Travelling, working, studying in another EU country? What many people take for granted is often not accessible for people with disabilities. With the EU disability card we want to change this. Katrin Langensiepen is a member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA. She is also one of the few MEPs with a disability. In this article, she explains what the EU disability card is and why it is such a big step towards European accessibility.

What is the EU disability card?

The recognition of disability status and the associated benefits, assistance or advantages often stop at the border between two EU countries. 

I want to change this with the new EU disability card. Together with activists, we, the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament have been calling for its introduction for years. This year, the European Commission has now presented a legislative proposal. 

Our preliminary discussions have paid off. At least as far as travelling is concerned, the EU Commission’s proposal is a milestone. 

Why do we need an EU disability card?

People with disabilities should be able to study, work, and do an internship in another EU country. And they should be able to do so even if they are dependent on specific help. But in order to claim benefits with a disability card in another EU country, I first have to prove that I have a disability.

It is unacceptable that people with disabilities first have to go through a months-long, often humiliating, national assessment process before they can make use of appropriate assistance or reasonable accommodation in the workplace. Conversely, this means no trace of flexibility and freedom of movement.

Several people with disabilities have already contacted me about this. They told me that they have had to let go of the wish to study abroad or do an internship in another country. They had to, simply because they cannot rely on local assistance unless they pay for it privately. 

Compared to people without disabilities, this is clearly discrimination. More than 10 years ago, the EU committed itself to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and thus also to EU freedom of movement for all.

What will it change for people with disabilities?

The proposed directive stipulates that people with disabilities can use the new card to take advantage of all preferential treatments that apply nationally. 

If, for example, a person with a disability in France does not have to pay tolls on the motorway, this now applies not only to people from France. With the new EU disability card, this also applies to people with disabilities from Austria, Poland or Italy who are travelling in France.

The EU ID card is not intended to replace the national ID card, but to supplement it voluntarily.

The access to preferential treatments is limited to travelling, currently meaning a short period of 3 months. Social benefits are not included in the disability card.

What will the new EU disability card look like?

The EU disability card will be available in card and digital form. It will be valid and recognised throughout the EU. It will therefore offer equal access to assistance for people with disabilities, regardless of their EU nationality. This is the overarching idea behind the EU disability card. 

However, some EU member states are already sceptical. In Germany, for example, there are arguments of “discrimination against nationals”, implementation costs and additional burdens. This relates to local public transport in Germany, for example, where discounts currently vary depending on the degree of disability. People with an EU ID card that does not provide for a degree would therefore have an “advantage”.

Now is not the time to get lost in these nationally driven detailed debates. Up to now, the EU ID card has only been valid for a limited period of three months at a time. This is a very short period in contrast to benefits that apply to nationals for much longer. It would be the minimum level of European solidarity to provide people with disabilities with benefits and assistance when travelling!

The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament continue to fight for freedom of movement

We must do everything in our power to ensure that the EU adopts this disability card before the end of this legislative period. The EU member states must not fall into a blockade position in the negotiations with the Commission and Parliament. 

It is therefore all the more important that people with and without disabilities, as well as their NGOs, mobilise and speak out in their member states in favour of an EU disability card. 

We appeal to you to write specifically to the respective ministers for people with disabilities, but also for transport. 

Because for us Greens in the European Parliament, the EU disability card is just a start.

The new EU disability card would be a historic step towards freedom of movement for people with disabilities. However, we are still a long way from real freedom of movement. 

What’s the next step after the EU disability card?

Looking to the future, we are calling for a common definition of disability in the long term. This way we don’t need national assessments anymore and social benefits can also be claimed. 

But even in the current draft law, we, the Greens/EFA are already trying to find an interim solution for people with disabilities who are between two EU member states for a longer period of time. When a person with a disability changes their place of residence, their rights and social benefits are often terminated immediately. However, it can take months before they are entitled to benefits in the other EU country. 

That is why we are calling in the current negotiations in the European Parliament for the EU ID card to take precedence during an ongoing procedure. We are also calling for national rights to be maintained until a new national ID card is issued. This process should not take longer than 6 months. 

We also want to extend the 3-month period for people who are part of a mobility programme. This is why we are calling for an EU platform with information and overviews of the respective nationally applicable benefits and services. We also want to examine the extent to which people can use the EU disability card to coordinate social security systems in the future. 

The new EU disability card is an opportunity to finally guarantee people with disabilities their right to freedom of movement within the EU. The EU Parliament, Commission and Council must utilise it together and build on it. 

The future is accessible, for everyone.

Déclaration de Terry Reintke et Philippe Lamberts, au nom du groupe des Verts-ALE :

« Nous sommes profondément attristés par la disparition de notre collègue Michèle.

Son parcours remarquable, ses batailles politiques passionnées et son empathie ont marqué toutes celles et ceux qui ont eu la chance de la rencontrer.

Fondatrice d’associations comme la Criirad en 1986, au lendemain de Tchernobyl, le Criirem en 2005, Association Zones Blanches en 2014, toujours prête à défendre les principes qu’elle chérissait, Michèle Rivasi a consacré sa vie à la protection de la biodiversité et de notre santé et au combat pour la transparence de nos institutions. 

Élue députée de la Drôme en 1997, vice-présidente du conseil général de la Drôme, conseillère municipale à Valence, elle a été élue au Parlement européen en 2009. 

Notre groupe, et le Parlement Européen perdent aujourd’hui une personnalité politique qui a, tout au long de sa carrière, cherché, avant tout, à défendre l’intérêt général.

Nos pensées vont à sa famille et ses amis. »

Statement by Terry Reintke and Philippe Lamberts, on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group:

“We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Michèle Rivasi.

Her remarkable career, her passionate political battles and her empathy have left their mark on all those who had the chance to meet her.

She founded several associations such as Criirad in 1986, in the aftermath of Chernobyl, Criirem in 2005, and Zones Blanches Association in 2014, always ready to defend the principles she cherished. Michèle Rivasi dedicated her life to the protection of biodiversity and our health, as well as the fight for transparency in our institutions in the interest of European citizens.

She was elected as Member of French Parliament for Drôme in 1997 and later as a Member of the European Parliament in 2009. 

Our Group and the European Parliament are today losing a political figure who, throughout her career, sought above all to defend the public interest.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends.”

As the door to keep the 1.5°C target alive is dangerously closing and we are experiencing what is on track to be the hottest year on record, following the hottest summer ever recorded and a litany of natural disasters, COP28 is a key moment in our fight for a climate-neutral Europe and world. 

