Peter Liese on glyphosate: Strict rules and reduction important but total ban wrong
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“It is right to strictly regulate the use of pesticides and I also support a reduction strategy, but total bans are wrong. Just like a ban on all pesticides in sensitive areas, as proposed by former Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, a total ban on glyphosate would have a seriously negative impact on food production and prices. Many people are currently suffering from increased food prices. A ban on glyphosate would make this situation even worse. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has comprehensively analyzed the scientific data and, when used appropriately, has found no risk to human health. That's why I think the European Commission's proposal to allow the use of glyphosate for ten more years makes sense in principle," said the environmental policy spokesman for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian Democrats), Dr. Peter Liese.
Read more: Peter Liese on glyphosate: Strict rules and reduction important but total ban wrong
Ursula von der Leyen on the state of the European Union
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Peter Liese: Very good speech / Ambition on climate protection clearly maintained, at the same time clear priority for growth and jobs / Dialogue with industry, appreciation for agriculture
"That was a very good speech by Ursula von der Leyen on the State of the Union," commented the environmental policy spokesman for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), MEP Dr. Peter Liese. "Ursula von der Leyen has left no doubt that we must achieve our climate targets. I wholeheartedly support this position. But precisely because we are so ambitious when it comes to climate protection, we now have to change course on other issues and give our industry better economic conditions. We want to shape climate protection together with businesses to decarbonize our European industry, not deindustrialize Europe. To achieve this, we have to speed up permitting procedures and reduce bureaucracy. I am very pleased and grateful that Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized this point. I would also like to thank her for her appreciative words towards the agriculture sector. Putting climate protection into practice is only possible together with the citizens, farmers and industry," Liese emphasized.
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Vote in the European Parliament on air quality
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Christian Democrats warn of driving bans and closure of construction sites and industrial plants / Hope for the Council of Ministers
“With this vote there is a new risk of driving bans and even the closure of construction sites and industrial plants. The majority of Social Democrats, Greens, Leftists and some Liberals are acting irresponsibly. This result should not be the last word. In my opinion, it is irresponsible to decide on values that lead to new driving bans and the closure of industrial plants and construction sites. I hope that the situation will improve in the trilogue negotiations. We will continue to fight against excessive measures. It is an important and correct goal to further improve air quality. But we should rely on technology and not on bans. A lot has been achieved in recent years. The levels of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter have fallen to a third since the 1990s. Our air has become much better, especially in a phase in which people are already unsettled and industry is not investing enough in Germany and Europe, there should be no further uncertainty”, said Peter Liese, environmental policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats).
Letter to Ms. Thunberg,
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Dear Ms. Thunberg,
I am writing to you because of the discussions and incidents that happened this week around the vote of the European Parliament on the Nature Restoration Law. I think it's essential to respect each other and to take citizens along when we try to address the dramatic climate crisis that we are in. I very much regret that we couldn't meet personally this week. I was prepared for the meeting with Manfred Weber and some of your fellow activists on Tuesday, but you couldn't make it for reasons I still don't know. I would be grateful if you and your team could clarify this.
I very much admire your engagement and the movement that you triggered around the world. I'm convinced that, especially in the European Union, this dedication, and the movement dramatically changed politics and the economy. For two or three years, I only met representatives of enterprises concretely planning for decarbonization. The adoption of the biggest climate law ever in the European Union, the ETS, which I steered as a rapporteur, was only possible with your strong commitment. However, I very much regret the gesture you showed after adopting the much-changed nature restoration law in the European Parliament. To show people the middle finger is never creating something positive. While politicians are used to such things, for me, it is essential to point out that not only politicians but also farmers didn't support the nature restoration law. I spoke to forest owners that were concerned that the law would stop them from planting trees adapted to climate change. Unfortunately, we don't have the climate of 70 years ago. That's why we cannot refer any activity in forestry to the situation of 70 years ago. We need to plant trees that might not be native to Europe but still can cope better with the changed climate. I am firmly convinced that sustainable forestry is one of the primary keys to addressing climate change. Among the opponents of the law were also the operators of hydropower plants. They saw the law, particularly Article 7, as an obstacle to their activity when we desperately need more renewable energy. In the country I know best, Germany, also many representatives from municipalities, including their official association (Städte- & Gemeindebund) criticized the law. Even the Green Prime Minister of Baden Württemberg raised serious concerns. They all may feel insulted by your gesture. That's why I think it would be appropriate to apologize not only to the MEPs but also to all who feel represented by them. To succeed in our climate mitigation policy, we must take people along. As you may have realized during the last four years, the fight against climate change is not a sprint but a marathon. To run a marathon, you also need supporters that give you water along the way, which means that society should understand what we are doing and should not feel provoked.
Dear Ms. Thunberg, I am convinced that climate change is the biggest challenge for our political generation, and that's why I worked so hard to manoeuvre an even more ambitious ETS through the European institutions. An article in EURACTIV describes my role here (https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/opinion/the-brief-chapeau-mr-liese/). Unfortunately, the very important ETS2 has been criticized and challenged not only by the far right but also by the Greens, the Left, and the Socialists in the European Parliament. It took me a lot of effort to get the majority in Parliament, and unfortunately, I had to weaken the level of ambition. We postponed the introduction by one year and included an emergency break for another year. Moreover, we had to include a price cap although you and your fellow campaigners insist on much higher CO2 prices. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any criticism from your side or your fellow campaigner's side against the Greens, the Left, or the Social Democrats in this regard. This is very disappointing for me in particular because I had the opportunity to speak with Luisa Neubauer about this and I provided her with a lot of information.
Dear Ms. Thunberg, I still admire your commitment and I strongly encourage you to continue your work, but I also encourage you to show more respect and to look at the issue from a non-party political point of view. Unfortunately, I had the feeling that in the case of ETS2, you and your fellow campaigners didn't act because it was the Greens that had to be criticized. I am firmly convinced that we can only be successful if we respect each other and if we also manage to convince the centre of the political spectrum, in Europe the EPP, which is the biggest political group. However, with this kind of gestures, you will definitely not be successful.
I am eager to get an answer to my letter, and I am always ready to talk to you.
Best regards
Peter Liese
Member of the European Parliament