Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper)This week, the European Parliament is holding committee meetings to discuss sustainable aviation under the “Fit for 55”, EU enlargement, and the situation with migrants in Greece. MEPs will discuss the upcoming COP27 in Egypt, and hold a debate on food security with the World Food Programme. Throughout the week, a United Nations Conference dedicated to the sustainability of our oceans will receive a number of MEPs.
Fit for 55/ReFuelEU Aviation
On Monday, the Transport Committee will vote on new rules, under the “Fit for 55”, to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels, such as synthetic fuel, used cooking oil, or even hydrogen, by aircraft operators and EU airports, in order to cut emissions from aviation and ensure Europe becomes climate neutral by 2050. Last week, the Commission launched a new Alliance that will gather stakeholders across the aviation community to identify barriers to the commercialization of aircraft adapted to the use of sustainable fuels.
EU enlargement
On Monday, MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee and members of parliaments from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine will debate the future of EU enlargement in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The debate comes a few days after the EU-backed Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership.
Migration situation in Greece
MEPs on the Civil Liberties Committee will debate, on Monday, how Greece is currently coping with migration with Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi. The debate comes in light of recent reports denouncing how human rights defenders in Greece, particularly those documenting the treatment of migrants and refugees, are facing smear campaigns.
Climate change and COP27
On Thursday, MEPs will exchange views with Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, Chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. The debate will center around the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference 2022 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27).
Food security
On Thursday, MEPs in the Committees on Development and on Agriculture and Rural Affairs discuss the ongoing food crisis and exchange views with Executive Director David Beasley of the World Food Programme on food security and how to prevent a major global hunger crisis. The debate will be followed by a presentation by a Commission representative of the evaluation report on the information policy on the Common Agricultural Policy.
UN Ocean Conference
From Monday until Friday, MEPs will attend the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon in partnership with the Kenyan government. On Thursday, the Parliament will debate with Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, EU biodiversity actions, and a presentation of the Commission proposal for a nature restoration regulation and of the communication on the EU’s International Ocean Governance Agenda.