This COP is the first time the Paris Agreement’s 5-year review, a global stocktake, is taking place, and the rate of climate change shows how this review process is already outdated. As we prepare for the last COP before the end of our mandate as Greens/EFA, we need to push for ambitious objectives to get on track, with a strong yearly review process of progress, on tripling renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency and agreeing on concrete plans and measures to phase out all fossil fuels. 

As Green/EFA MEPs, we will send a strong message that COP28 needs to be the COP that finally embraces the concept of climate justice. Justice means fulfilling the pledges that have been made, over and over again. Justice means that those that have contributed historically to emissions need to take more responsibility, because people least responsible for this crisis are bearing the worst costs. 

Justice also means that COP28 should be a space where all citizens and civil society organisations enjoy equitable access and full and unrestricted participation. We know the United Arab Emirates has at many occasions disregarded human rights, including by targeting activists and repressing the human rights movement. We urge the UNFCCC to integrate  human rights criteria in its selection process for the future countries hosting COP. 

Read the Greens/EFA demands for the COP28 climate conference in Dubai here.

The core of the Dubai deal. Yes, it remains a compromise. But only referring to 1.5 degrees pathways; accelerating efforts this decade, net zero on fossil fuels in energy systems by 2050; tripling renewables, doubling efficiency. This is the breakthrough we needed. #COP28 pic.twitter.com/yP3LBfgmg7

— Bas Eickhout (@BasEickhout) December 13, 2023

+++ Update 11.12.2023: Two days left to make COP28 count! +++

A few days into COP for our delegation, we’re coming closer and closer to the final conclusions – which the Presidency is determined on getting at the official end time of the Climate conference, on Tuesday 12th at 11am. Whether they will manage this, we will see, especially as discussions are in full steam, with several points of contention. 

While an agreement on the Loss and Damage fund was announced from the start of the conference, the financial commitments are still way too low and the ways of distributing the money are not appropriate enough to correctly compensate the damages done in the most impacted parts of the world. Important work still needs to be done to ensure concrete change and improvement.  

The energy package – triple renewable energy, double energy efficiency and phase out fossil fuels – is the most salient point of discussion. We have not won yet on this: while the first two objectives are more consensual, acting only on renewable energy without phasing out of all fossil fuels will not help us stay under the 1.5°C threshold. Our MEPs, along with civil society and other policy-makers, are applying all the pressure on the negotiating parties to reach concrete, positive change. The momentum is there – it’s now time for action! 

Among meetings with other delegations, activists and civil society, we met with our Green Family and allies to exchange all together on the state of negotiations, with the help of CAN Europe, and take this opportunity to share our different experiences, from Norway to New Zealand. 

We still have a bit less than two days to achieve a potentially historical win – keep updated by following our channels and our MEPs! 

Activists, NGOs, scientists and Greens around the world all call for the same thing: phase out fossil fuel to fight #ClimateChange. @loismaldonado1 of the Venezuelan Green Party and @GYG_YoungGreens Janmejai Tiwari tell us why it's important for them to be at #COP28 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HzttnRpQfs

— Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) December 12, 2023

MEP Jutta Paulus: “COP28, show the courage to end the fossil age!“

“The year 2023 marks another year in which the world has experienced ever more floods, storms, heat waves and droughts, making the regions affected difficult, if not impossible, to live in. Floods, fires and heat waves destroy homes, forests, fertile soil in Greece, Italy and elsewhere. The EU’s earth observation programme Copernicus estimates that 2023 will be the warmest year since records began and the hottest summer in human history. 

When heads of states and governments, ministers, representatives of small islands and regions, representatives of non-governmental organisations and hordes of lobbyists come together in Dubai, they come together at the brink of a climate and biodiversity collapse. 

Fossil fuels have brought our planet’s climate to the brink of collapse. So what to do now? The answer is simple: COP28 needs to show the courage to end the age of fossil fuels.”

Jutta Paulus is Greens/EFA member of the European Parliament´s COP28 delegation. Continue reading on her website.

08.12.2023 MEP Jutta Paulus at COP28: 2022 broke all records for fossil fuel subsidies – we need to phase out of all fossil fuels now!

“The first ever five-year review of the Paris Agreement will take place at this year’s COP. For the Greens/EFA it’s clear, we need action on methane emissions, a tripling of renewable energy, a doubling of energy efficiency and a clear agreement for the phase out of fossil fuels.” 2022 broke all records for fossil fuel subsidies. We need a radical change in the course of the climate crisis. The world’s biggest polluters must take on more responsibility, as those who have polluted the least are currently bearing the greatest burden – in their nature, their economy, and humanitarian situations.”

Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate justice activist: “Carbon capture is not as solution, we need to stop digging!”

“Fossil fuels contribute 75% to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are the problem, and the world must reach an agreement at COP28 to phase them out. The lives and livelihoods of much of the world’s population depends on it. We must also reject endorsements of ludicrously expensive distractions veiled as solutions, like carbon capture and storage. They don’t yet exist at scale and only serve to allow the fossil fuel industry to keep digging.”

07.12.2023 MEP Hannah Neumann at COP28: “We need to ensure human rights at COP28”

“Those who defend our planet are increasingly becoming a target – one environmental activist was killed every other day in 2022. At COP28 — and at every COP — we must ensure active citizen participation and guarantee that human rights are upheld by the host state. Civil society and representatives from the regions most affected by climate change are under great pressure. At COP, they must have the opportunity to share their perspectives and fight for climate justice. The fossil fuel industry has the world in a chokehold. Without a vibrant civic space, the negotiations could be doomed to fail, which would be fatal for the future of our planet.”

Janmejai Tiwari, Secretary General Global Young Greens: “We are more than mere ‘Observers’!”

“Empowering the voices of the youth, particularly from the global south, is essential for shaping a future where they are more than mere ‘Observers’. To tackle the influence of fossil fuel interests at COP, we must advocate for ambitious goals and a just transition. As someone from the global south, I call for the phase-out of fossil fuels and urge the global north to take responsibility by providing adequate resources.

06.12.2023 MEP Michael Bloss at COP28: “The EU is still subsidising fossil fuels, this needs to stop“

"It is clear fossil fuel companies have only one interest: make more money by selling gas, oil and coal", reminds @micha_bloss.

2456 fossil lobbyists were allowed at #COP28; that's 4X more than at COP27!

We must phase out fossil fuel & #KickBigPollutersOut of #climate talks. pic.twitter.com/iMLiPeWCD0

— Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) December 10, 2023

MEP Michael Bloss at COP28: “Many are heading to this climate conference disheartened by the fact that its president is an oil magnate. But this is not a time to stop fighting, it’s a time for decisive global action: For the health of our planet and future generations, COP28 has to deliver!

The European Parliament is calling for all subsidies for fossil fuels to be stopped as quickly as possible. However, for 2022, fossil fuels in the EU were still subsidised with 123 billion euros. Renewables were only subsidised with 87 billion euros. As long as there is financial profit to be made from oil and gas, we will not see a global commitment to the fossil phase-out, nor to climate protection in general.”

Hans Stegeman, Chief Economist at Triodos Bank: “We need a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty”

The efforts of the financial sector and governments alike must intensify; a mere pledge is insufficient. Carbon prices, regulation and transparency can speed up this transition. Also, the creation of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty by governments will help phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, and create a level playing field for businesses. True impact lies in concrete actions rather than mere commitments.

+++ Breaking: Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP28 +++

📣 BREAKING: Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at #COP28 – more than 2400 !! – shows new analysis from #KickBigPollutersOut coalition.

Big Polluter interference costs millions of people their homes, livelihoods, and lives. #PollutersOut NOW!https://t.co/Hv3DhLKfoW pic.twitter.com/r80dLsLIZh

— Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) (@corporateeurope) December 5, 2023

05.12.2023 – MEP Bas Eickhout at COP28: “Dubai needs to be a U-turn, we need binding action.”

Paris 2015 was a pivotal moment for climate action, as countries agreed to curb emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees. However, it is up to countries to deliver on this. This year at COP28, the world will see whether we’re on track with the first Global Stocktake. The conclusion won’t come as a surprise: in September the UNFCCC already concluded we are not. Implementation of the Paris Agreement is lacking across all areas. The world needs to step up its game in Dubai.

In the last years, the conclusions of the climate summits have been calling for more ambition from the countries and new, more ambitious plans. But we haven’t seen enough concrete action here; instead we see more and more soft initiatives and pledges. In Dubai it’s necessary to make a U-turn: ambitious words need to be put into binding action. We can do this with solid conclusions on tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency before 2030 and the end of fossils. So that the world can peak emissions before 2025, and we can finally see the emissions graphs going down steeply.

But Dubai can only bend the climate curve, if it delivers on climate finance, in particular loss and damage. Vulnerable countries will be facing damages amounting to hundreds of billions a year, for which they are not responsible and need international assistance to fix. This is also crucial if we want those countries on board for more ambition on climate action. At last year’s conference, the conclusion was that this finance is needed, but there hasn’t been a decision yet on a dedicated fund, let alone contributions from developed countries. Both need to happen in Dubai: it would cement the trust that was long lost, thereby paving the way for an ambitious outcome.

We are in the final stages of the #COP28 negotiations.

For us, one thing is certain: the end of fossil fuels must be very clear in the final text.

"We will make sure EU negotiators do everything to deliver on the end of fossil fuels", says our MEP @BasEickhout.#COP28UAE pic.twitter.com/r11zTNyZym

— Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) December 11, 2023

Dr Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science: “We need a phase out of fossil fuels!”

“We are living in a world of loss and damage. Our burning of fossil fuels has made the world less equal and more dangerous. At COP28 it’s vital to remember that failing to phase out fossil fuels and investing in adaptation is violating essential human rights of people across the world.” 

04.12.2023 – MEP Pär Holmgren: “The world is not acting, COP28 needs to be a turning point.”

2023 is set to be the hottest year on record, reaching on average 1.43 °C above pre-industrial temperatures in the period January to October. Despite the promises made at COP26 in Glasgow to keep 1.5 °C the window for doing so is closing at an alarming rate. Yet, the world is not acting. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere once again reached a new record in 2022, and they continued to grow in 2023.

Now there’s 50 % more CO2 in the atmosphere compared to the very stable level of 280 ppm for thousands of years. Most  of the remaining global carbon budget identified in the latest UN climate report is already used. And considering the commitment for all climate targets to reflect equity in theParis Agreement, the EU’s carbon budget is basically already used up, leaving the union’s climate target highly insufficient. The Union should increase its ambition as well as take additional measures to account for the fact that it has already exhausted its fair share of remaining emissions.

The Paris Agreement includes the decision to check in on what the Parties are doing to reach its goals every five years, starting in 2023. The Global Stocktake at COP28 is therefore the first of its kind, and an important opportunity to admit that the collective progress so far is beneath contempt, and raise ambition. We expect everyone at COP28  to fully engage in the global stocktake to strengthen commitments in line with the Paris Agreement, matching ambition with accelerated implementation of concrete measures to bring about an effective transition and secure a climate-neutral, climate-resilient and equitable future. 

Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate justice activist: “Let’s finally leave the fossil fuels in the ground!”

Fossil fuels contribute 75% to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are the problem, and the world must reach an agreement at COP28 to phase them out. The lives and livelihoods of much of the world’s population depends on it. We must also reject endorsements of ludicrously expensive distractions, like Carbon, Capture and Storage, that don’t yet exist at scale and only serve to allow the fossil fuel industry to keep digging.

+++ Update 01.12.2023: First agreement reached at COP28 +++

First success at #COP28UAE: all countries, including the US, have agreed to set up a #climate damage fund.

An important step towards #ClimateJustice, but in order to really get the negotiations going, there must now also be concrete promises to fill the fund. #LossAndDamage https://t.co/dfuCtr1Cn2

— Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) December 1, 2023

We live in a world dominated by rapidly advancing technology. We buy a new phone and exactly two years later it breaks, a relentless cycle of planned obsolescence. This is where the Right to Repair legislation  comes in to change this. The right to repair is not just going to be about fixing our gadgets. The new legislation is a revolutionary call for a sustainable future. It’s the end of our throw-away culture and the basis for a flourishing European circular economy.

The Greens/EFA have been calling for a Right to Repair for a long time. Now we face a crucial vote in the European Parliament. The Greens/EFA MEP Anna Cavazzini explains why the Right to Repair is a win for people and the planet.

What is the Right to Repair and who will benefit from it? 

The Right to Repair is a revolutionary concept, which grants consumers and independent repair professionals the ability to repair and modify the products they own. It also ensures that manufacturers provide access to necessary tools, documentation, and spare parts, allowing individuals to fix or maintain their devices rather than being forced into costly replacements. 

The Right to Repair will benefit:

1. Consumers: The Right to Repair will help consumers to save hundreds of euros and empower them to have greater control over the lifespan of their products.
2. The planet: The Right to Repair will cut millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions (See the EEB’s 2019 report Coolproducts don’t cost the earth), reduce loss of precious resources and biodiversity, and prevent environmental degradation – It provides you with transparency through reliable information.
3. And Businesses: The Right to Repair will increase consumer protection and confidence in products and markets, ultimately leading to sustainable consumption and fair competition among businesses. Repair shops become the heroes of this story. They get more business, and you get more options for fixing your stuff.

