Car pollution scandal

EU Commission must stop being passive and deliver a coherent EU response

The Greens/EFA group has written to the European Commission setting out necessary action to be taken in response to the scandal regarding the compliance of Volkswagen and other manufacturers with EU law on pollutant emissions from cars (1). The group took the initiative following a European Parliame...

Emission measurements in the automotive sector

Plenary speech by Rebecca Harms

How the car lobby works

Volkswagen

In the midst of the car emissions scandal, this video explains how the car lobby works to influence legislation.

Car pollution rules

EU must fix testing loopholes to stop carmakers gaming the system

The European Parliament's environment committee will tomorrow vote on a draft law, updating the EU's Euro 5/6 regulation limiting pollution from road vehicles. The vote takes place amidst revelations that the US Environmental Protection Agency is fining German car manufacturer Volkswagen for...

TTIP

Beware what lies beneath

The European Greens do not believe that TTIP represents the kind of transatlantic relationship we need. As it currently stands, TTIP threatens our democracy and risks undermining our hard-won regulation and standards in a host of sectors.

Water services and basic rights

EP backs Citizens' Initiative on Right to Water despite centre-right dissent

The European Parliament today adopted a report setting out the EP's opinion on the massively popular European Citizens' Initiative aimed at protecting the right to water (Right2Water). The resolution gives explicit support to the goals of the initiative (1), despite a move by centre-right ME...

Water services and basic rights

Centre-right coalition seeks to slap down important Citizens' Initiative on Right to Water

The European Parliament will next week vote on a report setting out its response to the massively popular European Citizens' Initiative aimed at protecting the right to water (Right2Water). Parliament's environment and public health committee had adopted a strong report, which gave explicit ...

Food culture

Join the food revolution

Food is essential. We need it for our lives, health and well being. Good food is political. Join us in our fight for increased public awareness, personal engagement and participative democracy in determining and improving food policies throughout Europe.

Circular economy

European Commission must deliver by the end of the year

The European Parliament today adopted a report on the circular economy. The report's central demands are for less waste, better product design, less dependence on imports of raw materials and more green job creation in the EU. Following the European Commission’s controversial withdrawal of its ini...

Air pollution

European Parliament and Council agree a deal on pollution from medium combustion plants

The European Parliament, European Commission and Council Presidency today reached an agreement on a new Directive regarding pollutant emissions from medium combustion plants (capacity between 1 to 50 MW).[i] Medium combustion plants are used for, among others, electricity generation, residential hea...

Circular economy

Cross-party majority calls for ambitious new circular economy package

The European Parliament’s Environment committee today adopted a report on the circular economy. The European Commission’s withdrawal of its initial legislative proposal on the circular economy drew heavy criticism from the European Parliament, EU Environment ministers and civil society. This rep...

Road charging

10 Green principles

At a time when governments everywhere are struggling with budget constraints, it seems inevitable that road charging for passenger cars will be considered on a broad scale, as governments grapple with decaying infrastructure and look for means to generate additional revenue. In Germany a road charging scheme has been adopted this week with the final signature of the president setting the introduction date to 1 January 2016.