EU - Turkey: The answer is more democracy

Greens/EFA MEP Ernest Maragall has spoken out to condemn the military coup in Turkey as well as aspects of the Turkish government's response to it, during a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with EU Foreig...

Inquiry committee on dieselgate

Greens/EFA action and proposals

Discover the work of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament's inquiry committee which was set up to investigate the car pollution scandal

Glyphosate is back on the EP agenda with a clear message from citizens to stand against the use of the substance

On Thursday 8th September, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament examined three petitions opposing the use of the systemic herbicide glyphosate.

Inquiry committee on dieselgate

Hearings of EU Commissioners Bienkowska and Vella - 12 September 2016

  On Monday, 12 September (7pm to 10.30pm, room Louise Weiss N1.3 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg) EU-Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and ...

Apple state aid case

record €13 billion fee and lessons for tax justice

30 August 2016 will be an important day in EU-US relations. While France's Secretary of State for Trade announced that France will ask to stop the TTIP negotiations, Commissioner Vestager announced that Ireland gave illegal tax benefits - worth up to €13 billion - to Apple, one of the most emblematic US multinationals.

Disappointing performance from Verheugen leaves many questions unanswered

EMIS hearing

On 30 August, the EMIS committee heard from one of the key players in the control of car emissions, the former European Commissioner for Industry, Günter Verheugen, who finally accepted to speak to the committee after several refusals to take part.

Hearings of former EU-Commissioners Günter Verheugen and Antonio Tajani (30 August/5 September)

EMIS hearings

  Former EU-Commissioners Günter Verheugen and Antonio Tajani will speak at the next EMIS hearings. As Commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship from 2004 to 2010 Günter Verheugen was in charge of ...

Barroso scandal

outrage continues as Greens/EFA call for swift action to curb conflicts of interest

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament wrote to EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Vice-President for Transparency Frans Timmermans, calling on them to use their powers to cut short any conflicts of interest arising from Barroso’s controversial move to Goldman Sachs

Out there

Celebrating diversity, fighting for equal rights & open societies

Pride is first and foremost political. It is not just about dressing up and bringing some more colour and glitter into the world. The Pride season is about equal rights for all. It is about the right to live the life you want to live, love the person you want to love and be the person you want to be. This is why the Pride season is a mirror for our society, showing us how open, how equal, how inclusive our societies are.

Offshore Wealth Reconsidered – Tax havens are doing better than might you think

A new report from our Tax Justice Campaign

There are plenty of tax havens around the world, but probably not as many as there have been promises to shut them down. We have looked into whether the amount of wealth hidden in these countries has decreased over the past few years, either because of the financial crisis or because of international actions against tax havens. Spoiler alert: the answer is no!

Panama Papers: European Parliament kicks off its investigation

A blog from our Tax Justice Campaign

The biggest tax scandal of all time – involving both politicians and well-known figures, and triggering a range of investigations – deserved the highest possible response from the European Parliament. That is exactly what the Greens called for immediately after the Panama Papers revelations and what was finally approved at the beginning of June.

Urgent reforms to Commission's Revolving Door rules necessary following Barroso's move to Goldman Sachs

The previous President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, who was in the job for 10 years, has been head-hunted by Goldman Sachs to become their chair and advisor and to lead the way on their behalf during the Brexit negotiations.

Final report on Luxleaks

Who’s to blame and what needs to change

When the Luxleaks scandal broke 18 months ago, the Greens in the European Parliament were the first to call for an inquiry committee to make sure we could properly investigate the revelations.

Secretive accountability?

Greens/EFA deplores plans to question Cañete “in camera”

Next week, on Tuesday 12th July, EU Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete is set to appear before the European Parliament's legal affairs committee to respond to EU Parliamentarians' (MEPs) questions about his impartiality and independence, following a series of questionable revelations that have cast doubts upon his integrity.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 4-8 July 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included: Energy labels and a common sense A-G system; Human trafficking and EU external relations; UK referendum aftermath; Diverting development aid to military purposes; Revising money laundering rules and tackling tax avoidance; Controversial EU-Canada trade deal ratification; EU border and coast guard and fundamental rights; Whistleblower protection: EU rules badly needed; Tax evasion: conclusion of Lux Leaks investigation.

Protection of whistleblowers

Plenary debate on July 6th, 2016

Whistle-blowers play an essential role in our democracies and the EU has the duty to protect those who take risk to disclose information in the public interest.

