The battle for a more democratic Europe heats up as we push for meaningful reform of the European Citizen’s Initiative

Despite the concerns raised by more than 60 NGOs as part of the #EPforgetusnot campaign, tomorrow’s vote on the reform of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) looks like it will fail to address the democratic aspirations of the 9,000,000,000 citizens who already signed an ECI in the hopes of having their voices heard by the European Commission. Read and take action

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-14 June 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Multiannual Financial Framework; Brexit; Iran nuclear deal; Netherlands PM Mark Rutte on the Future of Europe; Poland: independence of the judiciary; Renewable Energy Directive; Circular economy at the heart of cohesion policy; Tax justice: transparency of big companies; FIFA: Play Fair – Fight for the forgotten; Climate change photo exhibition.

Debate on the Future of Europe

Ska Keller addressed today the Prime Minister of The Netherlands Mark Rutte

Europe needs solidarity, not tax giveaways! The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte likes to give lectures to other countries for not keeping their budgets in order, but the Netherlands continues to hurt EU countries' economies by being one of Europe's biggest tax havens and by blocking EU action against tax avoidance.

Green Trade for All

A Greens/EFA paper

Green trade policy needs to identify the first bold steps on the path to bring us closer to an ecological vision for trade. Such steps should be developed as much as possible at the multilateral level, including proposing the necessary changes to the existing rules of the world trade system as embodied in the WTO.

We need more solidarity in the EU

Plenary speech by Greens/EFA Co-President Ska Keller

Our co-President Ska Keller calls for a reform of the Dublin System. We need a system that is fairer for refugees and shows real solidarity between Member States.

We demand tax justice

Each year, big corporations dodge between €50 - €70 billion in the EU. But there's a solution! This week, EU governments can take the decision to demand real tax transparency and make multinationals publish data on where they generate their profits and where they pay tax.

What's coming up in Parliament

Strasbourg Flash - Plenary session 11-14 June 2018

A look ahead to next week's session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Sustainable eating

How small steps can lead to big chance for your health and the climate

This booklet is about the food we eat every day, and the impact it has on our health, our environment and our future. Sustainable eating is becoming an urgent issue all over the world. We can all help change things by making different food choices. So, if you are ready, here's some 'food for thought' about making your fridge a force for change.

The EU-Turkey Statement and the Greek Hotspots

A failed European pilot project in refugee policy

The study shows how the hotspots approach, coupled with the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement, violates the rights of refugees and migrants and still fails to achieve its underlying dual aim, namely to contain migrants and refugees in order to deter potential new arrivals and to facilitate returns from Greece to Turkey.

10 proposals to target terrorism at EU level

A document put forward by WG on Terrorism

While we believe the most urgent and effective steps the EU should undertake to address terrorism are to improve the security architecture within and between member states, we also consider the need for a comprehensive political approach and response, and thus push for resilient, cohesive societies focussing on preventing radicalisation.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 28-31 May 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Commission proposals on plastics, sustainable finance, sustainable fishing, Multiannual Financial Framework and cohesion policy, trade dispute on steel and aluminium tariffs, debate with Luxemburgish Prime Minister, posting of workers, reform of the CAP, objections to the authorisation of two GMOs

GMO imported crops continue to enter the EU while the flawed authorisation process undergoes reform

2 objections to GMOs were voted today

Little by little, the European Parliament is trying to install more democracy and transparency into the EU decision processes. by reforming the way the EU approves GMOs, active substances contained in pesticides or any product or substance susceptible of having an impact on human health or the environment. But while the discussions are under way, GMOs continue to enter the EU market.

What's coming up in Parliament

Strasbourg Flash - Plenary session 28-31 May 2018

A look ahead to next week's session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Mark Zuckerberg in the European Parliament facing questions on data privacy

Mark Zuckerberg was invited to the European Parliament to talk about the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal

Same data protection for all in the EU

Jan Philipp Albrecht

Success!! As of this week, new data protection rules enter into force to better protect citizens and their information: ✔️ More rights for individuals in the digital sphere ✔️ Same standards of data protection for all in the EU ✔️ More transparency

Hey Mark, let's talk!

Mark Zuckerberg is coming to the European Parliament to talk about the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal

Thanks to our initiative, the meeting with Mark Zuckerberg in the European Parliament will be livestreamed. Europeans deserve to have answers about this data scandal! Follow our page for live updates on Tuesday.

A Success for Citizens and Businesses – The New Data Protection Rules

GDPR

It took lawmakers in the European Union more than five years to design a new regulation on data protection, the so-called General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). At last, it becomes active on 25th May 2018. With the GDPR, data protection has been modernised for the ever-changing 21st century. It will give citizens control over their own information, and smaller businesses will have an advantage over big international ones. This is cause for celebration on 25th May, and we look at why this is a win for Greens and the public.

World Bee Day

Some tips to help bees every day

1) Replace pesticides Give up chemicals and insect poisons in your home and garden.  Repl...

Democracy is dead if we don’t have a free press

World Press Freedom Day

A gloomy prospect indeed. But it is hard to be optimistic when, in the year that has passed since the last World Press Freedom Day, two journalists have been brutally murdered. In the EU.

The situation of EU sugar beet farmers made worse by a GM sugar beet from Monsanto

EU farmers need a true shift to agroecology

European sugar beet producers have been suffering in recent years from a succession of transformations of the sector and low market prices. Some Member States have been using the farmers’ difficult situation as an excuse to lift the EU ban on tbee-toxic pesticides but are yet willing to let imported GM sugar beet flood the EU market.

Report on revolving doors in the fossil fuel industry reveals widespread potential for conflicts of interest to undermine climate policy

Conflicts of interest in climate policy

A report published today by the Greens/EFA Group on revolving doors between the public sector and the fossil fuel industry in Europe concludes that there is a widespread problem when it comes to the potential for conflicts of interest to dominate climate policy-making.

The post 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework

Protecting our planet, ensuring a life of dignity for all, investing in the future

We are already surpassing the boundaries of our planet and there is an urgent need to protect natural resources and reduce energy consumption. The next MFF should place greater emphasis on these elements and dedicate appropriate funding throughout its different components. The Greens/EFA group is advocating a global and comprehensive response to the multiple challenges we face. The Post 2020 MFF must clearly show the political will to take these challenges on.

How to deal with fake news

Supporting good journalism is the only solution to fake news that prevents despots from curbing freedom of expression

As the European Commission unveils its plans to tackle the “fake news” phenomenon, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament has a different perspective on how to deal with “fake news” in a manner that avoids giving questionable powers to governments to regulate what is true and what is false.

Democratic decisions cannot be taken in the dark

Reforming “Comitology”

Last year, the renewal of the license to sell glyphosate, the herbicide, in the EU left the wider public frustrated and angry. The Greens/EFA are pushing for more transparency, more democracy and fewer dangerous products on the EU market - to achieve this we have to change the flawed decision-making process that in the EU jargon is called “comitology”.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 16-19 April 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Future of Europe - debate with President Macron; Selmayr: Commission ethics in question – Discharge of Commission 2016 budget; Money Laundering - New legislation will deliver real benefits for citizens; Organics - Parliament seals the deal on new legislation; Greenhouse gas emissions; The Circular Economy; Energy performance of buildings; Facebook & Cambridge Analytica - Parliament response to scandal; Protection of journalists - resolution following recent murders; Dieselgate - new legislation on type-approval and market surveillance.

A look back on the speech of French President Emmanuel Macron

Interview with Ska Keller

French President needs to walk the talk.

Organic - it makes a difference

How to make sure that your children are eating food that is both healthy and delicious? Do you wonder if you can always trust the organic label? The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has fought for better and clearer rules for organic farming and food. Find out what do these new rules mean for organic food

We need more transparency and accountability for MEP spending

Every year, almost 40 million euros is spent by MEPs without any accountability, oversight or contro...

Towards an ambitious and ecological re-localisation of protein crops in the EU

It is no news that one of the main problem of the EU farming system is the huge insufficiency of locally grown protein crops. Only 3% of arable lands are dedicated to protein crops in the EU and we import 75% of our vegetable protein supply - soya for the most part, mainly from Brazil, Argentina and the United States. The consequences of this situation go far deeper than a simple trade question. Is the report just voted by the European parliament answering these concerns?

Climate briefings

Ahead of key votes in the European Parliament, we set out the Greens/EFA position on the Circular Economy, LULUCF and the Effort Sharing Regulation.

Protect women in El Salvador

Teodora Vázquez was imprisoned for over 10 years in El Salvador under the abortion law. She was accused of murder after complications in her pregnancy. There are other 25 women in prison with similar accusations. They can be sentenced to up to 35 years. This April, the Assembly of El Salvador will debate the possibility to change the law. It's time to support them!

Monsanto's Toxic Tricks

The Monsanto Papers are secret, internal documents that have now been made public thanks to over 10,000 farmers who have taken Monsanto to court, accusing the company's glyphosate weedkillers of causing them to develop a cancer called non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The documents reveal the various strategies and tactics used by Monsanto to ensure that they can sell their star product, RoundUp, despite the clear dangers for humans and for the environment. This short documentary tells you all about Monsanto's toxic tricks.

Organic regulation briefing

On Thursday 19 April, the European Parliament will vote on the outcome of the trilogue negotiations on a new organic regulation. We've produced a briefing summarising the main achievements of the new regulation.

A fair transition away from coal

Europe was built on coal. We all owe a great deal to the people who went down the coal mines each morning. Coal may have run its course, but that energy and skill is needed now more than ever. People from the mining regions have to be at the heart of this transition.

Time for the EU to protect whistleblowers

What the EU legislation on whistleblower protection should look like

The need to protect whistleblowers is increasingly recognised at both European and national level. In a recent public consultation done by the European Commission, an overwhelming majority of 96% of respondents agreed that we need legally binding minimum standards on whistleblower protection across the EU.

Phasing out away from coal - reinventing European regions

A study commissioned by the Greens/EFA

The EU can and should play a role in facilitating transformational change away from coal mining and in particular in mitigating social and economic hardship that may occur in the course of these transitions.