The first objection concerns the Commission’s proposed amendment to the legislation laying down specifications for food additives as regards titanium dioxide (E 171). It was approved with 443 votes to 118 and 135 abstentions.

Parliament calls on the Commission to apply the precautionary principle and to remove E171 from the EU list of permitted food additives that are currently used mainly to colour confectionery, bakery and pastry products as well as chewing gum, candies, chocolates, and ice cream. As these products are very popular with children, MEPs are particularly concerned about them being potentially very exposed to the additive. They underline that France banned sales of food products containing titanium dioxide as of 1 January 2020 and that 85 000 citizens across Europe have signed a petition to support the French ban.

The second objection concerning the Commission’s proposal to amend the rules setting maximum levels of acrylamide in certain foodstuffs for infants and young children was also approved with 469 votes to 137 and 90 abstentions.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) previously confirmed that acrylamide, which is a processing contaminant that occurs naturally when some foods are heated, potentially increases the risk of developing cancer in all age groups. In the resolution, MEPs request that the Commission lower the proposed maximum level allowed for two food products often given to infants and young children, as they are the most exposed, based on their body weight. They also underline that biscuits and rusks that are not specifically produced for infants and young children, but are often given to or even marketed to them, should face the same, more stringent demands.

Next steps

As Parliament has adopted these two objections, the Commission cannot approve the proposed actions and is now obliged to amend or withdraw them.

On Wednesday, Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate on the EU climate law with 392 votes for, 161 against and 142 abstentions. The new law aims to transform political promises that the EU will become climate neutral by 2050 into a binding obligation and to give European citizens and businesses the legal certainty and predictability they need to plan for the transformation.

MEPs insist that both the EU and all member states individually must become climate-neutral by 2050 and that thereafter the EU shall achieve “negative emissions”. They also call for sufficient financing to achieve this.

The Commission must propose by 31 May 2023, through the ordinary decision-making procedure, a trajectory at EU level on how to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, say MEPs. It must take into account the total remaining EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions until 2050 to limit the increase in temperature in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The trajectory shall be reviewed after each stocktake at global level.

MEPs also want to set up an EU Climate Change Council (ECCC) as an independent scientific body to assess whether policy is consistent and to monitor progress.

A more ambitious 2030-target needed

The EU’s current emissions reductions target for 2030 is 40% compared to 1990. The Commission recently proposed to increase this target to “at least 55%” in the amended proposal for an EU climate law. MEPs today raised the bar even further, calling for a reduction of 60% in 2030, adding that national targets shall be increased in a cost-efficient and fair way.

They also want an interim target for 2040 to be proposed by the Commission following an impact assessment, to ensure the EU is on track to reach its 2050 target.

Finally, the EU and member states must also phase out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by 31 December 2025 at the latest, say MEPs, while they underline the need to continue efforts to combat energy poverty.

Quote

After the vote, Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden) said: “The adoption of the report sends a clear message to the Commission and the Council, in light of the upcoming negotiations. We expect all member states to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and we need strong interim targets in 2030 and 2040 for the EU to achieve this.

I’m also satisfied with the inclusion of a greenhouse gas budget, which sets out the total remaining quantity of emissions that can be emitted until 2050, without putting at risk the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.”

Next steps

Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with member states once Council has agreed upon a common position.

Background

Following the European Council decision (2019) to endorse the 2050 climate-neutrality objective, the Commission in March 2020 proposed the EU climate law that would make it a legal requirement for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.

Main items on the agenda

Money laundering

In a debate from 8.45, MEPs will look closely at the recent money laundering revelations about how the world’s biggest banks moved vast amounts of tainted funds, feeding into global financial corruption.

Follow the debate live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

Dorota KOLINSKA
(+32) 498 98 32 80
EP_Economics

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on care homes

Alarmed by the high number of COVID-19-related infections and deaths in long-term care facilities, MEPs are set to call for lessons to be learned from this tragedy and for EU long-term care provisions to be reviewed, in a debate from around 9.30.

