Commission wants to focus European research more on society's needs
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We need a mission to fight cancer
The European Commission wants to direct research funding in Europe more towards the needs of society in the future. To this end, there should not only be technical headings for the respective research areas, but also so-called missions, i.e. social objectives that can be achieved with European research funding. When presenting the programme, Research Commissioner Moedas mentioned, among other things, the fight against cancer and the fight for plastic-free oceans. "I expressly welcome the idea of the European Commission", said Peter Liese, spokesman of the biggest parliamentarian Group (EPP Christian Democrats) for Environment, Health and Food Safety. "We must bring research policy closer to the people and the definition of such missions can help at that. The examples Moedas gave are just the right ones. For my group, the fight against cancer in particular is a top priority. We recently adopted a paper in which we commit ourselves to do everything in our power to ensure that no one will die of cancer in 20 years' time. European research funding is essential for this. Only if the best brains work together we can defeat this terrible disease. In certain areas, for example in the fight against cancer in children, it is not possible to achieve this goal through national efforts alone," said the doctor and Member of the European Parliament.
Christian Ehler, lead draftsmen for Horizon Europe added: "Defining missions, including fight cancer, is a clear step forward for Europe and its citizens. However, a bigger budget is essential if we want our missions to have a clear societal and economic impact. The small increase proposed by the EC is once again a sign that we are not yet there. This is why the EP will propose at least €120 billion for the new programme”.
Climate protection: aviation will have to contribute more
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The Brexit shall not weaken the European Emission Trading System and not disadvantage companies in continental Europe
“In case of a hard Brexit there shall not be any negative repercussions on climate protection and no competitive distortions to the disadvantage of the European Industry”, explained the environmental policy spokesperson of the largest political Group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Dr Peter Liese on the occasion of a plenary session‘s decision in Strasbourg.
The Members of the Parliament voted in favour of an amendment, which allows the European Commission to introduce a safeguard mechanism if the UK leaves the EU without any agreement. Beforehand, the text was negotiated by representatives of the Member States and the European Commission, which is why its approval in the Council is considered as certain. “I still hope that there won’t be a hard Brexit. The agreement between Prime Minister Theresa May and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker strengthens me in my hope at least a little bit. The hardliners in UK shouldn’t have any illusions - we are well prepared for a hard Brexit and we will protect our environment and the companies in the EU,” said Liese. The Commission and the representatives of the Member States have by now agreed to detailed regulations.
Read more: Climate protection: aviation will have to contribute more
Julie Girling elected as deputy EPP ENVI Coordinator
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Tonight the European People’s Party (EPP) ENVI group elected Julie Girling as their deputy coordinator. She succeeds the Austrian MEP Elisabeth Köstinger who left the European Parliament to become Agriculture Minister in Austria. Girling’s election is remarkable considering that she joined the EPP just three weeks ago, after she quit the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. Mrs Girling had the Conservative whip suspended in October after supporting a resolution in Strasbourg declaring that “sufficient progress” had not been made in the Brexit talks to move on to further discussions on the future relationship between the UK and EU. She joined the European People’s Party whose approaches she believes “will more effectively further the prospects of achieving the best possible future for our constituents”. Peter Liese, EPP-coordinator in the ENVI committee, has welcomed the election result: “Over the last 9 years, I have got to know Julie as a hard-working and capable colleague and I am looking forward to developing our work together on the ENVI committee.” Mrs Girling said "I am very grateful for this vote of confidence from my new EPP colleagues. I shall be working hard to make a contribution to the committees work in what is shaping up to be a very busy final year of the mandate."
Ensuring climate protection
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Preparation for a hard Brexit - member states agree on safeguard mechanism for ETS (Brexit shield)
Member States agreed on the implementation of a safeguard mechanism for the European emission trading system (EU ETS) today in the climate change committee. In case of a hard Brexit - which means that the UK would leave the EU without an agreement - the EU is preparing to maintain strong climate protection. The safeguard mechanism aims at preserving the integrity of the EU ETS in case that obligations of aviation operators and other operators from a member state cease. This would be the case in the event of a UK departure from the EU ETS in March 2019. The necessary changes in the EU ETS registry regulation where approved today by the member states.
Should the Brexit take place in March 2019, UK operators would not have to surrender allowances for their 2018 emissions, as allowances for verified emissions in the year 2018 must be surrendered by 30 April 2019, just after Brexit. The safeguard measure makes sure that aviation operators and other operators in the EU ETS may not use allowances that are issued from 1 January 2018 onwards by the UK.