We welcome today’s vote in the European Parliament, which saw MEPs overwhelmingly back a ban on throw-away plastics, such as straws, food containers and cotton bud sticks.
PES Common Candidate Frans Timmermans, in his capacity as Vice-President of the European Commission, has led the EU’s efforts to move towards a circular economy and to reduce plastic pollution in our seas and oceans. He was instrumental in creating the EU Plastics Strategy, the first of its kind in Europe, to protect the environment from pollution whilst fostering growth and innovation, turning a challenge into a positive for our continent.
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Today’s ban on single use plastics takes us one step closer to achieving our ambition to make Europe a world leader in the fight for the environment and against climate change. Our party has consistently campaigned for a greener, more sustainable, Europe with strong protections for biodiversity. Cutting our use of plastics is not only necessary for safeguarding our natural environment, it will mean Europe leads the way on recycling and reuse, and the circular economy.”
The PES set out its ambitious plan for a sustainable Europe in its election manifesto, A New Social Contract for Europe. If a progressive majority is secured at the election, we have committed to a raft of measures to protect Europe’s environment. This includes a Sustainable Development Pact for the EU which sets out social and ecological targets, raising the EU’s climate ambition in line with the Parise Agreement, and a pledge to renewal European industry to make our continent a leader in renewable energies and sustainable production.
