S4: Draft Minutes 34th EGP Council, 30 Nov-4 Dec 2021

Draft Minutes

Saturday 4 Dec 2021

Plenary

Welcome speeches

9:00 - 9:15

Speakers:

EGP Co-chair Thomas Waitz opens the session by remarking the disappointment the
EGP Committee felt at taking the decision to hold an online Council rather than
a physical one. He underlines the general worsening health situation and takes
the occasion to give a shout out to Green Ministers, mayors and vice mayors who
are at the front line of managing the health emergency.

He remarks that the original decision to hold the Council in Budapest was linked
to the rule of law situation in Hungary, where EU fundamental values are at
stake. He calls on Greens to fight to restore and protect these values.

He concludes by wishing good luck to the entire democratic opposition in Hungary
(including EGP member party LMP and partner Párbeszéd) who is joining forces for
the upcoming elections to defend democracy.

EGP Co-chair Evelyne Huytebroeck takes the floor. She recalls that Greens are in
government in several countries, the most recent being the Scottish and German
ones. In particular, she remarks that Germany will be an important opportunity
for Greens the world over. She admits there are challenges for Greens in
government especially when not in majority, but underlines the important role
they can play, for instance when Green Ministers cooperate in the EU Council
meetings, cooperation which the EGP is facilitating, jointly with Greens/EFA in
the EP.

She remarks the importance of EGP’s cooperation with Green member parties at all
levels. She claims Greens wish to become the first-choice party for citizens.

She mentions the recent COP26 and the presence of the Green family in Glasgow.
She discusses how the climate crisis is strictly linked to the ongoing pandemic,
to the refugee crisis, and that a fight against climate change is also a fight
for social and economic justice, as well as international cooperation.

She concludes by stating the European Greens’ clear commitment to continue this
fight both in institutions and on the streets, alongside citizens, together with
Green member parties and partners. She thanks the participants and EGP staff.

Plenary

Compromise Amendments Session 7 (CAS)

9:15 – 10:00

Moderators:

Mar Garcia welcomes participants and explains that during the CAS 7, delegates
will be given the chance to speak in favour or against specific amendments to be
voted, as it is not technically possible to do so during the voting session.

She announces that the Andorran Green Party withdrew their membership and that
the suspension of voting rights for Partidul Verde (Romania) has been
terminated, as their legal situation has been restored. This means that the
actual number of allocated votes amounts to 124.

She concludes, mentioning that regular relations with the member parties were
upheld even if mainly online, and that the 2021 European Ideas Lab (EIL) was
successfully held physically in Milan, as well as the Balkan meeting in
Montenegro.

Mélanie Vogel announces that a compromise has been found for amendment 3 on the
emergency resolution on the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border
(R12). Leaving two votes on the compromise texts for Amendments 10 and 14 in
Resolution 03 on Western Balkans. She reiterates that delegates will take the
floor to speak in favour or against amendments during CAS 7.

Compromise text for Amendment 10 tabled by Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Germany)

Terry Reintke (Germany) speaks in favour of the compromise text, to acknowledge
steps made by Albania and North Macedonia, and to push the EU to actively engage
with the whole Western Balkans region for reasons of stability and the EU’s
credibility.

Zaritsa Dinkova (Bulgaria) speaks against, as the word “directly” is considered
unacceptable on the basis of the European Council procedures. She also remarks
that North Macedonia does not ensure fundamental rights of citizens of Bulgarian
self-identity.

Ana Ugrinska (North Macedonia)is given the floor to remark the wish not to
discuss human rights issues in the current setting.

Compromise text for Amendment 14 by GroenLinks (Netherlands)

Elias Papatheodorou (Greece) speaks in favour, to send a signal that Greens
should support the positive steps forward.

Zaritsa Dinkova (Bulgaria) speaks against and flags that the word “bilaterally”
is problematic for the Bulgarian Greens.

Dobromira Grigorova (Bulgaria) is given the floor to remark that the Bulgarian
Greens will opt out of the resolution if the two compromise amendments are
adopted in the voting session.

R12 - Emergency resolution on the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian
border

Mélanie Vogel shares the compromise text on the screen for Amendment 3 tabled by
GroenLinks (Netherlands), as formulated jointly by GroenLinks and the Austrian
Greens.