As the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament we  recognize the urgent need for a Universal Right to Repair. The impending vote in the European Parliament is not just a decision; it’s a pivotal moment in the journey toward a circular economy. 

Picture this: You buy a shiny new device, only to watch it become obsolete within a blink. The Right to Repair legislation isn’t just about giving you the freedom to fix your gadgets; it’s about handing you the power to choose repair over replacement. It’s about breaking the cycle of forced obsolescence, reducing electronic waste, and steering us towards a circular economy that benefits both consumers and the planet. 

What will the Right to Repair do for economy and innovation? 

This legislation isn’t a war on businesses; it’s a call for industries to evolve. By granting consumers access to manuals, spare parts, and repair services, we’re not just fixing our devices; we’re fixing our planet. The Right to Repair fosters innovation, encourages the development of durable products, and opens doors for local repair businesses. It’s an economic boost with a green twist. 

The Urgent Need for Fair Pricing Repair costs should be reasonable, but they shouldn’t promote a throw-away culture. Fair pricing for repairs means transparent costs for parts, labour, and services. Tech repairs for reasonable prices also means holding manufacturers accountable, making them disclose the true cost of repairs, and putting an end to anticompetitive practices that artificially inflate repair prices. It’s about ensuring that consumers have access to the tools they need without being forced into expensive replacements. 

More sustainable repairs, more responsibility for the economy

As the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, it’s our responsibility to champion legislation that puts pressure on the economy to produce products that last. The Right to Repair legislation embodies these principles, offering a crucial step towards a better, more sustainable future for all. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity—an opportunity to empower consumers, promote sustainable practices, and reduce the environmental footprint of our throwaway culture. 

The Right to Repair legislation is a big win that we, Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, fought very hard for. The EU Right to Repair will shape the way we treat tech devices for generations to come. We can finally break free from the chains of a disposable society. We can finally embrace a future where repair isn’t just a choice; it’s a right.

Let’s seize this moment.– the future is all about fixing, not tossing! Get ready to rock your repaired gadgets and join the movement for a sustainable, savvy lifestyle. Your right to repair is now officially reality! 

Our forests in Europe are vital for preserving wildlife and for fighting against climate change. But we lack knowledge about our forests, that would help us to restore and protect them. We need to know what we want to protect.

This is why the Greens/EFA welcome the European Commission’s proposal for a forest monitoring law. Some improvements are needed, but most importantly, negotiations on the law must advance quickly, argues our MEP Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg.

Forests – not only producers of timber, but also of the air we breathe

Most European forests are used to produce wood. These ‘production forests’ are usually managed to maximise wood harvests. As a result, they are losing their biodiversity and capacity to absorb and store carbon. But we need our forests as ‘carbon sinks’ to reduce our emissions to net-zero by 2050.

In fact, timber harvests are suffering too, because weakened ecosystems cannot withstand the rising pressures linked to climate change, like excessive heat, storms, and droughts. Wildfires, storms, pests, and diseases are causing the loss of more and more trees, eroding timber harvests and incomes.

We need to heal our forests and restore their capacity to sustain wildlife and regulate our climate. Let’s not forget that our forests also protect us against soil erosion and flooding, purify the air we breathe, improve water quality, and enhance water retention. Finally, healthy forests are our best insurance against climate-related extreme weather, such as heat, drought, and floods.

There are almost none of our precious natural forest left in Europe

Few forests are in a state where natural processes are undisturbed by man. We call them ‘primary forests’, or ‘old-growth forests’ when they have not been logged in many years and reached a near-primary state.

Experts estimate that less than 3 percent of our forests are of such quality. But until today, we do not know exactly where they are, and where they are in danger of logging.

We urgently need to protect these remaining forests where ecosystems are intact, nature thrives and carbon cycles function as they should.

What do we know about our forests?

When governments collect data, it is mostly related to timber production. Since forests have been viewed as ‘timber fields’ only, other valuable ‘services’ provided by forest ecosystems have been largely neglected. And so, we know the forest area of our countries, how much wood is in our forests (‘timber stock’), and how much is harvested. We also know which tree species are planted.

Much of this information is in our National Forest Inventories. These inventories have their limitations, however. In Germany, for example, the National Forest Inventory is performed every ten years and is based on data from sample plots.

The inventories give us little information about the biodiversity in our forests, such as the number of old and rare trees, the naturalness of the tree species composition, or the composition of the vegetation other than trees. Where the data exists, it is not necessarily comparable between countries, due to the wide range of methods and definitions used.

In addition, national datasets do not have to be publicly available. This leads to unfortunate situations in which different stakeholders present contradictory datasets and decision makers must choose which data they want to trust.

NGOs and researchers are already mapping forests, using satellite data and expert observations. Good examples are Global Forest Watch and Naturwald Akademie. Metsä, a big company from Finland, is developing a system based on Artificial Intelligence to monitor storm and insect damage.

What has the European Commission proposed? 

Under the proposed law, the European Commission itself and EU governments would collect data on a set of 22 indicators, ranging from the overall forest area to tree species composition and richness. The Commission would use satellite technology to gather standardised data across all 27 EU countries. National governments would complement this with on-the-ground data that is comparable between countries. The frequency for collecting the data would vary between one week and six years, depending on the indicators. 

Governments would be obliged to map (and share) the location of primary and old-growth forests by 1 January 2028. They would also need to map the forest habitats defined under the EU’s Habitats Directive. This would have to happen first inside EU-protected areas, then also outside them. All data would be made publicly available in a machine-readable format. 

In addition, governments would be encouraged – but not obliged – to set up integrated long-term forest plans, based on an EU template. 

Some forest industries want to hide their disastrous impacts 

Some governments and powerful industry groups seem to be anxious about what the new monitoring system could reveal. They want to continue clear-cutting our EU forests, even old-growth forests, and it suits them that the data is patchy and logging often goes unnoticed. They question the added value of the proposed legislation and argue that the monitoring law will increase costs and duplicate existing efforts. 

But the collection and publication of timely and accurate forest data is not a burden but an investment into our future. 

Robust and up-to-date EU-wide forest monitoring will offer our governments, forest owners, forest-based industries, investors, and insurers the accurate and detailed information they need to track progress towards our climate and biodiversity objectives. Several EU laws rely on such data, including the EU rules on carbon emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) and the EU’s Habitats Directive. 

It will help to inform the management of our ‘production forests’ as well as our efforts to strictly protect our remaining natural forests. It will also help us to compensate forest owners for the ‘ecosystem services’ their forests provide us with, beyond the production of timber. 

