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Here are today's highlights of the 33rd European Green Party Council

Today, the 33rd European Green Party Council was officially opened. Here are the highlights of the day with links to re-watch the different sessions.

If you'd like to follow tomorrow's live sessions at the council, set yourself a reminder on YouTube (Petra de Sutter's keynote; Plenary Session: Climate and Biodiversity). All livestreams can also be found on the EGP website.

As Green parties have grown as a political force, they face increasing attacks from across the political spectrum. Competitors caricature the Greens, aiming to make people believe that they are not ready to govern. In the Plenary Session ‘Caricaturing the Greens: A desperate move from competitors?’ we discussed and challenged these stereotypes.

The Parallel Sessions featured discussions about biometric mass surveillance, the Greens' approach to developments in the European climate law and Fit-for-2030 Package, and the ongoing campaigns of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament.

In the much-awaited conversation between Annalena Baerbock and Vula Tsetsi, the candidate for the German Chancellorship revealed her plans for the country and how she envisions a Green post-pandemic Europe. 

Opening of #EGP33

The council was officially opened by Evelyne Huytebroeck, Co-Chair of European Greens, Meyrem Almaci, Co-chair of Groen, and Rajae Maouane, Co-chair of Ecolo. Their speeches emphasised the importance of this year for climate and the need for good ideas, expertise, and a growing Green presence to ensure that the EU doesn’t step back from its commitments.

Annelena Baerbock in conversation with Vula Tsetsi

In the keynote session of the day, Annalena Baerbock was interviewed by Vula Tsetsi, a Committee member of the European Greens and Secretary-General of the Greens/EFA Group. They discussed the need for leadership during and after this crisis, especially in the context of the European Union.

“We are in the aftermath of the Eurocrisis of 2009, people are dying in the Mediterranean, and now a pandemic. Europe is crisis after crisis. People are looking at which Europe we can build, and how you could shape the project of the EU,” – Vula Tsetsi

Annalena highlighted the crossroads that we are at and emphasised the need for not only a carbon-neutral but also a just and fair economy: “We have everything in our hands to build a better future together”, she says. 

In their conversation, they further touched on a variety of issues, including foreign policy, human rights and the rule of law: "Challenges to the rule of law do not only concern some Eastern European countries. There are also democratic parties who support undemocratic parties in other countries. We must stand for European values in north, south, east and west." – Annalena Baerbock

In her closing remarks, Annalena pointed at the people’s demand for change: “There is a movement that is all over Europe, if not all over the world. There is a big majority that says: We need change, and we need change now.” – Annalena Baerbock

Green stereotypes were discussed between Green leaders Maria Ohisalo, Philippe Lamberts, Sandra Benčić, Grégory Doucet, Terry Reintke, and Ernest Urtasun who were interviewed by journalists Tonia Mastrobuoni, Rokhaya Diallo and Erika Solomon. Through a series of discussions, they deconstructed assumptions about the Greens and spoke, among other issues, about their position on human rights, minority rights and foreign policy.

Save The Green Deal - Street and Online Action

Over the last few months, key pieces of the Green Deal have been watered down. But we still have a chance to Save the Green Deal. We, the green family, must continue taking the lead in acting on climate change. Today, we held a street action virtually and in person at Monts des Arts in Brussels to #SaveTheGreenDeal. To take part in the action remotely, take a selfie with our protest filter (Instagram; Facebook), share it with #SaveTheGreenDeal to your story or your feed and tag us!

#EGP33 on Twitter

We are live-Tweeting throughout #EGP33! Follow us on Twitter @europeangreens and use the official #EGP33 hashtag. 

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