As a member of the Mercosur delegation, I am watching the developments surrounding a free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries with great concern. It seems that the agreement is close to being finalized, but in the current situation I do not consider such an agreement to be sustainable...
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has condemned Germany for failing to adequately protect certain species-rich meadows, including lowland and mountain meadows. According to the ruling, these habitats are in an "unfavorable" conservation status and are increasingly being destroyed by unsustainable agricultural practices. If Germany does not improve the situation soon,...
Majority in the European Parliament votes in favor of delaying and watering down the EU deforestation regulation EUDR. A majority of conservatives, right-wingers and liberals took the axe to the EU deforestation law EUDR in Brussels on Thursday. Not only will the law now be delayed by at least a year, but it will also be watered down by the introduction of...
The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) began yesterday in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a focus on climate finance and the setting of a new collective quantified target (NCQG) for climate finance to replace the previous target of 100 billion US dollars per year.significantly more money and a more consistent implementation of the climate...
Günther Brendle-Behnisch from Ansbach is the new Federal Chairman of the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP). This was decided by the ÖDP at its 63rd federal party conference in Gersfeld/Rhön (Hesse) at the weekend as part of the election of a new federal executive committee. Manuela Ripa, Member of the European Parliament for the ÖDP, is now also a member of the Federal Executive Committee. "In order to...
To mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law and the European elections in 2024, the German Embassy in Brussels organized a workshop for schoolchildren on the topic: Democracy - what's it to us? Together with Martin Kotthaus, the German ambassador to Belgium, and...
On the occasion of the hearing of the Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, the Animal Welfare Group of the European Parliament organized an exhibition together with the animal welfare organizations GAIA and the Eurogroup for Animals. In this context, we also presented the Commissioner's tasks in the field of animal welfare in the form of a letter...
Donald Trump's re-election as President of the United States of America is pushing democracy in the USA to its limits. Trump has already shown in his first term how little he respects independent institutions and the political system. Now, in a second term in office, he will be even more...
Hearing of the new e-Commissioners From November 4 to 12, 2024, the hearings of the designated EU Commissioners will take place in the European Parliament. We will ask the candidates questions about their suitability. Only when the Parliament gives its OK can the Commission begin its work....
This week was the European Parliament's constituency week and I had appointments in Saarland, including a meeting with the Lord Mayor of Saarbrücken, Uwe Conradt, where we agreed that we need to strengthen border regions like Saarland! I was also very pleased to receive the book about my...