Leading EPP lawmaker announces split of busiest EU Parliament committee
The European Parliament’s environment and health committee (ENVI) is set to undergo a significant change, with plans to split it up so that health and food safety are handled separately. This decision is driven by the increasing workload in the health and safety committee, necessitating a restructuring to accommodate the growing number of laws passing through ENVI.
The European People’s Party, the Parliament’s largest political group, is spearheading this change post-EU elections. German EPP lawmaker Peter Liese, who oversees environment and health matters for the group, indicated that there is a consensus among various party leaders to split ENVI into two separate committees. While the split is not yet finalized, a decision is expected soon.
Under the proposed restructuring, a new committee focused on health and food safety will be established, while ENVI will retain its focus on environment and climate legislation. Currently, the SANT committee, a subcommittee with limited competences under ENVI, deals with public health issues.
In the past five years, ENVI has been instrumental in addressing the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and enacting laws to advance the European Commission’s Green Deal initiative. However, there are differing views among political groups regarding the split. The S&D group opposes it, advocating for the One Health approach that considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. On the other hand, the Renew group supports the split as a step towards creating a dedicated defense committee.
Despite these differing perspectives, concerns have been raised about potentially diluting ENVI’s effectiveness as a progressive force in environmental legislation. Stakeholders emphasize the committee’s role in strengthening policies to protect against air pollution and hazardous chemicals. Advocates urge lawmakers to consider preserving ENVI’s focused approach to environmental protection.
Sources indicate that discussions are ongoing, reflecting the complexity of restructuring the Parliament’s committee system. The outcome will have implications for EU policies on health, environment, and food safety moving forward.
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John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.