Corona, Ukraine, the Middle East, climate change - global crises are having a massive impact on young people. According to the new COPSY study, although mental health has improved since the pandemic, it is still worse than before. One in five young people report a reduced quality of life, anxiety or mental health problems. Especially...
Following a final round of talks with high-ranking representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today announced the conclusion of the Mercosur free trade agreement. However, the final word has not yet been spoken: following today's agreement, the treaty still has to be approved by the Council with a qualified majority of...
Are drilling plans in breach of EU law? MEP Manuela Ripa (ÖDP): EU Commission must take a close look at protected karst landscape in Saxony-Anhalt (Picture by Stefan Röhl) Manuela Ripa, ÖDP Member of the European Parliament, has submitted a question to the European Parliament about planned test drilling by a gypsum processing company in an area protected by EU law in the southern Harz...
After the European Parliament was unable to agree on strengthening the protection of non-smokers last week in Strasbourg, the Council of EU Health Ministers has now supported the Commission's proposal to extend the smoking ban to heavily frequented outdoor areas such as train platforms, bus stops, in front of schools or restaurants.Tobacco smoke and the vapor...
Together with Friends of the Earth Europe, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, the European Environmental Bureau, the European Youth Forum and Beyond Growth Europe, I organized today a first exchange in the EP on the question: How can we stay within planetary boundaries through our economic system?
After the Strasbourg week, I had some appointments in Saarbrücken, and I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Santen from Saarland University, with whom I was able to talk about the situation of the university, European funding projects and the current situation of the Saarbrücken city forest, as well as Jens Schmitt, Managing Director...
I was very pleased to meet with Michael Schmaus, Saarland's Commissioner for Disability Issues, at the European Parliament last week, where we discussed disability policy issues, in particular accessibility.
The European Parliament in Strasbourg today confirmed the 26 EU Commissioners around Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with 370 votes in favor, 282 against and 36 abstentions. This means that the new EU Commission can take up its work on December 1. Their mandate runs until 2029. Manuela Ripa, MEP for the...
On today's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I would like to stand up for us women worldwide. On the occasion of the murder of the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered in 1960 for their resistance against oppression, we remember the suffering of women who are still...
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...