Greens/EFA Round-up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 24-28 November 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included tax evasíon and the LuxLeaks, plastic bags rules, the Pope's visit and the role of his church, the EU-Canada PNR agreement, migration and tragedies in the Mediterranean, the recognition of Palestine and peace in the Middle East, the UN climate talks and the EU's role, the Commission proposal on an investment plan for Europe

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Brussels plenary week 10-14 November 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Brussels Plenary included the ongoing Luxembourg Leaks revelations and controversy surrounding massive tax avoidance, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the ongoing reform of how GMOs are authorised in the EU.

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 20-24 October 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included the Ebola crisis and the EU's response, the Energy and climate policy and the EU summit, Hungary's crackdown on civil society, the election of the European Commission, the EU budget, bullfighting, lobbying and the single seat and rounding up migrants in coordinated EU action.

43 Student teachers missing in Mexico

Horrendous crime must be solved and impunity ended

Six people were killed and 43 student teachers disappeared on the 26th September 2014 in Guerrero, Mexico.

EU climate and energy summit

The 2030 targets: what's at stake?

EU heads of state and government are meeting at a high-level summit today and tomorrow (23-24 October) to decide on the EU's climate and energy policy to 2030. With headline targets on greenhouse gas reductions, renewabl...

Commission Test

Blog on the nominations and hearings for the new Commission

The game is over. The new College of the European Commission was voted by the European Parliament. Our group voted against. Read our blog for an analysis of the proposed EU Commissioners, their remits and the hearings

Fundamental Rights and the new Commission

Same old story, or less talk and more action?

Plenary speech from Judith Sargentini For several years now there have been signals that Hungary is moving away from the core values of the European Union. This was affirmed this year by Hungarian Prime Minister...

GMO (In)digest

Issue 15 of the GMO Campaign Newsletter

  EU Work: Renationalisation proposal (Opt-out) See (GMO (In)digest 14) The political agreement on the renationalisation, or “opt-out” proposal has been formally adopted at the Council of Gener...

Join the Food Revolution Newsletter

Issue n°5 October 2014

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Any hope for sustainable and safe food policy with new proposed EU commissioner? EP Hearings and EU Food agenda: mixed feelings about the 3 Commissioners involved Join the pledge for the Publication of the Communication on 'Building a Sustainable European Food System'

Transport

Greens/EFA Transport coordinator Karima Delli assesses commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc

Given the time Mrs. Bulc had to prepare, her performance was passable. She displayed an open, straight-forward attitude and showed some knowledge on transport policy. However, her answers on all key green issues she was asked about were substandard.

Stop European subsidies on bullfighting!

Support the Green amendment and sign the petition

On 22 October, Members of the European Parliament will vote on a Green proposal to stop EU funds for bullfighting and the related industry for this brutal and cruel activity. Help convince them by signing the petition

European Day of Action against TTIP

Disarm the TTIP

Greens/EFA MEPs are taking part in the European Day of Action against TTIP, CETA and TISA this week-end. Let's join together in the fight against the TTIP EU-US deal.

Lithuanian Government shall not force unsafe shale gas technologies

Letter from MEPs to Lithuanian authorities

Today, 10 October, over 30 Members of the European Parliament in their letter have addressed the President, Chair of the Seimas (Parliament) and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania expressing their concern ab...

EU medicine regulation in the new Commission

About-turn on Medicines Agency ensures patients remain the priority

The European Medicines Agency, which is responsible for the evaluation and supervision of medicines in the EU, has been something of a political hot potato over the past weeks. President-elect Juncker tried to shift resp...

Join the Food Revolution!

Join the pledge for the Publication of the Communication on 'Building a Sustainable European Food System'

In April 2013, the European Commission announced that the Communication entitled "Building a Sustainable European Food System" would be published by the end of 2013 or early 2014. The Commission has not only invested a lot of resources in creating this important document, it also held a very successful public consultation last year, and the final Communication was agreed by three Commissioners (DG AGRI, DG ENVI and DG SANCO).

Digital Single Market

Greens/EFA MEP Julia Reda gives our assessment of commissioner-designate Andrus Ansip

Jan Philipp Albrecht assesses Andrus Ansip Julia Reda assesses Andrus Ansip What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Ansip performed? Given the short time to prepare, Ansip seemed ...

Press Briefing Note

What is the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear subsidy case and why is it so important?

