How to watch the Committee on Petitions (PETI)

Commission response and political positions on air quality enforcement

Murielle Laurent and 2 others

The Commission explains how the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive strengthens alignment with WHO guidelines and enforcement tools, while stressing member‑state responsibility and available peer‑learning instruments. MEPs from different groups then criticise persistent implementation gaps, call for stronger enforcement, access to justice and protection of green funding, and the expert closes by questioning the speed and effectiveness of infringement procedures and underlining the economic cost of air pollution.

In this chapter

1. Commission reaction: new Air Quality Directive and enforcement tools
2. Political group debate: implementation gaps, right to clean air and fundingMurielle Laurent
3. Expert’s closing remarks on infringement and costs

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Introduction to PETI item on EU air pollution

Bogdan Rzońca ECR

The Chair closes preliminary business with a tribute to a former PETI administrator, formally opens agenda item 6 and gives the floor for the presentation of the EU air‑pollution study, which sets out the legal framework, non‑compliance issues and PETI’s role. The expert then details health impacts, Directive 2008/50, reasons for member‑state non‑compliance, national best practices and EU‑level recommendations including alignment with WHO standards and considering a right to clean air.

In this chapter

1. Tribute to PETI staff member and introduction of EU air pollution studyBogdan Rzońca
2. Air pollution study: legal framework, non‑compliance and PETI’s role
3. Air pollution study: national best practices and EU‑level recommendationsBogdan Rzońca

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Petition 2184/2025: Croatian Drava ‘Green Pampas’ project

Bogdan Rzońca and 4 others

The petitioner details concerns about massive concreting on the Osijek Drava riverbank in overlapping Natura 2000 and protected areas, while DG Environment explains applicable EU law and national assessments, and MEPs weigh public‑interest claims against environmental risks before agreeing to keep the petition open, seek a written Commission reply and send a letter to Croatian authorities.

In this chapter

1. Petition 2184/2025: Croatian ‘Green Pampas’ riverfront concrete projectBogdan Rzońca
2. Commission (DG ENV): assessment of Osijek Drava river project
3. MEPs’ positions on Petition 2184: Natura 2000 vs urban projectElena Nevado del Campo
4. Petitioner’s rebuttal, PETI decision and letter to Croatian authoritiesDamien Carême

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Petition 1161/2024: Commission assessment and political accountability

Bogdan Rzońca and 3 others

DG Environment sets out the EU legal framework for EIAs, SEAs and Natura 2000 in relation to the Maestrazgo wind cluster, followed by MEPs’ debate on project splitting, corruption allegations and limits of EU competences, culminating in a politically charged exchange on Spanish accountability and the decision to keep the petition open and request an updated Commission reply.

In this chapter

1. Commission (DG ENV): legal position on Spanish renewable projectsBogdan Rzońca
2. MEPs’ positions on Petition 1161: renewables, corruption and EU lawBorja Giménez Larraz
3. Spanish political accountability debate and petition outcomeBogdan Rzońca

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Opening of PETI meeting and introduction of Spanish petition

Bogdan Rzońca and 1 other

The Chair opens the PETI meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, sets interpretation and speaking‑time rules, and introduces Petition 1161/2024 concerning alleged breaches of EU environmental law in Spanish renewable projects in a Natura 2000 area.

In this chapter

1. Opening of PETI meeting and agenda adoptionBogdan Rzońca
2. Petition 1161/2024: Maestrazgo wind cluster and EU environmental directivesBorja Giménez Larraz

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EU transport infrastructure: Pyrenees base tunnel and Seville metro

Bogdan Rzońca and 1 other

Spanish petitioners and MEPs advocate for including a Central Pyrenees base tunnel in the CEF3 indicative list within the TEN‑T framework and for stronger EU support to expand Seville’s metro network under cohesion policy, as the Commission explains network/CEF prioritisation, shared management of ERDF and the need to mature projects to access future EU funding envelopes.

In this chapter

1. Central Pyrenees railway base tunnel and CEF indicative listBogdan Rzońca
2. Seville metro network: cohesion funding and regional responsibilitiesBogdan Rzońca

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Fundamental rights: Swedish data publication and Belarus sanctions

Bogdan Rzońca and 2 others

Members first examine a petition on Swedish ‘publisher licence’ data websites and the balance between GDPR and press freedom, in light of an ongoing CJEU case and national reforms, then turn to a petition on Raiffeisen Bank’s activities in Russia and Belarus, discussing the scope of the Charter, corporate due diligence rules and human‑rights sanctions listings while agreeing to keep the petition open for further Commission and Council consideration.

