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Greens/Efa Group

EVENTSBarcelona 19.03.2010

A generation on the edge? © Michael Fuller

A generation on the edge? New start for youth

Greens/EFA Group meeting in Barcelona

This one day conference will focus on youth and poverty, unemployment and education. Conference panels will tackle the situation of young people in Europe in terms of access to employment, poverty, risk of exclusion, vulnerability and dependence with a view to finding solutions for youth unemployment and youth inclusion.

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Press releases16.03.2010

Food revolution thumbnail

Food labelling

EU Parliament committee approves better information to consumers

The EU Parliament 'ENVI' committee has adopted a report that includes several improvements on information to consumers. MEPs stopped short of approving a 'traffic light' system that would proviide consumer-friendly indications on salt, sugar, fat and calorie content.

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Press releases15.03.2010

Smoking industry chimney - Copyright: Michael Graber

Environment and climate

New study highlights urgent need to increase EU emissions reduction target

The EU can and should increase its emissions reductions target, according to a new study by CE Delft, commiissioned by the Greens/EFA Group. Green MEPs are calling for the EU to immediately adopt a 30% domestic reductions target by 2020. <br><br>

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For a GMO-free Europe - action hemicycle 09.03.2010 © Photo European Parliament

Action against the authorisation of gm potato

Question from Greens/EFA Co-President Rebecca Harms to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso

The Greens/EFA Group protested against the Commission decision to authorise the cultivation of the genetically-modified 'Amflora' potato. Greens/EFA Co-President Rebecca Harms explains the health concerns and criticism of the Commission's decision-making process.

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Press releases09.03.2010

Earth

Climate

Clear mandate for Commission would help EU to 'speak with one voice' in UN climate talks

The Greens have called for a more unified and coherent European presence in UN climate talks, in response to Commission proposals due to be presented by Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.

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Press releases08.03.2010

50 years of women's rights in the EU

International Women's Day

EU must take new measures to improve gender equality in face of economic crisis

On 8 March, International Women's Day, Green MEPs Marije Cornelissen and Raül Romeva took the opportunity to comment on the Commission's new "Women's Charter" and call for new measures in the fight for improved gender equality.

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SEE ALSO

Plenary FlashStrasbourg 05.03.2010

Plenary Strasbourg - Picture credit : Photo European Parliament - Architectes : Architecture Studio

Strasbourg Flash - March 2010

Greens/EFA priorities for the EU Parliament plenary session 8-11 March

The Greens/EFA Group's priorities for the March Strasbourg week include the Anti-Counterfeiting trade Agreement (ACTA), foreign affairs reports (including on the EU's External Action Service) and the EP position on the EU 2020 Strategy.

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EVENTSBrussels 04.03.2010

Freedom of speech and censorship - Copyright : Janne Ahvo

Blogging for Democracy - Cuba, the European Union and the influence of Web 2.0

Online conference Cuba-EU featuring Yoani Sánchez and most influential alternative Cuban bloggers

We need open debate about the situation in Cuba and the Blogger Movement as a possibility to raise one's voice regardless of the media censorship in Cuba. The conference - featuring the most influential figures in the Cuban alternative blogsphere - also challenges how EU policy on Cuba is seen on the island and what future role the EU should play.

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Press releases03.03.2010

Green eye

EU 2020 Strategy

Commission presents myopic attempt at 2020 vision

The Greens/EFA Group has criticised the Commission's Communication on the EU 2020 Strategy, which repeats mistakes from the Lisbon Strategy and fails to adequately address social and environmental concerns as essential to Europe's economic future.

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EVENTSBrussels  03.03.2010

Green power - Copyright : Udo Weber

Europe 2020 agenda: a path or barrier to the Green New Deal?

A Greens/EFA conference

On 3 March the Greens/EFA Group are organising a public event to analyse the sustainability of the EU 2020 Strategy. This is held against a backdrop of calls for a Green New Deal, on the day the European Commission publishes its Communication on the strategy. Key speakers from the green technologies sector, and public and private investment sector will participate.

