EU Parliament

Final Farewell in My Role as Your Green MEP

Posted on 31st January 202031st January 2020 by Media Team

A Sad Farewell

Welcome to my extra-long blog this week. Sadly, this is my last writing in my short-lived role as a Green MEP for the North West. What an amazing experience it has been, and I want to say again: a huge thank you to everyone who supported or voted for the Green Party in May 2019 to enable me to represent the North West in the European Parliament.

It’s incredibly difficult to summarise the emotions I have experienced during these last two weeks. But, due to the amazing work of my wonderful team of staff, both in Brussels and the North West, we have been industrious and maximizing the time we have left on research reports, event launches and parliamentary business right up until the last minute.

There is little to compare these recent weeks to. It’s deeply saddening, clearly historic, yet very moving. The warmth and respect shown to the UK by all the other MEPs and people working on all levels in the European institutions is so clearly sincere. There were incredibly moving speeches in the penultimate plenary session about the tremendous contribution that the UK has made to shape the EU of today, from (almost) all the political groupings in the Parliament.

My favourite quote during the debate in the European Parliament on the Withdrawal Agreement was by Philippe Lamberts, co-leader of the Greens/EFA group:

“In Europe, there are two types of countries; small countries, and those who have yet to realise how small they are.”

The Greens in Europe have such vision, and although leaving it all behind is hard, I am taking so much with me when I go. From the experience of working on the Horizon Research and Innovation programme; memories of numerous cross-cultural and cross-group events; wonderful connections made not just here in Brussels but including the many organisations and individuals I have met in the North West, and several reports that we have published over the last few months.

Withdrawal Agreement Debate

Only 49 MEPs, which certainly included all the UK Greens, voted against ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement. As a UK MEP, I don’t feel the deal we have is good for the UK or for Europe, and I worry about the difficulties to come. However, Molly Scott Cato repeated our joint desire to continue current links with our European neighbours, extend friendships groups, and revive pre-EU membership initiatives, such as town-twinning.

Also, we issued a statement following the Withdrawal Agreement vote, from the seven UK Green MEPs on the final vote this week, which neatly summarises our position:

“In spite of the powerful campaign waged by Greens and many others for almost four years, with a deep sense of regret and grief, we accept that the UK will leave the EU this Friday. But Brexit isn’t done; the negotiations over the nature of our future relationship are only just beginning.

“Europe is a beacon of peace in the world, upholding human rights, leading the world on climate change, protecting our environment and safeguarding consumer standards. And we believe that in the months ahead pro-Europeans, who would prefer us to remain in the EU and who make up at least half the electorate, have a right to help shape our future relationship with Europe.

“So, we urge the Prime Minister to aim for a settlement that maintains the vital legal protections offered by our EU membership. For Greens, this must include freedom of movement, a privilege we are proud to champion because it offers the chance to live, work and form relationships across 27 other countries.

“It is particularly important for our young people that we maintain the closest possible relationship with our European neighbours as we know they are considerably more pro-European than older generations. It is their future that is being limited by leaving the EU. So, while now is not the time to campaign to re-join the EU, we will nonetheless aspire to this in the future.”

Final sponsored visit to the European Parliament

Last week I hosted my fourth and final visitor group to the European Parliament in Brussels. Students from Manchester Metropolitan University, developing future alternative energies, as well as Pro-EU and climate campaigners from the North West joined me in Brussels, and as on previous visits to Parliament, there was much awe and wonder at what goes on here.

I am delighted to say that one of the visitors from the group has written a genuinely insightful account of her experience.

“I believe this country has slammed the door on a system it does not understand and will regret doing so. I believe we are depleted economically and culturally as a result and fear the coming isolation will cast us into deeper internal conflict, division and inequality.”

You can read Miranda Cox’s write up in a guest post here.

The Sustainable and Active Transport Report

Last Friday, I launched a report in Lancaster, written and researched by well-respected transport experts, which highlights what sustainable transport systems could look like in different communities across the North West.

In a full and engaged room, I was delighted to be able to promote this follow-up to The Green New Deal in the North West report which we launched last year, with more details on an action plan for low-carbon sustainable transport.

The idea behind it is to have a functional and workable plan to decarbonise transport in the North West. Carbon emissions are still rising within the transport sector and so a transformation in the North West region is essential to meet the demands of the climate crisis. Our new report demonstrates that a sustainable and fairer travel network is both possible and achievable, with huge benefits across the board, such as high-quality jobs, reducing isolation in communities, and better health outcomes.

All local authorities, indeed, all those responsible at a sub-national level for climate plans, transport, health and economic development, can and must ensure that investing in public transport – including walking and cycling infrastructure, to achieve far fewer journeys made by car.

You can download the transport report here.

The Role of Research in Achieving the Outcomes of the European Green Deal

AS Greens/EFA representative on Horizon Europe, I co-hosted a workshop about the key role of research and innovation in the European Green Deal last week.

The European Green Deal is this Commission’s flagship programme, settings the EU on a clear path of accelerated decarbonisation and its implementation. Research and innovation will be key in delivering these goals, however, the exact role and potential of R&I in this historic proposal is still fairly unclear.

We need research and innovation to deal with the challenges facing society. From tackling climate change to digitalisation and maintaining European industrial.

The workshop looked at the recently released E3G report Delivering Climate Neutrality: Accelerating EU Decarbonisation with Research and Innovation Funding.

We also presented eminent examples of how innovation leads to market success. Northvolt is Europe’s leading battery start-up, offering crucial lessons on the future of European industry, with their expanding company which produces batteries in Sweden and they have a full commitment to component recycling.

Additional presentations were given by EIT InnoEnergy, a knowledge and innovation community delivering practical innovation, fostering the creation of start-ups and entrepreneurial spirit to support European industry as it undergoes vital transformations. The Jacques Delors Energy Centre, a Europe-based think tank, talked about the social dimension of clean energy innovation.

MEPs urge Commission to End Double Standards on Trade With Occupied Territories

Just two days before leaving the EU, I chaired a Roundtable discussion on EU Trade with Occupied Territories. Along with three other MEPs from France, Ireland and Denmark representing both Greens and S&D groups we had organised this event to bring together legal and policy experts to debate the divergent and piecemeal approaches of the EU towards trade with occupied territories such as Western Sahara and of course Palestine.

We heard the details of how on one side, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia in relation to the occupation of Crimea, while on the other, it has included the territory of Western Sahara in its bilateral agreements with the occupying power, Morocco. In Palestine, experts highlighted the lack of implementation of EU rules concerning the correct labelling of Israeli settlement products. Towards other situations of occupation such as Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh or Northern Cyprus, participants considered the EU’s approach as a best practice to be emulated.

You can read more in our press release here.

Farewell to my European Colleagues

Brexit is finally happening. There were almost too many moments to say farewell – often with tears, hugs, and small gifts exchanged.

With our European friends, there is a real energy to ensure we keep the friendship ties strong in the coming years and door open to be one day welcomed back. There were beautiful memes and messages carrying the hashtag #LeaveALightOn and #SeeYouSoon.

Terry Reintke, a German Green MEP, said:

“Friday night will be a sad night for millions of Europeans. There is a call to light a candle in your window during the night:

“A light for continued friendship.
“A light for our common home Europe.
“A light for a common future.

“I will join and show my solidarity.”

The UK Green MEPs returned the gesture with a bit of adapted Shakespearean rhyme. Here is a sample:

Molly

The time has come to say goodbye to you,

Our eyes are full, our hearts are torn in two;

But this is not “Goodbye” but “See you soon!”.

For Auld Lang Syne we’ll sing a happy tune

Gina

Stay friends! I do not want to say farewell!

It’s far too soon, I’ve still so much to do,

So much to say, such urgent truths to tell

On Palestine, research, and fracking too.

Magid

Just hear me now! I’ve not yet had my say!

It won’t take long! We do not go away,

Into obscurity. We fight to win.

Against dark forces. Let the task begin!

Alex

I took the train from Brighton week-by-week.

I battled Brexit, sought a Green New Deal;

Equality for genders too I seek.

What next, I wonder, now that Brexit’s real?

Catherine

The East of England sent me, their first Green,

To serve a term, to put the planet first,

Seek change from planes to trains, make seas more clean

To work for human rights, where wrongs are worst.

Ellie

It gives us hope to know that you are here,

Campaigning for the values we hold dear:

For fairness, justice and equality;

Climate, nature, sustainability.

Scott

Too soon our time with you is at an end;

With heavy hearts we part this hallow’d ground.

Keep warm my seat for now my trusted friend,

Till tyranny is crushed and hope is found.

I must also say a final massive thanks to my wonderful team of staff – without them, none of this would have been possible.

Meanwhile this week…

Good:

An invitation to join a panel discussion during a public event outside the Parliament was an opportunity for me to finally launch my report What’s on the Horizon for UK Science, Research & Innovation? This report looks at the impact of EU funding on UK research and its crucial role in solving society’s greatest challenges, from the climate emergency to life-saving healthcare. We emphasised the importance of future research funding to meet these local, regional and global challenges, highlighting the huge range of projects already underway in the UK through the existing Horizon 2020 scheme, and drawing attention to the risks that Brexit poses by severing or attenuating our links with Horizon Europe.

You can download the report and read more here.

Bad:

The Green MEP delegation wrote on behalf of EU citizens, to Stephen Barclay, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. We are very concerned with how citizens are being treated. As MEPs, we have been receiving letters from distraught citizens from the EU27 since the 2016 referendum. Residents are seeing their lives being changed, with any plans they made on the basis of an existing legal situation, being undermined in a way that causes them considerable distress. In this context, the very least we can do is to provide them with the maximum level of reassurance and protection.

You can read our letter here.

Where hope lies:

In between all these events in Brussels, I also attended the North West Green Party Annual General Meeting in Whiston, and I am pleased to announce that I was elected Chair of the region. This role is something I look forward to taking on at this crucial time for the climate and our Party.

Working for the North West in this capacity gives me an opportunity to help boost the party membership and support efforts to get new councillors elected in May. It also gives me another ‘hat’, along with my position as Lancashire County Councillor and Lancaster City Councillor roles, where I will continue to promote the Green Party.

My fellow UK Green MEPs and I are going back to the UK to work tirelessly on all of the things that need to be done to turn the climate emergency into solutions for a safer, fairer and protected future.

I look forward to keeping you in touch with my work now as Lancashire County Councillor and Lancaster City Councillor.

Thank you to you all for the support I’ve had in my role as MEP!

Onwards and with continued hope, with a final send-off message to us all from our friends, The Greens, in European Parliament:

“We will keep the light on.”

Gina x

The Final North West Visit to the EU: Guest Post by Miranda Cox

Posted on 31st January 2020 by Media Team

Guest post by Miranda Cox

The Final North West Visit to the EU

A small delegation from the anti-fracking campaign in Lancashire joined our Green Party MEP, Gina Dowding and representatives from other campaigns and research groups at the European Parliament in Brussels for two days.

This visit was partially sponsored by the European Parliament as part of its outreach and education programme. This enables groups to visit, network and understand a little more. Previous visits have included a delegation of young adults. Our delegation was the last one from the North West before the UK leaves the EU.

I can honestly say that I personally had only a rudimentary understanding of the EU before our Green representatives shared the daily workings of it via social media.

The fact they initially took their seats without a withdrawal date had meant that month-to-month, they have not really known how long they could be influential. Now that withdrawal date is fast approaching and final preparations are being implemented it was a particularly interesting time for us to visit.

We arrived late on Monday and returned on Wednesday. Our time in between was full of conversation and sharing ideas as well as discovering more about the European Parliament and issues around Brexit.

At the morning session with Molly Scott Cato MEP and Gina, delegates asked questions about the potential impacts of Brexit upon the UK electorate, pondered issues around our current electoral system, the divisiveness of our adversarial Government chambers and what could be done moving forward.

It is evident that the UK MEPs feel deeply troubled by what the UK will lose in terms of working partnerships, regulatory protection and influence.

Our future isolation concerns our European friends too, who were saddened and very sympathetic.

This session was followed by a highly entertaining and illuminating presentation on the workings of the European Parliament by one of the last British civil servants to be recruited.

The Workings of EU Parliament

My main takes from this were:

The political parties form alliances based on shared beliefs and principles.
The debates are negotiations and compromises are made rather than being adversarial arguments.
26 languages are spoken.
The number of civil servants and interpreters employed is 55,000. This seems a lot but apparently the same number of civil servants are employed in Leeds alone.
The main chamber “Hemicycle” is open, light, and arranged in a semi-circle unlike Westminster debating chambers.
Voting takes place electronically and representatives are not able to filibuster (talk until time runs out) unlike in the UK Parliament.
There are over 700 representatives and smaller nations are deliberately given more MEPs so they are not dominated by counties with larger populations.

