Greenpeace European Unit

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

EU farming reform plan overlooks impact of meat sector, Greenpeace — 29 November 2017, 18:09 CET

On the eve of a major reform of European Union farming rules, the European Commission has glossed over the growing environmental and health impact of the industrial meat and dairy sectors, warned Greenpeace.

EU to renew glyphosate licence, ignoring concerns — 27 November 2017, 23:16 CET

A qualified majority of European governments voted to approve the European Commission’s plan to grant a five-year unrestricted licence to glyphosate, a widely used weedkiller that has been linked to cancer and environmental harm.

EU governments reject Commission push for glyphosate — 09 November 2017, 12:48 CET

European governments have again refused to support a European Commission plan to grant a shortened but unrestricted licence for glyphosate, Europe’s most widely used weedkiller that has been linked to cancer and environmental harm.

Commission shows narrow vision on renewable-powered shared mobility, Greenpeace — 09 November 2017, 00:00 CET

A package of policy measures for the transport sector released by the European Commission fails to deliver an ambitious vision of shared mobility powered by renewable energy, said Greenpeace.

Growing number of EU governments oppose re-approval of glyphosate — 25 October 2017, 14:04 CET

Amid mounting political and public opposition to glyphosate - a controversial and widely used weedkiller - representatives of European governments have again rejected the Commission’s proposal to grant glyphosate a new licence. A final vote has been postponed to November.

CETA threatens food safety even before national parliaments sign off — 20 September 2017, 17:54 CET

On the eve of the preliminary application of the EU-Canada trade deal, CETA, Greenpeace warned of threats to food safety and agricultural standards.

EU-Japan trade deal smacks of corporate protectionism, Greenpeace — 05 July 2017, 22:25 CET

According to media reports, the European Commission and Japan have reached an agreement which closes negotiations on most parts of the EU’s biggest bilateral trade deal to date.

Tighten rules on subsidies for coal, says European Parliament draft plan — 21 June 2017, 18:08 CET

Rules governing subsidies for coal power plants should be tightened, according to a draft plan published today by MEP Kriajanis Karins.

More than one million Europeans stand up against glyphosate — 15 June 2017, 17:44 CET

Today, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to ban glyphosate, reform the EU pesticide approval process, and set mandatory targets to reduce pesticide use in the EU surpassed one million signatures.

European Parliament backs biodiversity over pesticides — 14 June 2017, 23:34 CET

Today the European Parliament agreed with the European Commission that agricultural land dedicated to the preservation of biodiversity must not be treated with pesticides, rejecting an attempt by the Parliament’s agriculture committee to block this ban.

EU-China statement must lead shift to renewables, Greenpeace — 05 June 2017, 13:19 CET

The EU and China's renewed commitment to fighting climate change must be backed up by a decisive shift to renewable energy, said Greenpeace. The EU-China joint statement comes amid reports of an imminent US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

European Parliament fires up Europe's energy transition — 23 May 2017, 22:56 CET

European Parliament proposals to increase the EU's share of renewable energy to a minimum of 35 per cent, and to set binding targets for each EU country, are a step in the right direction, said Greenpeace.

EU could retake climate leadership under new EP plan to boost renewables, Greenpeace — 17 May 2017, 23:52 CET

A new plan by key members of the European Parliament would help the EU retake global leadership on climate change, just as the US dithers on its commitments under the Paris climate agreement, said Greenpeace.

EU court ruling on Singapore trade deal is victory for democracy, Greenpeace — 16 May 2017, 15:37 CET

The European Court of Justice ruled today that the European Commission cannot conclude trade deals without the approval of EU national parliaments, when they contain investment dispute systems that supersede national courts.

EU report on pesticide residues ignores toxic cocktail effect, Greenpeace — 21 April 2017, 12:23 CET

An EU report on pesticide residues in food released today again fails to assess the combined effects of pesticides in the human body, warned Greenpeace.

Governments and citizens reject GMOs, Commission must follow - Greenpeace — 27 March 2017, 18:31 CET

Today, national government representatives failed to support the approval of three genetically modified (GM) maize crops for cultivation in Europe: two new ones and the only GM crop currently grown in the EU.

European Commission takes major step to ban three bee-harming pesticides Governments must close remaining loopholes — 23 March 2017, 20:24 CET

The European Commission has proposed a ban of three neonicotinoid pesticides known to harm bees and other species, except for use in permanent greenhouses, according to a leaked document seen by the Guardian.

EU chemicals agency sweeps glyphosate cancer evidence under the carpet — 15 March 2017, 17:46 CET

Following in the footsteps of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has dismissed scientific evidence showing that the controversial weedkiller glyphosate could cause cancer.

CETA: MEPs put European Parliament on the wrong side of history — 15 February 2017, 19:17 CET

Support for the controversial EU-Canada trade and investment protection deal – known as CETA – puts the European Parliament on the wrong side of history, warned Greenpeace.

Environmental and health organisations launch European citizens' initiative to ban glyphosate — 08 February 2017, 14:11 CET

Campaigners and activists met in Brussels and other European cities (Madrid, Rome, Berlin and Paris) today to launch a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) to ban glyphosate, reform the EU pesticide approval process, and set mandatory targets to reduce pesticide use in the EU. The goal is to collect at least one million signatures from Europeans and submit the petition before the Commission's next move to renew, withdraw or extend the EU licence of glyphosate.

EU energy plans won't meet Paris climate commitments — 03 February 2017, 11:11 CET

Today the European Commission releases its report on the progress of the European Union's energy plans, the 'State of the Energy Union'. Greenpeace has criticised the EU's energy plans as inadequate to meet the challenge of climate change and the commitments made at the 2015 Paris climate conference.

MEPs unable to adjust CETA course as global trade doctrine crumbles, Greenpeace — 26 January 2017, 15:49 CET

Members of the European Parliament's trade committee have endorsed a controversial EU-Canada trade and investment protection agreement (known as CETA), despite warnings that the deal could lead to a bonfire of environmental, health and social protection standards.

New study: neonicotinoids bigger threat to wild bees and other animals than previously thought — 12 January 2017, 18:32 CET

Neonicotinoid pesticides pose serious risks not only to honeybees, but also to many other species, according to a scientific review published today by Greenpeace.

EU Advocate General opinion on EU-Singapore deal has wide implications for EU trade agenda — 24 December 2016, 00:14 CET

In a landmark case that could affect the future of EU trade agreements, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has said that national parliaments should have the right to vote on a trade agreement between the EU and Singapore.

EU lifeline to coal could derail renewable energy transition — 30 November 2016, 18:56 CET

A package of policy proposals released today by the European Commission threatens to derail efforts to accelerate the roll-out of renewables, while prolonging subsidies for coal, warned Greenpeace.