2

In the run-up to the European elections, WWF launched an online pledge ep2014.wwf.eu for all

candidates to show their commitment to protect our environment and health, as well as create jobs

and a stronger economy, if elected as Members of the European Parliament on 22-25 May 2014. In

total 640 candidates, across all 28 EU Member States and political groups, signed WWF’s pledge.

With the results of the elections public, 132 elected candidates – now MEPs – from 19 EU countries

and 60 different political parties have signed WWF’s pledge.

WWF trusts that these 132 MEPs will work to deliver the environmental, economic and social

changes Europe needs during this Parliament’s term. WWF will approach these MEPs both in their

constituency and Brussels to collaborate with them, as well as all other supportive MEPs to progress

the key EU policy priorities over the next 5 years.

In the following analysis we take an in-depth look at which specific environmental policies the 132

MEPs have pledged to support, as well as their demographics and political affiliations. This will give

us an early indication of how European and national parties might vote in the next five years when it

comes to environmental issues and it helps us understand how we can best work together to

guarantee that environmental protection stays at the top of Europe’s political agenda.

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 2

The pledge ............................................................................................................................................... 3

Who pledged ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Political affiliations .............................................................................................................................. 5

Specific commitments ......................................................................................................................... 7

List of MEP pledgers ................................................................................................................................ 8

3

Election candidates across Europe were contacted by both WWF and voters asking them to pledge

for at least one of the nine policy goals identified by WWF as essential to reduce Europe’s global

footprint in the next five years (see below).

The nine environmental policy goals were further detailed in both a summary and detailed manifesto

which WWF developed for the EU elections. WWF’s manifesto is available on: www.wwf.eu

In addition to the nine policy goals, candidates also had the possibility of filling out a tenth pledge

which they chose themselves.

The pledge was promoted in 10 different languages1 by WWF offices all over Europe.

Voters across Europe had the opportunity to see online and ahead of the European elections which

of their national candidates had already pledged, and could contact their political groups via email

and twitter asking them to support the pledge. More than 2.600 emails and 1.500 tweets have been

sent to different political groups. An online video titled “If you care, they will care” was created to

further highlight the importance of Europe for people’s health and the environment and invite

people to choose candidates who will care about their interests.

1 The languages offered were English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Slovenian, Croatian

and Dutch.

4

The 132 elected MEPs who pledged for the environment come from 19 different EU Member States

and 60 national political parties. The country with the highest number of supportive MEPs is

Germany, with 29 MEPs (30% of all German MEPs).

Country Pledges Total MEPs 2014-2019

Ratio

Germany 29 96 30%

France 22 74 30%

Italy 17 73 23%

Sweden 12 20 60%

United Kingdom 9 73 12%

Belgium 6 21 29%

Netherlands 6 26 23%

Denmark 6 13 46%

Spain 5 54 9%

Croatia 4 11 36%

Portugal 3 21 14%

Slovenia 3 8 38%

Finland 3 13 23%

Romania 2 32 6%

Czech Republic 1 21 5%

Luxembourg 1 6 17%

Austria 1 18 6%

Ireland 1 11 9%

Hungary 1 21 5%

67% of them are returning MEPs from the 2009-2014 term. Returning MEPs signing the pledge

tend to come from across the political spectrum, with less of an over representation of Green

members, compared to the total number of candidates that signed the pledge.

52% of elected MEPs that signed the WWF pledge are women. This is higher than the overall

percentage of women in the European Parliament, which stands at 37% for the 2014-2019

legislature.

5

Distribution of pledges per European political group2

The S&D accounts for the highest number of MEPs that pledged, with 45 elected candidates

committing to support environmental policies. MEPs affiliated with centre-right European

Political Groups such as EPP, ALDE and ECR have been pledging the least, accounting together

for only 21% of total candidates pledging.

Newly elected MEPs from parties that did not previously have a seat in the European

Parliament, or have not been affiliated to any European Political Group, account for roughly

13% of total MEPs pledging. All of these parties have now joined established political groups in

the Parliament.

Proportionately to the size of the European Political Group, the Greens/EFA has the largest

percentage (70%) of its MEPs supporting the WWF pledge.

