Nuclear power/state aid

UK's Hinkley deal cannot be waved through by EU Commission

Leaked reports indicate the European commissioner in charge of state aid, Joaquín Almunia, is set to recommend approving plans by the UK government to give public support for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley (1). Commissioner Almunia was today questioned by Green MEPs on the...

Finland-Russia/nuclear power

Decision to build new reactor wrong on all fronts

Commenting on the decision of the Finnish Green Party to withdraw from government over plans to construct a new nuclear reactor, Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms, co-presidents of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, said: "It is very regrettable that the Finnish government is a...

Climate and energy policy under Team Juncker

Green MEP Claude Turmes gives a gloomy initial assessment

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? I am not particularly happy with the proposal from Jean-Claude Juncker. The structure he has proposed for the new Commission appears to be based on promoting an outdated approach of economic growth at the cost of the environmen...

Nuclear waste

EU Commission must intervene to prevent reckless transport of nuclear waste from Hungary

The Hungarian authorities are planning to transport damaged nuclear fuel to a Russian reprocessing site, via Ukraine, with no plan for any return (1). The Greens have called on the European Commission to intervene to prevent this. Commenting on the situation, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms sa...

Energy security

Repackaging old, stuttering energy mix no recipe for securing energy supply

Commenting on the proposals by EU energy commissioner Oettinger on energy security, presented today, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said: “The crisis in Ukraine has again underlined the need to develop a European strategy to secure our energy supply and reduce our damaging dependence on fo...

Energy security

European energy fossils look to the past for energy union

A conference on a European energy security strategy is being hosted today by EU commission president Barroso and energy commissioner Oettinger. At the conference, Polish prime minister Tusk is expected to outline his proposals for a European energy union. Commenting ahead of the conference, Greens/E...

Energy Union

Greens call for EU energy policy to be based on efficiency and renewables

The current situation in Ukraine demonstrates once again the EU’s dependence on fossil fuel imports to feed its economies. As with the situation five years ago, the EU has been taken hostage by its biggest supplier, as Russia plays its joker card named "fuels". With this as background, P...

The Greens in the European Parliament 2009 - 2014

Colouring our future

Belgian nuclear reactors

New report underlines need to ensure Belgian reactors are not restarted

A new report commissioned by the Greens/EFA group and presented today highlighted ongoing concerns and problems at two Belgian nuclear reactors (Doel 3 and Tihange 2). In response, the Greens called for the reactors, which are currently shut down, not to be restarted in this context. Commenting afte...

EU state aid rules for energy

Polluting industries get free ride, as private consumers left to foot the bill

The European Commission today presented long-awaited proposals to review EU state aid rules in the energy sector. The Greens hit out at the plans, which will allow governments to continue exemptions for energy-intensive industries as regards their contribution to renewable energy schemes, whilst und...

Greens/EFA Round-up

Debriefing of the Brussels plenary session 2-3 April 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Brussels plenary session included Car engine noise; EU nuclear safety rules; Europe's Magnitsky law; Emissions from aviation; Net neutrality; Clinical trials for medicines; outside the Plenary: Putin's Russia: USSR reloaded?; Bee Week 2014

Nuclear safety

EP majority continues whitewash of safety concerns with Europe's ageing reactors

The European Parliament today voted on proposals by EU energy commissioner Oettinger to revise EU rules on nuclear safety. The Greens criticised the outcome of the vote, which merely confirmed the legal process chosen by the Commission, excluding the European Parliament from co-deciding on the legis...