Biodiversity

Plant it and make it grow

Seed diversity is crucial for our food

Most of the food we eat comes from seeds. Seed diversity is the basis of our food chain and our food security depends on it. Decreasing it impacts on the choice of the food we eat, and local fruits, vegetables and cereals can disappear from our fields and plates. Seeds are also humanity's oldest ...

EU food rules and seeds

Commission plans would threaten seed diversity

The European Commission today presented its food safety package, with proposals for new EU rules in a number of areas, including for seeds and plant reproductive products. The Greens expressed concern that the proposals on seeds would play into the hands of the agro-chemical industry and threaten se...

Brussels Agenda

Weekly preview of the Greens/EFA group - 6 - 12 May 2013

Greens/EFA priorities for the week include Hungary and democratic freedoms, EU funding for the most deprived, Weak targets for van emissions, New seeds regulation endangers genetic diversity, More transparent bank charging, Alternative responses to the ecological, economic and social crises, Energising Europe and Spain sustainably

Bee decline/neonicotinoid ban

Key decision for bees as European Commission pushes for proposed neonicotinoid suspension

Crucial proposals from the European Commission to suspend the use of neonicotinoid insecticides - due to their damaging impact on bee populations - were today upheld after a vote by EU member states. The outcome of the vote (1) in the Comitology Appeal Committee will enable the proposed suspension t...

Bee decline

Neonicotinoid suspension must be upheld by EU governments

Crucial proposals from the European Commission to suspend the use of 3 specific neonicotinoid insecticides - due to their damaging impact on bee populations - are again set to be voted on by EU member states on Monday (29 April), after an inconclusive vote last month (1). There are concerns that key...

The Belo Monte Dam Project

Press Breakfast Brussels, 23rd of April

The Belo Monte Dam Project

Press Breakfast Brussels, 23rd of April

Greens/EFA Round-up

Debriefing of the plenary week Strasbourg 15-18 April 2013

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary week included emissions trading scheme, emissions from flights, airport ground handling, capping bank bonuses and increasing banking transparency, preventing dolphin by-catch, Hungary and democratic freedoms, the fall out from the Cyprus bail-out debacle, EU enlargement progress assessed, EU Arctic policy, ship scrappage and worker protection ...

Give Bees a Chance

Keeping bee's knees campaigning up for a better future without harmful pesticides

On 16th January 2013, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published three reports on the toxicity risk to bees of 3 neonicotinoid pesticides: imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. EFSA's conclusions are clear: neonicotinoids pose a high risk to bees, either by the presence of these in...

Strasbourg Flash

Weekly preview of the Greens/EFA group - 15 - 18 April 2013

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary include emissions trading scheme, emissions from flights, airport ground handling, capping bank bonuses and increasing banking transparency, rreventing dolphin by-catch, Hungary and democratic freedoms, the fall out from the Cyprus bail-out debacle, EU enlargement progress assessed, EU Arctic policy, ship scrappage and worker protection ...

The Arctic melt

11.04.2013

A wake up call, NOT a business opportunity!

In 2010 the Canadian Arctic experienced its warmest year on record. at the end of 2012, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that the Arctic Sea ice is at record low. Suddenly the area's resources- oil, gas, iron ore, uranium, even diamonds- have never seemed so accessible. Energy and mining companies are now descending on the north, viewing the melt as a big business opportunity.

The Arctic melt

A wake up call, not a business opportunity!

2012 saw a record loss of Arctic sea ice in the summer. Across the globe, an enormous number of scientists & experts have warned about the unprecedented Arctic melt. For the Greens the Arctic ice melt must be a wake up call for better and faster climate action!