Plenary Flash 22-26 November 2021

COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP)

On Tuesday, MEPs will debate and vote on the three Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations: Funding, Management and Monitoring (FMM), the Common Market Organisation (CMO), and the Main Strategic Plans (SPR). The Greens/EFA Group is opposed to the CAP package as it stands and will vote against it.

This CAP falls far short of the promises of the European Green Deal to use fewer pesticides, protect the environment, climate and biodiversity and to promote organic farming, and social ambitions in the package are weak. There will be no cap on direct payments: small farmers will be left in the dust as the farms with the largest areas of land will continue to receive the highest payments. The deal also gives EU member states almost free rein with implementation, with little transparency or accountability.

The Greens/EFA Group sees that governments and MEPs have squandered the chance to transform EU agricultural policy so that it is fit to tackle the climate crisis. We continue to call for meaningful CAP reform that the climate, biodiversity and small farmers so desperately need.

Debate: Tuesday 23rd November, 09:00 - 11:50
Vote: Tuesday 23rd November, 12:00
Greens/EFA MEP: Martin Häusling, Benoit Biteau, Bas Eickhout, Tilly Metz

EU BUDGET FOR 2022

This week, negotiators from the European Parliament, Commission and Council reached an agreement on the EU budget for the coming year. Next Tuesday and Wednesday, the Parliament will debate and then vote on the 2022 General Budget.

The Greens/EFA Group are pleased to have secured substantial financial increases towards the climate, environmental protection, safeguarding biodiversity and the transition to a climate-neutral economy. This includes an extra €60 million for Horizon Europe (for spending on health, climate and biodiversity), and a top up of €47,5 million for the LIFE programme. The 2022 budget also clears the way for sustainable industry, research and transport infrastructure.

Debate: Tuesday 23rd November, 15:00
Vote: Wednesday 24th November, 12:30
Greens/EFA MEP: Henrike Hahn, Damian Boeselager

OUTCOME OF COP26

On the request of the Greens/EFA Group, the Parliament will debate the outcome of the COP26 in Glasgow on Wednesday morning. Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will participate in the debate. Although progress has been made, the world is far from reducing global emissions by 45% by 2030.

We call on leaders to seize the momentum of the global climate movement and to turn pledges into concrete action by the next COP in 2022. In particular, the EU will need to increase its 2030 ambition through the negotiation of the "Fit for 2030" package to put Europe on a 1.5°C pathway.

Debate: Wednesday 24th November, 09:00
Greens/EFA MEP: Bas Eickhout, Pär Holmgren

A EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS

As a response to the European Commission’s communication on critical raw materials (CRM), on Tuesday the European Parliament will vote on an own-initiative report (INI) on the critical raw materials strategy. The EU is in increasing need of certain critical raw materials, crucial for many green transition and digitalisation technologies such as smartphones and solar panels. However, it is imperative to ensure that the EU’s transition to climate neutrality does not replace reliance on fossil fuels with reliance on raw materials.

Mining activities pose a serious risk to biodiversity and nature. The Greens/EFA believe that green solutions such as resource efficiency, recycling, behavioural changes and mining from waste sites should be prioritised over opening new mines. Furthermore, it is absolutely essential that no mining should be allowed in Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas.

Debate: Monday 22nd November, 17:00
Vote: Tuesday 23rd November, 12:00
Greens/EFA MEP: Henrike Hahn

PRESS CONFERENCE ON TAXONOMY

On Wednesday morning, the Greens/EFA Group will hold a press conference on the upcoming European Commission's standards for sustainable financing (“taxonomy”). The press conference will take place with Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA Group, Greens/EFA MEPs Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, and Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development.

The panel will discuss the demand for an exclusion of gas and nuclear power from the taxonomy with a view to the French Council Presidency. The EU Commission's delegated act on the taxonomy is expected in early December. The taxonomy will set criteria for sustainable investments and investments in gas and nuclear power would counteract the Green Deal and the EU's climate goals shortly after COP26. The Greens/EFA Group and Minister Carole Dieschbourg are demanding that investments flow into truly sustainable energy sources.

Who: Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, Members of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament and Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development

When: Wednesday 24th November, 8:30AM

Where: Press conference room Daphne Caruana Galizia, Louise Weiss Building, level -1 (N-1/201), European Parliament, Strasbourg - journalists not in Strasbourg may attend and ask questions via interactio

LINKS

• Group Presidents, Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts will hold the plenary session press briefing at 11.30-11.50 on Tuesday. 
• Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA Group, Greens/EFA MEPs Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold will hold a press conference on Wednesday 24th November, 8:30AM.
• The full plenary agenda for the week can be found on the Parliament website here.

The plenary sessions can be followed live here.

GREENS/EFA PRESS CONTACTS

• Simon McKeagney (Head of Communication) Simon.mckeagney@europarl.europa.eu
• Alex Johnson (EN press officer) Alex.Johnson@europarl.europa.eu
• Pia Kohorst (DE press officer) pia.kohorst@europarl.europa.eu
• Guendalina De Sario (FR press officer) guendalina.desario@europarl.europa.eu
• Helena Hellström Gefwert (EN press assistant) helena.hellstrom@europarl.europa.eu  
• Mia Müller (DE press assistant) Mirjam.Muller@europarl.europa.eu
• Valentina Chiarini (FR press assistant)valentina.chiarini@europarl.europa.eu