NI (Non-attached Member)

28-11-2011 EUs policy on biofuels questioned by MEPs

On behalf of the DEVE committee, Michèle Striffler (EPP) posed a question to the Commission on the EU biomass policy and its impact on development. Referring to the targets for renewable energy that the EU has set to have by 2020 a 20% share of energy from renewable sources in the EU final consumption of energy and a 10 % share of energy from renewable sources in each Member States transport energy consumption, she expresses her concerns on the possible negative environmental impacts of these targets, like deforestation. She therefore asks the Commissions what measures will be taken to ensure sustainable biomass production, to protect forests and to prevent negative climate, environmental and social impacts from the use and production of biomass for energy. Read more »

12-05-2011 Raw Materials and transparency hot topic among various MEPs

The Raw Materials Initiative set up in 2008 leads to many discussion and questions among MEPs. In the first place this initiative could lock resource-rich developing countries in a situation where they have no choice but to remain net exporters of raw materials, instead of being given the chance to develop their own downstream industries and move up the value chain. This outcome conflicts sharply with EU developments objectives, as to better integrate developing countries on the world market. In the second place, the raw material industry is subject to many financial scandals. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Griffin asks Commission about Mode 4 in trade negotiations with India

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nick Griffin (NI) asked a question to the European Commission whether in the trade negotiations with India the Mode 4 has been discussed. This is part of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and specifies the movement of persons across borders for the purpose of supplying services. This would create a new way for temporary labour migrants coming from third countries as part of trade agreements instead of immigration policies. Nick Griffin points out that if Mode 4 has been discussed, this has been done in secrecy and the question is raised why. Moreover, he asked what the consequences will be for the labourers and their rights under this new policy. Read more »

17-06-2010 EU Policy Coherence for MDGs

The parliamentary report by MEP Michael Cashman (S&D) on progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): mid-term review in preparation of the UN high-level meeting in September 2010 was adopted in Plenary on the 15th of June, 2010. In this report the DEVE Committee highlights that policy coherence for development (PCD) is one of the tools for making progress towards the MDGs. Read more »

14-12-2009 The Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement

The Cotonou Agreement which was signed in June 2000, between the African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) Countries (most of them former colonies of Europe) introduced some radical changes in the past ACP-EU cooperation. The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) were one of those changes. Within these partnership agreements there are incoherencies with the EU development policy that are harming the development process of third countries (see case study). Article 95 of the Agreements states that the agreements itself needs to be reviewed every five years. Therefore the European institutions, including the parliament have been giving their opinions on the matter. Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Eva Joly, chairwoman of the Development Committee (DEVE), was responsible for drafting the report titled "the second revision of the Partnership Agreement ACP-EU." Read more »

26-10-2009 Ehrenhauser asks critical questions concerning raw materials & development (funds)

MEP Martin Ehrenhauser (NI) asks the Commission for clarification of the use of European Development Funds in investment projects of the European Investment Bank in developing countries mining sector. Read more »