The delegation, led by Matthias Groote (S&D, DE) will push for binding commitments and seek to facilitate an agreement through exchanges with other elected representatives. In a resolution voted in October, the European Parliament reiterated the EU's offer to increase its emission reduction target to 30% by 2020 if other major emitting countries commit themselves to comparable goals.
Delegation MEPs will discuss negotiations with the European Commission and the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers and meet their counterparts from other parliaments, as well as local and international NGO representatives.
"As a European Parliament delegation, our job is to discuss with as many parties (NGOs, delegations) as possible. We already have an agreement to cut our emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. We are on track to achieve this, and are ready to raise our ambition. This is a message we can sell" said Matthias Groote (S&D, DE).
"We want real pledges from all regions in the world. We want to move forward now and not in 2018 or 2020. We have to keep Paris 2015 in mind, and we have to push for binding commitments from developing countries too. We also need more financial support from developed countries" he added.
"The time of countries passing the buck to each other has gone"
"Warsaw is no easy COP, because it is an intermediate one" said EP delegation vice-chair Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP, DE). "'Who will do what when?' is the question we need to ask every nation. The time of the 'After you, Sir' syndrome, with countries passing the buck to each other, is long gone".
"I hope that the presence of the EP delegation can facilitate an agreement. We have often seen that an exchange between elected representatives is easier than among heads of state and government. I am also sure that the EU – with its experience in decision-making – can really provide useful contributions" he added.
Press conference
Delegation chair Matthias Groote will hold a joint press conference with EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard on Wednesday, 20 November 10h (CET), National Stadium, Warsaw (or via livestream on the UNFCCC website.)
Warsaw meeting
COP 19 is the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All governments that are party to the Convention are represented at the COP, where they review and promote the implementation of the Convention.
COMPOSITION OF THE EP OFFICIAL DELEGATION
TO COP 19 - WARSAW
1. Mr Matthias GROOTE (S&D)
2. Mr Karl-Heinz FLORENZ (EPP)
3. Mr Peter LIESE (EPP)
4. Ms Romana JORDAN (EPP)
5. Ms Elisabetta GARDINI (EPP)
6. Mr Dan JØRGENSEN (S&D)
7. Mr Kriton ARSENIS (S&D)
8. Ms Corinne LEPAGE (ALDE)
9. Mr Bas EICKHOUT (GREENS/EFA)
10. Mr Tadeusz CYMAŃSKI (EFD)
REF. : 20131115IPR24738
