Clean Transport

PNR air passenger data retention

MEPs wave through new PNR system

The European Parliament's lead civil liberties and home affairs committee today approved a legislative agreement on the creation of an EU passenger name record system (1). The Greens have criticised the creation of the system and voted against the agreement, with Green home affairs spokesperson Jan ...

Aviation sector

EU Commission's myopic focus on growth ignores major problems with air transport

The European Commission today presented its 'aviation strategy', setting out proposals for the adapting the rules governing the aviation sector in Europe. Commenting on the proposals, Green transport spokesperson Keith Taylor said: "This strategy paper has again revealed the myopic focus of the...

Urban mobility

EU Parliament calls for shift towards sustainable transport policy

The European Parliament today adopted an initiative report outlining its position on urban mobility, which was drafted by Green MEP Karima Delli. After the vote, the rapporteur Karima Delli said:"The European Parliament has today voted in favour of reorienting of transport policy in our cities ...

Energy Union

Energy ministers give guidance on governance but ignore elephant in the room

EU energy ministers today agreed on measures regarding the governance of the EU's Energy Union at their Council meeting. Commenting on the Council conclusions, Green energy spokesperson Claude Turmes said: "EU energy ministers have today given some clear guidance as regards the crucial issue of...

Car pollution scandal

EP inquiry must be finalised without delay

The socialist (S&D) group today added its support to a proposal made by the Greens/EFA group to set up a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the car pollution scandal. With a majority of groups now supporting an inquiry, a decision will be taken at an extraordinary conference of presi...

Energy Union

Commission vision on energy transition still an incomplete picture

The European Commission today presented a report outlining the progress made so far towards the proposed European Energy Union and the next steps. Assessing the communication, Green energy spokesperson Claude Turmes said: "The Commission has clearly recognised some of the core priorities that n...

Car emissions scandal

EU Commission has serious questions to answer on prior knowledge of illegal manipulation

Commenting on the latest revelation that the European Commission had evidence in 2011 already that car manufacturers were using illegal manipulation to avoid complying with EU pollutant limits for vehicles (1), Green environment spokesperson and vice-president Bas Eickhout said: "The Europea...

Energy Union

EU electricity interconnectivity target backed, as MEPs urge Commission to deliver on energy union promise

The European Parliament's energy committee (ITRE) today adopted two reports setting out its position on the European Energy Union, proposed by the EU Commission, and a proposal for a 10% target for electricity interconnectivity. After the votes, Green MEP Peter Eriksson, who is the EP's rapp...

Urban mobility

MEPs call for shift away from diesel and move towards sustainable transport policy

The European Parliament's transport committee today adopted an initiative report outlining its position on urban mobility, which was drafted by Green MEP Karima Delli. After the vote, the rapporteur Karima Delli said: "MEPs have today voted for a reorientation of transport policy in our cities,...

Car emissions scandal

Widening of car emissions scandal throws spotlight on failures of regulators

Commenting on the latest revelation by car manufacturer Volkswagen that many of its cars on the market are also not in line with EU norms on CO2 emissions, in addition to the ongoing scandal relating to air pollutant emissions, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said:"This latest revelation ...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 26-29 October 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Brussels plenary included EP tax investigation; preventing the trade in torture products; strengthening the European citizens' initiative; refugee crisis and EU governments' response; Diesel gate and the EU car pollution rules; A real end to roaming and protection of net neutrality; Commission work programme and better regulation; Gender equality at the European Court of Justice; Reforming GMO food and feed authorisations in Europe; EU air pollution rules; Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought.

New challenges and concepts for the promotion of tourism in Europe

Plenary speech by Jill Evans