What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 15-18 April 2019

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

12 years to save the planet

We have the money (to finance it). What we need is political will!

There is enough money to fund a green transition in Europe that works for all. What Europe needs is political will. We need to ensure that polluters pay, fossil fuels are no longer subsidized, and more green jobs are created.

Affordable and adequate housing for all

Access to housing is a fundamental right. No one should have to choose between a place to sleep and a meal to eat. We need a European framework for social and affordable housing to ensure there are enough inclusive, energy-efficient and healthy homes throughout Europe.

European Parliament negotiators admit failure to improve the EU Lobby Register

The negotiations to improve the EU’s lobby Transparency Register were declared dead by the European Parliament’s negotiators. Clearly ambition to deliver real lobbying transparency for citizens has been lacking from many sides. Therefore, the next Parliamentary term will need to be used to finally deliver the transparency and accountability that citizens deserve.

We need decent minimum incomes for all in Europe

Too many people in the European Union cannot make ends meet and live a decent life. We want this to change. The Greens/EFA group is calling for a minimum income scheme in all EU countries to be set at 60% of the national median income. It’s time for the EU to become a union of solidarity, not austerity.

Fund farms, not factories

10 Priorities for the cap reform and beyond

What kind of agriculture do we want? What kind of animal agriculture should the European Union promote through its various policies, including of course its Common Agricultural Policy?

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 25-28 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the Copyright Directive; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund; the Framework for sustainable investment; the final report of the TAX3 committee; the Mobility Package; recent developments on the Dieselgate scandal; the rule of law in Malta and Slovakia; the 2017 'discharge'; the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

Members States must stop blocking tax transparency

“We recognise and value the benefits for society that arise from fair, effective and predictab...

Why we objected to GMOs in the EU - 36 times!

Our Group has always fought against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU. We believe that they pose risks to consumers’ health, animal welfare and the environment. This is why the every time the European Commission proposes the authorisation of a new one, the European Parliament objects to it. Read our top six reasons for saying no (again and again).

Every Farm Counts

Why we need to keep as many farms on the land as we can

A quarter of all farms disappeared in the EU between 2005 and 2016. And corporate power still pushes farmers to go big or go out of business. But there are alternatives! Many small to medium-sized farms provide better income and more jobs and are more resilient than big farms. The key to their success is the adoption of agroecological and organic practices.

Consumer rights: time for a class action mechanism in the EU

The European Parliament today adopted its position on new legislation regarding a collective redress mechanism to be used by consumers throughout the EU. Unfortunately, Member States in the Council are slacking in moving forward on this, thereby not recognising the need for such a tool for the protection of consumers.

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 25-28 March 2019

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

ExxonMobil’s lobbyists should be removed from European Parliament

Following ExxonMobil’s refusal to give testimony at a hearing of the European Parliament’s Environment and Petitions Committees, the Greens/EFA Group have today called for their lobby badges to be removed until they agree to face MEPs in a public setting. When representatives of Monsanto refused to attend a similar hearing we also got their access badges revoked, so we think the same thing should be done for ExxonMobile.

A vote for a Digital Single Market, a vote for an open and free internet for all

Copyright Reform

Two years and a half have passed since the European Commission proposed a Directive for Copyright in the Digital Single Market. More years have passed ever since academics, politicians and the civil society have looked into the amendment of a law that is considered obsolete. Now, we are only counting days until the European Parliament votes on this controversial file

Ending the secrecy that allowed the car emissions scandal to flourish

Dieselgate

After car manufacturers were caught manipulating the results of emissions tests designed to reduce the amount of pollution emitted by vehicles in Europe, the Greens/EFA Group is still pushing hard to fix the failures in the EU’s regulatory process that allowed for this massive-scale emissions fraud.

Time for climate action!

On 15th March, young people in over 110 countries will be marching and striking to demand climate action!

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate debate, the final trilogue on Whistleblower Protection Directive, the second Brexit vote, the reform of the European citizens’ initiative, the Clean Air for All resolution, the European Anti-Money Laundering Blacklist, the opening of trade negotiations between the EU and the US, gender balance and top EU financial roles,...

Our co-President Philippe Lamberts calling for Tajani's resignation

We are appalled by the recent comments made by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani praising the fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini.

Company cross-border re-structuring in Europe

a first success for workers and the fight against letter-box companies

The European Parliament and the Council finally reached an agreement on the mobility aspect of the new legislative package on company law including measures for protecting and reinforcing worker’s rights in Europe. The deal reached will support honest companies moving within the EU, but will also provide tools to catch dishonest companies looking for the loopholes to profit from the differences between Member States in financial, social and employment rules.

