What's coming up in Parliament

European CO2 regulation for cars and vans
Wednesday, 03 October

The European Parliament will vote on reducing CO2 emissions for cars and vans. To stay within the Paris climate commitments will require an ambitious reduction of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars. That's why the Greens/EFA group are calling for a large reduction in CO2 by 2030 for the transport sector to meet the EU's climate goals. However, recent lobbying by the Commission on behalf of the auto-industry appears to put that target in danger in spite of the fact that it undermines the EU's own climate commitments.

More: More ambitious reduction targets will lead to EU-wide job creation

Greens/EFA call for Daphne Caruana Galizia prize
Monday, 01 October

On Monday, 01 October, the Bureau of the European Parliament will discuss a Greens/EFA initiative for the EU to have a special prize for investigative journalists to honour the murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The prize, which has seen cross party support, is designed to support investigative journalists in their tireless and sometimes dangerous efforts to uncover corruption, organised crime and wrongdoing. October 16 will mark the one-year anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia's death in Malta.

More: Rule of law in Malta

Money laundering debate
Wednesday, 03 October

Recent scandals involving European banks such as Danske Bank, ING and Pilatus Bank, show the urgent need for changes to how anti-money laundering rules are enforced. That's why the Greens/EFA group have tabled a debate to look at the new European Commission proposal on increasing the role and resources of the European Banking Authority to investigate cases of money laundering. The Greens/EFA are calling on the Parliament to adopt the new proposal under a fast-track procedure to ensure that the EU has more powers to keep dirty money out of Europe.

More: Danske Bank money laundering scandal will be investigated by European supervisor following Greens’ request

Rule of law in Romania
Debate Wednesday, 03 October

This summer Romania's long-running protests against corruption came to a head when the police attacked peaceful demonstrators. Ordinary Romanians are fed up with high-level graft and moves by the government to weaken anti-corruption measures. This summer, the Socialist and Liberal government dismissed the head of the anti-corruption agency and they have been trying to push through an amnesty for corruption offences for officials. The Greens/EFA strongly believe in the need to fight corruption and support the rule of law, which is why the group has tabled this debate which will come a day after the Romanian Prime Minister addresses the European Parliament.

More: Romania: Police violence against peaceful protestors

UN binding treaty on business and human rights
Tuesday, 02 October

In 2014 the UN set up a working group looking into drafting a binding treaty on human rights and business based on the need to address severe legal gaps with regard to human rights violations perpetrated by transnational corporations, often in less developed nations and at the expense of the poorest in society. On Tuesday, 02 October, the Greens/EFA will raise the question with the European Commission on what the EU's input will be to the binding treaty. The European Parliament has stated in several resolutions its support for a binding UN treaty and the Greens/EFA group will reiterate their support on October 11, at an event in the Parliament ahead of the presentation of the draft treaty in Geneva the following week. Molly Scott Cato, Judith Sargentini, Max Andersson and Heidi Hautala will attend the opening of events in Geneva, and meet fellow elected parliamentarians from the global inter-parliamentary initiative of supporters of the Treaty.

More: parliamentary question, video

The Future of Europe debate with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas
Wednesday, 03 October

The European Parliament continues its series of debates on the Future of Europe with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas. Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group will debate the future of Europe on behalf of the group.

More info: Future of Europe debates calendar

Strasbourg press briefing
Tuesday, 02 October

The Greens/EFA group will hold a press briefing at 10.30 -10.50 on Tuesday October 02 with Presidents Philippe Lamberts and Ska Keller in the Daphne Caruana Galizia room, Strasbourg, LOW N-1/201.