No more delays – let’s clear the way for an EU forest monitoring law

To be able to restore our overused, degraded forests and to strictly protect our remaining natural forests, we need a good understanding of what is there and what could be there instead. 

What we do not measure, we will not value. What we do not value, we will not pay for. 

To prevent further damage to our forests, the new EU monitoring obligations should be introduced as fast as possible. The location of Europe’s precious old-growth forests should be published already in 2025, as proposed in the Commission’s guidelines on the matter. Not only the Commission and national authorities, but also independent experts should be involved. The EU must move quickly to finalise this law, in tandem with the EU soil monitoring law. This way we can restore our forests in good time to reach the 2030 objectives that we set ourselves in the EU and globally.

Greens/EFA MEPs Jordi Sole and François Alfonsi travelled to Tunisia from 5-8 September, to meet representatives of Tunisian civil society and the People’s Assembly to discuss the current situation on the ground and relations between the EU and Tunisia.

Tunisia –  Much has changed since the revolution

“2011 we lived in a dream, today we cannot believe the nightmare we slid into”: This is how many of our conversations with human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and academics begin, as we toured the buzzing capital Tunis for three days. Much has changed since the “explosion of liberties” that followed the fall of Ben Ali in 2011 and the initiation of the Arab Spring in the idyllic town of Sidi Bouzid, just north of Tunis.

We learn about the flaws and hardships that burden the country’s transition post-2011, such as widespread corruption and constant battling between political parties and listen to diverging opinions about its achievements and failures. There seems to be a consensus that President Kais Saied´s power grab from 25 July 25, 2021, has brought matters from bad to worse: a significant backslide in terms of democratic checks and balances and civil rights.

Authoritarian reversal at the speed of light

In the course of the last two years President Saied dismantled democratic institutions in the country, decided to dissolve the Parliament unconstitutional, dismissed over 50 judges and adopted a new constitution penned by himself which grants huge powers to the presidency and very few to the new parliament, voted by only 11% of the electorate. Now an NGO bill to curb civil society is looming. Early this year arrests of politicians, activists, journalists, and entrepreneurs began. Some of them were imprisoned without proper indictments nor judicial investigation accused of such vague crimes as “complot against the security of the state”. A state of fear is growing amongst civil society. Apathy reigns amongst the population, a large part of which struggles to survive economic hardship. Many of the achievements in the field of fundamental rights brought by the democratic transition, however imperfect it was, may be jeopardised. 

The EU must defend democracy against autocracy, also outside of Europe

The European Union is a close neighbour and long-standing partner of Tunisia. After the 2011 revolution in Tunisia, the EU stood on the side of Tunisians. The EU substantially increased funding and engagement on institution-building and civil society. Our interlocutors       remind us that the close cooperation between the EU and Tunisia civil society not only built trust but also evoked the expectation and conviction that the EU would not abandon Tunisia´s transition to democracy. Evermore bitter is the frustration of our partners and allies on the ground about the silence of the European Commission and Member States regarding the many alarms of growing authoritarianism and most recently the ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between “Team Europe” and President Saied.      

Tunisia and the EU – “the Memorandum of Misunderstandings”

As has been widely reported, the Memorandum of Understanding is essentially a deal on migration, paying 105 million € for Tunisia to decrease departures from Tunisian shores towards Italy and to be able to return refugees and asylum seekers. Another 150 million € are given immediately to delay bankruptcy. Some further funds are earmarked for Erasmus+ exchange and research cooperation.

The Anti-Migration deal between the EU and Tunisia is bad – and it won’t succeed

The European Commission and Member States are betting on the wrong horse. Kais Saied is not a counterpart that can deliver. First, there are no indicators that President Saied has any plan to navigate the country out of its economic crisis.

Hence, while the EU´s recent budget support may have paid some days of subsidies for basic goods, the macro-financial assistance, tied to an IMF agreement, will remain untapped and Tunisia’s economy will remain in emergency mode. Second, opposite to the declared goal of the agreement between the EU and Tunisia, departures of refugees and asylum seekers from Tunisia to Italy have been constantly rising since President von der Leyen´s visit to Tunis.

The EU – Tunisia relationship must be based on human rights

President Saied and the Interior Ministry’s campaign against migrants in Sfax, who now are forbidden to work and exposed to arbitrary violence, led many of them to depart from Tunisia immediately.

The EU-Tunisia policy needs to be based on and guided by the respect for human rights and democracy, as stipulated in the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement. Violations of fundamental freedoms by the President and security forces need to be criticised and called by their name.

The EU must let go of dirty deals with autocrats that go against human rights and European values. We need to push for a coherent and value-based EU foreign policy vis-a-vis Tunisia and the region. It is paramount that we support and protect our partners and allies on the ground and act strategically to counteract the shrinking spaces for human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers.

Find out more about our campaign ‘Defend Civil Society’

Finally, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Directive for combating violence against women and domestic violence! This is a historic step for the European Union as this directive will constitute the first legislative document of the EU for addressing gender-based violence. Gender-based violence may affect people who do not identify themselves as women. Therefore it should not only be referred to as the violence against women. We did not succeed to change the name of the document, but its content can relate to other genders.

We fought this feminist fight for years in the European Parliament. It is now up to the European Commission and the EU Council to finalise the text.

The Directive on gender-based violence, together with the Istanbul Convention, ratified by the European Union in June 2023, will form the long-awaited legal framework to protect people from gender-based violence.

Only yes means yes: The proposal for a law against gender-based violence

In brief, the initial proposal for a law against gender-based violence by the European Commission focused on three main issues:

1. Only yes means yes: the crime of rape based on the lack of consent and the criminalisation of other forms of violence related to the sexual exploitation of women and children.
2. A safe online space: Ending cyberviolence and gender-based computer crimes.
3. What do victims need? Specialised support, access to justice and protection for victims of gender-based violence with special attention to marginalised communities

Overall, the European Commission’s proposal was to criminalise certain forms of violence that disproportionately affect women. They also wanted to strengthen victims’ rights. As to the offenses, in the Commission proposal, we could find rape, female genital mutilation, and four articles regarding cyber violence.

In the newly adopted position of the European Parliament, we were able to add sexual assault, intersex genital mutilation, forced sterilisation and forced marriage to the list of gender-based violence. Also, we added offences concerning sexual harassment in the world of work . Another great win is that we have better reformulated cybercrimes upon recommendations and opinions of NGOs who we consulted during the negotiation process.