Plenary

Financial reporting and Activity Plan 2022

10:00 - 10:30

Speakers:

Ute Michel presents the draft budget 2022. She starts by saying that the
budgetary year 2021 was again dominated by the impact of the Covid pandemic. We
continued implementing online activities and improved the online experience for
participants. The number of staff was increased by recruiting a dedicated
digital team as planned and budgeted, and organised two physical events (EIL in
Milan; Balkan Network meeting). The Committee continued having online Committee
meetings throughout the year. As can be seen in the draft Activity Plan 2022, we
are taking forward the best of both worlds with both digital activities and
physical events next year. The draft budget 2022 was built accordingly.

She continues that this is the second budget after 2021 with a considerable
carry-over from the previous year, and like 2021, we are presenting our total
budget 2022 in two parts: the core budget for the EP grant application 2021 and
the carry-over budget, consisting of additional expenditure based on the unspent
amount we carry over from 2020/21, with additional own resources to fund this.

The budget is balanced with a total of 7.472.934 EUR income and expenditure. The
income consists of the EP grant of 4,47 Mio EUR, a carry-over from 2021 of 2,1
Mio EUR (estimation from mid-October) and a withdrawal from funds of 233.000 EUR
(of which 225.000 EUR from the Congress Fund and 8.000 EUR from the Operational
Reserve). There will be a provision to the Campaign Fund of 100.000 EUR.

All other funds remain unchanged. The new total in funds will be 773.997 EUR
(2021: 906.997 EUR)

Income from membership fees will be 485.000 EUR (2021: 481.000 EUR), with the
fees being similar for most parties as in 2021. Ute points to the separate
document on the membership fees with details for each member party. Minor
adjustments due to changes in the economic coefficient for some countries and
some bigger changes due to good or bad election results were accounted for. She
holds that the current membership fee structure is working well overall.

Ute finally informs that there is currently some uncertainty over the
contributions from our non-EU member parties.

There have not been any amendments submitted to the financial documents to be
voted on, and the FAB issued a positive statement on the draft budget.

Hence, the Committee proposes to the 34^th EGP Council to adopt the draft budget
2022, including:

- withdrawing 225.000 EUR from the Congress Fund and 8.000 EUR from the
Operational Reserve,
- putting 100.000 EUR into the Campaign Fund,
- adopting the draft membership fees 2022 as proposed.

Mar Garcia gives the floor to EGP Committee member Oras Tynkkynen (Finland)about
the resolutions discussed in the CAS sessions 2, 4 and 6 he chaired. He asks the
delegates to read the proposed consolidated resolution texts, as there may be
textual and grammar changes.

Mar Garcia presents the Activity Plan 2022, which has received no amendments.

She states that the EGP has the will to resume physical events but also foster
online activities. The EGP will invest in further Policy Lab initiatives and in
the Local Councilors project, including the online platform and a conference in
Valencia.

She mentions that the Greens in Government project will continue, jointly with
Greens/EFA in EP, and that there will be a Party Leaders’ Meeting taking place
online after the winter break.

She informs that the Climate and the Green Recovery campaigns will continue, and
that there will be a trans-feminist campaign as well (jointly with the
Federation of Young European Greens). Other projects that will continue include
the research project on the European Green electorate, the fundraising project,
Tilt!, European Ideas Lab (jointly with Greens/EFA in EP), networks, the Green
Talking Heads podcasts, the Green Screens project. She adds that the EGP is in
process of revamping its website.

She concludes that the EGP will start to get ready for the 2024 EU elections,
and that it will continue its cooperation with partners (Federation of Young
European Greens, Green European Foundation, Greens/EFA), as well as its
engagement with the European Movement International.

The delegates are asked to go to the online voting platform.

Plenary

Voting Session

10:45 – 13:30

Moderators:

Mar Garcia informs the participants about the chat option and technical support
available. Then she calls for a test vote, resulting in 107 votes cast. She
explains the technical voting functionalities of the new platform.

She announces that the allocated votes are 124 after the acknowledgment of the
withdrawal of the membership of the Andorran Greens, and the restoring of the
vote of the Romanian Greens, as announced in CAS 7.

She calls for a quorum test vote: 106 votes cast. She states the majorities to
be applied: a simple majority amounts to 63 votes; 3/4 of the allocated votes
amount to 93 votes (75%); 2/3 of the allocated votes amount to 83 votes (66.6%).
The quorum is reached.

34^th Online Council meeting rules

Mar Garcia opens the vote on Amendment 1 tabled by the EGP Committee and
accepted in the CAS. Result: 109 votes cast, 109 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0
against. The amendment is accepted unanimously.

