Debriefing of the September 2024 plenary session

Table of contents

• Devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe – Greens/EFA action plan
• New European Commission
• Situation in Gaza
• Arrest of Paul Watson
• Greens/EFA nomination Sakharov Prize 2024

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Devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe – Greens/EFA action plan

MEPs voted Thursday on a resolution on the devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe. They discussed the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change.

All across Europe people are suffering from extreme weather and massive flooding as a result. Meteorologists are pointing out that the warmer water in the Mediterranean, due to climate change, is causing clouds to take up more water, resulting in these heavy rains in Central Europe. As Greens/EFA we have drawn up an action plan to make sure we reduce the risk of floods in Europe and to be able to minimise the consequences from them if they happen.

Climate change is happening here and now, and thousands of people across Europe are experiencing its devastating impact.

• Text adopted
• Greens/EFA action plan
• Greens/EFA MEPs Lena Schilling and Nicu Stefanuta in plenary
• Social media – How to protect people from floods in Europe

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New European Commission: Greens/EFA welcomes focus on climate but needs to see action

Tuesday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her proposal for the new European Commission."It’s good to see that the urgent need to counter climate change will remain at the core of EU policy making for the new mandate.

But we need clarity on how the new portfolios will work in practice", comment Greens/EFA Co-Presidents Bas Eickhout and Terry Reintke."

The fact that a candidate from a far-right government is nominated as Vice-President of the European Commission remains a big concern for us. Appointing Raffaele Fitto could create a dangerous shift towards the far-right in the Commission and endanger the pro-democratic majority in the European Parliament.”

All Commissioner-designates will now face hearings by the Members of the European Parliament. The Greens/EFA MEPs will take this role seriously and thoroughly assess all the Commissioner-designates.

• Press release

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Other headlines

Gaza

Greens/EFA MEPs discussed the war in Gaza and the situation in the Middle East. The International Criminal Court confirmed that Israel is violating international law. Illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories and destruction must end. The international community must act to stop the war.

• Social media

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Paul Watson

Anti-whaling activist and founder of Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, risks a 15-year prison sentence in Japan. Defending nature and saving animals is not a crime! The Greens/EFA, together with other political Groups, demand his immediate release.

• Social media

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Sakharov Prize

The Greens/EFA Group has nominated Azerbaijani academic, anti-corruption fighter & fossil fuel industry critic, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, for this year's Sakharov prize. He was arrested in 2023 after publishing an article criticising the country’s oil and gas policies.

• Social media

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Greens/EFA motions for resolutions

• The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”
• The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus
• The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba
• The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change
• Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States

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Next issue of Greens/EFA Plenary debriefing: 11 October 2024