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We need a better EU budget plan

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

President Michel's disappointing budget proposal lacks ambition. The EU needs a strong and modern budget to fight climate change and inequalities.

Andrej Babiš — Andrej Babiš © Martin Strachoň (CC BY-SA 4.0)

MEPs' fact-finding mission to Czech Republic on conflicts of interest - quote from Daniel Freund MEP

Czech Republic

Today, a European Parliament fact-finding mission on conflicts of interest in the Czech Republic with Members of the Budgetary Control Committee has just ended. Daniel Freund MEP, Greens/EFA Member of the Budgetary Control Committee who was part of the fact-finding mission on conflicts of interest in the Czech Republic, comments:

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EU governments are making domestic considerations a priority

MFF

The postponement of the negotiations of the Heads of State and Government on the Multiannual Financial Framework is disappointing. EU governments were unable to agree on a strong united position for a budget for the future. The Green Deal and challenges such as digitisation and growing inequality cannot be tackled with an austerity budget. The European Parliament, under pressure from the Greens/EFA group, is calling for more investment in climate protection and is united behind the call for an increase in the EU budget to 1.3% of gross national income and own resources.

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A boost for innovation and anti-discrimination

Digital and data strategy/artificial intelligence

The European Commission presented its digital strategy, data strategy and for the first time presented a strategy on artificial intelligence and against discrimination. The digital strategy means that AI that poses limited risks to security and discrimination can be used for purposes that can benefit the public good

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Tax haven blacklist exposes double standards of EU governments

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The European Union's Ministers of Economy and Finance presented the updated list of tax havens, to include also Panama, the Seychelles, the Cayman Islands and Palau, because they do not meet at least one of the European Union's tax good governance criteria

Jigsaw and money — Jigsaw and money © alexsl

The proposal of Charles Michel fails to meet the challenges of the 21st century

MFF

Charles Michel presented the draft position of European Council on the EU budget (Multi-annual Financial Framework, MFF). The EU governments are expected to adopt their position at the summit meeting at the end of next week.

European Parliament Building Strasbourg ©Cquim

A Greens/EFA take on the plenary week

Plenary week, 10-14 February 2020

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the future EU/UK relationship, conclusion of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, objection to the energy projects ‘PCI List’, humanitarian situation of refugees at EU external borders, automated decision-making processes, the illegal trade in companion animals in the EU, and the Gender Equality Strategy.

Women demonstrating 'El violador eres tu' in Chile — Women demonstrating 'El violador eres tu' in Chile © Jennifer Lost CC BY-SA 2.0 Flickr

Fighting for gender justice

04.03.2020

XI Conference on Feminicides

Violence against women is on the rise, and with it its most extreme manifestation, the feminicide (murder of women). No continent is free from this. Very often, police, lawyers, prosecutors or other people dealing with feminicide lack sufficient training and sensibility. The XI Conference on Feminicide builds on programs and good practices in the judicial sector in Latin America and compares with the situation in Europe.

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Plenary press briefing

11.02.2020

LIVE press conference with Greens/EFA Co-Presidents 11 February 2020 10:30-11:00

Greens/EFA Co-Presidents Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts present the Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary session and the latest developments of the European news

Article 7: institutional and citizens perspectives

06.02.2020

Public conference

This conference will look at Article 7 from an institutional perspective (state of play and recommendations) and debate on how satisfactory is the current Article 7 procedure from a citizens perspective

The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds

05.02.2020

16th International Conference, suppported by G/EFA, GUE/NGL, S&D

Brussels, The European Parliament Wednesday 5th of February – 14:30 – 18:30 Thursday 6th of February – 09:30 – 17:00 ...

Hemicycle European Parliament Strasbourg — European Union

A look on the plenary week

Greens/EFA priorities - session 10-13 February 2020

A look ahead to the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

© 2020 EU-EP/DH

Focus on Europe’s minorities, national communities and languages

EFA MEPs support new European Parliament Intergroup

A new group has been set up in the European parliament that will be a focal point for discussion on ...

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Reintroduce the Paris-Brussels-Berlin night train route by 2022!

Sign our petition

Until 2014, it was possible to travel between Paris and Berlin thanks to a night train operated by the SNCF and the Deutsche Bahn. According to the operators, this line has been closed for budgetary reasons. Connecting three major European capitals (Berlin-Brussels-Paris) by night train is essential in times of climate emergency!

We will leave a light on - action Brexit — We will leave a light on - action Brexit Greens/EFA

We will leave a light on

Brexit

This is a sad week for Europe, but this is not the end of our story. As our former MEP AlynSmith once said: "I am not asking you to solve our domestic discussions. I am asking you to leave a light on so we can find our way home". We will

A Greens/EFA take on the plenary week

13-17 January 2020

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Investment Plan, Just Transition Fund, Roadmap on Social Europe, the Council hearings on the rule of Law in Hungary and Poland, Czech PM Andrej Babiš' conflicts of interest, Convention on biodiversity, ...

slash and burn amazon — Slash and burn amazon ©Matt Zimmerman (CC BY 2.0)

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Analysis of the agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur

Greens/EFA Study

The study offers a comprehensive review of the disciplines and mechanisms covered in the hundreds of pages of text which make up the agreement, and of their potential effects. It covers all chapters published so far, addressing changes to trade flows in goods and services, rules, standard-making and non-tariff barriers to trade. The study is based on a textual analysis of the agreement itself, while also integrating secondary literature, impact assessments, and the perspectives and analyses of stakeholders on the agreement.

Hemicycle European Parliament Strasbourg — European Union

This week in the European Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 13-17 January 2020

A look ahead to the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

strasbourg building ep — © European Union 2015 - Source EP

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 16-19 December 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the rule of law in Malta, conflict of interest and corruption, situation of the Uyghur in China, EU pollinators initiative, animal welfare, EU-Mercosur and European Green Deal, EU Ombudsperson, ...

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Greens/EFA call on Croatia and Germany to keep EU Council ambition high in 2020

Closing of the Finnish Presidency

On 31 December 2019, Finland’s EU Council presidency draws to a close. Just before the beginning of Finland’s presidency term, the country elected a new five-party centre left coalition government, which immediately adopted well regarded climate goals. Showing leadership on ambitious climate action at the national level set high expectations for Finland to demand ambitious climate decisions also at the EU level.

Hemicycle European Parliament Strasbourg — European Union

What's coming up this week

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 16-19 December 2019

A look ahead to the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

The EU is not a cash machine for oligarchs and politicians

Greens/EFA Proposals to end fraud in farm subsidies

On the occasion of the International Day Against Corruption, the Greens/EFA Group is publishing a series of recommendations on how to end the abuse of EU farm subsidies. Farm subsidies make up the biggest portion of EU spending and are an indispensable measure to protect European farmers, ensure food sovereignty, and promote healthy and sustainable food production in Europe. However, the lack of controls on the way EU funding is disbursed by European governments means that in some cases, unscrupulous politicians and people in positions of power are able to abuse the EU funding system for their own personal gain.

European Climate Law Logo

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Why we need a European climate law

A Climate emergency needs climate solutions

On 28 November 2019 the European Parliament declared the climate emergency. This call must now be followed by ambitious concrete action. The Greens/EFA group call for an ambitious and rapid implementation of the European climate law and listed a series of short and medium term actions to address the emergency we are in.