Our visit to the parliament concluded with a smaller presentation by the Metropolitan University of Manchester who explained a little about hydrogen fuel.

At the end of the day, we were very fortunate to be included in the European Green Group’s New Year reception. This was full of youthful energy and hope for the future.

The following morning we met with Terri Reintke, a German MEP to discuss how we continue to maintain partnerships, exchanges and a level of communication after Brexit. We discussed cultural exchanges, friendship groups and information sharing.

Gina took us to her office, where I sadly noted the cardboard boxes ready to be packed. We briefly met Scott Ainslie a London MEP, who promised to take inspiration from us northern activists and we also saw reminders of the three-year campaign near Blackpool at Preston New Road in the Nana blanket hanging on the wall and campaign photos dotted across tables.

The End of an Era

What struck me as I walked around the parliament was that the energy was palpable. The architecture encouraged debate. There were lots of seating areas, open cafe spaces and meeting zones.

There was no sense of entitlement and the elected representatives were indistinguishable from visitors and staff. There appeared to be a real equitable nature.

Modern art nestled amongst photographs of leaders and everywhere there were views looking out to the world beyond the offices.

I personally felt very privileged to have been given this opportunity. I feel the enormity of the task ahead and therefore face the 31^st of this month with trepidation.

I believe this country has slammed the door on a system it does not understand and will regret doing so. I believe we are depleted economically and culturally as a result and fear the coming isolation will cast us into deeper internal conflict, division and inequality.

New Year, Green Projects & EU Citizens

Posted on 12th January 2020 by Media Team

Happy New Year greetings to everyone. I won’t pretend that it’s not a little difficult to be happy about the UK leaving the EU at the end of this month or the general state of our politics. More another time about the dire need for proportional representation to ensure a fairer democracy, something which I will be looking to campaign on. For now though, I am coming to the end of what has been a wonderful and productive experience as Green MEP for the North West. However, I have a lot to complete both in the NW region and in EU Parliament – with the help of my fantastic staff, as we ensure we maximise our impact before the end of January and try to leave a positive legacy.

Looking Ahead

Transport

We will launch our detailed report on sustainable and active transport in the North West on Friday 24 January in Lancaster. This report follows up on the Green New Deal in the North West report, with more detail about the challenges and mechanisms for ensuring investment in transforming our public and active transport systems in the region.

Research and Innovation

The future of research and innovation funding…particularly as we will now no longer be a full member of the Horizon Europe research funding programme within the EU.

We have a report coming out imminently on this and I will also be following this up with an event in the European Parliament on Wednesday 22 January about the importance of research and innovation in meeting our climate targets and the policies described in the European Green Deal – the European commission’s first attempt to introduce such a concept (good news). With a range of policies across the board, as Greens we are not totally convinced that the proposals are deep enough or bold enough.

The Occupied Palestinian Territories

During my last week, not only will I finally publish a report on the occupied Palestinian territories using some of the information I gathered during my visit there in August and the numerous initiatives within the European Parliament, I will also be hosting an event in the Parliament looking at how trade in goods from the occupied Palestinian territories can be properly regulated according to the principles of international law.

The Green New Deal Presentation at Steady State Manchester

Just three days after the election, one of my MEP office team members, Laurence Adams, who was the key researcher behind our Green New Deal for the North West report spoke at a ‘Green New Deals and Greater Manchester’ event hosted by Steady State Manchester, a group working to promote alternative approaches to economic development that respects planetary limits.

Laurence gave a short presentation of our report, outlining what the challenges are in our region and how a Green New Deal of the kind put forward by the Green Party could be transformational. In particular, we made the point that we must work hard to retain ownership of the principles of a ‘Green New Deal’, which are at risk of becoming watered-down. It is fundamental to the Greens’ model that any Green New Deal worthy of the term must meet the six key principles we set out in our report:

-Recognising the Emergency
-Making a Fair Contribution
-Ensuring a Just Transition
-Investing Public Money for Public Goods
-Localising Democracy
-Rethinking Measures of Success.

A local member of Labour for a Green New Deal was also due to attend and put forward Labour’s position, but after the dire election result, was still too crestfallen to attend.

EU Citizenship

As the true impacts of Brexit unfold, one bad news story at a time, it is important that we pay close attention to what’s being offered. We’ve had much correspondence about the issue of ‘Associate EU Citizenship’ and my fellow MEP, Ellie Chowns has put together the following important information:

We continue to believe that the UK is best placed within the EU in terms of our economic interests, strong environmental and social standards and, of course, the benefits of freedom of movement. The proposal of associate EU citizenship is, therefore, at first glance, an undeniably attractive proposal for those of us who wish to stay a part of the European project and retain the rights we have long enjoyed as its citizens.

Associate citizenship isn’t a formal proposal. Charles Goerens, a Luxembourgish MEP, first proposed this amendment to a report on possible future changes to the EU treaties by the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) in the European Parliament. This was not a legislative report and could not create the status of associate citizenship by itself, and the proposal was ultimately withdrawn prior to the vote with Mr Goerens issuing this explanation on social media.

So far it has been agreed amongst legal experts that to achieve associate citizenship for the UK would require a treaty amendment agreed to by all remaining 27 EU member countries, and then ratified by their national parliaments or by referendum. Unfortunately, this would take a long period of time and is unlikely to happen, and while we support freedom of movement, this right must be reciprocal and enshrined for both Britons and Europeans. In this respect, associate citizenship would discriminate against Europeans.

My Greens/EFA colleague, Jill Evans, commissioned researchers at Swansea University to explore this associate citizenship question and the House of Commons library published legal opinions on EU citizenship that is online here.

Despite the strict legal issues, remaining open to the idea of an associate citizenship, if anything, sends a clear message to the UK government that citizens want to be empowered and remain part of the EU.

I’m keeping a watching eye on this – among all the other Brexit-related developments!

Here’s a link to the GreenWave Voxbox, where we discuss citizen rights post-Brexit with other MEPs.

Meanwhile this week

Good

It is good to see this progressing and to have to opportunity to sign the declaration before my role here ends:

“The Intergroup on Welfare and Conservation of Animals launched DECLARATION ON A TRANSITION TO NON-ANIMAL SCIENCE calling on the EU Commission to establish a concrete strategy to phase out the use of animals in areas of research, education and testing.”

With more than 200,000 animals used each year in the EU for the primary purpose of education and training, this initiative will have a huge impact for good.

The link to the declaration can be found here.

Bad

You couldn’t make it up, but then again:

“Counter-terrorism police placed the non-violent group Extinction Rebellion (XR) on a list of extremist ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent programme, which aims to catch those at risk of committing atrocities.

“XR featured alongside threats to national security such as neo-Nazi terrorism and a pro-terrorist Islamist group. The guide, aimed at police officers, government organisations and teachers who by law have to report concerns about radicalisation, was dated last November.”

This article, discovered by The Guardian, is dark and threatening to those who are simply campaigning to protect the life, nature and the environment and I am certain will be challenged. I agree with my colleague Molly Scott Cato MEP who said this is:

“A sign of a state out of control and failing democratic standards.”

Where hope lies

Localism!

I am being asked a lot about what I will do after the end of January.

I have of course kept both of my local councillor roles on at Lancaster City and Lancashire County Council during the last seven months, and will return to them with renewed determination (and I believe, support) to ensure local action by our councils on the climate emergency. As the MEP office, we will be producing a short report on good practice so far in the regions – and I have no doubt that people support local low and zero-carbon initiatives which can also transform our local economies, adding to the quality of daily life. Better public transport and support for active travel, more local services, expanding and promoting biodiversity in our public green spaces and supporting community initiatives just as a start.

I am sure many of us will be turning to the well established Green truism for creating a better future: “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

But first, this coming week will be my last visit to Strasbourg and the formal plenary of the Parliament and there is lots on the agenda I will be participating in.

Onwards

Endings, Visits & Injustice

Posted on 20th December 2019 by Media Team

Mood change

The mood has, of course, changed in Europe now, the sense of an impending end and unclear view of what the next stage of our relationship with the EU will be. There was a feeling of gloom amongst UK MEPs (except of course the Brexit group) that we could see on the faces of our Green colleagues and those of all the parties. It’s absolutely clear that across the Parliament over the last four decades, UK MEPs have been highly valued for their contribution and what they bring to the Parliament. And I would say amongst those, the Greens are held in particularly high esteem.

