Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 11-15 April 2016

Air passenger data retention (PNR) and the pretention of security
Strengthening data protection in the EU
MEPs back improvements to flagship Erasmus+ scheme
Ensuring sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters
The refugee crisis and the EU-Turkey agreement
Panama Leaks: tax evasion and money laundering in the EU
Reviewing the EU-Central Asia strategy
Glyphosate: opposing the reapproval of a toxic substance
Poland and the rule of law
EU trade secrets rules and the implications of whistleblowers
Energy poverty: tackling poverty in the face of increasing household costs
Greens/EFA motion for resolutions

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Air passenger data retention: mass surveillance not the solution to terror threat

Mon. 11 Apr. – Civil liberties committee; Weds. EP debate; vote Thurs.

The Parliament voted to approve controversial new legislation setting up an EU system for the collection and retention of air passenger data (PNR). The Greens/EFA group has consistently criticised the proposed system, which will undermine the fundamental rights of EU citizens. PNR will also undermine the security of our societies by diverting badly-needed resources from security and intelligence tools that could actually be useful for combating terrorism, such as targeted surveillance.

Further information
Nicholas Hernanz - Advisor on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
nicholas.hernanz@ep.europa.eu

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Strengthening data protection in the EU

Mon. 11 Apr. – Civil liberties committee; Weds. EP debate; vote Thurs.

The parliament approved the long-awaited reform of the EU's data protection rules. Green MEP and draftsman Jan Philipp Albrecht pushed for an agreement that provides legally sound and uniform data protection standards, providing a high level of protection for citizens. The legislation creates an EU-wide data protection regime, replacing the outdated data protection rules from 1995. This is a major step forward for consumer protection and competition and ensures Europe has data protection rules that are fit for purpose in the digital age.

Further information
Nicholas Hernanz - Advisor on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
nicholas.hernanz@ep.europa.eu
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MEPs back improvements to flagship Erasmus+ scheme

Mon. 11 Apr. – EP debate; vote Tues.

The introduction of mobility schemes through Erasmus+ marked a major step forward as a concept across the European Higher Education area. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that mobility is less prevalent in vocational education training due to major obstacles such as countries’ mutual recognition and accreditation of their study and working practices, administrative burden of the application process or financial constraints of apprentices. On Tuesday, MEPs backed a report by Greens/EFA rapporteur Ernest Maragall and called for further commitments of the Commission and Member States. The report sets out a number of concrete proposals for improving the situation, including establishing a permanent and sustainable system that is fully operational and predictable and open to all, creating accompanying measures, especially for minors and a defining a stronger role of intermediary institutions. Regrettably, MEPs rejected an amendment which called for the provision of official documents in all EU languages.

Further information
Olga Perez Vitoria, Advisor on Culture and Education
olga.perez@ep.europa.eu
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Ensuring sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters

Mon. 11 Apr. – EP debate; vote Tues.

While the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy has helped improve the sustainability of the fishing industry in European waters, there are still major problems with fisheries and fish stocks worldwide. On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted a report by Green MEP Linnea Engström which set out proposals on how to deal with the problems of ensuring fisheries beyond European waters are made more sustainable. This implies ensuring the European fleet employs the most sustainable practises possible, whilst also using the CFP and bilateral fisheries agreements between the EU and third countries to improve the nature of global fisheries and tackle illegal and unregulated fishing.

Further information
Michael Earle – Advisor on Fisheries
michael.earle@ep.europa.eu
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The refugee crisis and the EU-Turkey agreement 

Tues. 12 Apr. – EP debate and vote; Weds. 13 Apr. EP debate

The European Parliament adopted Thursday its annual progress report on Turkey's EU accession process. The report highlights concerns with the backsliding on democratic norms, like freedom of expression and media, under the Erdogan regime. It is disturbing that EU governments are now bending over backwards to please President Erdogan, whilst wilfully ignoring his transformation of the Turkish state into an autocracy with increasing disregard for basic rights. The Greens have been to the fore among those criticising the Turkey deal, which is at odds with EU and international law. Already, major concerns have been raised about the implementation of the agreement and the impact it is having on refugees in Greece and Turkey.

