EFA/Greens schedule 24-28 February

European Parliament priorities

- Troika's flawed role under scrutiny (Mon.)
- Testimony from Edward Snowden to MEPs (Mon.)
- Setback for tackling cars' climate impact (Mon., Tues.)
- EU economic governance in the spotlight (Tues.)
- Aid for the most deprived (Tues.)
- Railway safety and EU rules (Tues., Weds.)
- Privacy concerns with eCall vehicle tracking (Tues., Weds.)
- Bump in the road for EU-Switzerland relations (Weds.)
- Youth unemployment and the youth guarantee (Weds.)
- Tobacco and public health: EU rules (Weds.)
- EU judicial co-operation and basic rights (Weds., Thurs.)
- Indonesian rainforests and climate change (Weds., Thurs.)
- Ukrainian crisis and Europe's role (Weds., Thurs.)
- Extreme weather and climate change (Thurs.)

 Greens/EFA events

- Press briefing with Greens/EFA co-presidents (Tues.)

Troika's flawed role under scrutiny

Monday 24 February: Economic affairs committee vote

The final report of the European Parliament's inquiry into the role of the EU-ECB-IMF troika will be voted by the economic affairs committee. With very serious allegations of maladministration and contraventions of EU and international law being levied against the EU-ECB-IMF Troika, the Greens were to the fore in pushing for this inquiry. Any findings of maladministration or legal negligence must be accompanied by robust recommendations on follow-up action. (see latest press release).

Testimony from Edward Snowden to MEPs

Monday 24 February: Civil liberties committee

MEPs are set to decide if a platform should be given for testimony from Edward Snowden to the civil liberties committee in the context of its inquiry into the revelations of mass surveillance by secret services. The Greens pushed for asylum and protection for Snowden, to allow him to testify directly or by live video link, but, regrettably, a majority of MEPs failed to support this. The group is  convinced that the inquiry would be incomplete without any form of testimony from its main witness and hope, at the very least, that the committee will give a platform for a statement from him answering MEPs' questions to be read.

Setback for tackling cars' climate impact

Monday 24 February: Debate; vote Tuesday (Ulmer report)

The European Parliament is set to confirm a backroom deal, which will further weaken already weak rules on car CO2 emissions limits for 2020. The deal, which resulted from serious pressure from the German government, will see car manufacturers given more time to reach the limits and loopholes will remain. The Greens believed an original agreement reached between the EP and Council was already low on ambition. This further dilution will ensure the rules fail to stimulate innovation towards less polluting and more efficient cars. (see latest press release).

EU economic governance in the spotlight

Tuesday 25 February: Debate and vote (Various reports)

MEPs will adopt a set of reports as part of the European Semester, which is Parliament's mechanism for monitoring and scrutinising European economic governance. The Greens have consistently argued that the narrow focus on fiscal contraction in the EU's response to the economic crisis has failed. To this end, the group welcomes proposals for ex-post evaluations of economic governance recommendations by the Commission and Troika. The report also highlights the incomplete nature of macroeconomic indicators used by the Commission and underlines the risks of private debt levels.

Aid for the most deprived                      

Tuesday 25 February: Vote (Costello report)

A new EU funding scheme for the most deprived people will be confirmed in a vote by MEPs. After controversial moves to abolish an existing scheme under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, which provided food aid to the most vulnerable people, the Greens were to the fore in pushing for the scheme to instead be updated and made part of EU social funds. The Greens support the new scheme, which will continue to aid millions but is more appropriately dealt with as part of EU social policy, instead of as a scheme to use up agricultural surpluses.

Railway safety and EU rules

Tuesday 25 February: Debate; vote Wednesday (Cramer and other reports)

MEPs will vote on a series of legislative proposals on the European rail sector: the 4th railway package. Beyond the controversial proposals on market opening and governance, the proposals also deal with rail safety and EU-wide authorisation procedures. Green draftsman on the rail safety legislation Michael Cramer wants to ensure the European Railway Agency is made a one-stop shop for railway safety certificates. This would reduce costs while ensuring a higher railway safety level across Europe. (see latest press release).

eCall vehicle tracking and privacy concerns

Tuesday 25 February: Debate; vote Wednesday (Sehnalova/De Backer reports)

MEPs vote on new rules that would make the eCall system, which aims to send an automatic emergency service call in the event of accident, mandatory for all cars. The Greens have concerns about the privacy implications of all cars having a device which constantly records geolocation, even if the location is only sent when the system is activated by an accident. There are major doubts about the effectiveness of eCall, with the infrastructure not complete and high potential for false-alarm calls. There are far more effective steps that could be taken to improve road safety.

