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.

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.

Catalan Political prisoners

Press conference with EFA MEP Jordi Solé

EFA MEP Jordi Solé gives an update on the situation in Catalonia at a press conference in the European Parliament, alongside relatives of the political prisoners and exiled politicians, on 26 March 2018.

False emissions ratings are costing billions of Euros to European taxpayers!

Our new report shows that the growing gap between real life CO2 emissions from cars and in lab tests has contributed to a major tax gap on cars. €10 billion in 2016 to be exact. It’s time for EU action!

Meat, animal feed and the EU's unbearable hypocrisy on GMOs

How GMOs enter the EU unnoticed

NGO Mighty Earth just published a powerful report on the dire consequences of the current EU meat, milk and eggs production system on those countries, especially in Latin America, which produce the feed for farm animals. deforestation, pollution, cancers, are the direct cause of EU’s letting genetically modified protein crops in for feeding our farm animals.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 12-16 March 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Commission ethics and appointment of the Secretary-General Selmayr, glyphosate saga and first meeting for PEST committee; Brexit and guidelines on the framework of future EU-UK relations, new special committee on taxation, protection of investigative journalists in Europe, EU Multiannual Financial Framework and own resources, Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base

Debating the future of EU-UK relations after Brexit

EFA MEPs Jill Evans & Alyn Smith in key debate

EFA MEPs Alyn Smith (SNP - Scotland) and Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru - Wales), took part in today's ...

Bringing a positive change in society

European Ideas Lab 2018

The European Ideas Lab brings together changemakers from all over Europe. Everyday activists, civil society organisations, citizens’ movements, artists, ecopreneurs and Green innovators, we come from different background but we all share the same objective: bring a positive change in society.

What's coming up in Parliament

Strasbourg Flash - Plenary session 12-15 March 2018

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

EFA MEPs - International Women's Day

Message from EFA MEPs Jill Evans & Ana Miranda

Sexual harassment and violence will not be tolerated

International Women's Day

Greens/EFA MEP Terry Reintke hands over a petition of 100 000 signatures to Mr Tajani, President of the European Parliament. This petition asks for a culture change as well as rules within the institution in order to prevent sexual harassment. It also urges the European Commission to come with a legislative proposal aiming at fighting violence against women.

1000 solutions to solve climate change

An inspiring speech by Bertrand Piccard

During the European Ideas Lab organised by the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and the European Green Party presented '#1000solutions' initiative for clean, efficient and profitable solutions that can be implemented by lawmakers around the world.

Protection of fundamental rights in the EU

European Parliament calls for more ambition

The Greens/EFA group have fought hard to improve the report’s sections on asylum, migration, economic and social rights, non-discrimination, the fight against terrorism, hate speech, gender-based violence, minority and linguistic rights, and Roma and LGBTI rights. These were either largely ignored or absent from the original text and several amendments on these issues were tabled by our group.

The Vision Scenario for the European Union

2017 Update for the EU-28

The Vision Scenario represents a pathway which consistently combines short- and medium-term objectives with long-term objectives. Furthermore it is in line with an EU greenhouse gas emission budget that is consistent with a 2°C limit on the increase in global temperature. It is the first comprehensive scenario analysis for the European Union that addresses both the (top-down) perspective of a 2°C-compatible CO2 emission budget and how the related emission trajectories could be achieved from a bottom- up perspective.

Save the bees

Have your say by answering the consultation

The European Commission is collecting ideas and views on the decline of bees in order to develop an EU initiative on pollinators. This is the chance to play your part! Answer the consultation to save the bees!

Coal Regions in Transition

Speech by Florent Marcellesi at the high-level conference "Coal Regions in Transition Platform: High-Level Dialogue on financing and investments" - Brussels, 27 February 2018.

"In order to talk about financing in the coal transition, I’d like to remind that to achieve a real, just and efficient phase out of coal, we need much more ingredients than money"

Five reasons not to allow the Bayer - Monsanto merger

Why the Commission should stop this "merger from hell"

In September 2016 Bayer and Monsanto announced their intention to merge. If authorised by the European Commission, this would create, in the Commission’s own words, “the world's largest integrated pesticides and seeds company”, and have devastating consequences. Join us in calling on Margrete Vestager, Commissioner for Competition, to stop this “merger from hell”!

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 5-8 February 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Emissions Trading System; Glyphosate: authorisation process for pesticides; Geoblocking; Visit of Croatian Prime Minister; Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation; Transnational lists for European elections; International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) address to Parliament; Rule of law in Romania; Special committee on tax.

Transnational lists for the European elections

What are transnational lists and what is their purpose?

Transnational lists for the European elections would create a common constituency, made up of the entire European Union. This would sit alongside the existing constituencies of Member States.

Transnational lists for the European elections

Questions & answers

Although the EU Treaties stipulate that "the Parliament is composed of representatives of the citizens of the Union" (i.e. that MEPs represent all EU citizens, not just those of their Member State), European elections are held at national level. Transnational lists would create a common constituency, made up of the entire European Union. This would sit alongside the existing constituencies of Member States.

What's coming up in Parliament

Strasbourg Flash - Plenary session 5-8 February 2018

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