In this chapter

1. Petition on Swedish public data websites and GDPR/press freedomBogdan Rzońca
2. Belarus: Raiffeisen Bank, sanctions and corporate due diligenceBogdan Rzońca

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Spain: housing rights, squatting and victims’ electronic monitoring

Murielle Laurent and 4 others

The committee hears Spanish petitions on illegal occupation and tenant squatting in the context of COVID‑era eviction rules and on defective anti‑approach bracelets for domestic violence cases financed by EU funds, with the Commission outlining EU competences and applicable directives while MEPs debate Spanish government responsibility, property and victims’ rights, EU funds oversight and the need for fact‑finding and keeping the files open.

In this chapter

1. Spanish petitions: illegal occupation of dwellings and tenant squattingMurielle Laurent
2. Spain: defective anti-approach bracelets and victims’ rightsElena Nevado del Campo

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Coordinators’ decisions and environmental noise mandate

Alex Agius Saliba S&D

The Chair reports coordinators’ decisions on pending and future petitions, agenda planning, hearings and follow‑up instruments, then the committee examines Malta’s implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive, with the study author, Commission and Maltese MEPs addressing legal conformity, implementation delays, scope gaps and possible future EU‑level revisions.

In this chapter

1. Coordinators’ decisions and future PETI agenda
2. Study on Malta’s implementation of the Environmental Noise DirectiveAlex Agius Saliba

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Spanish citrus petition: political positions and committee decision

Maria Zacharia and 3 others

Final exchange on the Spanish citrus petition with S&D and Patriots for Europe outlining contrasting views on EU trade, Green Deal constraints, phytosanitary controls and budget needs, followed by the petitioner’s closing appeal and the chair’s decision to keep the petition open, request Commission monitoring, and refer the file to ENVI (and AGRI).

In this chapter

1. S&D – support for citrus petition and budget linkSandra Gómez López
2. Patriots for Europe – criticism of EU trade and control regimeMireia Borrás Pabón
3. Petitioner’s closing appeal and committee follow‑upMaria Zacharia

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Citrus pests petition: farmers’ demands and Commission’s import regime

Spanish citrus growers present losses and six demands on phytosanitary controls, while the Commission details the current EU plant‑health, cold‑treatment and pesticide‑residue regime, disputes claims of laxer controls and highlights existing and planned support tools and audit mechanisms.

In this chapter

1. Petition on citrus pests – Spanish farmers’ demands on phytosanitary controls
2. Commission (DG SANTE) – explanation of plant-health import regime

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Petition: Vietnamese tuna and rules of origin

Nils Ušakovs and 1 other

A Spanish petitioner alleges circumvention of EU rules of origin and tariff preferences under the EU–Vietnam FTA, the Commission defends current implementation based on trade and fisheries data while pledging continued monitoring, and MEPs stress the need for robust enforcement as the committee keeps the petition open pending a detailed written reply.

In this chapter

1. Petition on Vietnamese tuna – alleged circumvention of EU rules of origin
2. Commission (DG TRADE) – defence of EU–Vietnam FTA implementation
3. Members’ positions on Vietnamese tuna and petition follow‑upNils Ušakovs

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Forest fires: ECA audit, Commission response and MEP concerns

Maria Zacharia NI

The committee examines EU action on forest fires through an ECA performance audit, with auditors detailing weaknesses in risk‑based project selection and monitoring, the Commission accepting recommendations and presenting a forthcoming wildfire communication, and MEPs questioning the effectiveness and legality of national prevention programmes, especially in Greece.

In this chapter

1. Item 18 – Introduction to forest fires issue and ECA audit scope
2. ECA findings and recommendations on EU forest-fire funding
3. Commission (DG ENV) – response and new wildfire communication
4. Short member debate and Greek question on forest-fire fundingMaria Zacharia

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Mission reports: Canary Islands and Madeira adoption

Members vote amendment by amendment on the Canary Islands migration mission report, adopt the final text by roll‑call while recording a formal minority opinion, and then approve the Madeira fact‑finding mission report in a single roll‑call vote.

In this chapter

1. Canary Islands migration mission report – amendments, vote and minority opinion
2. Madeira mission report (Portugal) – single roll-call vote

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Budgetary votes: amendments and pilot projects

The committee finalises voting on outstanding recitals and paragraphs of a previous item and then proceeds to roll‑call votes on several pilot projects and preparatory actions, determining funding priorities and rejecting one proposal on a tied vote.

