performed? Cecilia Malmström was obviously well briefed on the trade dossier. Unfortunately, she has fallen completely into the line and footsteps of ...

Fit for the job of environment and fisheries commissioner?

Greens/EFA assessment of Karmenu Vella, following his EP hearing

Greens/EFA environment spokesperson Bas Eickhout and fisheries spokesperson Isabella Lövin give their assessment of the European Parliament hearing with Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner-designate fo...