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.

UN climate summit puts global spotlight on EU — 23 September 2019, 13:18 CET

A United Nations climate summit taking place today in New York city is expected to expose Europe's lack of progress to tackle the climate emergency, warned Greenpeace.

Von der Leyen unveils new team, but green game plan still falls short — 10 September 2019, 23:58 CET

Incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a new team of commissioners, but her game plan for the environment still falls short of what science demands, says Greenpeace.

Activists urge von der Leyen to save forests, fight climate breakdown — 04 September 2019, 12:52 CET

Greenpeace activists greeted incoming President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on 3 September in The Hague with a burning globe of several metres high and a banner reading "Climate Crisis: Save Forests Now". Von der Leyen was visiting Dutch Prime Minister Rutte at his residence to discuss climate policies, among other issues.

Deforestation action plan does little to tackle impact of EU trade dogma, Greenpeace — 23 July 2019, 14:07 CET

A deforestation action plan released today by the European Commission paints a bleak picture of Europe’s responsibility for global deforestation, but fails to address the environmental and human cost of EU trade and farming policies, warned Greenpeace.

EU-Mercosur deal trades in environmental destruction, Greenpeace — 28 June 2019, 14:17 CET

The trade deal that could be agreed this weekend between the EU and Mercosur countries is a disaster for the environment on both sides of the Atlantic, said Greenpeace.

Germany and France fail to muster support for EU climate action — 20 June 2019, 23:25 CET

After talks at an EU summit in Brussels, European leaders have failed to back an EU target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and passed up the last opportunity to raise the EU's current 2030 targets ahead of a crucial UN climate summit in September.

National energy plans: EU must raise the bar - Greenpeace — 18 June 2019, 18:03 CET

Ahead of a crucial summit that could define the EU’s collective response to the climate crisis, the European Commission has released its recommendations to EU countries on their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

Leaked: EU strategic agenda fails to back urgent action against climate crisis - Greenpeace — 12 June 2019, 00:24 CET

A leaked five-year plan setting political priorities for Europe has exposed a stubborn reluctance by governments to take urgent action against the existential climate and ecological crisis, warned Greenpeace.

Merkel shows support for climate-neutral EU by 2050 — 14 May 2019, 15:50 CET

After months of dithering, German chancellor Angela Merkel has shown support for a target to make the European Union climate-neutral by 2050 and asked her government to investigate how Germany would achieve it.

Scientists and indigenous groups right to raise alarm about impact of EU trade - Greenpeace — 25 April 2019, 23:00 CET

Over 600 scientists from across Europe and representatives of 300 Indigenous groups from Brazil have called on the European Union to make trade talks with Brazil conditional on the protection of human rights and the environment.

Industry studies behind EU food safety assessments must be public, EU Parliament — 17 April 2019, 21:30 CET

The European Parliament voted today to introduce new transparency rules for EU food safety assessments, as part of the EU's 'general food law'.

Governments steamrolling climate commitments to seek EU-Trump trade deal — 16 April 2019, 00:07 CET

Today's approval by European governments of new mandates to start fresh trade negotiations with the US could raise the infamous TTIP from the dead, despite concerns over the US's announced withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

EU Parliament agriculture committee backs factory farming, Greenpeace — 02 April 2019, 18:01 CET

Members of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee voted today for the EU to continue subsidising Europe's most environmentally destructive factory farms.

EU Parliament must choose family farms over factory farms, Greenpeace — 01 April 2019, 16:36 CET

A giant squealing pig in a cage greeted members of the European Parliament today in Brussels, ahead of a crucial vote on the future of farming in Europe.

MEPs vote on the future of factory farms — 29 March 2019, 00:23 CET

On 2 April, MEPs on the European Parliament's agriculture committee will weigh in on a European Commission plan to reform the EU’s common agricultural policy.

European Parliament backs more climate action — 14 March 2019, 17:02 CET

The European Parliament has endorsed the European Commission's plan to reduce the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions and called for EU emissions to fall to zero as soon as possible, but by 2050 at the latest. MEPs also backed an increase of the EU's 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target from 40% to 55% (compared to 1990 levels).

EU ministers consider decarbonisation plan as climate protests intensify — 04 March 2019, 14:12 CET

As climate change protests intensify across Europe and beyond, energy and environment ministers meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels will discuss whether to back a plan to fully decarbonise the EU by 2050.

Far-right populist surge would threaten EU climate action: report — 27 February 2019, 12:55 CET

A new report by Adelphi, a German think tank, has shown that the next European Parliament could see a greater share of MEPs opposed to policy action to tackle climate change.

MEPs slowly turn tide against factory farms — 14 February 2019, 14:01 CET

The European Parliament's environment committee has voted to increase environmental and animal welfare protections under the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP), but the improvements are not yet sufficient to tackle the problem of factory farming, said Greenpeace.

Over 71% of EU farmland dedicated to meat and dairy — 12 February 2019, 14:18 CET

At least 71% of the EU's farmland is used to feed livestock, according to new research published by Greenpeace. Around 63% of arable land is dedicated to feeding farm animals.

Leak: European governments pave way for bee-killing pesticides — 23 January 2019, 13:45 CET

Under pressure from pesticide producers and governments, the European Commission is planning to scrap bee-safety standards that led to a ban of three bee-killing pesticides, according to a leaked plan.

New EU rules greenlight billions in subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear — 19 December 2018, 16:50 CET

Days after the international community failed to call for more climate action to limit global warming to 1.5°C at the UN climate conference in Poland, European governments pushed through legislation allowing EU countries to continue subsidising fossil fuels and nuclear power.

EU Commission promises to step up action against deforestation — 18 December 2018, 21:23 CET

In a roadmap released today, the European Commission has promised to step up action action against global deforestation and cut the EU's footprint on the world's forests.

EU summit: climate protesters force leaders to 'change course' — 13 December 2018, 15:49 CET

Activists calling on European heads of government to "change course on climate" diverted official motorcades on their way to an EU summit meeting in Brussels today, a day before the end of the UN COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland.

Governments call for swift EU action on global deforestation — 09 November 2018, 11:31 CET

Seven European governments have ramped up pressure on the European Commission to deliver a long-awaited action plan by the end of the year to tackle global deforestation.