BETA


2019/2187(INI) Access to decent and affordable housing for all

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead EMPL VAN SPARRENTAK Kim (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) MANDL Lukas (icon: EPP EPP), DURÁ FERRANDIS Estrella (icon: S&D S&D), TOOM Yana (icon: Renew Renew), REIL Guido (icon: ID ID), SZYDŁO Beata (icon: ECR ECR), CHAIBI Leila (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion FEMM
Committee Opinion ITRE
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2021/07/09
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2021/01/21
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2021/01/21
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 352 votes to 179, with 152 abstentions, a resolution on access to decent and affordable housing for all.

The EU and its Member States have an obligation to ensure access to decent and affordable housing for all, in accordance with the fundamental rights set out in the European Social Charter and the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Eurofound estimates that inadequate housing costs EU economies EUR 195 billion a year. EU rents and property prices have risen over the past decade. Almost 38% of households at risk of poverty spend more than 40% of their disposable income on housing.

Moreover, homelessness is rising in at least 24 Member States. On any given night in the European Union 700 000 homeless people have to sleep in shelters or on the street, which is an increase of 70 % in the past 10 years. The COVID-19 crisis has aggravated housing insecurity, over-indebtedness, and the risk of eviction and homelessness.

Achieving adequate, energy-efficient and healthy housing

Parliament called for the right to adequate housing to be recognised and enforced as a fundamental human right through relevant European and national legislation. It called on the Commission and Member States to ensure equal access to decent housing for all, including clean and high-quality drinking water, adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, connection to water and sanitation networks, a quality indoor environment and affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all.

Members called for EU-wide action for a winter heating disconnection moratorium and a winter truce to be introduced.

The resolution recommended that priority be given to reducing emissions and energy efficiency through housing renovation. It supported the emphasis of the "renovation wave" on tackling energy poverty and the worst performing buildings, in line with the objectives European Green Deal.

Tackling homelessness and discrimination

Members recalled the EU's objective to end homelessness by 2030 and called on the Commission to propose an EU framework for national homeless strategies based on the principle of "Housing First".

Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to:

- adopt a common framework definition and coherent indicators on homelessness in the EU;

- take measures for young people who reach the age of 18 and are at risk of homelessness;

- end the criminalisation of homeless people and combat discrimination on the grounds of homelessness;

- prepare a gender-sensitive approach to support homeless women, who have often already faced complex traumas and are experiencing new ones, such as domestic violence.

An integrated approach to social, public and affordable housing at EU level

Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to make housing one of the cornerstones of the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights and to improve its action to engage all levels of government in the full and systematic implementation of the right to decent housing for all. It welcomed the inclusion of accessibility to affordable housing in the European Semester.

Recalling that 25.1 % of European tenants paying market price rents spend over 40 % of their income on rent, the committee called on Member States and regional and local authorities to put in place legal provisions, including clear rental regulations, to protect the rights of tenants and owner-occupiers.

It requested that the current reference threshold for the housing cost overburden rate, i.e. 40% of a household's disposable income, be re-evaluated.

Members noted with concern the increased financialisation of the housing market, in particular in cities, whereby investors treat housing as a tradable asset rather than a human right. In this regard, they called on the Commission to put forward legislative proposals to counter financialisation of the housing market by mid-2021.

Investing in social, public, affordable and energy-efficient housing

Stressing that the investment gap in affordable housing amounts to EUR 57 billion per year, Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to further increase investment in the EU in social, public, energy-efficient, adequate and affordable housing, and in tackling homelessness and housing exclusion. It called for investment through the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Fund, InvestEU, ESF+, Horizon Europe and Next Generation EU, and especially through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+).

Documents
2021/01/21
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2021/01/20
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2020/12/08
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL) on access to decent and affordable housing for all.