The demands of the job, however, go on, and the vital work of the European Parliament continues. This week, a group of visitors from the North West (the fourth visit I’ve arranged) went to Strasbourg. Discussions touched on the UK elections, but much of the time, my work was around international affairs.

Speaking on Brexit

In the European Parliament plenary, I was given speaking time to discuss the UK general election result and Brexit. My speech is below but I also want to quote first, the remarks of European President, Ursula von der Leyen:

She warned that a cliff-edge Brexit at the end of 2020 will hurt the UK more than the EU as she laid out her intentions to “make the most” out of the “extremely challenging” 11 months available to strike a trade deal.

“In case we cannot conclude an agreement by the end of 2020 we will face again a cliff-edge situation and this would clearly harm our interests but it will impact the UK more than us as the EU will continue benefiting from its single market its customs union and the 70 international agreements we signed with our partners – but it’s clearly not in our interest.”

Von der Leyen said she would not miss the Brexit party MEPs, as they heckled her speech, but she offered her condolence to those parties who had campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU.

“If I look at our very brave remain MEPs I can only say, I’m sorry, we will miss you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for having been at our side. We will never miss those who scream and yell.”

My speech:

Thank you Madam Chair,

Sadly, for all of us who think the European Union offers the best future for the UK and the rest of Europe, we now have to face the reality of Brexit.

Last week the European Council reiterated its commitment to a level playing field in standards and regulations in trade between the EU and the UK, but the new UK government already threatens to break its commitments.

We now have a serious risk to workers’ rights and environmental protections, to parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals, and therefore, a risk again of the possibility of a no-deal Brexit at the end of next year.

This parliament, elected on proportional representation, demonstrates of all that can be achieved by nations working together in co-operation, representing citizens against global corporate business interests; and in confronting the global challenges of climate change, social injustice and the ecological crisis.

Citizens of Europe look to their governments to protect them against the vested interest of financial and property millionaires, and corporate power.

Many of us in the UK will continue to look to the best in the EU to overcome those challenges.

Visitors to EU Parliament from the North West

We are trying to make sure that more North West constituents get the chance to experience the EU institutions, albeit at a very sad time, as we know we are leaving. This is the fourth visit my team and I have arranged since taking office and every visit has been such an amazing experience.

On Wednesday, we welcomed a sponsored visitor group from the North-West region to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. We originally were due to host around 25 visitors, but due to strike action in France, the final number of participants was 12. The ones who made it had to endure a tough journey to get there, and we hope the ones who could not make it will have a chance in January before we leave.

The day began with an opportunity for the visitors to meet some Green MEPs, hear a bit about their work and ask them questions. We were lucky to have MEPs Molly Scott Cato, Terry Reintke and Ellie Chowns, who took time out of their busy schedule to meet the visitor group of Green and Remain activists.

All the MEPs spoke of their profound sadness at the prospect of the UK leaving the EU. Molly outlined her disappointment in not being able to continue her work on important projects going forward, such as Green financing and the European Green Deal. Terry, who is a German MEP, gave a passionate account of her love for the UK and her difficulty in coming to terms with the UK leaving. She told visitors that after the election result on Friday, she moved fast to set up a Friends of Britain group in the Parliament, made up of MEPs willing to continue their relationship with the UK going forward. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with a huge number of MEPs from all over Europe having already signed up. Ellie, in explaining how she went from a university lecturer to MEP, was also able to uplift the mood by encouraging people to get involved in Green politics at the local level because it is possible to make a difference. I would like to wholeheartedly thank all of my amazing and inspirational colleagues for taking the time to meet our visitors.

After the session, the group went inside the Plenary, where they watched my speech in the hemicycle on Brexit. I was pleased they got a chance to see the plenary in action, although sadly, Nigel Farage spoke shortly after myself so visitors were unable to see first-hand, the carry-on pantomime that is usually performed by the Brexit Party MEPs at every plenary session. Afterwards, I was able to speak to our visitors, where I outlined my work in Parliament and answered questions.

To conclude, there was also a talk by the visitor centre staff on the history of the EU and the Parliament.

When I spoke to the visitors at the end of the day, you could feel a general sadness they felt in leaving behind an institution that they firmly believe can offer them the best future.