2 Based on information available on http://europedecides.eu/, last consulted on 26 June 2014

6

Share of MEPs supporting the WWF pledge3 (per European Political Group)

7%

24%

16%

3%

70%

25%

19%

3 Based on information available on http://europedecides.eu/, last consulted on 12 June 2014

7

82% of the MEPs that pledged support all 9 policy goals. The remaining 18% identified water

protection and climate change as the most important policy goals they will work on.

28% of all elected candidates that pledged decided to add one or more additional policy goals

they would like the EU to work on in the next five years. Some of the most popular own-

initiative pledges include:

- Improving animal welfare standards.

- Reducing air pollution and improving air quality.

- Forbidding the extraction of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing.

- Banning GMOs from our food chain.

8

* Returning MEPs

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Austria

Ms Ulrike Lunacek* Austria Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Belgium

Ms Marie Arena Belgium S&D + + + + + + + + + Mr Ivo Belet* Belgium EPP

+

+ + + +

Mr Philippe Lamberts* Belgium Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + + Mr Claude Rolin Belgium EPP + + + + + + + + + Mr Bart Staes* Belgium Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + + Ms Kathleen Van Brempt* Belgium S&D + + + + + + + + +

Croatia

Ms Biljana Borzan* Croatia S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Marijana Petir Croatia EPP + + + + + + + + +

9

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Mr Jozo Radoš Croatia S&D + + + + + + +

Ms Ruža Tomašić* Croatia EPP +

+ + +

Czech Republic

Mr Pavel Poc* Czech Republic S&D + + + + + + + + +

Denmark

Ms Margrete Auken* Denmark Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Ole Christensen* Denmark S&D

+ + + +

Ms Rina Ronja Kari* Denmark GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Mr Jeppe Kofod Denmark S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Christel Schaldemose* Denmark S&D + +

+ + + + + +

Mr Anders Primdahl Vistisen Denmark EFDD +

+ + + + + + +

Finland

Ms Heidi Hautala Finland Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Merja Kyllönen Finland GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

10

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Ms Sirpa Pietikaïnen* Finland EPP + + + + + + + + +

France

Mr Eric Andrieu* France S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Guillaume Balas* France S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Pervenche Beres* France S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr José Bové* France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Alain Cadec* France EPP + + + + + + + + +

Ms Marielle De Sarnez* France ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Ms Karima Delli* France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Jean-Paul Denanot* France S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Pascal Durand France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Sylvie Goulard* France ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Ms Nathalie Griesbeck* France ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Ms Françoise Grossetête* France EPP + + + + + + + + +

Ms Sylvie Guillaume* France S&D + + +

+ + + + +

Mr Yannick Jadot* France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

11

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Ms Eva Joly* France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Alain Lamassoure* France EPP + +

+

+ Mr Edouard Martin France S&D +

Mr Emmanuel Maurel France S&D + + +

Mr Jean-Luc Mélenchon* France GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Mr Maurice Ponga* France EPP +

+ + + + + + Ms Michèle Rivasi* France Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Isabelle Thomas* France S&D + + + + + + + + +

Germany

Mr Jan Philipp Albrecht* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Reinhard Bütikofer* Germany Greens/EFA

+

Mr Michael Cramer* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Fabio De Masi Germany GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Ms Cornelia Ernst* Germany GUE-NGL + + +

Mr Ismail Ertug* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Knut Fleckenstein* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

12

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Ms Evelyne Gebhardt* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Sven Giegold* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Matthias Groote* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Rebecca Harms* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Martin Häusling* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Petra Kammerevert* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Ska Keller* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Constanze Krehl* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Jo Leinen* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Barbara Lochbihler* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Sabine Lösing* Germany GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Ms Gesine Meißner* Germany ALDE + + +

Ms Martina Michels Germany GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Ms Maria Noichl Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Gabriele Preuß Germany S&D + +

+

+

Ms Julia Reda Germany Others + + + + + + + + +

Ms Terry Reintke Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

13

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Ms Ulrike Rodust* Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Joachim Schuster Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Helga Trüpel* Germany Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Jakob von Weizsäcker Germany S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Gabi Zimmer* Germany GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Hungary

Mr. Benedek Jávor Hungary Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ireland

Ms Liadh Ní Riada Ireland GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Italy