Further information
Sabine Meyer - Advisor on Foreign Affairs
sabine.meyer@ep.europa.eu
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Panama Leaks: EU Parliament inquiry green light; robust mandate must follow

Tues. 12 Apr. – EP debate

On Tuesday, the Parliament debated the Panama Papers revelations, which showed wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes. The Greens/EFA group has lead calls for the creation of a parliamentary inquiry committee to properly investigate the revelations and their implications at EU level. We have secured backing from some political groups at the European Parliament so this now looks set to go ahead! If we want to achieve real tax justice then the committee must have strong powers and we'll be pushing for an inquiry with real teeth.

Further information
Catherine Olier, Tax Justice Campaigner
catherine.olier@ep.europa.eu
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Reviewing the EU-Central Asia strategy 

Tues. 11 Apr. – EP debate; vote Weds.

The European Parliament adopted Wednesday, by an overwhelming majority, a report by Green MEP Tamás Meszerics on the implementation and revision of the EU-Central Asia strategy. The significance of Central Asia has grown over the years, mainly due to its geopolitical significance and energy resources. This report calls for the EU to place respect for human rights and democracy at the core of its strategy in relations with these countries. It also calls for a coherent and consistent approach towards the region and for EU funding to be clearly incentive- and performance-based. The report also pushes for more environmental sustainability in the extraction and processing of natural resources and for an effective water diplomacy aimed at sustainable water-management and water-sharing.

Text adopted

Further information
Paolo Bergamaschi - Advisor on Foreign Affairs
paolo.bergamaschi@ep.europa.eu
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EU Parliament opposes re-approval of glyphosate for most uses

Weds. 13 Apr. – EP vote

The European Parliament adopted a resolution setting out its position on a proposal by the EU Commission to re-approve the controversial toxic substance glyphosate for use in Europe. The resolution flagged massive concerns with the Commission's proposal, notably calling for significantly restricting the uses for which glyphosate could be approved. While the resolution fell short of calling for the out-right ban the Greens/EFA MEPs are demanding, it nonetheless sends a clear message to the Commission that they must work with EU governments to fully address these concerns, rather than rushing ahead with re-approval.

Further information
Axel Singhofen, Advisor on Health and Environment Policy
axel.singhofen@ep.europa.eu

Nelly Baltide, Food campaigner
nelly.baltide@ep.europa.eu
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Poland and the rule of law

Weds. 13 Apr. – EP vote

A resolution on the controversial changes in Poland regarding the Constitutional Tribunal was supported by a clear majority of MEPs. There can be no doubt that the laws passed will compromise the independence of the judiciary and the Council of Europe's Venice Commission has underlined these concerns. It is welcome that the Commission has announced it will monitor the laws under the new EU rule of law framework. If the Polish government fails to back down, the Commission must swiftly follow-through and EU governments in Council must give their full support. The Greens/EFA group backed amendments which would have placed emphasis on other concerns about Poland, such as protecting women's reproductive rights, ethnic minorities, independence of the media and environment, but these fell.

Text adopted

Further information
Aleksejs Dimitrovs, Advisor on Legal Affairs, Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Aleksejs.Dimitrovs@europarl.europa.eu
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EU trade secrets rules and the implications for whistleblowers

Weds. 13 Apr. – EP debate; vote Thurs.

Controversial new EU rules on trade secrets were approved by the European Parliament. The new legislation creates excessive rights to secrecy for businesses. The rules are a direct threat to the work of journalists and their sources, whistleblowers, employees’ freedom of expression, and our rights to access public interest information (such as on medicines, pesticides, car emissions, etc.).

Further information
Anne Catherine Lorrain, Legal Adviser, Committee on Legal Affairs
Anne-Catherine.Lorrain@europarl.europa.eu
Pam Bartlett Quintanilla, Transparency and Democracy Campaigner
Pamela.BartlettQuintanilla@ep.europa.eu
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Energy poverty: tackling poverty in the face of increasing household costs

Thurs. 14 Apr. – debate and vote

MEPs adopted by a large majority Thursday a report by Green MEP Tamás Meszerics on how to tackle energy poverty in the face of increasing household costs . On our proposal the European Parliament calls for a winter heating disconnection moratorium and a European definition on energy poverty. With over 50 million people impacted by increasing inequality and dependence on energy consumption, this report gives 5 key recommendations and calls on the EU Commission and EU governments to provide the necessary upfront investment to reduce the energy costs of poor households. It also calls for an EU framework on a minimum income for citizens and for the EU to hold a summit on poverty reduction.