PLENARY FLASH: Greens/EFA Priorities 19 to 22 October
European support to defend the International Criminal Court |
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At the request of the Greens/EFA Group, the European Parliament will hold a debate on Donald Trump's attacks on the International Criminal Court following the arrest warrant it issued against Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-Defense Minister for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. See our petition here.
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Connecting Europe through high-speed rail |
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On Tuesday, MEPs will debate connecting Europe through high-speed rail. The Greens/EFA Group has always actively supported high-speed rail connection between Europe’s main cities, to foster a shift from planes to trains for passengers. These connections could also help create synergies to boost the share of freight transport through conventional train lines and move it away from road transport. This requires the adequate level of funding, including at the EU level through the Connecting Europe Facility, the use of green rail bonds and a differentiated fiscal treatment of rail.
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UN Climate Conference COP31: Parliament vote |
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Next month, governments, world leaders and civil society will meet for COP31 in Antalya, Turkey from the 9th to 20th of November to discuss and coordinate global efforts in the fight against climate change. Ahead of COP31, next week, MEPs will adopt the European Parliament’s position for the EU to take to Türkiye. It’s been over a decade since the Paris agreement was signed and the world is crossing a line it promised not to cross: the UN confirmed last month that global heating will overshoot 1.5°C. Between 2024 and 2025 global emissions grew by 1%. The fires, floods, droughts and disasters that Europe is already experiencing due to the devastation of climate change are only the beginning. This COP needs to deliver on a fossil fuel phaseout so the globe has a chance to bring down emissions. The resolution to be voted on next week calls on all parties to move forward on the roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels agreed in Belém. It calls on the EU to lead negotiations on a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and to set out plans to end fossil fuel subsidies and production. The EU should lead by example with its own timeline for an economy-wide phase-out. The Greens/EFA call on all pro-European groups to stand by the committee text in plenary and to send the EU to Antalya with a clear mandate to phase out fossil fuels. Pär Holmgren and Kai Tegethoff will represent the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament’s 15-member delegation to COP31. Sara Matthieu, Michael Bloss and Ufuk Kahya will also attend the COP. Debate: Wednesday, 21 October
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Greens/EFA candidate for Vice-President |
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Following last week's election of Nicolae Ștefănuță of as Co-President of the group, the Greens/EFA Group will select their candidate to replace him as Vice-President of the European Parliament on Wednesday.
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Escalation of Russian strikes in the EU, particularly on Black Sea shipping, threatening human life, regional stability and food security On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the wave of drone attacks by Russia in the Black Sea. Black Sea shipping lanes are crucial for global food security. The Greens/EFA Group strongly condemns the recent drone attacks against civilian and merchant vessels and demand an urgent, coordinated EU and NATO response. Member States, in close coordination with NATO, must support Bulgaria and Romania in the early detection and tracking of hostile drones threatening Black Sea shipping.
MEP: Sergey Lagodinski
Erasmus+ Programme The current Erasmus+ Programme is recognised as one of the EU’s most impactful initiatives and accounts for only 2% of the EU budget. The Greens/EFA deplore the overall Erasmus+ budget announced by the Council. We cannot afford to make the wrong choice at such a critical juncture in history.
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