A step forward on money-laundering, but Commission needs to be bolder

After the Panama Paper revelations, the European Commission needs to show it is ready to take strong action on tax evasion and avoidance. Their newly published anti-money laundering package goes some way towards achieving that. But with up to €1 trillion lost from the real economy each year, they need to be much bolder.

Report on human trafficking

Trafficking reduces human beings into commodities

Modern slavery, forced prostitution, recruitment of child soldiers – trafficking in human beings has a lot of different appearances.

Scotland's Remain vote must be respected

Scotland's decisive vote in favour of remaining part of the European Union at the recent referendum must be respected, according to SNP MEP Ian Hudghton. Mr Hudghton was speaking in a debate in the European Parlia...

Join the Food Revolution Newsletter

Issue n°21 June 2016

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Glyphosate approval: EU governments should begin glyphosate phase-out following Commission intransigence Toxic substances: Shameful Commission compounds wrongs on endocrine disru...

Scotland and Europe

Statement by Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts after meeting with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms today met with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Commenting after the meeting Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms said: “While deeply regrettable...

Outcome of the referendum in the United Kingdom

Plenary debate in the European Parliament

LIVE - Greens/EFA Co-President Philippe Lamberts will intervene on behalf of his Group during extraordinary plenary debate on the outcome of the UK referendum

EU Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security

Greens/EFA Group issues alternative EU strategy

The Greens/EFA Group has today issued 27 specific recommendations on how to make a substantial contribution to security and peace. They welcome parts of Mogherini's strategy but stress that sets the wrong priorities in many respect

More EU transparency needed

Experts provide testimony before the European Parliament

  Last week, the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament hosted a public hearing at which legal experts, academics, civil society organisations and representatives of the European Ombudsman's office highlight...

Luxleaks committee delivers final verdict

A blog from our Tax Justice campaign

In the same week as Finance Ministers agreed a weak package of reforms on tax avoidance, the European Parliament Special Committee TAXE has published a harsh assessment of Member States' willingness to adopt tax reforms. The committee, created in February 2015 to investigate the Luxleaks scandal, also put forward a series of recommendations on how to make corporate taxation fairer.

Member States agree on anti-tax avoidance measures - but at what cost?

A blog from our Tax Justice campaign

If there is one thing that matters in politics, it is accountability towards citizens. So when European leaders tell us that we must tackle tax avoidance, you would think that that they would deliver on their promises when they get the chance.

EMIS hearing 20 June 2016

Nick Molden, Emission analytics “People preferred not to know there was a problem.”

Latest speaker of the day in the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) was Nick Molden from Emission analytics.

EMIS hearing 21 June 2016

ADAC representative Mr Christoph Gauss ADAC representative acknowledges evidence of irregularities for over 10 years, but failed to inform authorities

Just two working days after the last meeting of the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) members met again, on the 20th and 21st of June.

EMIS hearing 20 June 2016

Representatives of the European Commission “No investigation was set up as there was no evidence”

The first hearing of the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) with representatives of the European Commission was held on 21st of June with representatives of the Technical Committee of Motor Vehicles (TCMV) and the Type-Approval Authorities Expert Group (TAAEG), who coordinate the work on RDE-LDV expert group on real driving emissions and light-duty vehicles).

Greens/EFA launch public consultation

Momentum for protection of whistle-blowers in Europe continues to grow

What's your opinion on whistle-blower protection? We want to hear from you. Have your say through our online public consultation.

Paris Agreement’s ratification

Every minute counts

With the European Commission's proposal to ratify the Paris Agreement early, it is time for the EU Council to ensure the European Union doesn't get left behind.

EMIS hearing 16 June 2016

Ms Dorothee Saar, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) German authorities still reluctant to confront car manufacturers

On Thursday 16th June the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) heard Dorothee Saar as a witness. She

EMIS hearing 16 June 2016

Daniel Lange, software firm Faster IT “Management of car industry knew quite well about shortcomings”

The second part of the afternoon session of the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) saw Mr Daniel Lange, a long time veteran of the software side of the car industry who at the moment is working for software firm Faster IT as a consultant.

EMIS hearing 16 June 2016

Pascoe Sabido and Olivier Hoedeman, Corporate Europe Observatory 66% of expert groups involved in European Commission´s legislative process are industry representatives

The Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) heard Pascoe Sabido and Olivier Hoedeman as witnesses.