Ms Isabella Adinolfi Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Mr Marco Affronte Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Ms Daniela Aiuto Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Ms Tiziana Beghin Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

14

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Mr Brando Benifei Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Fabio Massimo Castaldo Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Mr Sergio Cofferati* Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Ignazio Corrao Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + Mr Andrea Cozzolino* Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Isabella De Monte* Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Laura Ferrara Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Ms Eleonora Forenza Italy GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Mr Giovanni Pitella* Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Elly Schlein Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Dario Tamburrano Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Mr Daniele Viotti Italy S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Marco Zullo Italy EFDD + + + + + + + + +

Luxembourg

Mr Claude Turmes* Luxembourg Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

15

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Netherlands

Mr Bas Eickhout* Netherlands Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy* Netherlands ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Ms Anja Hazekamp Netherlands GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Ms Sophie in 't Veld* Netherlands ALDE + + + + + + + Ms Judith Sargentini* Netherlands Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Paul Tang Netherlands S&D + + + + + + + + +

Portugal

Mr Jose Inacio Faria Portugal ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Ms Ana Gomes* Portugal S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr António Marinho e Pinto Portugal ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Romania

Mr Theodor Dumitru Stolojan * Romania EPP

+

+ +

+ + +

Ms Renate Weber* Romania EPP + + + + + + + + +

16

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Slovenia

Mr Franc Bogovič Slovenia EPP + + + + + + + + +

Ms Tanja Fajon* Slovenia S&D +

Mr Alojz Peterle* Slovenia EPP + + + + + + + + +

Spain

Ms María Dolores Sánchez Caldentey Spain GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Mr Pablo Echenique-Robba Spain GUE-NGL + + + + + + + + +

Mr Ramon Tremosa* Spain ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Mr Ernest Urtasun Spain Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Elena Valenciano Spain S&D + + + + + + + + +

Sweden

Mr Max Andersson Sweden Greens/EFA + +

Ms Malin Björk* Sweden GUE-NGL +

+ + + + + + +

Ms Bodil Ceballos Sweden Greens/EFA + + + + + + +

+

Ms Anna Maria Corazza Bildt* Sweden EPP + + + + + + + + +

17

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Mr Fredrick Federley Sweden ALDE + + + + + + + + +

Mr Christofer Fjellner* Sweden EPP + + + + + + + + +

Ms Jytte Guteland Sweden S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Gunnar Hökmark* Sweden EPP + + + + + + + + +

Ms Isabella Lövin* Sweden Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Soraya Post Sweden S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Marita Ulvskog* Sweden S&D + + + + + + + + +

Ms Cecilia Wikström* Sweden ALDE + + + + + + + + +

United Kingdom

Ms Jill Evans* United Kingdom Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Vicky Ford* United Kingdom ECR +

+ + + + + + +

Mr Richard Howitt* United Kingdom S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Ian Hudghton* United Kingdom Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Jean Lambert* United Kingdom Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Ms Linda McAvan* United Kingdom S&D + + + + + + + + +

Mr Alyn Smith* United Kingdom Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

18

Tack

le c

limat

e ch

ange

Shif

t to

a r

eso

urc

e-e

ffic

ien

t

eco

no

my

and

gre

en

job

s

Hal

t th

e lo

ss o

f n

atu

re

Enco

ura

ge m

ore

su

stai

nab

le

and

hea

lth

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n

Secu

re c

lean

an

d h

ealt

hy

wat

ers

Pro

tect

th

e e

nvi

ron

men

t fo

r h

um

an w

ell-

bei

ng

glo

bal

ly

Sto

p il

lega

l tim

ber

an

d w

ildlif

e

trad

e

Ensu

re s

ust

ain

able

agr

icu

ltu

re

Rec

ove

r fi

sh s

tock

s

Mr Keith Taylor* United Kingdom Greens/EFA + + + + + + + + +

Mr Derek Vaughan* United Kingdom S&D + + + + + + + + +

For further information: Tycho Vandermaesen Public Affairs Officer

WWF European Policy Office

tvandermaesen@wwf.eu

+32(0)498 72 56 41

Rebecca Humphries Public Affairs Assistant

WWF European Policy Office

rhumphries@wwf.eu

© 1986 Panda Symbol WWF - World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund)

® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark.

EU Transparency Register Nr: 1414929419-24

Printed on recycled paper.