Issue 515 | 18 May 2020

In our latest issue Europe’s environmental policy is in the spotlight. We take an in-depth look at two of the most anticipated proposals from the European Green Deal: The Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies.

Kicking off the feature is our cover star, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. He explains why the Biodiversity Strategy is not only closely linked to the Farm to Fork Strategy, but is also integral to the European Green Deal.

Also part of our environmental feature, MEPs Bas Eickhout (NL, Greens/EFA), Norbert Lins (DE, EPP) and Agnès Evren (FR, EPP) discuss how the Biodiversity Strategy can best be deployed to protect both the natural world and the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, Francisco Guerreiro (PT, Greens/EFA), Mazaly Aguilar (ES, ECR), Eric Andrieu (FR, S&D) and Thomas Waitz (DE, Greens/EFA) share their views on how the Farm to Fork strategy can take farming into the 21st century; promoting sustainable agriculture and improving food security.

Also on food security, we examine the next potential global health crisis waiting in the wings: antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with the chair of Parliament’s Interest Group on AMR, Sarah Wiener (AT, Greens/EFA), and MEPs Martin Hojsík (SK, RE) and Nicolae Ștefănuță (RO, RE) explaining why this imminent threat should be put at the top of European policymakers’ agenda.

We also bring you coverage of our latest webinar, hosted by MEPs Sarah Weiner and Sirpa Pietikäinen (FI, EPP), which looked at the role alternative, prevention-based technologies such as Bacteriophages could play in the fight against bacterial infections such as Listeriosis.

Our special feature on European Mental Health Week sees Parliament’s Coalition for Mental Health calling on the Commission to propose an EU Mental Health Strategy. Seán Kelly (IE, EPP) offers some advice on how to protect your mental health during a quarantine and Alex Agius Saliba (MT, S&D) highlights the unique challenges LGBTQI+ young people are facing during the global pandemic.

Also inside: María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (ES, RE), a member of Parliament’s MEPs Against Cancer Intergroup, discusses Cancer Awareness Week, Greens/EFA MEPs Petra De Sutter, Tilly Metz, Jutta Paulus and Michèle Rivasi look at Europe’s health priorities, and Marian-Jean Marinescu makes the case for a less-is-more approach to transport regulation in the post-COVID world.

Finally, answering our five questions this issue is Slovenian EPP MEP Romana Tomc.