Going green will future proof the finance sector

Sustainable Finance

The European Commission has today published two proposals on Sustainable Finance. The first is a way of classifying the climate risks of various financial products ("taxonomy"). The second makes clear the responsibility of investment professionals towards the people whose money they are managing.

Toll systems must reflect environmental costs

EU Road Tolls

The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism committee has today backed proposals to reform EU-wide car tolls. The report includes a number of demands of the Greens/EFA group.

Mark Zuckerberg at the European Parliament

Greens/EFA reaction to the meeting with Facebook boss

A simple apology to European Facebook users is not enough. We want Facebook to put measures in place to make advertising more transparent and prevent misuse of personal data.

EU sets global standard for fundamental rights, consumer protection and fair competition

General Data Protection Regulation

The law will be directly applicable throughout the European Union from Friday 25 May 2018. The rules apply to companies, whether they are established inside or outside the European Union.

New Yellow-Black coalition will bring serious harm to Italy and EU

Italian Election

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts and European Green Party co-chair Monica Frassoni comment on the proposed new Italian coalition government.

Commission needs to get serious on CO2 from trucks

Mobility Package

The European Commission has today presented its third mobility package, intended to reduce CO2 emissions and improve road safety.

Court action should be wake-up call to Germany, France and UK

Air quality

The Greens/EFA group has welcomed the decision of the European Commission to refer several EU countries to the European Court of Justice over their failure to take action on air quality.

President Tajani, conservatives and the right team up to help Facebook boss dodge public scrutiny

Mark Zuckerberg in the European Parliament

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to a private meeting with the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament, the chairman of the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs and Jan Philipp Albrecht, rapporteur for the General Data Protection Regulation. The exact date is not yet known but it is expected next week. Despite the demand of the Greens/EFA group and others, the discussion will take place behind closed doors.

Ramazzini Institute pilot study shows adverse health effects from doses considered safe

Glyphosate

The Ramazzini Institute has today presented the first results of a pilot study on glyphosate, which indicate that the substance has serious adverse health effects, including on sexual and reproductive health.

Reaction to Antoine Deltour ruling from Benedek Jávor

LuxLeaks

The Luxembourg Court of Appeal has today ruled on the case of Antoine Deltour. The Court has acknowledged his status as a whistleblower but gave him a “suspension du prononcé” for downloading documents related to the LuxLeaks, for which he receives a €1 fine.

New report into fast food giants shows tax haven threat of Brexit

McDonalds tax report

“Today’s report demonstrates clearly that corporations have not changed their approach to tax avoidance. In spite of massive public distaste for it, they are continuing to game the tax system, chasing the remaining loopholes and seeking to create new ones," said Greens/EFA Tax Justice spokesperson, Molly Scott Cato.

Trump's solo run is a dangerous game with fire

Iran agreement

The US President announced today to impose economic sanctions on Iran which means the US is withdrawing from the Iran Agreement. The agreement was concluded in 2015 between Iran, the United States, the European Union, Russia and China to suspend Iran's nuclear programme and the enrichment of uranium and plutonium and to prevent Iran from producing weapons-grade uranium or plutonium. In return, economic sanctions against Iran were lifted.

Freedom of expression is not a crime

Russia declares Bronis Ropė persona non grata

The Russian Foreign Ministry declared Greens/EFA member Bronis Ropė persona non grata in Russia. He will be refused entry to this country for the next five years. Greens/EFA Presidents Philippe Lamberts and Ska Keller commented: “We are deeply concerned over the fact that without appropriate justification, members of the European Parliament could be refused entrance to the territory of the Russian Federation

Quote from Philippe Lamberts

Prime Minister of Belgium / Future of Europe

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts comments on today's debate on the Future of Europe with Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel.

It is time to reform the EU budget

Multiannual Financial Framework

The Greens/EFA group has welcomed the European Commission's proposals to reform the income side of the EU budget. The European Commission has today published its proposals for the post 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including plans to introduce new Own Resources.