Bump in the road for EU-Switzerland relations

Wednesday 26 February: Debate

The EU's relationship with Switzerland has hit a bump after the referendum in which a majority voted in favour of restrictions on the free movement of EU citizens to Switzerland. While the outcome has to be respected, it is also clear that there can be no quotas on the application of EU law and fundamental EU principles. The European Commission is right to defend this and the Swiss government will now have to work to find a viable solution, which respects this and guarantees the inviolable right to free movement as a core component of the single market. (see latest press release).

Youth unemployment and Europe's guarantee

Wednesday 26 February: Debate

Youth unemployment remains a major crisis for Europe, young people under 25 are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as the rest of the working age population. The Greens have been at the forefront in pushing for the creation of the European Youth Guarantee Scheme which ensures that all young people under the age of 25 in Europe are entitled to receive a good-quality offer of employment, education, apprenticeship or traineeship within a period of four months after becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. However, implementation needs to be sped up. (see latest press release).

Tobacco and public health: EU rules

Wednesday 26 February: Vote (McAvan report)

After a controversial legislative process, an agreement on revised EU tobacco rules, which was reached before Christmas, will be confirmed by MEPs. The Greens described the agreement as a bitter-sweet end to the legislative review. While it is a step forward for EU efforts to tackle the enormous social and health problems of tobacco products, it falls short of what was originally proposed and international best practice. More prominent warnings on packages and banning flavoured cigarettes are improvements but more could and should have been delivered. (see latest press release).

EU judicial cooperation and basic rights                   

Wednesday 26 February: European Parliament debate; vote Thursday (Melo, Ludford reports)

MEPs will vote on two separate reports on EU judicial cooperation. The Greens support moves towards stronger judicial cooperation but this must go hand-in-hand with guarantees on basic rights. To this end, the group shares concerns expressed in the report on the European arrest warrant, which has led to a high volume of requests from some member states for often frivolous offenses, with basic rights not guaranteed. The group supports the final legislation on a European investigation order however, which will ensure greater proportionality and respect of fundamental rights.

Ukrainian crisis and Europe's role

Wednesday 26 February: Debate; vote Thursday

MEPs will debate the situation in Ukraine and adopt a resolution. The recent brutal crackdown by the Ukrainian authorities, which resulted in the tragic loss of life, needs to be clearly condemned by the EU. The emerging agreement gives cause for optimism but the EU must do all within its power to ensure a peaceful and democratic solution to the situation, which responds to the legitimate demands and aspirations of those in Maidan Square. This also implies a change of tack in its relations with Russia.

Indonesian rain forests and climate change

Wednesday 26 February: European Parliament vote; vote Thursday. (Jadot report)

An agreement between the EU and Indonesia on forest law enforcement will be voted on by MEPs. With Indonesia, the third-largest location of rainforests in the world, having major problems with illegal deforestation and destroying forests for palm oil and paper production, Green draftsman Yannick Jadot has sought to ensure the agreement prioritises tackling this problem. While the Indonesian timber licensing scheme has seen some improvements, it has major loopholes, which are compounded by corruption. The report to be voted highlights these points.

Extreme weather and climate change

Thursday 27 February: European Parliament debate

The devastation caused by the extraordinary number of extreme weather events across Europe over the past two months will be discussed by MEPs. With models showing climate change will lead to an ever-increasing amount of extreme weather events, the Greens believe Europe's politicians need to take note and draw the right consequences ahead of a decision to set out the EU's climate and energy policy to 2030. The situation has also served to underline the flaws of cutting the EU budget and, notably, emergency funds for member states.

Co-presidents press briefing
Tuesday 25 February – 10h30-10h50, EP press room LOW N -1/201

Press briefing with Greens/EFA co-presidents Dany Cohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms on the key issues of the plenary session for the Greens/EFA group. The briefing will be live-streamed here.

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