EDP members enjoy wide-ranging success at EU Parliament plenary

Renewable energies: Hitting climate objectives, faster transition

MEPs voted also on last Tuesday for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive , or “RED”. The directive aim looks to deploy these energies as quickly as possible by acting, for example, to slash wait times to obtain permits. Driven by Christophe Grudler within the EDP delegation, and shadow rapporteur for the Renew Europe group, RED will raise the share of renewable energies in consumption to 45% by 2030 electricity from the European Union.

French MEP Christophe Grudler (Mouvement Démocrate) of EDP, part of the Renew Europe Group in parliament, served as a RED shadow rapporteur within the Renew Group. He commented: “Europe needs cost-efficient renewables! The overall results of directive revision will ensure a quicker energy transition through ambitious but achievable targets. The war in Ukraine puts even more pressure on us to intensify the deployment of renewable energy, to shift away from Russian products and reinforce our energy autonomy. And Renew Europe is committed to deliver.” Read more.

The plenary in Strasbourg endorsed to revise the RED to spur a faster energy shift in Europe. The final compromise foresees a reference to demand-flexibility measures, in addition to a specific 5% target for innovative renewable energy technologies, notably to safeguard the Union’s industrial competitiveness. The directive forms part of the flagship initiatives to meet Union energy and climate targets by securing at least 45% of renewables in the overall energy mix by decade’s end. It also drives energy system join-up and sustainability criteria for bioenergy – in line with the European Commission Repower EU plan.

Energy efficiency: Directive recast helps progress work towards climate neutrality

Italian MEP Nicola Danti (Italia Viva) helped drive efforts that lead to the parliament backing today the recast the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The favourable vote moves Europe towards a sea change in how it tackles energy use by households, industry, and the public sector. Read more.

The EED framework includes the Fit for 55 package to ensure EU progress towards climate neutrality by 2050, which aims at reducing overall energy use, slashing emissions and tackling energy poverty. Lower energy use by 40% in 2030 across the EU (compared to 2007), as outlined in Fit for 55, presents a clear path to cut greenhouse gas emissions, temper the urge to import energy, and lower costs for households and overall economy alike. A pressing need exists to drive further energy efficiency while ensuring a smooth transition for jobs and growth-producing small- and medium-sized firms and industries.

A Renew Europe Vice-President and ITRE shadow rapporteur, Danti commented: “The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use. Our main challenge is to increase the efficiency and sustainability of our economy and, at the same time, stimulate our growth. Everyone can to do their part: citizens, industries, and the public sector.”

No more ‘deforestation’ imports.

New Forest Strategy adopted MEPs adopted a major text, the first law in the world prohibiting the import of products resulting from deforestation in the Union European.

The law stipulates that proof must be presented that goods produced did not cause deforestation. Products covered under the rule include coffee, cocoa, soybeans, leather, corn, palm oil, wood and beef. On top of products, the legislation also extends to financial services to avoid financing of related deforestation. EDP’s French members joined the L’Europe Ensemble delegation in passing this crucial rule, which came out of the Parliamentary Environment Committee (ENVI). The rule can not only minimise the risk of global deforestation and forest degradation linked to with products placed on the EU market, but also the export from the Union products connected to deforestation and forest degradation. It does this by imposing on operators and traders a duty of due diligence throughout the supply chain. The legislation matters because European consumers account for 17% of tropical deforestation linked to internationally traded commodities such as meat, palm oil, soy, coffee and cocoa.

Commenting on the result, EDP MEP Catherine Chabaud (Mouvement Démocrate) tweeted immediately after the vote : “Stronger together (EU). Our vote on imported deforestation illustrates the positive impact we can have as European citizens. May we do the same to preserve the ocean and turn the EU towards the sea.”

Relatedly, a New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 was adopted in the parliament plenary session on the same day. A monumental win for EDP Executive Vice-President and MEP Ulrike Müller, she served as the parliament’s rapporteur for the strategy. The Tuesday vote in the European Parliament plenary was 417 votes in favour to 144 against with 67 abstentions for the resolution on “A New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 – Sustainable Forest Management in Europe”. Take an inside look.

Minimum wage: Trialogue agreement signed off

The Parliament signed off Wednesday a trialogue agreement on EU minimum wages, obtained under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Defended by EDP Sylvie Brunet, the text will raise the EU general standard of living and lessen competition between European workers. A highly concrete agreement for a social Europe that we have been defending since our election and which comes complete, in particular, the directive on posted workers.

Five billion euros for Ukraine

MEPs voted on Thursday for macro-financial aid of 5 billion euros. Supported by Marie-Pierre Vedrenne for the L’Europe Ensemble delegation, this aid will enable Ukraine to cover its urgent financing needs caused by the war.

Better prepared to fight fires: Help on the way

Irène Tolleret defended a resolution on the consequences of drought, fires and other extreme weather events. While the European Union will have to redouble its efforts to combat climate change, this resolution makes a number of proposals to better prevent fires in the EU and help the firefighters.

EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol extended for six months

EU vessels will be allowed to continue fishing in the Mauritian waters for tuna for additional six months under the same conditions. The European Parliament gave its consent to the extension of the EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol which ensures the EU fleet can continue fishing operations in the waters of Mauritius for another six months. Continuation of the agreement should not only provide access to Mauritius fisheries resources for EU vessels from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, but also to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Mauritius in the area of sustainable fisheries policy.

Following the plenary vote, EDP MEP and Rapporteur Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Basque country) said: “This extension allows this fisheries agreement to remain in force until the new one, which has already been negotiated, is finalised. The EU exploits all its fishing opportunities there and has boosted the local industry through the purchase of 50 new small-scale fishing vessels. It has also helped to improve monitoring, control and surveillance, scientific research and support for national fisheries management. The archipelago’s canning industry employs more than 4,000 people. Of these, 64% are women. This agreement strengthens a strategic partner for the creation of alliances and the positioning of the EU in the region and, in particular, in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.”