However, there were also little moments of hope – particularly the sense of solidarity from our European friends and the confirmation that there will be a collaborative relationship in the future between the UK and the EU. If there is anything we should not do, is lose hope.

We are not alone!

Palestine & Israel

This week, I attended a meeting of both delegations for relations with Israel and relations with Palestine.

The focus at the Palestine meeting centred around how to ensure that the EU member states only import correctly labelled products from the illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. And while the Greens are calling for a total ban on these products, the EU position, recently reinforced by the European Court of Justice decision, is that products should be labelled so that the consumer knows the province.

We heard from specialist speakers that a recent survey showed only 10 per cent of wines sold by online sales from EU outlets and produced within illegal settlements, are correctly labelled as such. Wines are the one sector that is relatively easy to monitor, so these findings understate the problem. Ethical issues are clear: a third of settlement vineyards are based on private Palestinian land (confiscated land). Palestinian agricultural areas have decreased by one third in recent years.

Meanwhile this week…

Good

Although we will be leaving on the 31 of January, I aim to do and achieve as much as I can until then. There has been much interest in the future role of hydrogen and in my role on the Industry, Research and Energy Committee. I am planning a workshop in the European Parliament to make an impact on both the Green groups and Parliament’s views on hydrogen. In our report on The Green New Deal in the North West, we highlighted the potential role hydrogen technology will play a key role in the transition of some sectors, but it is essential we underline that it must be fully renewables-based hydrogen.

Bad

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning a new Russian law this week. This new law forces an individual who distributes information on the internet and receives money from any foreign source, to brand him or herself as a “foreign agent”.

This is the latest attempt of the Russian government to prevent journalists from doing their job; hindering independent and investigative journalism from scrutinising those in power.

Russia’s efforts to interfere with the media also concerns the UK. Propaganda and disinformation is a serious threat to our democracy and it’s becoming clear how systemic Russian efforts to influence democracies are.

After last week’s elections, Putin and his cronies have a new ally in Downing Street. Until recently, Boris Johnson blocked the publication of the report into Russian interference in UK politics; only clearing it for release after voters can no longer hold him accountable.

The Tories also deceived voters through online ads featuring outright lies and disinformation, while also setting up accounts such as “Factcheck UK” to mislead voters.

Like Putin, this is just another way of preventing journalists from scrutinising those in power. Another way of withholding information from the public to mislead voters. Another way to gain supporters and demonise opposition by spreading lies.

With the Tory party cosying up to Russian methods of misleading voters, it is becoming clear that Boris Johnson is a threat to our democracy. Spreading hate and lies to gain and keep political power and pulling our country apart in the process.

In the coming years, we will have to fight the government’s lies. We will have to hold them and the media accountable. Fighting for independent and critical journalism that is not a mouthpiece for the Downing Street spin machine. That is the only way to fix our broken democracy.

Where hope lies

It’s a mixed ‘where hope lies’ this week, tinged with optimism in a sad situation. This week saw the awarding of the Sakharov Prize to Ilham Tohti. His daughter, Jewher Ilam, received the prize in his stead, due to his imprisonment. She hasn’t heard from her father since 2017 and has no information from authorities about him whatsoever.

Ilham is a renowned Uyghur human rights defender, economics professor and advocate of the rights of China’s Uyghur ‘minority’ population. He is currently serving a life sentence in prison for his activism following a two-day show trial in 2014. Millions of Uyghur are forced into and held in so-called ‘re-education centres.’, which are huge concentration camps in China.

This prize though is so valued by human rights defenders as it helps shine a much needed international light on their plights and protect them for further human rights abuses. Ilham’s daughter works tirelessly on his behalf, in fear also for her freedom and that of her family but carrying on because to raise the profile of the Uyghur people, is their only hope.

Our Greens/EFA coordinator of foreign affairs in the European Parliament, one of the proposers for this years prize, said:

“The Uyghur are suffering from the worst police state that exists in the globe today.”

It was humbling to meet Jewher and witness her bravery and honour; she is an example of the importance of citizens continuing to fight injustice whether that’s against authoritarian governments or the interests of corporate big business. The hope is in those who fight on regardless of the risks they personally face or the sacrifices.

