News | 22.11.2024

Plenary Flash 25 - 28 November 2024

GREENS/EFA priorities for the plenary session

Vote on the College of Commissioners

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on the Commission College. The Greens/EFA Group has long argued that a strong pro-European majority is essential for stable and effective politics over the next five years. For the first time, the Commission may now be voted through with the explicit support of far-right parties in the ECR, a situation created by the EPP. Greens/EFA will make a decision as a group early next week on whether to support the college and will work over the next five years to scrutinise the work of the Commission and ensure that it works in the interest of European citizens.

Debate: Wednesday, 27 November
MEPs: Terry Reintke, Bas Eickhout

Support to Ukraine

On Thursday, MEPs will vote on the resolution highlighting the need to reinforce EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. We look with grave concern to the direct involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is an unacceptable and unprecedented escalation by Russia and should be met with a strong and unified EU reaction. The Greens/EFA Group supports Ukraine’s Peace Formula and Victory Plan as the best basis for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine and the wider region. We need the HR/VP and the Member States to express their proactive support too and to develop a clear strategy with adequate tools to strengthen the EU’s role in its implementation. MEPs will debate the resolution on Tuesday, 26 November.

Debate: Tuesday, 26 November
Vote: Thursday, 28 November
MEP: Villy Søvndal

Middle East

On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the continued escalation in the Middle East, particularly the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Parliament will highlight the essential role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the region and the need to release all hostages. The Greens/EFA Group will continue to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and on all actors to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East and avoid further destabilisation in the region. It is imperative that all parties abide by international law, including international humanitarian law.

Debate: Tuesday, 26 November
MEPs: Hannah Neumann, Villy Søvndal, Leoluca Orlando

COP29: In the hot phase of climate negotiations

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the outcome of the ongoing UN Climate Conference Baku, Azerbaijan. Recent floods in Valencina and this summer's heat waves show that we urgently need to put money on the table and to invest in being better prepared for weather extremes (climate adaptation) and to massively reduce emissions (climate mitigation). There’s a risk of a stalemate on how to finance climate action and how to make polluters pay. It is high time for the European Union to take the lead. At COP29, civil society is being further excluded from making their voices heard. Protests against fossil fuels and for a switch from oil and gas to renewables are facing increasing restrictions.

The Greens/EFA call for immediate release of all political prisoners and for the regime to let Sakharov Prize candidate Gubad Ibadoghlu travel to the ceremony during the plenary in Strasbourg in December.

Debate: Wednesday, 27 November
MEPs: Michael Bloss, Lena Schilling, Isabella Lövin

Georgia
Next week, the Parliament will debate and vote on a resolution on the situation in Georgia following the recent elections, covering protests as well as prospects for the country’s future EU accession. MEPs will emphasise Georgia's worsening democratic crisis and alleged electoral fraud. The Greens/EFA Group is concerned about the situation and also highlights the importance of supporting Georgia’s young people for the future of a modern, democratic and European Georgia and that the EU should take responsibility to support them.
Debate & Vote: Thursday, 28 November
MEPs: Markéta Gregorová, Nicolae Ștefănuță, Mārtiņš Stakis, Leoluca Orlando, Virginijus Sinkevičius

G20
Earlier this week in Rio de Janeiro, the G20 leaders made a groundbreaking commitment to cooperate on taxing the world’s super-rich. Fair taxation is essential to deliver real change for people and the planet. MEPs will discuss the outcome of the G20 leaders' summit on Monday evening. The Greens/EFA Group calls on the Commission and Member States to lead on the international negotiations to find a global standard to tax billionaires to dramatically reduce inequality and raise the trillions of dollars needed to tackle the climate and poverty crises.
Debate: Monday, 25 November
MEPs: Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Rasmus Andresen

Violence against women
Following the adoption of the directive on violence against women and domestic violence we finally have minimum standards on GBV in the EU. However, the directive is not enough. Gender-based violence persists, and we need to do more not only to help survivors but also to reduce and prevent misogynistic violence in our societies. Greens/EFA are pushing for the inclusion of gender based violence in the list of EU crimes, and calling for the Member states to adopt consent based definitions of rape.
Debate: Monday, 25 November
MEPs: Diana Riba i Giner, Mélissa Camara

Energy poverty
On Wednesday, after a request by the Greens/EFA Group, MEPs will debate the rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty.

UN Biodiversity Conference 2024
On Monday, MEPs will debate the outcome of the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 in Cali, Colombia (COP16) and challenges for international climate policy.

LINKS

Group Presidents, Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout will hold the plenary session press briefing on Tuesday, 26 November at 11:00.
Location: Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room, Weiss N-1/201 or online via European Parliament website. Journalists can ask questions remotely via Interactio.
The full plenary agenda for the week can be found on the Parliament website.

GREENS/EFA PRESS CONTACTS