EMIS hearing 16 June 2016

Prof Dr-Ing Kai Borgeest, Aschaffenburg University of Applied Science

In the afternoon of the same day, Prof Dr-Ing Kai Borgeest followed his invitation to the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS).

Controlling Conflicts of Interest

Greens/EFA group works to ensure proper scrutiny of EU Commissioners’ Declarations of Interest

The controversy surrounding the appointment of EU Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete led to unprecedented civil engagement in the nomination process, which included the launch of a specific hashtag, #StopCanete, and an ...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 6-9 June 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included: Glyphosate: decision on extending the controversial substance; Food security and a fair food supply chain; Watering down EU rules on financial speculation; legal EU migration tainted by outsourcing to 3rd countries; Tobacco, health and the role of industry: international rules; Panama Papers: EP inquiry into tax evasion and money laundering in the EU; EU Commission refusing to act on health-damaging chemicals; Preventing further approvals of GMOs; MEPs demand regulation on open, efficient and independent EU administration.

Transparency and Independence

EU Parliament presents the Commission with a ready-made regulation to improve the EU administration

Over three years ago, the European Parliament - by an overwhelming majority - called on the Commission to present legislation that would improve the openness, efficiency and independence of the EU administration.

Panama Papers Inquiry

Meet our Green Team!

As the Plenary Chamber of the European Parliament voted yesterday to support an inquiry committee on the Panama Papers scandal, the Greens have been busy voting as well for their 8 representatives to seat in this committee.

The European Parliament says

No "old" GMOs, no "new" GMOs, no GMOs in the EU, no GMOs in Africa

June’s European Parliament Plenary saw five different votes related to GMOs. Altogether they give a good idea of the EP's very coherent opinion on GMOs, which can be summarized as being a resounding no.

CETA

Luxembourg parliament resolution demands legal clarification, not ready to vote on deal

The Luxembourg parliament voted in support of a resolution on the EU-Canada deal CETA on Tuesday (June 8), that calls upon the government to seek legal clarification on the investor rights provisions in the agreement. It also demands that CETA is a “mixed deal” requiring ratification in Member State parliaments once these legal irregularities have been addressed.

EU funding for New Alliance ignores murky world of land-grabs and human rights violations

On the face of it, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition looks like an extremely worthy project: encouraging private investment in African farming to help improve food production and reduce hunger and poverty.

Inquiry Committee on Panama Papers

A Green idea come true

Our Green MEPs have been busy signing autographs this week. The Greens were the first political group to call for an investigation by the European Parliament after the revelations of the "Panama Papers" in April of this year.

Ulrike Lunacek meets Azeri political prisoners

Ulrike Lunacek met today with Rasul Jafarov and Anar Mamadli, two of the Azeri political prisoners recently released from jail.

ALL OF US – Mobilising for rainbow families

Joint declaration of Members of the European Parliament

LGBTI rights are human rights. Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans and intersex persons should enjoy the same rights, duties and opportunities as well as the same level of protection as any other person within the EU. However, discrimination against LGBTI persons in the EU persists. ALL OF US want this discrimination to end.

EU Food Safety Authority proposes “secure reading room” for access to controversial glyphosate studies

The EU's Food Safety Authority, in charge of reviewing whether or not to approve glyphosate – a herbicide used for example in Monsanto's Roundup products – has responded to a freedom of information request made by 4 Greens/EFA MEPs by proposing that access to the controversial studies may be provided via a secure “reading room”, a set-up now being used for Members' access to TTIP and Tax-justice related documents.

European Commission reforms Expert Groups

But transparency remains optional

The European Commission adopted new rules to increase the transparency of its expert groups, which give expert advice that shapes the very first drafts of EU laws. This follows a high-level political commitment made by Juncker to improve the transparency of the EU institutions when he first took office.

Join the Food Revolution Newsletter

Issue n°20 May 2016

  GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY     Good for business, bad for us - Why Bayer buying Monsanto is more than just another merger No privatisation of life - No patent on our tomatoes! W...

Lost in Translation

Back-room debates about the impact of trade secrets on whistle-blowers shows urgent need for EU wide whistle-blower protection

Today, unfortunately, the controversial Trade Secrets directive was formally adopted by the Council, but only after several delays due to disagreements over how specifically to translate a key provision in the text: the word "wrongdoing".

Has the G7 learned its lesson?

Not at all!

The G7 club of industrialised nations met this week in Japan against a backdrop of economic gloom, geopolitical tension and rising concerns on climate change. Despite being viewed by many as remote and undemocratic, th...