PLENARY FLASH: Greens/EFA Priorities 19 to 22 January

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution requesting an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and Interim Trade Agreement (ITA). The resolution questions the compatibility with the Treaties of the splitting of the initial Association Agreement in two separate agreements: “EMPA”, that comprises the Political and a Trade part, and “ITA” with the trade components only. This split in the agreement results in a shift from unanimity to a qualified majority in the Council. With regard to the involvement of the European and national Parliaments; the European Parliament will have to ratify both parts, while the national Parliaments won’t have a say on the interim Trade Agreement. The resolution also refers to the precautionary principle and it highlights the potential negative repercussions of the rebalancing mechanism on EU environmental, food safety and health legislation. The Greens/EFA Group will vote in favour of the resolution.

• Vote: Wednesday, 21 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Saskia Bricmont

On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the urgent need to tackle AI deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media by fully enforcing the EU’s digital rules. The Greens/EFA Group calls for a ban on AI-powered nudity and so-called “undressing” apps, which are increasingly used to create non-consensual intimate images, fuelling gender-based violence and enabling child sexual abuse content. Targeting individual perpetrators or a handful of large platforms is not enough. Harmful AI systems must be clearly banned from the EU market to close dangerous legal loopholes and prevent abuse at its source.

Greens/EFA MEPs have submitted a written question to the Commission asking whether such systems are already banned under EU law and, if not, to classify them as prohibited AI practices under the AI Act due to the serious risks they pose to fundamental rights. On Thursday, MEPs will also vote on a report on European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January at 9.00
• Greens/EFA MEPs: Kim van Sparrentak, Alexandra Geese, Markéta Gregorová, Sergey Lagodinsky, etc.

On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, following renewed statements from the current US administration expressing their intent to take control over Greenland, not ruling out military action. The Greens/EFA Group stresses that this situation must not be escalated into a direct EU–US conflict and that diplomacy and de-escalation should be the priority. Greenland’s leadership has made clear that its future lies with Denmark, NATO, Europe and equal partnerships based on mutual respect. We reaffirm our support for Greenland’s right to self-determination, which can only be realised through genuine investment and cooperation, and warn against exploiting this right in geopolitical narratives that risk undermining stability in the region.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January at 13.00
• Greens/EFA MEPs: Villy Søvndal, Kira-Marie Peter Hansen, Rasmus Nordqvist

The abduction of the Venezuelan President and unlawful military actions by the US mark another step to massively disrupt the international world order. The exposed violation of international law is setting a dangerous precedent for other countries to follow the US example. The EU needs to build up their own European defence and security sovereignty over President Trump’s attempts to dominate. In the plenary debate with Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the Greens/EFA Group will condemn the breach of the rules based international order, urge all parties to facilitate peaceful dialogue, call for immediate de-escalation to avert further tensions in the region, to uphold peace and security in the region and stress that the interim government must prioritize the well‑being of the Venezuelan people, guarantee the protection and humanitarian needs of Venezuelans, and ensure a transition to democracy that upholds the rule of law, protects rights and freedoms.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Diana Riba i Giner

On Thursday, the European Parliament will formally adopt the regulation on detergents and surfactants. The European Parliament’s rapporteur, Greens/EFA MEP Majdouline Sbai, welcomes the updated rules, which will improve consumer information, protect workers and reduce the harmful impact on our health and ecosystems. Please find our Greens/EFA press release here for detailed information.

• Vote: Thursday, 22 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Majdouline Sbai, EP rapporteur

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on an update to the rights of air passengers. MEPs in the Transport Committee firmly rejected attempts to roll back compensation for delays of three hours or more and pushed for free cabin luggage, as well as strengthened protections for vulnerable travellers.

The Parliament responded with strong unity to EU ministers’ silent attempt at scrapping consumer protection legislation, under intense lobbying by the airline industry. The role of the Greens/EFA Group in trilogue negotiations was instrumental in preserving parliamentary unity and in building a near-unanimous and ambitious negotiating mandate. This mandate largely preserves and ensures the full respect of the pro-passenger rulings established by CJEU case law. The Greens/EFA Group stands on the side of European citizens’ rights against corporate interest.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January
• Vote: Wednesday, 21 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (TRAN)

The Greens/EFA Group question granting defence funding to Hungary without clear conditions and safeguards. Next Tuesday evening, MEPs will debate the possible greenlighting of 16 billion EUR in EU Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence funds plan of Hungary, thanks to the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group. The Commission has already frozen 17 billion euros earmarked to Hungary due to concerns over the rule of law and fundamental rights. The Greens/EFA Group is concerned that SAFE funds, in particular prefinancing, could be used to support the ruling Fidesz party’s campaign ahead of national elections on April 12. The Greens/EFA Group is calling on the Commission to carefully assess the SAFE plan to Hungary, given serious outstanding concerns over the application of the rule of law, fundamental right and the protection of the EU’s budget in the country and take necessary measures to avoid election interference.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Daniel Freund, Tineke Strik

The Greens/EFA Group expresses its full solidarity with the brave people of Iran and calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately stop the brutal repression and the criminalisation of protesters. The authorities should restore full internet access and immediately and unconditionally release anyone imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association.

The Group calls on the Council and the Commission to strictly enforce the sanctions already in place and welcomes the will of the HR/VP to impose additional sanctions on the Iranian regime in response to its brutal repression. Efforts should be made to assist Iranian people, by assessing the feasibility of an EU-supported digital connectivity relief package, providing emergency protection pathways for individuals at risk and increasing political and financial support of civil society.

• Debate: Tuesday, 20 January
• Vote: Thursday, 22 January
• Greens/EFA MEP: Hannah Neumann