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CONFERENCE DOCUMENTATION

 

Stop climate change

New Stop Climate Change Newsletter

Issue 31 - March 2010

Green eye on the EU's climate effort | Round up - Climate news from around the world | What's on - Calendar of some key events this month and next month...

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Press releases02.03.2010

Copyright : Benoit Beauregard

Data retention

German court ruling is first step towards EU approach based on individual assessment, not blanket suspicion

The German constitutional court in Karlsruhe today dismissed a German law on retaining data linked to communications, such as telephone calls and email. This is highly significant for the future debate in the EU on this matter and on SWIFT bank transfers and Passenger Name Records, according to Green MEP Jan-Philipp Albrecht.

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Weekly overview01.03.2010

Hemicycle - Photo European Parliament - Architecte : Association des architectes du CIC

Brussels Agenda

Greens/EFA priorities and events 1-5 March 2010

Greens/EFA Group hold a major conference to assess the sustainability of the EU 2020 Strategy against calls for a Green New Deal. This is one of several Greens/EFA events and priorities during the week.

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Press releases01.03.2010

Fire wood - Copyright: Martin Voigt

Illegal timber

EU governments cut tough measures out of illegal timber legislation

European Parliament rapporteur Caroline Lucas has issued a critical response to Council's decision to water down proposed legislation against the trade in illegal timber and timber products.

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Press releases25.02.2010

Fishing boat

CFP reform

EU Parliament demands sustainable Common Fisheries Policy

With the EU's Common Fisheries Policy due for its first fundamental reform in almost a decade, the European Parliament plenary today adopted a report that effectively sets out the institution's position on the failings of the current CFP and how it must be improved if it to lead to sustainable fisheries.

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SEE ALSO

Plenary round-upStrasbourg 11.02.2010

Plenary Strasbourg - Picture credit : Photo European Parliament - Architectes : Architecture Studio

Greens/EFA Round-up 8-11 February 2010

Debriefing of the plenary session in Strasbourg

Priorities for the Greens included the vote on the new European Commission, a vote to support protection of bluefin tuna, the EU Parliament's verdict on the EU agreement to share SWIFT bank data with the US as well as the progress reports on Croatia, FYROM and Turkey. The European Parliament also voted the resolutions on Iran, Haiti and on the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit which were debated during the January session.

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Press releases11.02.2010

Copyright : Benoit Beauregard

SWIFT data transfers

EU Parliament scores victory for democracy in rejecting EU-US SWIFT agreement

The Greens have welcomed Parliament's decision to reject an interim agreement for the EU to supply bank transfer data to the US.

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EVENTSBrussels 03.02.2010

Green New Deal workshop

Implementing the Green New Deal for Europe

A Green family Workshop

The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament is holding a series of workshops with Greens from around the EU to discuss and fine-tune its policies on the Green New Deal. This workshop will consider key aspects of the Green New Deal, such as its macro-economic framework, its employment dimension and its industrial policies.

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EVENTSMadrid 28.01.2010

The EU Spanish Presidency and the Green priorities

The Spanish Presidency of the EU and the Green priorities

A Greens/EFA conference in Madrid

The Greens/EFA Group will debate about the programme of the Spanish Presidency of the EU with representatives of the Spanish government, NGOs and think tanks. Two panels about the Green New Deal as a way out of the crisis and about which energetic model for Europe will also be an opportunity to focus on Green priorities.

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VIDEO STATEMENTS AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE EVENT

Press releases27.01.2010

Earth

UN climate talks

Greens submit alternative emissions reduction target to UN climate body on behalf of EU

The EU has decided to submit an inadequate 20%/30% emissions reduction target to the UN Convention on Climate Change as specified under the Copenhagen Accord. The European Greens, meanwhile, have already submitted an alternative target of 40% to the UNFCCC on behalf of the European Union.

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Alternative submission by the European Greens

 

Wind turbines - Copyright: Arturo Limon

Renewable energy policy success shows need for more ambitious targets

New blog on www.stopclimatechange.net

EU member states are well on track towards meeting their renewable energy targets. Combined with greater than expected emissions declines in other sectors, this underlines the need for stronger renewables and emissions targets...