Access to adequate housing is a fundamental right must be seen as a precondition for the exercise of, and access to, other fundamental rights and for a life in conditions of human dignity. Despite this, homelessness is rising in at least 24 Member States. On any given night in the European Union 700 000 homeless people have to sleep in shelters or on the street, which is an increase of 70 % in the past 10 years. The COVID-19 crisis has aggravated housing insecurity, over-indebtedness, and the risk of eviction and homelessness.

Achieving adequate, energy-efficient and healthy housing

The report supports the Renovation Wave’s focus on tackling energy-poverty and worst performing buildings, in line with the objectives and principles of the European Green Deal. The Renovation Wave should be prioritised in the multiannual financial framework and Next Generation EU.

In addition, Members called on the Commission and the Member States to:

- ensure equal access for all to decent housing, including clean and high-quality drinking water, adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene;

- prioritise emissions reductions and energy efficiency through housing renovation;

- support the circular economy in the construction sector;

Combating homelessness and fighting discrimination

Members recalled the EU’s goal to end homelessness by 2030 and called on the Commission to propose an EU framework for National Homelessness Strategies. According to Members, the provision of permanent housing to homeless people should be prioritised. Financial support should be provided for young people and people with disabilities to promote independent living and to women and children who are particularly exposed to the housing crisis.

The committee called on Member States to prohibit and tackle discrimination on the grounds of homelessness or other housing status, and to repeal all laws and measures that criminalise or penalise people for being homeless or behaviours associated with being homeless, such as sleeping or eating in public spaces. Exceptional measures are needed to protect homeless people during the COVID-19 crisis.

An integrated approach to social, public and affordable housing at EU level

The report called on the Commission and the Member States to make housing one of the cornerstones of the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Commission should urgently develop an integrated EU-level strategy for social, public, non-segregated and affordable housing, creating an enabling framework for national, regional and local authorities to ensure the provision of safe, healthy, accessible and affordable quality housing for all.

Member States are encouraged to collaborate on financing social investments aimed at solving housing problems with the social partners, civil society and the private sector, many of whom play and can play a key role in the development and maintenance of adequate housing solutions for those in vulnerable situations.

Recalling that 25.1 % of European tenants paying market price rents spend over 40 % of their income on rent, the committee called on Member States and regional and local authorities to put in place legal provisions, including clear rental regulations, to protect the rights of tenants and owner-occupiers.

Members noted with concern the increased financialisation of the housing market, in particular in cities, whereby investors treat housing as a tradable asset rather than a human right. In this regard, they called on the Commission to put forward legislative proposals to counter financialisation of the housing market by mid-2021.

Investing in social, public, affordable and energy-efficient housing

The report called on the Commission and the Member States to further increase investment in the EU in social, public, energy-efficient, adequate and affordable housing, and in tackling homelessness and housing exclusion. They called for investment through the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Fund, InvestEU, ESF+, Horizon Europe and Next Generation EU, and especially through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+).

Documents
2020/12/01
   EP - Vote in committee
2020/09/09
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2020/07/23
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/02/17
   EP - VAN SPARRENTAK Kim (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in EMPL
2019/12/19
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament

Documents

Votes

A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - Am 1 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: -: 587, +: 87, 0: 11
EE MT CY LU LV SI HR IT FI SK LT AT DK IE EL BE NL CZ BG SE PT HU FR RO PL ES DE
Total
7
6
6
6
8
8
12
74
14
14
10
18
14
13
18
20
27
21
17
19
19
21
78
33
51
59
92
icon: ID ID
74

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2
3

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

1

Czechia ID

2
icon: NI NI
23

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

Greece NI

For (1)

1

Netherlands NI

1

Hungary NI

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1

Germany NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
61

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

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1

Slovakia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

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1

Greece ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

4

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Romania ECR

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1
icon: The Left The Left
38

Cyprus The Left

2

Finland The Left

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4

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1

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1

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3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

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1

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1

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3

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2

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3

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2

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2

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3

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2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