It’s time for climate action!

Climate debate - Bas Eickhout

The young people striking and marching for climate action do not want to be thanked. They want to see actions from politicians! Not in 2050, nor in 2030. Now!

Strengthening the European Citizens’ Initiative

Improving Your Power to influence the EU

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is the EU’s most important tool for participator...

Breakthrough for whistleblowers as EU institutions agree on new law to protect them from retaliation

Thanks to the high profile revelations by whistleblowers in recent years, including the #luxleaks case and #PanamaPapers, and to the campaigning efforts of NGOs, trade unions and journalists, the final result is an ambitious text that will set minimum standards for how whistleblowers should be protected across the European Union.

The future isn't nuclear, it's 100% renewable!

What is brighter than a 100% sustainable future? We want a system based on energy efficiency and renewable energies!

International Women's Day

We strike for a feminist Europe

A Europe against gender-based violence, where women can make decisions over their bodies, that secures equal pay for equal work, that guarantees access to sexual healthcare, that fights for gender equality. The future is now

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities 11-14 March 2019

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

Eating well for a fuller future

Eating is not just a physiological act by an individual, it is also an action that carries great social and environmental weight. Today, our protein-rich diet, which is sustained by animals fed within an intensive, low-cost meat and fish industry, has significant impacts on the planet, our health, other countries and animal welfare.

European Court of Justice to decide if transparency over cancer studies should override commercial secrets

On the 7th March 2019, the European Court of Justice will deliver its verdict in a landmark case pitting the public interest in transparency against the commercial interests of private companies. The case was brought by four Greens/EFA MEPs in May 2017, after EFSA claimed that it had used unpublished studies by Monsanto, Syngenta and Cheminova to conclude that glyphosate was not carcinogenic.

Citizens’ Rights improved as European Parliament Strengthens the Role of the EU Ombuds(wo)man

To improve democracy and the rights of citizens in Europe, the Greens/EFA decided to strengthen the European Ombuds(wo)man’s office so that it could better investigate maladministration and conflicts of interest. We also managed to secure a role for the Ombuds(wo)man’s Office in important areas such as whistleblower protection and sexual harassment.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 February 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the EU-Singapore trade agreement, the protection of animals during transportation, the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, the debate on the Future of Europe with the Italian Prime Minister, the final trilogues on copyright and on the gas directive, ...

United we can fight climate change!

Your message for the climate: Upload your picture!

Over the past few months, young people across Europe have been marching on our streets to raise their concerned voices against the biggest threat mankind has ever faced. We want to bring your/their voice to the European Parliament. Politicians should not ignore, but listen to the Thousands of people fighting for climate protection in the streets.

It's time to fix globalisation for the better!

Enough with trade policies that demand too much of our planet, hurt the world's most vulnerable, put profit before people. It's time to fix globalisation for the better! A sustainable model that delivers for all is possible

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities

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

Money laundering and affordable housing - what’s the link?

Impact of money laundering on housing prices across the EU

Tax evasion and money laundering through real estate can contribute to the increase of rental and housing prices in your city. We Greens/EFA are fighting hard in the European Parliament against money laundering - not least, because everyone in Europe should have the right to affordable housing!

The #TruthNeedsFriends Campaign

Join the Campaign to Protect the Truth

People who expose the truth nowadays are harassed, demoted, fired, or sued by employers who are desperate to silence them. Also known as "whistleblowers", these people speak up to defend our rights. The European Union is on the verge of adopting a new law that would protect people who tell the truth. Join our campaign and put pressure on your government - because the #TruthNeedsFriends.

What type of agriculture do you want ?

40% of European funds is spent on agriculture. That's around 114 euros per person, per year. But this question is never asked: what kind of agriculture do YOU want? If you want to have a say on Common Agricultural Policy, try this interactive CAP reform tool to help us improve EU food systems and agriculture.

After years of deadlock and political nightmares, are we finally ready to change the discussion on GMOs?

What care ethics can bring to the conversation

Today, the European Parliament backed four objections against the authorisation for import of new GM plants into the EU, bringing the total number of such objections to 31 in just over three years. Nevertheless, the European Commission decided to override this opposition and to authorize 24 of them. Why and how did we end up in this political stand-off? And, more importantly, how do we get out of this situation? A team of researchers may have opened a path with the publication of several studies on the Politics of Care and how it could be used to assess emerging technologies.