In this chapter

1. Item 14 – Final amendments and adoption
2. Item 15 – Pilot projects and preparatory actions votes

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EU social rights, equality and healthcare access

Bogdan Rzońca and 12 others

The committee reviews Spain’s transposition of the Work–Life Balance Directive on parental leave, Basque-language requirements in healthcare and Greece’s ‘Fair Work for All’ working time reform, followed by a petition on critical oncology shortages in rural Spain, with the Commission detailing legal competences and compliance assessments while MEPs highlight unequal treatment, labour standards, territorial equality and the need for continued monitoring as all petitions remain open.

In this chapter

1. Spanish parental leave directive transpositionBogdan Rzońca
2. Basque healthcare language requirements and EU limitsBogdan Rzońca
3. Greek working time reform and EU Working Time DirectiveBogdan Rzońca
4. Cancer care access in rural Spain (El Bierzo)Bogdan Rzońca

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Digital platforms, DMA/DSA obligations and SME impacts

Bogdan Rzońca and 2 others

MEPs examine Commission enforcement of Amazon’s ‘featured offer’ commitments under EU antitrust rules and the Digital Markets Act, then turn to DSA-based obligations for TikTok and other platforms in the context of Romanian elections, debating systemic risks, data advantages, algorithmic amplification and safeguards against over-broad disinformation controls while keeping both petitions open for further Commission follow-up.

In this chapter

1. Amazon Featured Offer and DMA enforcementBogdan Rzońca
2. Social‑media platforms, DSA and election integrityBogdan Rzońca

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Opening of PETI meeting and inclusive education case

Bogdan Rzońca and 5 others

Adoption of the agenda and procedural arrangements is followed by examination of the Andalusian inclusive education petition, focusing on alleged discrimination against children with disabilities, regional responsibilities and possible misuse of EU funds, with the committee deciding to keep the file open for a detailed Commission reply.

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Single‑use plastics: petitions and Directive review

German petitions on tethered caps and straw bans are examined in light of the Single‑Use Plastics Directive, with the Commission detailing exemptions, ongoing consultation and the 2027 evaluation while MEPs decide to keep the petition open.

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National transport safety rules and local environmental impacts

MEPs scrutinise Spain’s mandatory connected V16 warning beacons and a Maltese asphalt plant near residential areas in light of EU road‑safety, air‑quality and EIA obligations, maintaining both petitions open and seeking in‑depth legal and factual follow‑up from the Commission and national authorities.

In this chapter

1. Spain’s V16 connected beacons: national rule and EU law concerns
2. Malta asphalt plant: health impacts, EIA duties and EU follow‑up

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Education careers and regulated professions: Italy and Spain

The committee assesses alleged discrimination against Italian AFAM arts teachers and the reservation of Spanish building assessment reports to architects, balancing EU internal‑market and equality principles against national competences, and ends by closing the Italian case on subsidiarity grounds while keeping the Spanish petition open for further information.

In this chapter

1. Italian AFAM teachers: EU competence limits and petition closure
2. Spanish engineers’ and architects’ competences: building report monopoly

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External trade, sanctions and food security petitions

Members examine petitions on unfair competition from agri‑food imports using Russian inputs and on Venezuelan regime‑linked assets, confronting the limits of EU sanctions law, food‑safety controls and confiscation tools, and decide to keep both petitions open while requesting detailed written replies from the Commission.

In this chapter

1. Polish farmers’ petition: Russian inputs, Mercosur and EU trade
2. Venezuela asset recovery petition: EU sanctions and confiscation

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Opening of PETI meeting and agenda

The Chair opens the PETI meeting, confirms coordinators’ decisions and the agenda, and frames the session’s focus on key petitions relating to EU trade, sanctions, internal market and environmental rules.

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Barcelona low‑emission zone petition: proportionality and social impact

Examination of the petition on Barcelona’s LEZ, focusing on proportionality, social fairness, compliance with EU air‑quality obligations, Commission services’ legal assessment and the committee’s decision to keep the petition open pending further information.

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Varosha case and three local environmental petitions

The Committee hears the Varosha/Famagusta petition on Turkey’s actions and UN resolutions, then examines three environmental petitions on an EU‑funded Croatian port in a Natura 2000 area, PFAS contamination and a hazardous‑waste plant in Veneto, and a Madrid waste depot near schools, with the Commission outlining applicable EU law, MEPs setting out political positions, and petitions kept open with requests for further written follow‑up.

In this chapter

1. Varosha/Famagusta petition: context, proposals and EP reaction
2. Croatia Daila–Belvedere port: Natura 2000 and EIA compliance
3. Veneto PFAS aquifer and Silva waste plant: EU law and precaution
4. Madrid Montecarmelo waste depot: children’s rights and local permits

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