General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030
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On Thursday 8th July, MEPs will vote on the General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030, which sets the direction for EU environmental and climate policy action for the next 10 years, building on the European Green Deal. It establishes a monitoring framework to assess the progress of Member States and the Union towards a 2050 objective of ‘living well within planetary boundaries’, as well as six thematic priority objectives (climate mitigation, climate adaptation, circular economy, biodiversity protection, zero pollution and reducing our environmental footprint).
The report, led by Greens/EFA rapporteur Grace O’Sullivan, strengthens the Commission’s proposal significantly. Strong emphasis is placed on the need for systemic change in light of the ecological crises we face, and includes a call on the Commission to develop "beyond GDP" indicators to measure economic progress in terms of the well-being of people and planet, facilitating the transition to a sustainable economy. The report also lays down a number of other concrete actions, including clear deadlines for the phasing out of all environmentally harmful subsidies, as well as an obligatory compatibility check for all Union measures and policies with the objectives of the programme.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Grace O’Sullivan (Greens/EFA rapporteur)
Debate: Wednesday, 7 July
Vote: Thursday, 8 July
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Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity - Council and Commission statements
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Initiated by Grace O’Sullivan MEP, the resolution on the Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity calls on all negotiating countries of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to support the decision to protect three new areas in the Antarctic waters. The resolution highlights the importance of the southern ocean for biodiversity and climate change mitigation as well as urges the Commission and Member States to increase their diplomatic efforts to convince the countries which are blocking the decision.
The Greens/EFA Group welcomes the appeal for support on protecting the new areas and believes that the European Parliament’s initiative can be helpful to persuade the remaining countries to adopt the decision.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Grace O’Sullivan (initiator of the resolution)
Debate: Wednesday, 7 July
Vote: Thursday, 8 Jul
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Plans and actions to accelerate a transition to innovation without the use of animals in research, regulatory testing and education - Commission statement
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The European Union has made a clear commitment to proactively reduce the use of animals in science, and adopted a final objective to completely replace the use of animals with non-animal alternatives in 2010. Unfortunately, the number of such practices has decreased only very slowly over the last decade.
In the light of the European Green Deal, Next Generation EU, and the health and environmental challenges we are facing, it is essential that the EU acts to accelerate the transition from a reliance on the outdated animal-based model to modern, human-relevant, non-animal science in the areas of research, regulatory testing and education. In addition, the public concern about the use of animals in experiments is growing, and the EU has to give the right answer.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Tilly Metz
Debate: Thursday, 8 July (with resolution to be voted in September)
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Asylum and Migration - Joint debate
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The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2021-2027 (AMIF) is part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. This fund will benefit from a budget of €9.882 billion, which constitutes a considerable increase compared to the previous programming period. The AMIF could play a considerable role in supporting the integration of third-country nationals, ensuring access to fair and effective asylum systems, and promoting dignified returns in full respect of fundamental rights.
The Greens/EFA Group achieved some key wins in the negotiations, particularly in guaranteeing direct access to this fund for local and regional authorities. In addition, at least 20% must be allocated to the solidarity objective, which was a priority for our Group. The text also reinforces funding for the integration objective while limiting the undue prioritisation of the return objective.
The European Parliament will discuss the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), based on the Commission’s proposal in the context of the next MFF for 2021-2027. The instrument aims to ensure strong and effective European integrated border management at the external borders, contributing to the internal security within the Union, while safeguarding the free movement of people.
The Parliament has strengthened the “fundamental rights” dimension of the instrument, and given more relevance to actions related to search and rescue and the issuing of humanitarian visas. However, such progress cannot completely overcome the problems regarding the current management of the external borders. The Greens/EFA still have deep concerns over serious allegations of fundamental rights violations involving both Frontex and the Member States.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Eric Marquardt (Greens/EFA Shadow for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund); Alice Bah Kuhnke (Greens/EFA Shadow for the Integrated Border Management Fund)
Debate: Tuesday, 6 July
Vote: Wednesday, 7 July
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The 70th anniversary of the Geneva Convention - Council and Commission statements
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The 1951 Refugee Convention, known as the Geneva Convention, defines the term ‘refugee’ and sets out the rights and duties of refugees. According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the EU's common policy on asylum, subsidiary protection and temporary protection must be in line with this Convention. However, the Commission's recent proposals for a new Pact on Migration, as well as developments in some Member States, have raised questions as to whether this will remain the case in practice. On 28th July, the Geneva Convention will celebrate 70 years of existence, offering an opportunity to reassert its relevance and importance in today's context.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Eric Marquardt; Damien Carême; Tineke Strik (Members of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs)
Debate: Tuesday, 6 July (without resolution)
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The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP - Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
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On Wednesday 17th March, the Chief Public Prosecutor of Turkey’s top Court of Appeals requested the dissolution of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). This was accepted by Turkey’s Constitutional Court on 21st June, opening the door for a case to close the parliament’s third-largest party. The context of this decision is an ongoing crackdown on the Turkish political opposition, and in particular of the HDP, and a shrinking space for democracy and the rule of law, and of continuous measures by the Turkish authorities aimed at silencing dissenting voices.
The Greens/EFA condemn the decision confirmed by the General Assembly of the Constitutional Court, as well as the continued detention of HDP parliamentarians and functionaries, including the co-Chair, Figen Yüksekdağ, and former co-Chair, Selahattin Demirtaş. We call on the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Selahattin Demirtaş and other imprisoned members of the opposition, to drop all charges against them and to reinstate the legal status of the HDP. The Greens/EFA call on the Turkish government to urgently reverse its autocratic policies and to work towards strengthening democracy, rule of law, and human and civil rights, which include political pluralism, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Sergey Lagodinsky (chair of the EU-Turkey delegation)
Debate: Tuesday, 6 July
Vote: Thursday, 8 July
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MORE
- The full plenary agenda for the week can be found on the Parliament website here.
- The plenary sessions can be followed live here.
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