EU needs to stop conflicts of interest from undermining climate policy

Revolving doors

"There is a revolving door between politics and the fossil fuel lobby all across Europe. It’s not just a handful of cases – it is systematic," comments Max Andersson, Greens/EFA MEP attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn today.

European Union must defend multilateralism

Trade dispute with the USA

The European Union must use this postponement as an opportunity to vigorously defend multilateralism. The EU should take this case to the World Trade Organization. To counter Trump’s reckless protectionist agenda, the EU needs a common strategy.

New dawn for plastic management

Draft legislative proposal on plastics

Reaction from Greens/EFA MEP Margrete Auken to the leak of the European Commission's draft legislative proposal on plastics.

EU Member States back plans to protect pollinators

Neonicotinoids

The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has today voted to approve the extension of the European Commission's restrictions on the use of three of the most widely used neonicotinoids. Greens/EFA food safety spokesperson Bart Staes comments: "At long last, this strong a...

Support for independent journalism is the best antidote

Fake News

Well-funded independent journalism with high professional standards is key to addressing disinformation and propaganda, says Josep Maria Terricabras, Vice President of the Greens/EFA group.

Victory for whistleblower rights campaigners

Commission Whistleblower proposals

After a long campaign for the protection of whistleblowers in the EU, the Greens/EFA group has welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s proposals. The Greens/EFA group has been consistently pushing for a directive and published its own draft proposal in May 2016, which was updated earlier this month following a public consultation.

New rules will ensure greater transparency in car industry

Dieselgate

Pascal Durand comments on the new type approval rules.

EU must respond to the threat to investigative journalism

Protection of journalists

Greens/EFA transparency spokesperson Benedek Jávor comments on the threat to investigative journalism.

New rules are a good deal for consumers and farmers

Organic regulation

The Greens/EFA group has welcomed the approval of the new organic farming regulation, steered by the European Parliament’s lead negotiation Martin Häusling.

New legislation will be tough on financial crime, thanks to Greens/EFA group

Money Laundering

The European Parliament has today given its approval to the outcome of negotiations on the fifth update to the anti-money laundering directive. The revised legislation contains wide-ranging measures for combatting money laundering, such as granting public access to data on the beneficial owners of firms.

"Daphne Project" revelations must spell end for implicated senior politicians

Malta/Money-Laundering

Sven Giegold on the latest revelations of the Daphne Project

EU should act when Member States fail on fundamental rights

Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya MEP Jordi Solé has called on EU leaders Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Antonio Tajani, to 'be brave and show leadership' in helping find a political solution to the conflict between Catalonia and Spain. Jordi Solé was speaking in today...

EPP group defeated in transparency dispute

Transparency of MEP spending

A row is currently underway in the European Parliament over reforms to MEPs' General Expenditure Allowance. In today's vote on the Discharge of the European Parliament's budget for 2016, the EPP tried to water down commitments to reform. These were defeated.

European Parliament censures Commission over mishandling of Secretary General appointment

Selmayr

The European Parliament has today backed a resolution criticising the European Commission for its handling of the appointment of Martin Selmayr as Commission Secretary General.

Facebook needs a radical change of direction on data

Facebook/Cambridge Analytica

Jan Philipp Albrecht, who was the European Parliament's negotiator for the new General Data Protection Regulation, comments on the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal.

EFA MEP Miranda calls for Corsican rights recognition

Press release from EFA MEP Ana Miranda (Galicia)

EFA MEP Ana Miranda (Bloque Nacionalista Galego) has called on France to recognise Corsica's 50 year national struggle, and the rights of bilingual citizens, in line with the European Charter of Minority Languages. Ana Miranda made the call following the address of French President Emmanuel M...

Reaction of Greens/EFA presidents

ECJ Białowieża forest ruling

The European Court of Justice has today ruled that the forestry management decisions taken by Poland concerning Białowieża forest infringed EU law.

