The European Parliament

What exactly is the European Parliament?

The Parliament of the European Union consists of members that are elected every 5 years by the citizens of the EU. The MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) belong to political parties. In the European Parliament, the parties form parliamentary groups in which they can work together to achieve their goals and interests. There are currently seven parliamentary groups. The German SPD, for example, is part of the “Progressive Alliance of Social Democrats (S&D)” group, which also includes social democratic parties from other EU countries. If MEPs cannot identify with a certain parliamentary group, they remain their own group called cross-benchers.

Hard Facts

European election:
The Parliament of the European Union gets electedevery 5 years!

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs):
705 MEPs from the 27 member states

Composition:
7 parliamentary groups

President:
Roberta Metsola (since January 2022)

What does the European Parliament do?

Legislation:
The EU Parliament shares responsibility for European legislation. While it cannot make its own legislative proposals (these come from the European Commission), it discusses and votes on the Commission’s proposals.

Committees:
In order not to have to be experts on all issues, MEPs focus on individual topics and meet in committees. For example, in the committee dealing with questions on the topic of Environment all MEP’s who specialize in these issues meet.

What else?
Together with the Council of Ministers, the EU Parliament additionally determines the EU budget and controls the work of the EU Commission.

Find out what your group’s positions are regarding the environment and climate!

Open the position paper and take notes!

Did you know…

…that the Parliament of the European Union is the only political organ on a European scale that is elected directly by the citizens of the European Union?

Did you know…

…that on a European scale only the Commission of the European Union is allowed to initiate proposals for legislation and start the legislation process? This is called right of initiative.

United European Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)

Who am I?

You are a member of the left group, which includes representatives of various socialist and communist parties. Your goal is to develop an alternative social and political model to capitalism. This should be implemented jointly at the European level.

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

You rely on an europe-wide cooperation in climate and environmental policy. The entire EU must overcome capitalism, which, with its constant economic growth, entails ever greater consumption of resources. If this development is stopped, the climate and the environment can be saved!

What does that mean exactly?

Immediate energy transition!
You demand an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies (= no more financial support) and a consistent coal and nuclear drop-out by all EU member states. To ensure that the energy supply can still be guaranteed, the development and expansion of renewable energies must be financially supported by the EU and by all member states.

Push forward the transport revolution!
All mobility in the EU must become CO2-neutral as quickly as possible. This requires generous investments. On the one hand, research into new technologies must be funded. On the other hand, the expansion of sustainable mobility, e.g. e-cars and Europe-wide train connections, should be subsidized.

Circular economy instead of wasting resources!
You want to establish a circular economy based on reuse, maintenance, repair and recycling of products. However, it is not the member states and its citizens but the large companies that are to be obliged to introduce a circular economy!

Rethinking agriculture!
The use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers must be banned because they destroy our soils and poison the groundwater! For this we need binding laws instead of a voluntary obligation of the farmers.

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and keep them ready for the discussion!

Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)

Who am I?

You are a member of the Socialist Group and you see an urgent need for reform in European climate and environmental policy. In your opinion, there must be a Green Deal that includes binding goals for all EU member states.

What are your goals for climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

You rely on European cooperation in climate and environmental policy. The entire EU must overcome capitalism, which, with its constant economic growth, entails ever greater consumption of resources. If this development is stopped, the climate and the environment can be saved!

What does this mean exactly?

Drive forward the energy transition!
You demand an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies (= no more financial support) and a consistent coal and nuclear drop-out by all member states. To ensure that the energy supply can still be guaranteed, the development and expansion of renewable energies must be financially supported by the EU and by all member states.

Invest in emission-free mobility!
All mobility in the EU must become CO2-neutral as quickly as possible. You are therefore calling for generous investments so that new, climate-neutral technologies for individual transport can be developed. However, you would only support a ban on climate-damaging vehicles when every EU citizen can afford to switch to sustainable alternatives.

Circular economy instead of waste of resources!
The throwaway economy of the EU must be put to an end! You want to establish a circular economy with EU-wide rules that focus on reuse, maintenance, repair and recycling.

No requirements for agriculture!
The use of fertilizers and pesticides must not be banned! It is bad for the environment, but a ban would disproportionately increase bureaucracy (= administration) in the EU. You are counting on agriculture to voluntarily reduce the use of environmentally harmful substances!

