Mobility

EU Commission lets aviation off the hook again

International flights exempt from emission scheme

The European Commission has announced it will extend indefinitely the “stop the clock” measure under which international aviation remains exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The Commission has once again let the sector off the hook, says Green MEP Bas Eickhout.

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.

Fourth Railway Package

Package fails to deliver for passengers

The European Parliament voted today on the fourth railway package. The Greens/EFA Group voted against the political pillar of the proposal, as the new rules will not bring any real improvements. Commenting after of the vote, Green transport spokesperson Jakop Dalunde said: "The tenderi...

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...

Air pollution

Revised legislation won’t tackle public health crisis

The European Parliament has today voted in favour of a long-overdue revision of EU air quality legislation, setting out national limits on a range of air pollutants. The Greens/EFA group has condemned the final agreement, which is substantially weaker than the European Commission's original proposal...

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)

Hearing of Mr Alexander Dobrindt

EMIS inquiry committee - 19 October 2016

Hearing of Mr Alexander Dobrindt - Federal Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Germany

For an EU Car Emission & Safety Agency

EMIS inquiry hearing

The revision of the EU type-approval framework for cars is currently being discussed in the European Parliament in the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO). This reform has been put forward by the European Commission in the aftermath of the scandal on diesel emissions and turn-off devices. While the Greens/EFA welcomed the Commission's proposal as a good basis for discussion, we are more sceptical about the draft report presented by MEP Daniel Dalton (European Conservatives and Reformists, ECR UK).

Comment on the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements 10 October 2016

Bas Eickhout

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 3-6 October 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: transparency; GMO cultivation faces objection vote; Commission hearing on macro-economic conditionality for Portugal & Spain; Legal Aid Directive will ensure minimum standards; Making sure trade policy protects human rights; European Public Prosecutor's office and Eurojust; Ratification of the Paris agreement (COP 21); 18th birthday Interrail pass for Europeans; Look ahead to European Council meeting; The need for a European reindustrialisation policy; Women’s rights in Poland; Thailand, the case of Andy Hall; Enforcement of EU law not sufficiently transparent; Syria; Food Contact Materials.

ICAO

We must build on this meagre deal

Bas Eickhout comments on the International Civil Aviation Organization agreement on implementing a global market-based measure to limit emissions from aviation