Greens/EFA Round-up

Ergebnisse der Sitzungswoche vom 1.-2. February 2012

Conclusions of the informal European Council meeting of 30 January 2012

European Council and Commission statements
Plenary debate 1 February - vote Thursday 2 February 2012

The plenary adopted a resolution tabled by EPP, S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union as agreed at the informal European council of 30 January. The resolution recalls that virtually all the elements contained in the new Treaty can be achieved, and to a large extent have already been achieved, within the existing EU legal framework and through secondary legislation. Parliament insists that while stability is important, economic recovery requires measures to strengthen solidarity and boost sustainable growth and employment and it calls in that context for the rapid establishment of a redemption fund, project bonds, a roadmap for stability bonds and the introduction of an Financial Transaction Tax at European level.

Greens EFA consider this new intergovernmental Treaty unnecessary, delivering little new and failing to deliver the necessary crisis response. The group will now push to ensure the EP takes the initiative to provide a comprehensive response to resolve the Euro crisis through a real European economic governance, with common enhanced fiscal and tax policies, and with a credible firewall behind the Euro, accompanied by real democratic oversight in which the European Parliament must play a central role.

On 8 February, the Greens/EFA Group organises a hearing on the conclusions of the legal opinions prepared by three experts on the International Agreement on a Fiscal Stability Union. The experts will present their conclusions.

Joint motion for a resolution
Text adopted by EP (provisional version in Word)
Plenary speech by Green Co-President Rebecca Harms

Further information:
Annemieke Beugelink, Greens/EFA Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, annemieke.beugelink@europarl.europa.eu

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Iran and its nuclear programme

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Plenary debate 1 February - vote Thursday 2 February 2012

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Iran with a huge majority. The Greens/EFA supported the joint motion for a resolution signed by the 5 major parliamentary groups. However, the Greens/EFA tabled a few amendments that were adopted, reiterating the EP position that the conflict has to be solved peacefully and welcoming the recent IAEA delegation to Iran. Other Greens/EFA amendments on the dangers of nuclear energy which the Iranian case underlines, the necessity to reduce oil and gas consumption in Europe and the condemnation of all acts of aggression (against the UK embassy as against Iranian scientists or infrastructure) were rejected.

Thanks to the adopted amendments and to achieved changes of the draft text during compromise negotiations Greens have actively contributed to change the position of the European Parliament towards setting a clear priority on negotiations and a peaceful solution to the nuclear conflict with Iran.

Greens/EFA motion for a resolution
Text adopted by EP (provisional version in Word)
Plenary speech by Green MEP Tarja Cronberg

Further information:
Sabine Meyer, Greens/EFA Advisor on Foreign Affairs, sabine.meyer@europarl.europa.eu

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List of nutrition claims

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Motion for resolution pursuant comitology objection
Vote Thursday 2 February 2012

After the environment committee of the European Parliament voted on Tuesday 31 January to reject the proposed claim under the comitology procedure, the European Parliament as a whole voted to reject the proposal from the EU Commission to allow misleading nutritional claims for food products (393 votes in favour, 161 votes against and 21 abstentions). The Greens welcomed the rejection of the proposal, which would have allowed producers to claim reduced percentages of potentially unhealthy components (like fat, salt, sugar and saturated fat) compared to a previous version of the same product. This result is a big victory against the food industry lobby, which had started massive lobbying in the days before the vote. The Commission will now have to come forward with a new proposal.

Motion for a resolution
Text adopted by EP (provisional version in Word)
Greens/EFA press release

Further information:
Corinna Zerger, Greens/EFA Advisor on on Food Safety and Quality, corinna.zerger@europarl.europa.eu

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Situation in Russia

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Plenary debate 1 February - vote during the next plenary session in Strasbourg 12-16 February 2012

The European Parliament debated about the situation in Russia.
The deadline for tabling resolutions is 8 February. The vote will take place during the Strasbourg session.