Mar Garcia opens the vote on the 34th Online Council meeting rules as amended.
Result: 109 votes cast, 109 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The 34^th Online
Council meeting rules as amended are adopted unanimously.

Updated Membership List (Annex B of the EGP Statutes)

Mar Garcia remarks that the main changes in the membership list concern the name
change of Federazione dei Verdi (Italy) into Europa Verde – Verdi; the addition
of Catalunya en Comú (Spain) as candidate member party; membership withdrawal of
the Andorran Green Party and changes in the list of Special Members. She adds
that the required majority is 3/4 of the cast votes.

Mar Garcia opens the vote on the updated Membership List (Annex B) as presented.
Results: 111 votes cast, 111 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The updated
Membership List (Annex B) is adopted as presented unanimously.

Draft Minutes of the 33^rd Online EGP Council, 25-29 May 2021

Mar Garcia opens the vote on Amendment 1 tabled by Miljöpartiet de gröna
(Sweden) and accepted in the CAS. Results: 112 votes cast, 110 in favour, 2
abstentions, 0 against. The amendment is accepted.

Mar Garcia opens the vote on the draft minutes of the 33^rd online EGP Council as
amended. Results: 110 votes cast, 109 in favour, 1 abstention, 0 against. The
draft minutes of the 33^rd online EGP Council as amended are adopted.

Update of the EGP Rule Book on physical Council proceedings

Mar Garcia opens the vote on the EGP Committee update of the EGP Rule Book on
physical Council proceedings as presented. Results: 115 votes cast, 113 in
favour, 2 abstentions, 0 against. The update to the EGP Rule Book on physical
Council proceedings as presented is adopted.

Online Meeting Rules (Annex P)

Mar Garcia opens the vote on Online meeting rules (Annex P) for the EGP Rule
Book as presented. Results: 115 votes cast, 114 in favour, 1 abstention, 0
against. The Online meeting rules (Annex P) as presented are adopted.

Finances package – Budget and Membership Fees 2022

Mar Garcia opens the vote on Budget and Membership Fees 2022 as presented.
Results: 116 votes cast, 115 in favour, 1 abstention, 0 against. The Budget and
Membership Fees 2022 as presented are adopted.

Activity Plan 2022

Mar Garcia opens the vote on the Activity Plan 2022 as presented. Results: 115
votes cast, 115 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The Activity Plan 2022 as
presented is adopted unanimously.

Mar Garcia hands the moderation to Mélanie Vogel to chair the voting of the
resolutions.

R01 Resolution “Anti-corruption, transparency and participation need to be at
the heart of distributing EU funds”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
119 votes cast, 119 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “Anti-corruption, transparency and participation
need to be at the heart of distributing EU funds” are accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 119 votes cast, 119 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“Anti-corruption, transparency and participation need to be at the heart of
distributing EU funds” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R02 Resolution “A common position on Afghanistan”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
116 votes cast, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise amendments to the
resolution “A common position on Afghanistan” are accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 117 votes cast, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution “A common
position on Afghanistan” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R03 Resolution “Upholding the prospect of EU integration of the Western Balkans”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on compromise amendments and already
accepted in CAS. Results: 119 votes cast, 119 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0
against. The compromise amendments to the resolution “Upholding the prospect of
EU integration of the Western Balkans” already accepted in CAS are accepted
unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the compromise text for Amendment 10 tabled by
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (DE). Results: 117 votes cast, 109 in favour, 7
abstentions, 1 against. The compromise text for Amendment 10 to the resolution
“Upholding the prospect of EU integration of the Western Balkans” is accepted.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the compromise text for Amendment 14 tabled by
GroenLinks (NL). Results: 118 votes cast, 103 in favour, 11 abstentions, 4
against. The compromise text for Amendment 14 to the resolution “Upholding the
prospect of EU integration of the Western Balkans” is accepted.

Mélanie Vogel mentions that, as both amendments have been accepted, the decision
of the Bulgarian Greens to opt out is noted in the resolution and in these
official Council minutes.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 115 votes cast, 113 in favour, 1 abstention, 1 against. The resolution
“Upholding the prospect of EU integration of the Western Balkans” as amended is
adopted.

