News | 15.01.2021

Flash - Plenary session 18-22 January 2021

Greens/EFA priorities for the session

2021 PORTUGUESE COUNCIL PRESIDENCY

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the start of the Portuguese Council Presidency. The Greens/EFA group look forward to working with the Portuguese Presidency on a strong and ambitious European Climate Law, supporting vaccine rollout across the EU, and ensuring that recovery funds contribute to a greener, more social and resilient union. The Greens/EFA group urge the Portuguese Presidency, along with the Commission, to revisit current proposals on the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, to bring them in line with the Green Deal.

Debate on 20 Wednesday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts
More:
2021 Portuguese Presidency Priorities

VACCINE STRATEGY

The European Commission has been given the mandate to negotiate joint procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to secure sufficient and equal access throughout all Member States. For the Greens/EFA group, transparency is key to ensure trust and safety in the vaccines. It is of paramount importance to have public access to the liability provisions in the contracts and to the clinical trial data. The Greens/EFA are calling for solidarity within the EU, and also stress the priority of global solidarity by ensuring the swift and fair distribution of vaccines to citizens in less developed countries. The European Parliament will debate this important topic on Tuesday.

Debate on 19 Tuesday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Tilly Metz and Michèle Rivasi
More:

INAUGURATION OF THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CURRENT SITUATION

The Greens/EFA welcome Joe Biden as the new President of the US and Kamala Harris as new Vice-President and strongly condemn shameful riots supported and incited by the outgoing President of the US. The next US President and the whole government will have a highly difficult task in uniting the people of the US and facing the Covid-19 crisis and the climate crisis. The riots in Washington DC also shed a light on the situation in the EU and on where contempt for democracy and disinformation can lead. All democrats must stand up for democracy and act against those who fueling hatred and disparaging open and inclusive societies.

Debate on 19 Tuesday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Reinhard Bütikofer

ACCESS TO DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL

Addressing the housing crisis has become even more urgent with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought to the fore the existing inequalities in the affordability and quality of housing. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate this Greens/EFA-led own initiative report, with the vote set for Thursday. The report calls on the Member States and Commission to achieve an ambitious renovation wave that prioritises emissions reductions while tackling energy poverty. It calls on the Commission to develop proposals to tackle the so-called financialisation of the housing market, as well as to combat homelessness and discrimination with an EU-level goal to end homelessness by 2030 and an integrated housing strategy that prioritises investment in social, public and affordable housing. The text demands an inclusive approach to housing, especially for those most exposed to the housing crisis and affected by poverty and precarity.

Debate 20 Wednesday, vote 21 Thursday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Kim van Sparrentak (Rapporteur)
More:

EU GENDER STRATEGY

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the European Commission has proposed a Gender Equality Strategy (2020-2025). In response, on Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on a progressive report, acknowledging the link between the climate crisis and gender equality and calling for an explicit focal point on this issue. The report also considers recent backlashes against gender and women’s rights, the feminisation of precarious work sectors and calls for increased funding towards the eradication of gender-based violence. The Greens/EFA group has long championed concrete measures for gender equality across the EU. We strongly support this report and will continue to fight for a more equal Union.

Debate and vote 21 Thursday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Alice Kuhnke
More:
Report on the EU Strategy for Gender Equality

TRANSPORT: TEN-T REGULATION

In 2021, the European Year of Rail, the Commission is planning to review its TEN-T Regulation, with a legislative proposal improving the Trans-European Networks for the transportation of passengers and goods. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution including several measures to improve connectivity and emissions reduction across Europe, promoting a modal shift towards rail and cleaner water transportation, as well as investing in safe cycling infrastructure enabling sustainable bike tourism. For the Greens/EFA, achieving zero emissions in the transport sector is a top priority and welcome the report. However, we are concerned with infrastructure mega-projects that might be counterproductive for our climate neutrality objective within the next two decades, and we advocate prioritising investment in smaller scale rail missing links and enhanced safety.

Debate 19 Tuesday, vote 20 Wednesday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Jakop Dalunde
More:
Report on the revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) guidelines

TECHNICAL SUPPORT INSTRUMENT

The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) is a tool used to support the Member States in the implementation of reforms and to encourage investments throughout the provision of targeted and tailored knowledge transfer via annual and special calls. This week, MEPs will debate and vote on the text that resulted from inter-institutional negotiations on the TSI. The proposal incorporates new transparency mechanisms and rules, strengthens the role of the TSI in the green and digital just transition and includes specific mention of Gender Impact Assessments.

Debate 18 Monday, vote 19 Tuesday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Alexandra Geese is co-rapporteur for BUDG and Mikuláš Peksa shadow rapporteur for ECON

MORE FISH IN THE SEAS

For many Europeans, fish is a major food source and our seas have been badly overfished over the last decades. Since the adoption of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, fish stocks around Europe are slowly recovering. Unfortunately, the recovery has been too slow to prevent the additional threats posed by the climate and biodiversity crisis. On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution from our Greens/EFA rapporteur, Caroline Roose, that calls on the Commission to strengthen existing laws for rebuilding and restoring our marine ecosystems.

Debate 20 Wednesday, vote on 21 Thursday
Greens/EFA MEPs: Caroline Roose (Rapporteur)
More:
More fish in the seas from Caroline Roose