Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 13-16 February 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Emissions Trading System revision; Whistleblowers: Greens keep up pressure on Commission to act; Austrian President Van der Bellen addresses plenary; Future of the EU: joint debate; Statement by the President of the Eurogroup; Parliamentary vote on CETA; Terrorism directive; Robotics: legislative recommendations; Aviation strategy.

Parliament fails first test on Paris Agreement

EU Emissions Trading

Intensive lobbying has weakened climate progress.

Energy Union

The EU should put its citizens at the core of the energy transition

A few weeks ago, the EU Commission presented the ‘winter package’, a series of eight legislative proposals which will enable the Energy Union project to be put in place. For the Greens, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and the citizens of the EU are the three key elements that should be at the heart of this project.

Electricity price scandal in the Spanish state

Scandalously high electricity prices in the Spanish state have been highlighted by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya MEPs Josep-Maria Terricabras and Jordi Solé in a written question to the European Commission.   MEPs Josep-Maria Terricabras & Jordi Solé Electricity p...

Green MEP appointed Chair of the Transport Committee

Karima Delli takes over from Michael Cramer

The European Parliament's Transport Committee has appointed its Chair for the next two and a half years. The French Green MEP Karima Delli, who has been a member of the committee since 2014, was elected chair and takes over the position from Green MEP Michael Cramer.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 12-15 December 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: LuxLeaks appeal trial; 4th Railway Package: missed opportunity for progress; New Greens/EFA co-presidents and bureau announced; Commission Statement: rule of law in Poland; Sakharov Prize presentation; Commission Statement: Energy Union Package; Parliament’s rules of Procedure; Commission: Labour mobility package - coordination of social security systems; Revision of the Research fund for Coal and Steel; Council and Commission statements ahead of European Council; European Parliament presidency: Greens/EFA candidate; ETS vote in ENVI.

Emissions Trading System

Tentative step towards aligning flagship scheme with Paris Agreement

The European Parliament’s Environment committee has today voted on the much-needed reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). The so-called EU 'cornerstone policy' in the fight against climate change has been largely malfunctioning, and has not been able to deliver a carbon price hi...

Hearing Vladimir Sucha and Giovanni De Santi

EMIS Committee

The EMIS committee held its second hearing of JRC officials on Thursday, following disappointment from some Members with the first hearing held in April. Vladimir Sucha, JRC’s current director-general, Vladimir Sucha, had previously been invited to appear, but had to be replaced by his colleag...

Commission's Winter Package

A lost decade for the energy transition

The European Commission has today presented its Winter Package, containing a series of legislative proposals on the future energy policy of the European Union. The proposals fall far short of what will be needed to match the ambitions agreed under the Paris Agreement.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 21-24 November 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Occupational retirement provision; EU-Turkey relations; Conflict minerals trialogue; Council/Commission Statements on outcome of COP22; EU Parliament refuses to refer CETA to the ECJ; Commission considers Code of Conduct changes; Emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants; Renewing the approval of the active substance bentazone; Sign language and professional sign language interpreters; Umbrella deal on EU-US data protection; Dieselgate hearing with French Minister, Ségolène Royal; EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.

Hearing of French Minister Ségolène Royal

EMIS inquiry committee 24 November 2016

  Ségolène Royal, France’s environment minister, appeared before the EMIS committee in Strasbourg today. The much-anticipated hearing got off to a rocky start, as Ms Royal arrived 40 minutes late due to a delayed flight, and the Members therefore only had an hour for thei...

Hearing of Alexander Dobrindt, Olaf Lies and Ségolène Royal

EMIS inquiry committee - 20 October, November

Hearing with German Transport Ministers Alexander Dobrindt and Olaf Lies (20 October), upcoming hearing with Minister Ségolène Royal (presumably in November)