Onwards

A European Green Deal

Posted on 11th December 2019 by Media Team

The European Commission has finally, and historically, placed the European Green Deal as a core strategy on their 2019-2024 political guidelines. Ursula von Der Leyen, the new Commission President, should be commended for finally putting forward as a key priority the foundations of a plan to tackle climate change. We, of course, were not expecting a detailed plan after two weeks in office – although such a plan is direly needed. Now is the time to take this outline of a green deal and make it into a credible and tangible reality.

From a European Greens/EFA perspective, the group’s key overall messages will be the major criteria against which the group are going to evaluate the Commission’s proposals:

The objectives of the Green Deal must not only be in line with the 1.5°C global warming target; it must be about respecting all planetary boundaries;
The Green Deal must ensure policy coherence. There should be climate/biodiversity/resource-proofing of all policies, including with the CAP and trade policies;
Climate action must go hand-in-hand with the reduction of inequalities;
GND needs a green financial system, rather than just some greening of parts of finance.

The line of thinking is the right one, although of course, these points are just a general thematic overview that should underwrite our approach to the Green Deal. The practical reality must ensure our transition to a more sustainable society with some concrete measures that will rapidly propel us to a zero-carbon, nature-friendly economy, create thousands of jobs, improve health and tackle inequality.

These ideas were included in my report The Green New Deal in the North West, and in concrete terms, we identified areas where a Green New Deal can force much-needed change. The report addresses five key areas:

Renewable energy supply
Energy-efficient buildings
Sustainable transport
A zero-carbon, circular economy
Land use, food and biodiversity

So how do we help the European Commission maintain a focus on these areas? We need to provide tangible solutions with frameworks like The Green New Deal in the North West, that prioritise human and environmental sustainability at the local level, and make them a success story. This model can be replicated on the international stage in institutions like the EU to give our solutions the widest reach.

There is no doubt that some issues will require local solutions, and others will need coordinated efforts with our European partners. The difficulty lies in finding the right balance between local, bottom-up solutions and international standards that need to be regulated for the greater good.

In the EU, energy production and use, including the energy used in transport, account for some 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The five key areas covered in my report would allow us to tackle the bulk of emissions in the EU, as well as in North West England.

Let’s take energy, for example. We urgently need a rapid transition to a smart, zero-carbon energy system and halt all future fossil fuel developments. It is also a reality that many communities rely on the jobs provided by the energy sector. The focus in the Green Deal should be on investing in these people, rather than leaving them behind, and give them the opportunity to re-train in green industries or work in environmental restoration schemes – a policy already implemented by the Spanish government in 2018.

By keeping the focus on people, policies such as improving the energy efficiency of building stock can be a strong way of tackling the climate emergency, while at the same time delivering social justice for those who are affected by fuel poverty. Furthermore, improving energy efficiency can help our public institutions make substantial financial savings as well as in the case of hospitals, speed up patient recovery times. These kinds of societal changes will benefit our communities and leave no one behind.

Policies to be implemented at the EU level, are also needed.

The most important of which is the reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Firstly, decreasing the number of free allowances in the ETS and secondly, increase the pace of removing emission allowances from the system (which will lead to a higher price on emissions and a faster decrease in emissions).

Secondly, we need to introduce a Border Carbon Adjustment mechanism (in other words, a carbon border tariff) to avoid carbon leakages with companies who manage to avoid climate regulation and paying for their emissions.

And lastly, introducing a kerosene tax. Airlines should pay energy and fuel taxes like everyone else, and we have to tackle airline emissions, a sector where emissions are still growing significantly.

The Green Deal needs to not aim only at ‘hard policies’ that incentivise the rollout of renewable energy systems and increase the cost of emissions. We also need ‘soft policies’ that change the way we consume, live and travel without putting the responsibility of those changes on individuals – particularly the poorest. For example, making it easy for people to choose public transport over their car, expanding cycling infrastructure to make cycling less dangerous and more accessible. In other words, policies should also aim to encourage new, positive types of behaviour.

That is where we will be able to test the real ambition of political leaders.

Going forward as Greens, we should take a demanding but constructive approach. At this early stage, simply criticising the Commission for not being bold or concrete enough will prove to be counterproductive. We need to ensure that a firm but collaborative approach is what will get the key Greens/EFA demands for the European Green Deal on the table.

These are baby steps, but adequate ones if we want to act and save the future of young people and the planet.