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1

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1

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3
icon: Renew Renew
96

Estonia Renew

3

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2

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1

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3

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2

Austria Renew

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1

Ireland Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

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2

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2
icon: S&D S&D
140

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

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1

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2

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2

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2

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1

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182

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Abstain (1)

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3

A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - § 1/1 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: +: 397, -: 274, 0: 15
IT ES FR EL DE BE IE DK FI PT CY LU SE EE RO MT SK LT HR AT SI LV HU NL BG CZ PL
Total
74
59
78
20
92
20
13
13
14
19
6
6
19
7
33
6
14
10
12
18
8
8
21
27
17
21
51
icon: S&D S&D
140

Greece S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

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1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Italy Renew

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1

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3
icon: The Left The Left
38

Belgium The Left

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25

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2

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2

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2

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1

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icon: ID ID
74

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1

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2

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1

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3

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1

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2
icon: ECR ECR
61

Greece ECR

1
3

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1

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2

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1

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4

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2
icon: PPE PPE
182

Belgium PPE

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3

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2

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A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - § 1/2 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: +: 554, -: 109, 0: 24
FR DE ES RO HU PT AT EL BE IE SE FI SK SI HR LT DK NL LV MT CY LU CZ IT BG EE PL
Total
78
92
59
33
21
19
18
20
20
13
19
14
14
8
12
10
14
27
8
6
6
6
21
74
17
7
51
icon: PPE PPE
182

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

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For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Greece S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
96

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Sweden Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

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2

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1

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For (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

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For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
38

Portugal The Left

3

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

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1

Finland The Left

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1

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1

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1

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1
icon: NI NI
25

Germany NI

2

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1

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2

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2

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1
icon: ID ID
74
3

Finland ID

2

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1

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1

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2

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61

Romania ECR

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1
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4

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2

A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - § 2/1 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: +: 556, -: 79, 0: 52
FR DE ES IT RO HU PT AT EL BE IE FI CZ DK SK SI HR LT SE BG NL LV MT CY LU EE PL
Total
78
92
59
74
33
21
19
18
20
20
13
14
21
14
14
8
12
10
19
17
27
8
6
6
6
7
51
icon: PPE PPE
182

Denmark PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Greece S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
96

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

2

Sweden Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
38

Portugal The Left

3

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Denmark The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: NI NI
25

Germany NI

2

Hungary NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
74
3

Finland ID

2

Czechia ID

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
61

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

4

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Against (1)

2

A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - § 2/2 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: +: 418, -: 180, 0: 89
FR ES IT DE PL BE IE DK SK FI PT AT LU NL RO EL LV HR EE LT MT CY SI BG SE CZ HU
Total
78
59
74
92
51
20
13
14
14
14
19
18
6
27
33
20
8
12
7
10
6
6
8
17
19
21
21
icon: S&D S&D
140

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
96

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Sweden Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3
icon: ECR ECR
61

Netherlands ECR

4

Romania ECR

1

Greece ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2
3
icon: The Left The Left
38

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

3

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1
icon: NI NI
25

Germany NI

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Croatia NI

2

Hungary NI

1
icon: ID ID
74

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ID

2
3

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: PPE PPE
182

Belgium PPE

Against (1)

3

Denmark PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Finland PPE

Abstain (1)

3

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Croatia PPE

4

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak - § 6/1 #

2021/01/20 Outcome: +: 596, 0: 67, -: 24
DE ES FR PL IT RO HU CZ PT BG NL EL AT DK BE IE SE SK FI LT HR LV SI MT CY LU EE
Total
92
59
78
51
74
33
21
21
19
17
27
20
18
14
20
13
19
14
14
10
12
8
8
6
6
6
7
icon: PPE PPE
182

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
96

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Sweden Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
61

Romania ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

Abstain (1)

4

Greece ECR

1
3

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: The Left The Left
38

Czechia The Left

1

Portugal The Left

3