The European Commission plans this Wednesday 8 October to take a final state aid decision on: THE UK’s €20 BILLION OFFER ... The UK government has offered a package of operating subsidies and other measures to enable the construction of two new nuclear power plants at Hinkley Point in SW England. The twin 1600 megawatt reactors would be built and owned by a consortium of four firms, two French and two Chinese, with Électricité de France (EDF) in the lead.

A lesson well recited

Sven Giegold, Jean Lambert and Monika Vana assess commissioner-designate Dombrovskis

At first glance, Valdis Dombrovskis made an acceptable performance during his hearing. But when you scratch the surface his presentation seemed more like a well-rehearsed recital of a neoliberal version of a Juncker lesson. It remains to be seen if his prolific use of social trigger words will now be turned into commitments and actions.

Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Green MEP Barbara Lochbihler gives our assessment of High Representative Federica Mogherini

What is your overall impression of how the High Representative designate Federica Mogherini performed? All in all, Federica Mogherini left a rather positive impression. She was able to answer most questions and...

Sakharov Prize 2014

Support for the nomination of Leyla Yunus

Make a difference, vote for Leyla Yunus  Letter of support for the nomination of Leyla Yunus for the 2014 Sakharov Prize by 2009 Sakharov Laureates, Russian NGO Memorial   With this letter, we would like...

EP Hearings and EU Food agenda: mixed feelings about the 3 Commissioners involved

Members of the European Parliament last week held hearings with the three Commissioners-designate with food-related portfolios.

Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship

Green MEP Helga Trupel gives our assessment of commissioner-designate Tibor Navracsics

What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Navracsics performed? He is a very talkative and eloquent person, but absolutely not ready for any self criticism and not ready to adm...

Agriculture and Rural Development

Green MEP Martin Hausling gives our assessment of ommissioner-designate Phil Hogan

What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate performed? Well briefed and prepared. For the complex issues he read his answers nicely. Mr Hogan clearly has a neoliberal world view. Were there par...

Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality

Green MEP Heidi Hautala gives our assessment of Commissioner-designate Vera Jourová

What is your overall impression of how Commissioner-Designate Jourová performed? It certainly seems that she has been given a portfolio with such breadth and depth that tending to all relevant issues satisfactorily see...

Canete: not fit for the job

Green MEPs Bas Eickhout and Claude Turmes deem energy and climate commissioner-designate Cañete unsuitable

Green MEPs Bas Eickhout and Claude Turmes deem energy and climate commissioner-designate Cañete unsuitable. He has failed to allay the serious concerns about the conflicts of interest regarding his nomination as EU climate and energy commissioner, notably the continued involvement of his brother-in-law in the oil industry. For the Greens/EFA group, his candidacy is clearly untenable.

Regional Policy Commissioner Hearing

Greens/EFA assessment

Green MEP Monika Vana Delli gives our assessment of Regional Policy Commissioner nominee Corina Cretu

Our health and food in safe hands?

Green MEP Bas Eickhout assesses the EP hearing of Vytenis Andriukaitis, commissioner-designate for health and food safety

Green MEP Bas Eickhout gives a generally positive assessment of the EP hearing with Vytenis Andriukaitis and health and food safety under the new Commission.     What was your overall impression ...

Juncker's persisting environmental blind spot

Sustainable development and environmental protection completely relagated in new proposed Commission

The complete relegation of sustainable development and environmental protection in the proposals by president-elect Juncker for the coming EU Commission term has been under fire for some time. Last week, our group wrote ...

Experienced Politician

Green MEP Judith Sargentini assesses Migration and Home Affairs Commission candidate Dimitris Avramopoulos

Green MEP Judith Sargentini gives a cautiously positive assessment of the EP hearing with Dimitris Avramopoulos and Migration and Home Affairs under the new Commission. What was y...

A smooth but maybe too cautious operator

Greens/EFA assessment of Carlos Moedas, following his hearing

  Greens/EFA MEP Reinhard Bütikofer comments the hearing of Carlos Moedas What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Moedas performed? He certainly is an experienced politician and a smoo...

Greens call for a truthful and reliable climate and energy commissioner

Blog - climate campaign

The Greens/EFA group questions the links of Commissioner designate Miguel Arias Cañete and his family to the oil industry and believes these pose serious concerns about his independence and commitment to the general public interest.

Transport Commissioner Šefčovič?

Green MEP Karima Delli gives our assessment of Transport Commissioner nominee Maroš Šefčovič What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Šefčovič performed? Mr. Šefčovič performed better than...

Sustainability and the environment under Team Juncker

Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms express concern sustainable development is an inconvient afterthought

With the European Parliament set to vet the College of Commissioners proposed by president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker, Greens/EFA group co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts give a sceptical assessment of Team...