We, as the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, are proud that we have been able to strengthen the provisions on the protection of victims and prevention of violence. We have also been able to expand the list of crimes to help more people seek justice when they are victims of violence. More generally speaking, we have worked hard for the European Parliament to adopt a much more inclusive approach to combating gender-based violence.

So, what did our feminist fight result in? What does the law against gender-based violence entail? Read on to find out how close we are now to a Europe free from gender-based violence and what we still need to do.

The Greens/EFA wins for a law against gender-based violence: Intersectionality, inclusivity, companion animals and solid measures on prevention

Through the negotiation process, the Greens/EFA strongly defended the group’s position and its priorities for a more feminist and equal Europe.  As a result of intensive and hard negotiations, and with the support of NGOs and civil society, we added very important issues for the Greens/EFA group to the final text.

Intersex genital mutilation is a violation of human rights and should be a crime in the EU

Intersex genital mutilation (IGM) is an intervention on a healthy intersex body – that is a body that has sex characteristics of both sexes. The intention is to make their bodies fit in either category of the binary construct of male and female. Often these procedures are done without the persons’ consent and have lifelong consequences. For these reasons, intersex people are one of the most discriminated groups among the LGBTI population. With the proposal to introduce Intersex genital mutilation as a crime, the European Parliament stands firmly for intersex and LGBTIQ rights.

Forced sterilisation is still happening in the 21st century – Let’s end these human rights violation

Forced sterilisation is a practice that removes the ability of victims to reproduce. It mainly affects racialized people, people with disabilities, people wishing to obtain gender affirming treatment as well as people living in institutional care. According to the European Disability Forum, 13 countries in the EU still have legal frameworks that authorise forced sterilisation. We need to do something about it and the European Parliament is ready to put its foot down with this directive.

No law against gender-based violence without intersectionality

During the negotiations the Greens/EFA pushed firmly for the law against gender-based violence to be as inclusive as possible. Gender-based violence affects women disproportionately but there are women from specific communities who face a higher risk. We are talking about racialized women, working class women, LBTIQ women, women with disabilities, women living in institutional care, migrant and undocumented women and young women and girls, among others. The position of the European Parliament has been clear: an intersectional approach to address gender-based violence is necessary and groups at specific risk must be regarded with special attention.

How can the EU prevent gender-based violence?

Our goal is not only to address violence and its consequences but also to make everything possible to keep it from happening. For the Greens/EFA, it is of high importance that we tackle the root causes of gender-based violence. We will continue to promote institutional and structural change to achieve a European Union free of all forms of gender-based violence.

On the grounds of this, one of the victories of the Greens/EFA is the inclusion of a provision for National Action Plans for the elimination of violence against women and domestic violence. Each EU country now has to develop its own National Action Plan to combat gender-based violence. National Action Plans will have to delineate priorities and actions to combat violence against women and domestic violence in the Member States. Moreover, to achieve these priorities and actions, they will include targets and monitoring mechanisms, as well as necessary resources to combat violence.

Another important win has been the introduction of perpetrator programmes as part of the measures on prevention. That provision was already contemplated in the European Commission’s proposal, but the European Parliament has specified further what it should entail. We were also able to include provisions for the rehabilitation of offenders, especially in cases when barring, restraining or protection orders have been issued.

Let’s not forget the rights of the victims with companion animals

Multiple studies acknowledge the close relationship between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, especially gender-based violence. This alarming situation can have dramatic consequences on victims with companion animals. The abusers can build on the strong animal-owner bond to threaten, control, or coerce the victims. In this context, victims of domestic violence can even refrain from leaving the household if they cannot find a shelter welcoming their companion animal. In Spain, researchers found that statistically half of the victims of violence take care of companion animals. 59% of those victims do not leave their abusers, being scared of their animals’ health and lives. In addition, these animals provide emotional support to victims at crucial moments. We acknowledge that animal abuse is often an indicator and precursor of violence towards humans. According to different studies, around 76% of animal abusers are hurting their relatives.

During the negotiations, we managed to convince other political groups to include the reference to victims’ rights with companion animals in the article on individual assessment only. As other political groups did not want to broaden the perspective of gender-based violence and provide a more complex approach to the victims’ rights, we did not manage to push for the inclusion of shelter accommodating victims with their animals. Sadly, this is also what happened with our amendments on the protection and support needs, together with preventive measures as to the victims with animals – those are included only in the preamble which is a part of the directive not binding on the Member States. However, this is the first time ever in the EU legislation to refer to the rights of the victims with companion animals. It is a big Green success and can be a precedent for future legislation!

For a safe and feminist internet: Addressing gender-based cyberviolence

As the world moves online, forms of violence that already affect women and girls disproportionately are taking different dimensions. The EU did not have a legislative framework to address this gender-based violence, despite its harmful impacts on individuals, society, and democracy. Finally, the Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence is recognising this problem and taking measures to protect women online.

Based on surveys carried out by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency in 2012 and 2019, it estimates that between 4 and 7 % of women aged over 18 in the EU-27 experienced cyber-harassment in the previous 12 months, and between 1 and 3 % experienced cyberstalking. The study finds that prevalence has risen with greater use of the internet and social media and is likely to increase further. This particularly affects younger age groups.

The survey found that women in public life, including journalists, activists and politicians are especially likely to receive misogynistic and sexualised online abuse. This also affects women from ethnic minorities and LGBTIQ+ people disproportionately. Increased internet usage during the coronavirus pandemic has put more women and girls at risk of cyber-violence, as well as creating new types of crime, with evidence that misogynistic online content is spreading from minority to mainstream social platforms, normalising abuse.

As for the cybercrimes, the Directive against gender-based violence will criminalise the following behaviour online:

• Non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material
• Cyber stalking
• Cyber harassment
• Cyber incitement to violence or hatred

Finally, a law against gender-based violence. What is the next step?

Now the directive against gender-based violence will enter interinstitutional negotiations with the European Commission and the EU Council. We expect the institutions to adopt it in approximately one year. After that, the Directive will be part of the European Union’s legal framework for defying gender-based violence, together with the Istanbul Convention.

In the European Parliament, we will continue demanding that the EU adds gender-based violence to the list of euro crimes in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.

This is an absolutely necessary action if we want to have the most comprehensive and ambitious legal basis for all further actions towards the eradication of gender-based violence!

What can you do?

The Istanbul Convention, first signed by the European Union in 2013, has been subject to propagandistic campaigns by different populist governments and groups in many Member States for years. Many use it to scare people from the progressive approach to gender and gender-based violence. Populists claim it would destroy different national and family traditions as well as being in contradiction to religious beliefs.