R04 Resolution “Future relations with Russia must be based on values, the rule
of law and fundamental rights”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
116 votes cast, 115 in favour, 1 abstention, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “Future relations with Russia must be based on
values, the rule of law and fundamental rights” are accepted.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 110 votes cast, 110 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“Future relations with Russia must be based on values, the rule of law and
fundamental rights” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R05 Resolution “European solidarity for Lebanon”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
108 votes cast, 108 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “European solidarity for Lebanon” are accepted
unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 110 votes cast, 110 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“European solidarity for Lebanon” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R06 Resolution “Fortress Europe? No thanks!”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
118 votes cast, 113 in favour, 5 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “Fortress Europe? No thanks!” are accepted.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 118 votes cast, 113 in favour, 5 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“Fortress Europe? No thanks!” as amended is adopted.

R07 Resolution “European leadership for global climate action”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
118 votes cast, 118 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “European leadership for global climate action” are
accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 118 votes cast, 118 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“European leadership for global climate action” as amended is adopted
unanimously.

R08 Resolution “Building resilient Green municipalities of the future”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
115 votes cast, 115 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “Building resilient Green municipalities of the
future” are accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 107 votes cast, 107 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“Building resilient Green municipalities of the future” as amended is adopted
unanimously.

R09 Resolution “Towards better implementation of European environmental
legislation”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
117 votes cast, 113 in favour, 4 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “Towards better implementation of European
environmental legislation” are accepted.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 114 votes cast, 113 in favour, 1 abstention, 0 against. The resolution
“Towards better implementation of European environmental legislation” as amended
is adopted.

R10 Resolution “ENERGY POVERTY: A just energy transition of European regions
means energy poverty eradication”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
115 votes cast, 115 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “ENERGY POVERTY: A just energy transition of
European regions means energy poverty eradication” are accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 115 votes cast, 115 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“ENERGY POVERTY: A just energy transition of European regions means energy
poverty eradication” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R11 Resolution “For an industrial role for electric cars serving the climate,
employment, the environment and social justice”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
116 votes cast, 116 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the resolution “For an industrial role for electric cars serving
the climate, employment, the environment and social justice” are accepted
unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 117 votes cast, 117 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The resolution
“For an industrial role for electric cars serving the climate, employment, the
environment and social justice” as amended is adopted unanimously.

R12 Emergency resolution “End the humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian
border”

Mélanie Vogel calls for a bloc vote on amendments compromised in CAS. Results:
116 votes cast, 116 in favour, 0 abstentions, 0 against. The compromise
amendments to the emergency resolution “End the humanitarian crisis on the
Polish-Belarusian border” are accepted unanimously.

Mélanie Vogel opens the vote on the final text of the resolution as amended.
Results: 117 votes cast, 116 in favour, 1 abstention, 0 against. The resolution
“End the humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border” as amended is
adopted.

Mélanie Vogel concludes by thanking all delegates for the very cooperative work
and gives the floor back to Mar Garcia.

It is remarked a posteriori that two votes of the Green Party of England and
Wales (UK), out of the allocated 8, could not be counted throughout most of the
voting session due to technical issues.

Closing speech

Speaker

Mar Garcia encourages delegates to join the online get-together organised by
Ville Elonheimo (Finland), and she announces that the next EGP Congress is
taking place on 2-4 December 2022, with the location yet to be confirmed.

She thanks the participants for joining the online Council and the EGP staff for
the great work of organising it. She reiterates the commitment of the European
Greens to support the political endeavour of EGP member party LMP and partner
Parbeszéd in Hungary, whom she also thanks for their efforts in preparing the
physical Council.

Mar Garcia states that two major events took place in the Green world in the
last few months: COP26 and the German Greens’ government agreement, for which
she congratulates the party and that the coalition in Germany will be very
significant for Greens everywhere.

She claims that Greens are showing political realism and maturing. She continues
that today there is a double challenge ahead, that of the post-COVID recovery
and of the energy transition, which must be just, as climate policies have
economic repercussions. She argues that, unless the social dimension of the
transition is taken into account, climate policies may become a battleground for
nationalist and populist forces and fossil fuel lobbies, and governments may
attempt to resort to nuclear energy.

She remarks that the choice of Budapest as Council host city was taken in order
to support the opposition alliance, which has a real chance to defeat the
current government. She recalls that, next to Viktor Orbán, there are other
illiberal leaders across the EU, and that Greens are committed to fighting for
freedom and for the rule of law.

Mar Garcia concludes by informing the participants that the next EGP Council is
planned to take place in Riga (Latvia), on 3-5 June 2022, depending on the COVID
situation.