Green MEPs welcome European Parliament vote on Green Deal

Ireland’s Green MEPs Ciarán Cuffe and Grace O’Sullivan today welcomed the European Parliament’s vote to endorse a Greens/ EFA-initiated resolution to strengthen the European Green Deal. The deal, presented by new President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament in December, sets out the Commission’s plans for a green transition. 

The Irish MEPs, along with their Greens/EFA group in the Parliament have been calling for an ambitious Green Deal for Europe that will take the radical action needed to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies and improve the lives of Europeans.  Today’s resolution calls for the Commission to be more ambitious in a number of areas relating to climate action and a just transition. 

Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe said: “Back in December, myself and my Green colleagues gave a cautious welcome to the European Green Deal set out by Ursula von der Leyen. But we cautioned then that the Commission would need to be even more ambitious in its goals if this deal is to make the impact required. 

“Today, a majority of MEPs have voted in favour of a cross-party resolution on the European Green Deal. Our resolution pushes the Commission to be even more ambitious in its approach to tackling our climate and biodiversity crises, and in ensuring that the transition from carbon is a just one that leaves no one behind. We have included demands for more biodiversity protection, more climate financing and a more social approach to tackling the climate crisis. 

“As the General Election campaign kicks off back in Ireland, this is the sort of ambition that we need to bring to bear on our own efforts to drastically reduce our emissions in the coming decade” 

Green MEP for Ireland South, Grace O’Sullivan said: “As I said back in December, the  European Green Deal has to be nothing less than transformational if we are to succeed in mitigating the worst impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises. 

“A real Green Deal needs to encompass much more than only climate and environmental protection. At its heart it must be about people, and true social transformation, whilst also tackling inequality. The Green Deal will only succeed if the EU and its Member States, including of course, Ireland, embrace an economic system that leads to equal opportunities and adequate social security for all, rather than greater wealth for the few.”

Following pressure from the Greens/EFA,The European Parliament backed calls for stronger and binding sustainability rules in European trade policy, a complete phase out of free emissions allowances for the aviation sector, a re-assessment of the proposed reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy, and that more public financing will be needed to achieve the objectives of the Green Deal.

For further details or interview requests contact Jacqui Corcoran | Strategy & Communications Advisor | Office of Grace O’Sullivan MEP | Mob +353 87 2932271 I jacquimcorcoran@gmail.com