Plenary16. June 2008

Returns directive:an unacceptable compromise

Speech by Jean Lambert

It is unacceptable to return people to a country of transit unless all parties agree, yet Council seeks to extend the possibility (e.g. in the readmission agreement) for member states to do this forcibly. Greens are also firmly against the practice of detaining or forcibly returning unaccompanied minors.

Plenary16. June 2008

Waste directive:a wasted opportunity?

Speech by Jill Evans

Revising the existing 1975 waste framework directive offers a valuable opportunity to support a recycling society and to combat climate change.

Plenary15. June 2008

European electricity market --

who has the power?

Speech by Rebecca Harms

French and German companies have a stranglehold of European grids and pipelines. Since the same energy giants control distribution, it is no surprise that their profits are growing while customers’ bills are rising. This situation is also stifling an increase of renewables contribution to the energy mix.

Plenary15. June 2008

EU exploitation of biological resources in West Africa

Speech by Fritjhof Schmidt

Policy coherence for development and the effects of the EU's exploitation of certain biological natural resources on development in West Africa

Plenary05. June 2008

Illegal fishing

Report by Marie-Hélène Aubert

Speech by Marie-Hélène Aubert

The impact of illegal fishing is one part of the crisis currently facing the fishing industry, along with high fuel costs, as was seen yesterday in Brussels. The only way to resolve the crisis is a profound restructuring of the EU's fisheries policy and the fleets, and this regulation is part of the solution.

Plenary22. May 2008

Legal protection for the environment

Speech by Monica Frassoni

Causing serious damage to the environment can have devastating effects on human health and the environment. Harmful practices must be criminalised. This first Directive for penal law on environmental protection has been substantially improved from the initial report, thanks to pressure from the Greens/EFA group.

Plenary22. May 2008

Tragic situation in Burma

Speech by Daniel Cohn-Bendit

The European Parliament's unequivocal condemnation of the Burmese military junta reflects the scale of the catastrophe on the ground. It is Burma's duty to protect the people on its territory. The international community must not tolerate the Burmese authorities' indifference as they allow their people to suffer within arm's reach of humanitarian aid.

Plenary08. May 2008

Lobbying

Parliament vote on new lobbying rules shows power of lobbyists

Speech by Claude Turmes

"The vote on new rules for lobbyists in the European Parliament today showed how powerful and effective lobbyists really are. Although the adopted proposal is a step in the right direction, obliging all lobbyists to register for the first time, it is far from guaranteeing full transparency. A coalition of conservatives (EPP-ED) and liberals (ALDE) were engaged in systematically weakening the report and succumbed to lobbying by lawyers and the Vatican."

Plenary08. May 2008

Lobbying

Parliament vote on new lobbying rules shows power of lobbyists

Speech by Monica Frassoni

"The definition of lobbyists was weakened, allowing for important exemptions. Lawyers are exempted from the scope of rules, which, given all available evidence is absurd. Lawyers play an increasingly important role in influencing policy in Brussels and they promote themselves as such on their own websites. In addition, religious organisations will not fall under the lobbying rules, though they are clearly trying to influence the decision-making process regarding issues that affect their interest."

Plenary07. May 2008

Annual report on Human Rights in the World 2006 and the EU's

Speech by Hélène Flautre

Since 2006, annual reports mainly focus on the assessment of the EU human rights policy and its instruments (dialogues, guidelines etc), as well as the work done in this area by EU Presidencies. Last year, the Greens insisted in keeping a specific report drafted by Parliament in response to the EU annual report on HR in the World so as to be able to present a Parliament position and to make the Council and the Commission more accountable for their policy and actions in this field. The report drafted by Cappato is in line with all the other reports adopted during this legislature and is not politically problematic. We tabled 50 amendments (247 amendments in total) so as to bring our expertise on most of the issues dealt with in this report (in particular, the matter of emergency visa for HR defenders and the creation of a specific chapter on electoral assistance and election observation). Our main criticism concerned the definition of human rights proposed by Cappato (excluding the indivisibility of human rights), Cappato's position on the UNHRC and the inclusion of the Community of Democracies which could replace this UN body.