Macron's actions must match his rhetoric

President Macron/Future of Europe

"Like many others, we are pleased to see a French President who is ready to show leadership on Europe. Europeans must work together to take on this century’s challenges. The tasks confronting us are too big to be faced alone," says Greens/EFA co-president, Philippe Lamberts.

Political strategy is needed

Military strikes in Syria

Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts, Presidents of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, respond to the strikes on Syria by the US, UK and France.

The time for warnings has passed – the EU must trigger article 7

Hungary

Greens/EFA MEP Judith Sargentini has today presented her report on the European Parliament's investigation into whether or not Hungary is in breach of the values of the European Union. Sargentini's report recommends that the Council initiate Article 7 proceedings against Hungary.

Closing the gap in consumer protection

Class action

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has welcomed new proposals to give consumers the right to enter into class actions, a long-standing Greens/EFA demand.

President Macron: show leadership on tax reforms

Tax Justice

The Greens/EFA group has written to the French President, calling on him to show leadership on tax justice.

Sad day for Europe

Hungary elections

This result shows how big our responsibility is to defend democracy and fundamental rights everywhere in the European Union. It is true, Orbán secured his majority. But we should not forget that the Orbán government managed to silence opposition media, filled a lot of key positions in official institutions with people close to his party and lead an aggressive campaign driven by fake news when it comes to migration.

European Parliament commits to protecting workers from diesel emissions

Carcinogens at work

"This an important victory in the fight against cancer, the leading cause of work-related deaths in Europe," says Karima Delli.

Grand coalition soft on ethical concerns

Selmayr

"It beggars belief that the conservatives, liberals and socialists could not bring themselves to back criticism of the European Commission’s handling of Martin Selmayr’s appointment," says Bart Staes.

Rule of law must be respected by all EU Member States – regardless of which party is in power

Catalonia

Yesterday afternoon, the Spanish judiciary presented its formal accusations against former members of the Catalan Government. The judge accuses them of rebellion and ordered provisional imprisonement for five of them; adding them to the four that have been already in jail since last Octobe...

We need to stand up for the values of fair trade

Trump trade tariffs

Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamberts and Ska Keller respond to reports that the EU will be exempt from tariffs on steel and aluminium.

European Parliament must conduct negotiations transparently

ECJ ruling

"Citizens have a right to be able to follow and scrutinise the negotiations for the laws that govern them," says Heidi Hautala.

Greens/EFA group welcomes proposals to make digital giants pay

Taxing the digital economy

“The digital giants have been getting a free ride for far too long," says Molly Scott Cato.

Baysanto merger is bad news for farmers and the environment

Bayer/Monsanto

"Baysanto" spells bad news for farmers, our environment and food security, says Greens/EFA food safety spokesperson Bart Staes.

Philippe Lamberts looks ahead to this week's European Council

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts looks ahead to this week's European Council.

Special treatment for Nord Stream II must end

Internal market for natural gas

Claude Turmes welcomes proposals to end special treatment for projects like Nord Stream II

Multilateral Investment Court

little more than a rebranding exercise

The Member States and the Commission continue to ignore the legitimate resistance of European citizens to the transfer of their legal and democratic sovereignty to multinationals. Even if they claim to have cleaned up the ISDS mechanism through the MIC, the truth is it doesn’t change the deeply shocking and discriminatory nature of the system.

Action to end language inequality in Europe

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Wales)

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans today presents her draft report on ‘Language equality in the digital age’ to the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee. The report identifies the issues facing minority and lesser-used languages in Europe. English is currently the most ...

Parliament puts pressure on Council to implement “game changing” tax policy

Tax avoidance

The European Parliament has today voted in favour of the revised proposals on establishing an EU-wide common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB). Establishing a CCCTB has been a long standing Greens/EFA demand. The parliament's position also includes welcome new measures on taxing the digital economy.