The Week Ahead - 20th-24th April 2020

Covid-19 measures, pesticide application levels, the Green Deal, and the European Climate Law.

On Tuesday, the ENVI Committee will hold an exchange of views with Ms. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Mr. Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, on COVID-19 and the EU’s measures to tackle the pandemic.

This will be followed by an exchange of views and votes on two objection resolutions on pesticide application levels (maximum residue levels for cycloxydim, flonicamid, haloxyfop, mandestrobin, mepiquat, Metschnikowia fructicola strain NRRL Y-27328 and prohexadione in or on certain products). The ECR group will not support these objections as we consider the draft implementing measures fully in line with the provisions and objectives laid down in the basic act, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. The pesticide application levels follow the scientific opinion of the Evaluating Member State and EFSA, which both confirm the safety of the MRLs for consumers. Not setting the proposed levels would pose unnecessary trade barriers for the importation of the relevant crops (i.e. strawberries, cottonseeds, oilseeds etc.), which are safe to EU consumers.

In the afternoon, the committee will conclude with an exchange of views with Mr. Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, on the European Green Deal, and on European Climate Law.

At the end of march, ECR MEPs - supported by colleagues from other groups - called for in a letter addressed to the Presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament that the fight against COVID-19, together with the adaptation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), should be a priority for the EU, with the postponement of the legislative initiative of the Green Deal.

“We first need a way out of the COVID-19 crisis. Today, we are not yet able to determine the extent of it, but we know that the costs will be huge. It’s not the time to try to reach climate neutrality at a breakneck speed”, Czech ECR MEP Alexandr Vondra said.

A legal opinion requested by ECR MEPs Alexandr Vondra and Anna Zalewska has revealed that the Commission’s attempted use of “delegated acts” to reach emission targets under the Green Deal is incompatible with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

When: Tue @ 10:00 & 15:00

Where: Room József Antall (2Q2)

Livestream: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/envi-committee-meeting_20200421-1000-COMMITTEE-ENVI_vd