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EVENTSBrussels 27.01.2010

Chemistry - autosampling © Catalin Stefan

Managing risks

A closer look at the legislative proposals on pharmacovigilance

Public health disasters remind us how essential it is to have an effective and proactive pharmacovigilance system to guarantee the safety of EU citizens. In December 2008, the European Commission put forward proposals for new legislation governing Pharmacovigilance in Europe. This expert meeting will debate about the consequences of the existing proposals for patient safety, the most effective approach for dealing with pharmacovigilance data and how decision-making and patient safety can be strenghtened in Europe.

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Video documentation

Weekly overview25.01.2010

cc: Photo EP- Architecte: Ass. architectes du CIC : VandVanden Bossche sprl, C.R.V. s.a., CDG sprl,

Brussels AGENDA

Greens/EFA priorities and events 25-29 January 2010

In the upcoming European Parliament committee week, Greens/EFA agenda priorities and events include the civil liberties committee on the EU-US SWIFT agreement, the environment committee on swine flu vaccinations and the Greens/EFA conference with the Spanish Presidency in Madrid.

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Plenary round-upStrasbourg 21.01.2010

Plenary Strasbourg - Picture credit : Photo European Parliament - Architectes : Architecture Studio

Greens/EFA Round-up 18-21 January 2010

Debriefing of the plenary session in Strasbourg

Priorities for the Greens included the last hearings of the Commissioner-designates, the debate on Iran, the presentation of the programme of the Spanish Presidency of the EU, the EU-US agreement on bank data transfers and Green MEP Eva Joly's report on the EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement revision.

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Press releases20.01.2010

Earth

Cotonou Agreement

Time to rethink EU-ACP development cooperation

The European Parliament has adopted a report by Green MEP Eva Joly, calling for substantial revisions to be made in the EU-ACP development cooperation agreement. Finance, food, energy and climate change are among the policy areas where change is demanded in this year's mid-term review of the 20 year accord.

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Press releases20.01.2010

Copyright : Benoit Beauregard

EU Ombudsman

Diamandouros was the right choice for transparency

Finnish Green MEP Heidi Hautala has welcomed the European Parliament vote to approve a new term for EU Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros. The role involves investigating complaints on the EU institutions, especially regarding transparency.

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Stop climate change

Strengthening EU emissions targets must remain top priority

New blog on www.stopclimatechange.net

The decision to step up to a 30% emissions reduction target has again been postponed by EU environment ministers. Stepping up to the 30% is only a starting point for the EU to reengage with the world though...

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Press releases12.01.2010

Conference on climate migrants - Copyright : Collectif Argos

Rumiana Jeleva hearing

Jeleva wobbles on financial disclosure and humanitarian aid questions

Green MEPs were unsatisfied with Commissioner-delegate Rumiana Jeleva's responses to questions regarding declaration of her business interests and on the dossier she has been assigned in the European Commission.

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Sandglass - Copyright: Guillermo Perales Gonzalez

Putting global climate policy back on track and the role of the EU

New blog on www.stopclimatechange.net

4 weeks since the debacle at Copenhagen, the future of global climate policy remains unclear. The new EU presidency and climate commissioner must start picking up the pieces and re-establish the EU's place in the process...

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Press releases05.01.2010

Russia - Copyright: Nicholas Belton

Russia - human rights

Greens condemn arrest of Sakharov Prize winner Alexeyeva

82 year-old Ludmila Alexeyeva - 2009 Sakharov Prize winner and Chair of the Russia Helsinki Committee - was among 50 protestors and bystanders arrested and detained for several hours for participating in a peaceful protest in Moscow on New Year's Eve. Although they have been released, the protestors face possible further action.

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Press releasesBrussels 22.12.2009

Bali conference - Copyright: Christine Balderas

EU Environment Council

EU lacks vision for strategy after Copenhagen

The EU Environment Ministers came up with no solution today, nor even a vision on how to resolve the climate impasse after Copenhagen. The EU needs to return to its original plan to seize a leadership role in the negotiations. To do that, it must once and for all decide to unconditionally reduce our own emissions by 30% compared to 1990.

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Press releasesCopenhagen 19.12.2009

Earth

UN Climate Conference

NOpenhagen as global leaders COP out of meaningful climate deal

Two years of arduous UN negotiations to produce a binding global climate deal ended in failure today, after a vague and meaningless political declaration that had been agreed between a small group of global heads of states was consigned to a footnote in the final vote by plenary in Copenhagen.

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Press releases16.12.2009

climate effect

Climate change

Crunch time in Copenhagen as EU leaders contemplate sell-out

As EU heads of state and government start arriving at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the fate of the talks is in the balance. All the main political issues remain open, with the EU failing to advance its position and worrying reports emerging that it is scaling back its ambitions.

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Press releases16.12.2009

Fire wood - Copyright: Martin Voigt

Illegal timber/climate change

EU agriculture ministers cut out tough measures backed by EU Parliament

After many months of delay, the EU agriculture council has finally reached a position on new legislation against the trade of illgeal timber and timber products. Shamefully, it does not support the strong measures advocated by the EU Parliament and its Green rapporteur Caroline Lucas.

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Press releases09.12.2009

Smoking industry chimney - Copyright: Michael Graber

Climate change

New study dispels myth of EU's claimed climate policy leadership

A new study by the Ecofys Institute, commissioned by the Greens/EFA group and launched today in European Parliament, has revealed EU's claims to be the leader in international climate policy to be a myth.

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Ecofys study
"Possible future reduction targets for the EU"

EVENTSBrussels 09.12.2009

Tax and development - To fight against poverty

Tax and development - To fight against poverty

A joint conference by the European Parliament and the European Commission

The Commission is currently working towards a paper addressing the issue of improving good governance in the tax area in developing countries. In this context, the European Commission and Parliament organize a joint conference with a view to analyse the link between taxation and development and the impact of harmful tax practices on developing countries.

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WATCH THE CONFERENCE LIVE

Weekly overviewBrussels 04.12.2009

cc: Photo EP- Architecte: Ass. architectes du CIC : VandVanden Bossche sprl, C.R.V. s.a., CDG sprl,

Brussels Agenda

Greens/EFA priorities and events 7-11 December 2009

Greens/European Free Alliance major priorities for next week are the COP15 UN climate change conference in Copenhagen and the EU summit of heads of state and government in Brussels. Greens/EFA events also include a presentation of a study on CO2 reduction targets and joint conferences on tax and development, Afghanisant and Opensource and free software.

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Listen to Greens/EFA interventions

Plenary round-upBrussels 26.11.2009

Sunflower

Greens/EFA Round-up 23-26 November 2009

Debriefing of the plenary session in Strasbourg

Greens/EFA priorities for the session included the Stockholm Programme, the preparation for the Copenhagen climate summit, the EU enlargement strategy, the reports on Europol, the vote on the conciliation agreement on telecoms legislation, the resolution on elimination of violence against women, the report on the European Year of Volunteering (2011) and the resolution on China and the rights of minorities.

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Press releases26.11.2009

Copyright : Benoit Beauregard

EU-USA

Delay call for bank data transfer agreement - Political latecomers make SWIFT U-turn

Amid concerns over data protection and citizens' rights, the European Parliament's political group leaders are joining the Greens' call for the EU Council to delay its decision on a bank data transfer agreement with the USA.

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Press releases25.11.2009

climate effect

Climate change

EU Parliament calls for EU to raise its game before Copenhagen

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution that sets out its stance on the EU strategy going into international climate talks in Copenhagen. Key points include a call for €30 billion climate financing per year from the EU to developing countries and reference to scientists' recommendations for the EU to achieve 40% emissions reductions by 2020.

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Press releasesStrasbourg 25.11.2009

Women's envoy

10th UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

EU needs zero tolerance strategy for violence against women

On the occasion of the 10th UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the EU Parliament will debate and vote on a resolution on the issue. The Greens/EFA welcome that the EU Parliament is set to call for a clear, EU-wide legal basis to combat all forms of violence against women.

