Calling today's vote on the EU strategy on Roma inclusion "a big step forward towards the abolition of systematic discrimination and severe stigmatisation of a large proportion of Europe's 10-12 million Roma" GUE/NGL MEP Cornelia Ernst joined the call for the reinforcement of equality legislation.

"I find it noteworthy that most groups are voicing concerns that we are amending the Treaty using an accelerated procedure," said

GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky during this morning's debate on the permanent stability mechanism and Council's proposal to change the treaty to enable this mechanism to be set for eurozone countries.

Any future crisis mechanism should not create parallel structures, he said, and democratic and parliamentary control should be guaranteed at all stages.

European Commission proposals on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 have been criticised by ALDE spokespersons for energy and environment.
 
Commenting on the Commission's Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 and the Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy in 2050 to be adopted today, Lena Ek (Centre Party, Sweden), ALDE spokesperson on the Industry, Research and Environment Committee, said:
 

On Tuesday, the European Commission presented the goals which Europe needs to achieve in terms of energy savings by 2020. The Commission proposals are heavily inspired by the Report on energy efficiency authored by Bendt Bendtsen MEP, which the European Parliament adopted in December.

"The European Commission is going to present its long-awaited roadmap to a low carbon economy today. We believe it is a good directing post for the European economy and investments.

However, concrete political decisions must follow. European politics have to prove their ability to combine two goals into one: the fight against climate change and improving the EU's competitiveness.