Many eurosceptics use this issue to claim that the EU is interfering in private family matters and national traditions. Therefore, we need to explain the reasons behind the Directive to prevent probable attacks from the populists and right-wing groups who may try to question its importance.

Many people are still not aware of the scale of gender-based violence, some are not aware of this phenomenon even though they are subject to different forms of discrimination.

What you can do is talk to your family, friends, and relatives about this widespread human rights violation, and explain why we need legislation against it!

What is the kind of Europe we want?

No more online harassment, safer streets, access to abortion? 

More trans rights and no more period poverty? 

How would you make sure intersectional feminism is at the core of European politics?

Greens/EFA MEPs are hitting the road this summer to hear your ideas on how to build a Feminist, Free & Equal Europe! 

Whether you come from an NGO, a movement are simply want to join to be part of the change, check out below a list of of 10+ events across European Member States 👇

Überall in Europa werden neue Nachtzugverbindungen eingerichtet. Wir leben in einem neuen Zeitalter des Nachtzugs – und 2023 wird ein entscheidendes Jahr. Aber warum sind Nachtzüge so wichtig für die europäische Mobilitätswende? Wie können wir Nachtzüge für alle zugänglicher machen? Und wie kannst Du deine nächste Nachtzugreise buchen?  Unsere Praktikantin Louisa Von Essen hat sich mit der Grünen/EFA-Europaabgeordneten und Nachtzugbegeisterten Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg zusammengesetzt, um das darüber zu sprechen

Warum mit dem Nachtzug reisen?

Die Möglichkeit, die Welt zu bereisen, ist eine der größten Errungenschaften des 20. Jahrhunderts. Günstige und leicht zugängliche Verkehrsmittel haben Menschen aus verschiedenen Ländern zusammengebracht, Freundschaften über große Entfernungen hinweg ermöglicht und uns geholfen, unseren kulturellen Horizont zu erweitern. 

Als Europäer sind viele von uns auf Autos, Züge und Flugzeuge angewiesen, um Freunde und Familie im Ausland zu besuchen oder einen Sommerurlaub in der Sonne zu verbringen. Aber der Klimawandel bedeutet auch, dass wir die Art, wie wir reisen, ändern müssen. Wir brauchen also einen Weg, um nachhaltig durch Europa zu reisen, ohne Ökosysteme, Menschen und Natur zu gefährden. Schließlich ist es das, was das Reisen wirklich lohnenswert macht!

Nachtzüge könnten uns dabei helfen. Und die gute Nachricht ist, dass wir gerade eine Renaissance der Nachtzüge erleben. Überall in der EU entstehen neue Nachtzugverbindungen. Zurzeit gibt es über 200 Nachtzugverbindungen in Europa und wir arbeiten daran, dass es noch mehr werden. Einige Nachtzüge verkehren innerhalb von Ländern. So kannst Du zum Beispiel deine Reise in Mailand in Norditalien beginnen und am Strand von Sizilien aufwachen. Andere Nachtzüge führen dich durch mehrere Länder, wie die Verbindung zwischen Wien und Bukarest über Budapest. 

Um die Planung deiner nächsten Reise zu erleichtern, haben die Grünen/EFA-Europaabgeordneten Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg und Daniel Freund diese Karte des europäischen Nachtzugnetzes entwickelt.

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A post shared by Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (@annadeparnaygrunenberg)

Was macht Nachtzüge zu einer so tollen Art zu reisen?

Nachtzüge sind die nachhaltigste Art des Reisens in Europa. Sie sparen dir Zeit (Du reist im Schlaf!) und Geld für die Unterkunft. Sie sind nicht nur ein Transportmittel, sondern auch eine Herberge oder ein Hotel auf Schienen. Je nach Budget kannst Du zwischen verschiedenen Betten wählen und wachst am Morgen ausgeruht an deinem Zielort auf, um den Tag zu beginnen.

Und Nachtzüge helfen uns, die Umwelt zu schützen. Eine Reise mit dem Nachtzug verursacht etwa 30 Mal weniger Emissionen als eine Reise mit dem Flugzeug. Back-on-track.eu schätzt, dass Nachtzüge viele der innereuropäischen Flüge bis zu einer Entfernung von 3000 km ersetzen könnten. Um die Klimaauswirkungen deiner Reise zu vergleichen, kannst Du das UIC EcoPassenger-Tool nutzen.

Warum ist das Reisen mit dem Nachtzug gut für das Klima?

Um das 1,5°C-Ziel des internationalen Klimaabkommens von Paris einzuhalten, muss die EU bis 2050 90 % der Emissionen im Verkehrssektor reduzieren. Doch der Verkehrssektor schafft das noch nicht. Tatsächlich steigen die Verkehrsemissionen in Europa weiter an.

Nach Angaben der Europäischen Umweltagentur machen Züge nur 0,4 % dieser Emissionen aus. Die größten Verursacher der Emissionen sind der Straßenverkehr mit 76,7 %, Schiffe mit 15,3 % und Flugzeuge mit 7,1 %. Flugzeuge haben nicht nur wegen der erhöhten Emissionen, sondern auch wegen der sogenannten Nicht-CO2-Emissionen auch einen erheblichen Einfluss auf die Erderwärmung.

Um den Nachtzug zum beliebtesten Verkehrsmittel in Europa zu machen, muss jedoch noch viel getan werden. Eines der Hauptprobleme ist, dass nicht alle EuropäerInnen sich Nachtzüge leisten können.

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A post shared by Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (@annadeparnaygrunenberg)

Warum sind Nachtzüge so teuer?

Um zu verstehen, warum Nachtzug Tickets manchmal so teuer sind, müssen wir verstehen, warum das Reisen mit dem Flugzeug oder dem Autos vergleichsweise günstig sind. Es gibt einfach keine gleichen Wettbewerbsbedingungen für Züge, Autos und Flugzeuge.

Zum Beispiel müssen die Zuganbieter für die Nutzung der Gleise, die sie benutzen, Gebühren zahlen, die bei Nachtzügen etwa 20-30% des Preises ausmachen können. Für Autos gibt es jedoch keine EU-weit verbindliche Maut.

Außerdem spiegeln sich die Kosten und Schäden, die Autos und Flugzeuge der Umwelt und unserer Gesundheit zufügen, nicht in den Preisen für die verwendeten Kraftstoffe wider (z. B. Kerosin in Flugzeugen). Im Gegensatz dazu müssen die Bahnbetreibende – einige von ihnen sind Meister der erneuerbaren Energien – mit sehr hohen Energiekosten arbeiten.

