News | 14.03.2025

Debriefing of the March 2025 Plenary Session

This week:

Conclusions of the special European Council meeting on the 6th of March/unwavering support for Ukraine
Security, Defense and Ukraine: European leaders must unleash investments
Migration: New returns proposal
Clean Industrial Deal
The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria
Deteriorating situation in Gaza following the non-extsension of the ceasefire
Greens/EFA motions for resolutions

Conclusions of the special European Council meeting on the 6th of March/unwavering support for Ukraine

To start the session on Tuesday, the Parliament held a joint debate on the Council meetings on European Security. In the aftermath of the White House meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Trump this topic was the focal point of this week's plenary session. With a key focus on establishing unwavering support for Ukraine and debating the future of Europe’s Defence. Greens/EFA Co-President Bas Eickhout delivered a speech in the debate on the conclusions from the special European Council meeting on the 6th of March.

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Security, Defense and Ukraine: European leaders must unleash investments

On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a resolution on the white paper on the future of European defence and to underline the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine. The Greens/EFA Group welcomes initiatives such as ReArm Europe, but insists on EU member states finally working closer together on security and defence. EU countries should pool parts of their defence budgets and procure jointly to deliver additional support to Ukraine and expand Europe’s conventional capabilities.

Reinier van Lanschot, Volt MEP in the Greens/EFA Group and shadow rapporteur on the white paper, commented,

"The need for urgent defence investments is high. The EU must show leadership and take responsibility for its own freedom and security. And defense and security go beyond just arms and ammunition - they include cybersecurity, energy independence and investments in European infrastructure, which needs to be improved for military transports.”

Villy Søvndal, Greens/EFA MEP and shadow rapporteur on the resolution on continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, commented:

"We should never discount the fact that Ukraine acts as the frontline for Europe in this regard. It is more true than ever that we must stand by Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty."

Migration: New returns proposal

On Tuesday, the Commission released its proposal for a new regulation on a common system for the processing of ‘returns’ or deportations of migrants to third countries. The reforms move from voluntary to forced deportations by default, open the door to so-called “return hubs” in third-countries and risks undermining the EU’s responsibility to uphold human rights standards in the return process. The Greens/EFA Group have long argued for a more safe, dignified and effective EU asylum and migration system based on evidence-based policies.The Commission's new approach takes a punitive approach to return.

Tineke Strik MEP, Greens/EFA Rapporteur on the Recast Returns Directive and Member of the LIBE Committee, commented,

“The proposed regulation will undermine the EU’s obligations and its ability to uphold human rights standards. It will not lead to more effective returns, but rather lead to people ending up in a limbo, vulnerable to attempts to enter the EU again.”

Clean Industrial Deal

On Tuesday, the European Parliament debated the Clean Industrial Deal. We, as Greens/EFA, believe in a forward-looking industrial policy using every tool possible to develop new industries while accompanying the transformation of existing industrial sectors in Europe towards a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and socially just circular economy.

We have a unique opportunity with the Clean Industrial Deal to provide strategic focus for a renewed European industrial policy, making the internal market stronger and promoting the European Union as a frontrunner in the decarbonisation and depollution agenda.

The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria

On Tuesday, the Parliament discussed the situation in Syria, in the wake of an eruption of violence last week. The Greens/EFA put forward a motion for a resolution on the need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria.