News | 07.07.2023

Plenary Flash 10-13 July 2023

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary session

Nature Restoration Law & Delivering on the Green Deal

After the EPP failed to secure a majority to reject the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) at committee-level, the Parliament’s crucial vote will take place during this plenary. On Wednesday, MEPs will first vote on whether to reject the Commission’s entire proposal. If the NRL survives this vote, MEPs will then vote on the Parliament’s position for trilogue negotiations with the Council and the Commission. The Council has already agreed on a negotiation position, so in order to move forward swiftly, the Greens/EFA urge for a majority of MEPs to vote in favour of a Parliament position to restore nature.

The EU must not fall behind its own commitment made in the Green Deal and at the Montréal Global Biodiversity Conference last year. Restoring nature is essential to mitigate climate change, adapt to its consequences and to ensure food security in Europe. By attacking Ursula von der Leyen’s Green Deal, the EPP is turning itself into an opposition party in lockstep with the far-right and directly attacking the EU Commission President from within its own ranks. Rather than taking steps backward on key files, the Greens/EFA call on the European institutions to support and accelerate the EU’s efforts to achieve our 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

Jutta Paulus (ENVI shadow rapporteur on the NRL) and Greens/EFA Presidents Terry Reintke and Philippe Lamberts will be available for comment outside the plenary hall immediately after the NRL vote(s).

NRL Debate: Tuesday, 11th July
NRL Vote: Wednesday, 12th July
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments (Greens/EFA Initiative): Wednesday 12th July

Fit for 55 & Industrial Emissions Directive

The EU is progressing on its roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Several files of the Fit for 55 package are on the agenda:

In light of the end of the sales of new combustion engines in 2035, the Directive on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure (Greens/EFA shadow Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg) focuses on boosting publicly accessible infrastructures for charging electric vehicles.
The FuelEU Maritime Regulation (Greens/EFA shadow Jutta Paulus) will increase the demand for and consistent use of greener fuels in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions for the shipping sector.
The Energy Efficiency Directive (Greens/EFA shadow Jutta Paulus), thanks to Greens/EFA leadership, successfully pushes for a binding EU energy efficiency target of 11,7% by 2030. The directive now also includes rules for data centres and extended obligations for the renovation of public buildings.
The Industrial Emissions Portal (Greens/EFA shadow Jutta Paulus)

Additionally, the European Parliament will adopt its plenary position on the Industrial Emissions Directive (Greens/EFA shadow Jutta Paulus). This directive is the main EU instrument regulating pollutant emissions from industrial installations. The EPP will attempt to water down the rules concerning large-scale industrial cattle production, while the ENVI Committee ensured such industrial cattle production is obligated to prevent its fair share of pollution.

The Greens/EFA Group welcomes these green victories and will largely vote to support them. Click here to stay up to date via the Greens/EFA Fit for 55 Live Blog.

Debate: Monday 10th July
Vote: Tuesday 11th July
Greens/EFA MEPs: Jutta Paulus and Anna Deparnay-Gruneberg

Search & Rescue in the Mediterranean

In reaction to the recent tragedy in Greece, MEPs will debate the need for EU action on search and rescue in the Mediterranean. The Migration and Asylum Pact adopted by the European Council doubles down on the failed policies of walls, camps, and a disregard for human rights. This will push more refugees into the arms of smugglers, who will take the deadly route across the Mediterranean. The Greens/EFA have long called for the EU to adopt a fair and efficient asylum system based on solidarity, human rights, and the rule of law. To ensure justice and accountability for the victims of the recent shipwreck off the Greek coast, the Greens/EFA call for international and independent investigations. Member States must stop criminalising migrants for trying to reach safety.

The Greens/EFA published a new study on 06/07/2023 investigating Greece, and the findings are shocking, as Greece’s implementations of policies are riddled with human rights violations. Trials of so-called “smugglers” last for only 37 minutes on average and lead to a sentence of 46 years and a fine of 332.209 euro.

Debate & Vote: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Erik Marquardt

EU Chips Act

MEPs will vote on the final trilogue outcome for the EU Chips Act, which aims to bolster technological capacity and innovation in the EU chips ecosystem. The law also includes measures to address disruptions in the supply of chips. The Greens/EFA successfully managed to include provisions directing the support for the manufacturing of semiconductors towards cleaner processes and chips that contribute to achieving the climate targets and green transition.

Debate: Tuesday 11th July
Vote: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Henrike Hahn

Ecodesign Regulation

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the Ecodesign Regulation. This regulation will make our clothes, furniture and electrical appliances more repairable, reusable and recyclable, create numerous jobs and save billions in energy and raw materials. This law is an extension of the ones already in place for electronic appliances. It not only extends the scope of products covered by ecodesign rules, but also foresees a ban on the destruction of unsold goods and the creation of a digital passport to provide information on the origin, composition and repair possibilities of products. The Greens/EFA have long been advocating for the inclusion of the textile industry, one of the most polluting in the world, in such a regulation. This law will make it easier to recycle clothing and require manufacturers to use more recycled fabrics. Trilogue negotiations are scheduled for the end of this year.

Debate: Tuesday 11th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Sara Matthieu

ING2/Qatargate

Next week, MEPs will vote on the special report from the Committee on Foreign Interference (ING2). Following the Qatargate scandal, the mandate for the ING2 committee was extended and made recommendations for the reform of Parliament’s internal rules on integrity, transparency, accountability and anti-corruption. The report comes ahead of the vote in September on President Metsola’s 14-point plan.

The recommendations made by the committee are a step in the right direction, but fall short. The Greens/EFA call for: a cooling-off period for MEPs of up to 24 months and at least as long as a Member is entitled to receive the transitional allowance; reinstating the ban on side-jobs that fall under the scope of the transparency register and requirements for NGOs to disclose all funding information needed to account for their situation in authoritarian and illiberal regimes, especially when it might put them at risk.

Debate: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Heidi Hautala

Poland: The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law
Vote: Tuesday 11th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Tineke Strik

EU Ethics Body
Vote: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Daniel Freund

Anti-SLAPPs: Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings
Debate: Monday 10th July
Vote: Tuesday 11th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Marie Toussaint, Diana Riba I Giner, Viola von Cramon

Protection of workers from extreme heat and other extreme weather phenomena resulting from the climate crisis (Greens/EFA Initiative)
Debate: Monday 10th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Sara Matthieu and Rosa D'Amato

EU Investment Bank: Annual Reports (Financial activities of the European Investment Bank & Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank)
Debate: Monday 10th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Viola von Cramon, EP rapporteur

Banking Union Annual Report
Report Presentation: Tuesday 11th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Kira Peter-Hansen, EP rapporteur

Tax the Rich
Debate: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEPs: Claude Gruffat and Kira Peter-Hansen

The “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes (including tax avoidance)
Debate: Wednesday 12th July
Greens/EFA MEP: Ernest Urtasun