Brussels, 14 June 2022 – Two key European Parliament committees have voted to cut off a vital flow of cash for Putin’s war machine by rejecting the European Commission’s controversial plan to give fossil gas and nuclear energy a sustainable label under the EU’s green investment guidelines, known as taxonomy. 

76 MEPs from the economic affairs and environment committees voted against greenwashing gas and nuclear, with 62 votes in favour and 4 abstentions. 

The joint committee vote comes as Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun and Ukrainian environmental groups warned MEPs that adding gas and nuclear energy to the EU taxonomy would be a “gift” to Putin, funding the invasion of Ukraine. 

Before the vote took place, Greenpeace EU volunteers demonstrated outside the European Parliament building in Brussels, holding props depicting Russian president Vladimir Putin, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the heads of Gazprom and Rosatom, and lobbyists for the gas and nuclear industries as nesting Russian dolls. 

HIGH QUALITY PHOTO AND VIDEO OF THE ACTIVITY AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA HERE

Greenpeace EU sustainable finance campaigner Ariadna Rodrigo said: “MEPs stood with Ukraine today by voting to stop feeding Putin’s war machine with more money and inflaming the climate and nature crisis. After more than 100 days of this devastating war, the European Parliament must now once and for all reject the greenwashing of fossil gas and nuclear energy in July. Do not give this shameful gift to Putin and his lobbyists.”

Greenpeace France published a detailed investigation in May exposing how much money Russian companies connected to the regime stand to gain from the EU Commission’s plans to greenwash gas and nuclear, and how they used subsidiaries and lobbyists to influence the decision to add gas and nuclear to the EU taxonomy. 

Next steps

The joint committees’ motion to reject the EU Commission’s plan to greenwash gas and nuclear will now be voted on by the European Parliament in a plenary session between 4 and 7 July. The exact date and time of the vote has not been confirmed. 

Greenpeace will be on the ground in Strasbourg during the July plenary vote, joining a large mobilisation of climate activists and environmental campaigners from all over Europe and beyond against the greenwashing of fossil gas and nuclear energy. 

Contacts:

Ariadna Rodrigo, Greenpeace EU sustainable finance campaigner [email protected]  

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.

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