Fair Trade

Legal note on establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace

Dissenting note for legal basis from Ms Heidi Hautala

There is no doubt about the interplay of development and security, or the importance of capacity building and cooperation with the security sector actors, in particular in fragile and conflict-affected third countries. However, the choice of legal basis must be based on Treaty provisions and the true centre of gravity of proposed actions, not on the political expediency.

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Grand coalition opens the door to misuse of civilian tools and development funds

EU Military Capacity Building in third countries

"It would be nothing short of scandalous if development money were to be diverted to the European defence industry in the future," says Bodil Valero.

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More accessible books available for blind and visually impaired people

Marrakesh Treaty

The European Parliament has approved the final deal on the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty in the EU. The treaty makes exceptions to some copyright rules for books and other materials in accessible formats for people who are blind or visually impaired (such as audiobooks, large print, and braille).

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A longer lifetime for products

Let's put an end to planned obsolescence

The European Parliament adopted Greens/EFA MEP Pascal Durand's report aiming to make the goods we buy last longer, cutting down on waste while providing a better deal for consumers! A clear consensus on the need to end planned obsolescence.

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Member States fail to protect public health and environment from endocrine disrupters

Toxic substances

The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has today voted to approve new criteria determining hormone-disrupting chemicals used in pesticides. The European Commission's criteria will make it very difficult to identify endocrine disrupters, meaning that few if any products would be removed from the market.

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Overproduction of food (waste)

produce less, feed more!

For many years the Greens/EFA group has been leading the fight for food security, social justice, robust ecosystems and against climate change. Today the European Parliament adopted another non-binding resolution calling for more ambition in reducing food waste, improving resource efficiency and foo...

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EU reaches deal on copyright exceptions on books for the blind or visually impaired

Marrakesh Treaty

The European Parliament, Council and Commission have reached a compromise deal on the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty in the EU. The treaty makes exceptions to some copyright rules for books and other materials in accessible formats for people who are blind or visually impaired (such as audiobooks, large print, and braille).

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Pace of progress will be too slow

Energy Labelling

Negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council on the revision of EU energy labelling rules have come to a close. The Greens/EFA group welcomes a decision that will see consumers benefit from simplified energy labelling, but regrets the lengthy transition for so many products.

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sunflower©antonio-grosz — ©antonio-grosz

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 13-16 March 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Mercury rules; Gender equality: still a long way to go on equality; Arctic policy; Animal welfare; Firearms control; LuxLeaks appeal verdict; Official controls in the food chain; Shareholders' rights; Conclusions of the European Council/Rome Declaration; Conflict minerals; Fishing sector data collection.

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Serious shortcomings from both EU Commission and Member States

Dieselgate inquiry

The European Parliament committee set up to investigate the Dieselgate scandal has voted on its final report. The report makes clear that both the EU Commission and Member States should have acted on emission fraud sooner and makes recommendations for future action.

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Conservative and Liberal alliance fails to prevent damaging food and commodity speculation

MiFID II

"The watering down of limits on food speculation will have tough consequences for the people and farmers in developing countries," said Greens/EFA economic and finance spokesperson, Sven Giegold.

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Commission proposal would do little for accountability or public health

Comitology

The European Commission has published its long-awaited proposal for the reform of the comitology process, used to approve or renew products, such as GMOs and pesticides.

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