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!

The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)

Who am I?

You are a MEP from the Green Group who advocates a lot of communication among the members of the EU. You want to strengthen not only economic, but also social, cultural and especially ecological cooperation on EU level. You are calling for EU-wide, binding regulations!

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

The EU has rightfully declared a climate emergency ! The overriding goal of all EU decisions must therefore be to stop climate change. All EU member states should commit to this goal.

What does that mean exactly?

Immediate energy transition!
You demand an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies (= no more financial support) and a consistent coal and nuclear drop-out by all EU nations. To ensure that the energy supply can still be guaranteed, the development and expansion of renewable energies must be financially supported by the EU and by all member states.

Advance the traffic turnaround!
All mobility in the EU must become CO2-neutral as quickly as possible. This requires generous investments. On the one hand, research into new technologies must be funded. On the other hand, the expansion of sustainable mobility, e.g. e-cars and Europe-wide train connections, should be subsidized.

Circular economy instead of waste of resources!
The throwaway economy of the EU must be put to an end! You want to establish a circular economy with EU-wide rules that focuses on reuse, maintenance, repair and recycling of products.

Rethinking agriculture!
The use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers must be banned because they destroy our soils and poison the groundwater! For this we need binding laws instead of a voluntary commitment of the farmers.

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and keep them ready for the discussion!

Renew Europe

Who am I?

You are a member of the liberal group. You are fully committed to the EU and want to continue to support its enlargement. However, you believe that best solution to many problems contains the greatest possible voluntarism in all matters, and therefore few to none binding rules.

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

You believe that there is a climate and environmental crisis that must be stopped. However, not by implementing bans and restrictions, but by creating financial incentives. You call for little government intervention and rely on the mechanisms of a free market.

What does that mean exactly?

Invest in the energy transition!
You rely on generous investments! Both the EU and the individual member states should spend a lot of money in the future on the development and expansion of renewable energies. However, you reject bans on climate-damaging energy, as this would damage the EU’s economic viability.

Sustainable mobility through market incentives!
Regarding the switch to CO2-neutral mobility, you are against a policy of bans. Instead of banning climate-damaging vehicles, the development and spread of sustainable mobility should be financially supported by the EU. The EU should become the market leader in climate-neutral mobility!

Less waste, without any regulations!
The waste produced in the EU must be reduced! This can be achieved by investing money in research into recycling systems. As soon as recycling is economically viable for companies, they will voluntarily switch to it!

No requirements for agriculture!
The use of fertilizers and pesticides must not be banned! It is bad for the environment, but a ban would disproportionately increase bureaucracy (= administration) in the EU. You are counting on agriculture to voluntarily reduce the use of environmentally harmful substances!

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!

European People’s Party (EPP)

Who am I?

You are a MEP of the civic group. Currently your group is the strongest force in the European Parliament. Generally you are very positive about consistent rules on EU level. But that only applies as long as these do not jeopardize the economic power of the EU.

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

You are committed to a healthy mix of ambitious climate protection and maintaining European competitiveness. You only support the shift to a sustainable, climate and environmental friendly policy if this boosts the economy and does not lead to a deterioration in our common life- standards.

What does that mean exactly?

Investing in the energy transition!
You rely on generous investments! Both the EU and the individual member states will spend a lot of money in the future on the development and expansion of renewable energies. However, you reject bans on climate-damaging energy, such as coal-fired power, as you believe this would harm the economy.

Environmental protection through economic growth!
When it comes to the switch to CO2-neutral mobility, you are against a policy of bans. Instead of prohibiting climate-damaging vehicles, the development and spread of sustainable mobility should be financially supported by the EU. The EU should become the market leader in climate-neutral mobility!

Circular economy instead of wasting resources!
The throwaway economy of the EU must be stopped in your eyes! You therefore want to establish a circular economy based on reuse, maintenance, repair and recycling. Binding rules must be established for this. For example, you are in favour of an obligation to recycle plastic.

No requirements for agriculture!
The use of fertilizers and pesticides must not be banned! It is bad for the environment, but a ban would disproportionately increase bureaucracy (= administration) in the EU. You are counting on agriculture to voluntarily reduce the use of environmentally harmful substances!

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!

European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR)

Who am I?

You are a member of a conservative and EU-sceptic group. Basically, your goal is to keep the influence of the EU on its member states as low as possible. After all, each country knows best what is good for its own population! You only support a close European cooperation on the topic of economics.

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

In climate and environmental policy, you reject far-reaching and binding regulations at EU level. Protecting the environment must be done in small, deliberate steps and implemented by each EU nation at its own pace.

What does that mean exactly?

No forced energy transition!
You reject quotas, subsidies and bans on CO2 emissions by EU member states. Banning climate-damaging energy such as coal power would only jeopardize the EU’s economic growth! As soon as climate-neutral technologies are economically viable, they will prevail on the market without subsidies (= financial support) and regulations.

No restriction of mobility!
Every EU citizen has a right to mobility! Only a few people can afford a climate-neutral e-car. Therefore, you are against prohibiting combustion engines, even if they currently still emit a lot of CO2.

Support the plastic cycle!
In your eyes, plastic is a material on which we are highly dependent. Therefore, you do not want to ban the use of plastic! However, the EU should encourage its member states to recycle more plastic.

No requirements for agriculture!
Fertilizers and pesticides must not be banned. The use of these substances is bad for the environment, but they are the only way to ensure that there are no crop failures. The food supply of all EU citizens is more important than the protection of the environment!

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!

Identity and Democracy (ID)

Who am I?

You are a member of the right-wing populist parliamentary group ID. Your group includes right-wing populist as well as EU-sceptic and nationalist parties. Their main goal is to oppose further surrender of nation-state powers at the EU level. In order to preserve their freedom, nation states must be able to make their own decisions! They want the EU to support its member states financially, but not to pass binding laws!

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

With regard to environmental and climate policy, your group believes that the EU must not be the only region in the world to fall into climate panic. Economic competitors such as China and the USA are not reducing their CO2 emissions. If the EU wants to remain competitive, it must not do so either!

What does that mean exactly?

Stop the energy transition!
Energy policy is a sovereign task of sovereign states and not of the EU! An energy transition that forces the nuclear and coal drop-out would also lead to high unemployment and energy poverty. You want to prevent that at all costs!

No ban on individual mobility!
Every EU-citizen has the right to individual mobility and currently this can only be ensured by the combustion engine. Therefore, you are against replacing the combustion engine with climate-neutral technologies. In your opinion, investing in sustainable mobility is a waste of money!

Recycling yes, but nationally!
Generally, you do support the demand to recycle and reuse plastic. However not the EU, but the member states should decide whether and how they want to establish a recycling system.

Stop the bureaucratization of agriculture!
You are against EU-wide regulations on the use of fertilizers and pesticides. The EU countries themselves are responsible for preserving their soils and groundwater!

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!

Cross-Benched Member

Who am I?

You are a cross-benched member of parliament. You choose not to be part of the parliamentary groups and to represent their political opinions within the European Parliament. You form your own opinion and are bound only by your conscience and the will of your voters.

What are your goals in climate and environmental policy?

To the point!

You must decide for yourself what position you want to take on climate and environmental policy. Do you see the climate crisis as an urgent problem for which solutions must be found as quickly as possible? Or do you oppose extreme measures to protect the environment not to jeopardize the EU’s economic viability? You decide!

What does that mean exactly?

Starting the energy transition or wait and see?
An energy turnaround would mean a drop-out of coal power. This could result in major economic damage as well as the loss of many jobs. Alternatively, only sustainable forms of energy production could be financially supported without banning other forms of energy. In this way, however, renewable energy would only slowly replace energy that is harmful to the climate.

Transportation turnaround – now or never?
Do you think the EU should invest money in developing and expanding climate-neutral mobility? Do EU-wide train connections need to be built? Or should it rather be the nation states that decide how their citizens will get around in the future?

Recycling at EU level?
With the help of EU-wide standards to produce packaging materials, waste could be recycled throughout the EU. However, this would require binding legislation at EU level. Do you support such regulations or would you prefer to allow nations states to make decisions concerning their waste management?

Reforms in agriculture?
Are you in favour of EU-wide regulations prohibiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides? These pollute groundwater and contaminate the environment. On the other hand, they also ensure that all EU citizens can be supplied with food and that there are no crop failures.

What to do with the arguments?

Please write down your arguments and have them ready for the discussion!