New Trade Commissioner?

Yannick Jadot on Trade Commissioner nominee Cecilia Malmstrom

What is your overall impression of how the candidate performed? Cecilia Malmström was obviously well briefed on the trade dossier. Unfortunately, she has fallen completely into the line and footsteps of ...

Fit for the job of environment and fisheries commissioner?

Greens/EFA assessment of Karmenu Vella, following his EP hearing

Greens/EFA environment spokesperson Bas Eickhout and fisheries spokesperson Isabella Lövin give their assessment of the European Parliament hearing with Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner-designate fo...

Letter to President Juncker

Greens/EFA group highlights concerns with commissioner-designate Miguel Arial Cañete's candidacy

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has written to European Commission president-elect Juncker to highlight concerns with commissioner-designate Miguel Arial Cañete's candidacy, notably as regards certain c...

Foreign policy and human rights under Team Juncker

Green MEP Barbara Lochbihler gives an optimistic initial assessment

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? The nomination of certain candidates for their portfolio raise some serious questions. In particular those nominees who are closely associated wit...

Environmental legislation and the Troika

Open letter to President Juncker on evidence in WWF report

The recent WWF report regarding environmental legislation in Greece highlights how legal and political safeguards for environmental protection have been seriously damaged by Troika policies. This report is yet mo...

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 15-19 September 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included access to life-saving medicines in Europe, EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, UN climate talks and the EU's role, the European Youth Initiative, nominations for the Sakharov Prize and the EU response to the Ebola outbreak.

Financial and banking policy under Team Juncker

Green MEP Molly Scott Cato on the financial poacher turned gamekeeper Jonathan Hill

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? I am fairly shocked by the proposal made by Juncker. He came to our group meeting and we questioned him in good faith. He was clearly not informed a...

Fundamental rights and migration under Team Juncker

Green MEP Judith Sargentini on the provocative candidate choices

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? While President-elect Juncker has made positive sounds as regards the need to address the challenges of migration and fundamental rights in Europe, ...

Fisheries and nature under Team Juncker

Green MEP Isabella Lövin expresses concern at the downgraded commitment to nature and environment protection

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? I am worried about the direction the new Commission seems to be taking. My overall impression is that there is a clear risk that both environmental ...

Food Waste Plan Dumped

European Commission withholds its own action plan against food waste

This weekend a Belgian umbrella organisation of NGO's called 11.11.11 launched their campaign "Sorry is not enough" with the aim to call on the general public to put pressure on policy makers to act strongly ...

Climate and energy policy under Team Juncker

Green MEP Claude Turmes gives a gloomy initial assessment

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? I am not particularly happy with the proposal from Jean-Claude Juncker. The structure he has proposed for the new Commission appears to be based on...

Any hope for sustainable and safe food policy with new proposed EU commissioner?

Jean-Claude Juncker proposed Vytenis Andriukatis as commissioner for Health and Food safety. Despite some promising elements in Andriukatis' mission letter, for example on energy efficiency and public investment, overall we may doubt about any positive influence on our health, nor food safety as Juncker is clearly in favour of the currently negotiated TTIP EU-US agreement.

Sakharov Prize 2014

Greens/EFA nominate Leyla Yunus - Defending human rights in Azerbaijan

  The Greens/EFA group has agreed to nominate Leyla Yunus, a leading human rights figure in Azerbaijan, for this year's Sakharov Prize. The nomination for the EU's annual award for 'freedom of thought' recognises h...

Sustainable and safe food under Team Juncker?

Green MEP Bart Staes gives his initial assessment of the proposals

  So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? Not really. There are some promising elements in it, for example on energy efficiency and public investment, but overall it looks like a...

Digital agenda, copyright and privacy under Team Juncker

Greens/EFA MEPs Jan Philipp Albrecht and Julia Reda give their initial impression

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? The overall structure proposed for this broad area of portfolios is generally positive. However, the jury remains out as to whether the candidates...

Team Juncker and employment and social policy

Green MEP Jean Lambert assesses proposed commissioner Marianne Thyssen

  So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? Overall, no. It is certainly not the "greenest Commission ever" and I think that some of the nominations defy logic. I am also not...

NGO clampdown in Hungary

Open Letter from Greens/EFA Co-Presidents

  On Monday, 8 September 2014, the Hungarian state launched a full frontal attack against two of the four NGOs responsible for the distribution of Norway's NGO Grants in Hungary. The National Investigation Bureau (...