Climate activists are protesting outside of the European Parliament in Strasbourg ahead of one of the biggest debates within the institution: the State of the European Union (SOTEU).

“The State of the EU: Burning,” their main banner reads. 

Friends of the Earth Europe is a pan-European activist organisation that is being joined today by Greenpeace and Climate Action Network.

“We are calling on President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to tell us when the EU will stop burning gas,” a protestor told Lovin Malta.

“Europe is currently being faced with climate extremes, like the wildfires in Greece, so we need to know when the Union will stop burning fossil fuels.”

He specifically said that the groups are calling on von der Leyen to halt the building of fossil fuel infrastructure, using the Melita TransGas Pipeline as the main example.

 

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“When are they going to stop?” he asked strongly. 

The SOTEU is an annual summit that consists an hour-long speech by the Commission President who will outline the main challenges facing the institution, along with suggestions of potential solutions like new European laws or policies.

European Parliament (EP) and member states will then debate these suggestions.

One of the main topics expected to be on the SOTEU agenda is the climate crisis – an issue which President of the EP Roberta Metsola branded as the parliament’s “number one priority”.

Moreover, there has been serious disagreement within the Parliament itself regarding a resolution aimed at nature restoration with far-right and centre-right groups forming alliances to attempt to block the legislation from being passed. This is due to the economic cost, they argue.

This has caused friction within the parliament, with members of the more liberal groups, like the Greens/EFA, stating that the immediate cost of nature restoration is smaller than the long-term cost of humanity and our earth.

Hence, a common EU approach to climate change is expected to be a primary topic during this morning’s event.

Lovin Malta will be bringing you up to speed with all the latest updates from Strasbourg, so be sure to tune in to our social media accounts over the coming days as we bring you more from the State of the EU and beyond.

Are you concerned that the EU is not doing enough to combat the climate crisis?