Follow the debate live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

Thomas HAAHR
(+32) 470 88 09 87

EP_Environment

Human Rights

Parliament will hold debates on human rights, democracy and rule of law from around 10.30 on Eritrea and the case of Dawitt Isaak, the “Foreign Agents” Law in Nicaragua, and on the situation of Ethiopian migrants in detention centres in Saudi Arabia. Resolutions will be put to the vote at 13.00.

Follow the debate live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

Viktor ALMQVIST
(+32) 470 88 29 42
EP_ForeignAff EP_HumanRights

Votes

Results of Wednesday’s votes will be announced at 8.30, among other things, on:

• the European Climate Law (final vote)
• the European Forest Strategy (final vote).

The first voting session with votes on amendments lasts from 9.30 to 10.45, with results announced at 12.30.

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The second voting session lasts from 13.00 to 14.15. Results will be announced at 16.30, including final votes on:

• the rule of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria
• reinforcing the youth guarantee
• Capital Markets Union and digital finance
• the Decision empowering France to conclude an international agreement concerning the Channel tunnel /Application of railway safety and interoperability rules within the Channel tunnel
• Eritrea, the case of Dawitt Isaak
• the “Foreign Agents” Law in Nicaragua, and
• the situation of Ethiopian migrants in detention centres in Saudi Arabia.

The Council today adopted its position on a proposal which would allow the cities of Galway in Ireland and Rijeka in Croatia, designated as European Capitals of Culture for 2020, to continue implementing their programmes until 30 April 2021. The proposal also provides that Greece and Romania will host the title European Capital of Culture in 2023 instead of 2021. The draft decision takes into account the COVID-19 pandemic which forced Galway and Rijeka to postpone or cancel events from March 2020 and created a very high level of uncertainty for cities initially designated to host the title in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not spared the European Capitals of Culture action and has had a huge negative impact on the cities of Galway and Rijeka. We are determined to support them by extending the implementation of their programmes beyond 2020. This will help both cities not only financially, but also culturally. The heart of Europe lies in its culture, in its European Capitals of Culture.

Monika Grütters, Minister of State for Culture and the Media of Germany

The draft decision amends Decision № 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2023. The decision currently in force does not include any provision on prolongation or postponement of the year when a particular city holds the title of a European Capital of Culture.

Background and next steps

The European Capitals of Culture action aims, in particular, to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe, to widen access to and participation in culture, to strengthen the capacity of the cultural sector and to raise the international profile of cities through culture. The Commission adopted its amending proposal on 18 August 2020. The agreement reached by the Council today will serve as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.

On 6 October 2020, the 6th round of the European Union – Pakistan Political Dialogue was held by video conference.

The EU and Pakistan reviewed progress since the signing of the EU–Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) in June 2019 and expressed their continued commitment to its implementation, including the holding of the Strategic Dialogue between EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and the establishment of a Security Dialogue, as well as the further expansion of cooperation in areas such as climate change, energy and connectivity.

The EU also raised the need to counter all forms of terrorism and to take decisive action against money laundering and terrorist financing and took note of progress in Pakistan’s implementation of its action plan developed with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

On migration and mobility, the EU expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued hosting of a large number of Afghan refugees on its territory and shared information about the latest developments with regard to the EU’s policy on migration and asylum.

In the context of a discussion about Pakistan’s participation in the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences plus (GSP+), the EU acknowledged the progress achieved by Pakistan’s introduction of new legislation on human rights issues and encouraged Pakistan to intensify its implementation efforts.

Pakistan informed the EU about the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its population and economy. The EU recalled its “Team Europe” response package for Pakistan, through which €150 million has been mobilised as immediate support towards mitigating the health and socio-economic impact of the pandemic. Pakistan, for its part, extended its gratitude for the EU’s assistance to the country’s economic recovery.

Both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues. On Afghanistan’s recently started peace process, the EU reiterated the necessity, called for by the United Nations and most countries, of an immediate, comprehensive, nationwide and unconditional ceasefire, and called on Pakistan to use its influence on the conflict parties in this regard. The EU and Pakistan also discussed their relations with India, China and Iran.

The Political Dialogue was co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Enrique Mora, and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood.