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Most viewed in Environment
ETS directive: 610 votes for, 60 against, 29 abstentions.
Effort-sharing decision: 555 votes for, 93 against, 60 abstentions.
Carbon capture and storage directive: 623 votes for, 68 votes against, 22 abstentions.
Renewables directive: 635 votes for, 25 against, 25 abstentions.
CO2 and cars regulation: 559 votes for, 98 against, 60 abstentions.
Fuel-quality directive: 670 votes for, 20 against, 25 abstentions
Thanks to the vote in the European Parliament today, Europe is putting itself on the frontline in the fight to save the environment, and will assume its role as a world leader in this field at the Copenhagen summit in 2009.
Joseph Daul, (French) Chairman of the EPP group
The deal strikes a proper balance between safeguarding jobs and acting effectively on climate change.
Martin Schulz, (German) Socialist Group President (13 December).
Today's approved climate package has been hailed as ‘historic' by some, but it remains to be seen how history will judge today's vote. It is at least a step forward, if not the giant leap Greens were hoping for.”
Monica Frassoni, (Italian) Co-President of the Greens/ European Free Alliance.
The package approved by the Parliament, which was severely weakened due to the selfishness of Member States and to pressures exerted by industry, is nonetheless a step forward because it provides some innovative answers on issues such as renewable energies and places Europe in the vanguard at world level.
Roberto Musacchio, Italian member of the Left (GUE/NGL) group.
The EU's climate and energy package is part of the solution both to the climate crisis and to the current economic and financial crisis. It represents a green ‘new deal' which will enhance the competitiveness of EU industry in an increasingly carbon-constrained world.
José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President.
There has been some tough negotiation and some long nights of debate, but the result is a truly remarkable piece of legislation which puts the EU on track towards a low-carbon energy economy in which renewable energy sources play a key role.
Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner
This weak and watered-down climate package will do little to boost the EU's
leadership on climate change...Climate change is already knocking at the door - but our politicians are struggling to come up with an answer.
Robin Webster, Friends of the Earth
It is true that this is a historic decision. But I am still concerned about the cost effect on European companies which have already done a great deal to reduce emissions and to increase energy efficiency.
Philippe de Buck, BusinessEurope
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