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See also
Read also

Plenary FlashStrasbourg 20.11.2009

Plenary Strasbourg - Picture credit : Photo European Parliament - Architectes : Architecture Studio

Strasbourg Flash

Greens/EFA priorities for the 23-26 November EU Parliament plenary

Greens/EFA priorities include the Stockholm Programme that covers many justice and home affairs issues including immigration and asylum. Preparation for the Copenhagen climate summit will also be a major point in the agenda. The EU enlargement strategy and a vote on the conciliation agreement on telecoms legislation (including internet users' rights) will also be key points of interest.

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Press releases19.11.2009

European Union - Copyright: Alexander Briel

EU summit

EU leaders choose low profile names for EU top jobs

The Greens/EFA Group Co-Presidents react to EU leaders' decision to nominate Belgian PM Herman van Rompuy as the first EU Council President and Commissioner Catherine Ashton as EU high representative for foreign and security policy.

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EVENTSBrussels 19.11.2009

Mexican cross - Copyright: Cecilia Lim

¡Ni una muerta más!

A conference about feminicide - State of play and perspectives

Feminicide is the most brutal form of violence against women. The killing of women is an immense problem, especially (but not only) in Mexico and Central America. In view of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, this is the right moment to take stock of the situation.

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DOCUMENTATION

Press releases18.11.2009

Solar panelled building - Copyright: Kelvin Wakefield

Energy efficient buildings

EU lays foundation for buildings of the future but misses towering opportunity to convert buildings of the past

A political agreement has been reached on rules for "nearly zero energy" buildings after 2018 for new public buildings and after 2020 for other new buildings. But Council rejected calls to fund a new programme that would have boosted renovation of existing buildings, reduced CO2 emissions and created new jobs.

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SEE ALSO

 

COP 15

Copenhagen climate talks to be a cop out?

New blog on www.stopclimatechange.net

The writing had been on the wall for some time but, over the course of US president Obama's visit to Asia this weekend, it was publicly confirmed that the UN climate summit in Copenhagen (COP15) this December will fall short. It will not deliver a comprehensive binding international climate change treaty for the post-2012 period. What now?

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Press releasesBrussels 17.11.2009

50 years of women's rights in the EU

Gender balance

Cross-party MEPs call for more women in EU top jobs

MEPs from five of the European Parliament's political groups held a press conference to call upon EU leaders to nominate more women candidates for the new European Commission and EU top jobs. So far only three of the 27 Member States have confirmed they will nominate a woman for a European Commission post.

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See

Press releases16.11.2009

Bluefin tuna fish

Bluefin tuna

EU complicit as ICCAT signs bluefin tuna death warrant behind closed doors

After nine days of backroom negotiations, the EU put forward a fishing quota proposal for bluefin tuna that is set to continue its slide towards extinction. Greens/EFA Vice-President Raül Romeva commented from the meeting in Recife.

more » | en | es |

EVENTS16.11.2009

EU funds

Climate change: Incoherent cohesion policy?

EU structural and cohesion funds

Ahead of a 17 November conference, Green MEP Elisabeth Schroedter comments on the contradictions between EU climate goals and its investment of cohesion and structural funds into projects that often run contrary to them.

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Conference programme

Weekly overviewBrussels 16.11.2009

cc: Photo EP- Architecte: Ass. architectes du CIC : VandVanden Bossche sprl, C.R.V. s.a., CDG sprl,

Brussels Agenda

Greens/EFA Group agenda priorities and events 16-20 November 2009

Greens/European Free Alliance priorities and events for next week include the Special summit of EU leaders due to decide on EU top posts, the trialogue on energy efficiciency and the EU-Russia Summit. In this context, Greens/EFA organise the screening of the documentary 'Letter to Anna' which pays tribute to Anna Politkovskaya and the struggle for democracy and human rights in Russia.

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See also

Weekly overview06.11.2009

Hemicycle - Photo European Parliament - Architecte : Association des architectes du CIC

Brussels Agenda

Greens/EFA Group agenda priorities and events 9-12 November 2009

Greens/European Free Alliance priorities and events for next week include the ICCAT meeting on bluefin tuna in Brazil, the EU Parliament mini plenary session and a joint committee vote on the Stockholm programme.

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