On this page, you will find the latest news, speeches, and talks.
(With a few exceptions, most of them are written in German.)
On December 18, 2024, the Federal Constitutional Court dismissed the ÖDP's lawsuit against the high signature hurdles for admission to the Bundestag elections! Anyone who excludes democrats from elections should not be surprised when opponents of democracy take their place! We are continuing to collect signatures in order to stand in the upcoming early federal election...
From 9 to 15 December 2024, the European Parliament is organizing the fifth European Gender Equality Week, with this year's theme being the safety and empowerment of women in the digital world. The focus is on the opportunities and challenges that women face online. Unfortunately, the topic of gender equality is often...
How are SMEs in the Greater Region and in Europe doing? I spoke about this yesterday with other MEPs from the Greater Region at the event "Transformation in craft businesses in the Greater Region: SMEs need clear signals from EU policy!". The discussion was organized by the Interregional Council of...
It was a pleasure to meet with NABU, BUND, DUH, Germanwatch, Tierschutzbund, Verband der deutschen Höhlen- und Karstforscher, Client Earth and the Deutsche Meeresstiftung today, and thank you for the informative exchange! ...
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...