Durch dieses ungerechte Ungleichgewicht ist die Fahrt mit dem Auto oder dem Flugzeug viel billiger als die Fahrt mit dem Zug, obwohl viel mehr Ressourcen und Geld verschwendet werden. Um das Reisen mit dem Nachtzug für alle erschwinglich zu machen, müssen wir die Wettbewerbsbedingungen angleichen. Wir müssen Zugreisen subventionieren und die Umweltschäden von Autos und Flugzeugen in die Treibstoffpreise miteinbeziehen.

Wie können wir die Zahl der Nachtzugverbindungen erhöhen?

Momentan sind die Kosten, um ein neues Zugnetzwerk zu betreiben, noch ein großes Hindernis. Nicht nur, weil Autos und Flugzeuge einen unfairen Vorteil gegenüber Nachtzügen haben, sondern auch, weil der Betrieb eines Nachtzugs teuer ist. Sie können nur nachts verkehren und weniger Fahrgäste mitnehmen als ein normaler Zug.

Die Angst vor höheren Kosten hat die großen und finanzstarken Bahnbetreiber davon abgehalten, sich für die Wiedereinführung von Nachtzügen einzusetzen. Stattdessen betreiben kleine Initiativen und private Betreiber einzelne Strecken. Für eine groß angelegte Einführung fehlen ihnen jedoch die Mittel.

Infrastruktur- und Nachtzugbetreibern sollte finanzielle Unterstützung gewährt werden. Die Renaissance des Nachtzugs braucht eine ordentliche Starthilfe!

Außerdem besteht ein akuter Mangel an Schlaf- und Liegewagen (dem sogenannten rollenden Material). Die Hersteller von Nachtzügen kämpfen mit einer unsicheren Nachfrage und unklaren Planungshorizonten.

Auch unterschiedliche nationale Vorschriften und technische Standards für Züge in den EU-Ländern sind ein weiteres Hindernis.

Die EU muss sich voll und ganz für den Wiederaufbau ihres Nachtzugnetzes einsetzen und dabei auch finanzielle Unterstützung anbieten. Das würde die Sicherheit für den europäischen Markt erhöhen und das Zeitalter des Nachtzugs einläuten!

Wie kann ich einen Nachtzug buchen?

Um ehrlich zu sein, ist die Buchung einer Nachtzugverbindung immer noch sehr kompliziert.

Es gibt keine Webseite, die alle Fahrpläne und verfügbaren Nachtzüge zusammenfasst. Stattdessen musst Du deinen Nachtzug auf verschiedenen Seiten buchen, die die Verbindung anbieten. Das kann dazu führen, dass Du verschiedene Einzelfahrkarten buchen musst.

Deshalb setzen wir uns als Grüne/EFA im Europäischen Parlament für eine einzige, umfassende europäische Buchungsplattform ein, die Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher dazu ermutigt, Nachtzüge zu nutzen und alle möglichen Verbindungen auflistet.

In der Zwischenzeit findest Du hier ein paar Tipps, damit dein Nachtzug-Erlebnis reibungslos verläuft. Um einen Überblick über die verfügbaren Nachtzüge in Europa zu bekommen, schau dir unsere neu aktualisierte Nachtzugkarte an.

1.   Um nach bestimmten Verbindungen zu suchen, kannst Du Websites wie seat61.com, nachtzug-urlaub und rail.cc nutzen

2.  

Die Buchung eines Nachtzugs ist oft am einfachsten bei dem jeweiligen Betreiber. Auf der aktualisierten Nachtzugkarte findet ihr alle notwendigen Details inklusive des Links zur Buchungsplattform. Auch auf der gedruckten Version findet ihr diese Infos – hier könnt ihr die Karte kostenlos bestellen.

3.   Wenn Du einen Anschlusszug verpasst hast, kannst Du manchmal einfach den nächsten Zug nehmen: “Hop on the next available train” oder HOTNAT

Ein Bonus für alle Interrail-Fans da draußen: Viele Nachtzugverbindungen sind in deinem Ticket enthalten. Du musst nur deine bevorzugte Schlafgelegenheit reservieren und bezahlen.

Was macht das Jahr 2023 zum Jahr des Nachtzugs? 

Während 2021 das offizielle Europäische Jahr der Schiene war – und es war ein wichtiges Jahr für Nachtzüge – zeichnet sich 2023 als das Jahr ab, in dem Nachtzüge ihr großes Comeback feiern. Die Europäische Kommission und das Europäische Parlament sind unseren grünen Forderungen gefolgt und haben die entscheidende Rolle der Nachtzüge für die grüne Verkehrsrevolution klar erkannt.

Erst kürzlich hat die Europäische Kommission ihre Unterstützung für zehn Nachtzug Projekte in ganz Europa angekündigt, darunter eine Nachtzugverbindung von Amsterdam nach Barcelona.

 Hier sind einige neue Nachtzugverbindungen, auf die Du dich im Jahr 2023 freuen kannst:

• 31. März – Eine neue Nachtzugverbindung zwischen Berlin und Stockholm wird eröffnet.
• 25. Mai – Der neue Open-Access-Zugbetreiber European Sleeper eröffnet eine neue Nachtzugverbindung, die Brüssel, Antwerpen, Rotterdam und Amsterdam mit Berlin (und ab 2024 mit Dresden und Prag) verbindet.
• 11. Dezember – Der ÖBB Nightjet stellt den “Metropol X” fertig, der täglich NachtzugverbinDungen zwischen den Städten Paris, Berlin, Brüssel und Wien anbietet

Wie können wir Nachtzüge in Europa noch besser machen?

 Unsere 5 Forderungen der Grünen/EFA für mehr Nachtzüge in Europa:

•  Ausweitung des Nachtzugnetzes: Wir wollen, dass mehr Haltestellen und Strecken mit Nachtzügen erreichbar sind.
• Einfache Buchung: Nachtzugreisen müssen so einfach werden wie das Fliegen. Wir wollen eine einheitliche Buchungsplattform, mit der Nachtzüge einfach online gebucht werden können!
• Erschwingliche Preise: 20 bis 30 Prozent der Kosten für Nachtzüge werden durch Trassenpreise, also die Nutzung der Schiene, verursacht. Diese Kosten müssen gesenkt werden, ebenso wie die Steuer auf Zugfahrten und die Ticketpreise.
• Fairer Wettbewerb zwischen Flugzeug und Bahn: Wir können nicht zulassen, dass die Fluggesellschaften weiterhin von der Umweltverschmutzung profitieren. Wir brauchen eine Kerosinsteuer für Flüge!
• Ein echtes Engagement für die Zukunft des Zugverkehrs: Wir brauchen ein gut abgestimmtes europäisches Nachtzugkonzept und klare Investitionen in das Schienennetz.