Press Releases | Greens/EFA

business conflict ©mohamed mahmoud hassan

Legal Affairs Committee clears Commissioner candidates of conflicts of interest

Quote from Sergey Lagodinsky MEP

The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has just confirmed the absence of conflicts of interest for Commissioner candidates Thierry Breton (FR), Adina-Ioana Vălean (RO) and Olivér Várhelyi (HU). The Legal Affairs decision opens the way for the three candidates to appear before joint committee hearings on Thursday

Worldbank (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Dublin System reforms will ensure greater solidarity

Asylum

The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee has voted on the reforms to the Dublin System, which sets out the criteria for which Member State should examine an asylum claim.

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European Parliament sets out powerful agenda for defeating money laundering and tax dodging

Panama Papers

"We now have a powerful set of proposals to tackle the illegal and corrupt financial flows unearthed by the Panama Papers," says Molly Scott Cato.

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@Erich Westendarp

Greens/EFA call for glyphosate-free future

Glyphosate

The Greens/EFA group has commissioned a new study on alternatives to glyphosate. The study, which has been produced by PAN Europe, will be published one day ahead of a vote in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on an objection to the renewal of glyphosate’s EU licence. The resolution calls on the Commission not to extend the licence and to take measures to phase out use of the substance in the EU by 15 December 2020.

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JLogan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Statement from Philippe Lamberts, President of Greens/EFA group

European Council 19-20 October

"Even more so than the negotiations on Brexit and the future of Ireland, which have been severely damaged by the unbelievable amateurism of the British leaders, the Catalan crisis risks becoming uncontrollable, putting at risk the EU's spirit of integration," says Philippe Lamberts.

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@Kristian Auth

Parliament sets out rules to end exploitation

Posting of workers

We can and must end the abuse of posted workers, says Terry Reintke. Posted workers have waited far too long to see progress. There is a clear parliamentary consensus and we now expect to see EU Member States match the level of ambition agreed.

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CC BY UNHCR

European Parliament sets strong humanitarian targets

Migration

The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) has voted on proposals for a Union Resettlement Framework, including targets designed to increase ambition across the Member States.

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Ambiguous declaration of Catalan President opens room for dialogue

Catalonia

President Carles Puigdemont opted for an ambiguous statement, leaving some room for dialogue. A lot will depend now on the reaction of the Spanish government.

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EU homes need to be renovated to deliver for climate and citizens

Energy performance of buildings

The Greens/EFA group has backed plans to improve energy efficiency in homes that would see considerable environmental, social and health benefits for EU citizens. The European Parliament’s committee on Industry, Research and Energy voted in favour of proposals to improve the energy performance of buildings.

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Catalan independence declaration

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé (ERC)

Commenting on today's declaration of Catalan independence, Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP, President of the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament, said: "Today marks an exciting new chapter in European history as Catalonia declares its independence. And following our perma...

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Greens/EFA nominee Aura Lolita Chávez on shortlist

Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament’s foreign affairs and development committees have today agreed on the shortlist for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2017.

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CC 0

Schäuble leaves behind poisonous farewell present

Future of the Eurozone

Schäuble's paper continues to breathe the spirit of austerity policy. Although structural reforms are necessary in the countries in crisis, saving alone will not get the economy back on its feet. Schäuble ignores the fact that the differences within the eurozone are also the result of the policies of the richer countries of the North.

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Justice

Independent EU body promises common approach to fight fraud

European Public Prosecutor’s Office

The European Parliament voted with a large majority in favour of establishing a European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The new EU public prosecutor will be an independent body with the power to investigate and prosecute fraud in the EU, particularly VAT fraud.

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Jordi Borras

European Parliament debate on Catalonia

Comment from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

Commmenting on the debate in the European Parliament on the situation in Catalonia following the police violence at last Sunday's independence referendum, EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya) said: "The debate and the response of Mr Timmerman's to the situati...

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The EU institutions cannot sit on the fence

Catalonia

A debate is taking place in the EU Parliament this afternoon on the situation in Catalonia. The Greens/EFA Group called for the debate after the violence of the Spanish police in Catalonia last Sunday. Greens/EFA Co-President Ska Keller strongly condemns the use of police force and urges the EU Commission to mediate in the conflict.

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Ocean of money© Milan M Jurkovic

Tackling VAT fraud would generate billions for social investment

VAT reform

The Commission’s plans will only work if national tax authorities trust each other to collect and send VAT revenues on behalf of one another. The process of decision-making on tax matters does nothing to engender this trust. So long as unanimity is required in the European Council on taxation.

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Detergents © Vladimir Voronin

Hormone disrupting chemicals

EU Parliament shows European Commission the red card

The vote we have won is a victory for democracy, the environment and for citizens. The European Parliament has managed to stop the thoroughly undemocratic attempt by the EU Commission to change the rules on certain endocrine disruptors through the back door.

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Silus Grok(CC BY-SA 2.0)

EU decision on Amazon's tax activities a welcome result for tax justice

Amazon state aid ruling

European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, has today announced the verdict of the European Commission’s proceedings against Amazon, for infringement of EU competition law. The Commissioner has ruled that Amazon’s tax set up in Luxembourg contravenes EU law. In addition to...

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European Parliament must stand by environmental restrictions

Endocrine disruptors

"It is unacceptable that the Commission tries to lift a ban of certain endocrine disrupters via the backdoor of comitology to further the interests of the pesticides industry," says Green environment and health spokesperson, Bas Eickhout.

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'We must see more seriousness from the UK'

Quote on Brexit from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (Scotland)

Speaking in today's debate in the European Parliament on the state of play in the Brexit negotiations, SNP MEP Alyn Smith said: "I am struck as ever by the unity of purpose across the Council and the Member States, and indeed across this House, amongst the EU 27. I commend our coord...

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@frank-mckenna

Progress made against dumping from third countries

Anti-dumping regulation

Following lengthy trilogues on a new European policy on the dumping of exports from third countries such as China, a new approach has been agreed that is in line with WTO law, but also protects industries from unfair dumping practices.

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@dominik-scythe

EU should strengthen air passenger rights

Ryanair cancellations

A plenary debate is taking place on the cancellations of flights by Ryanair and the enforcement of the regulation on air passenger rights. Greens/EFA MEP and Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, Karima Delli, comments ahead of the debate.

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No deal by March 2019 would be the worst deal for everyone

Brexit

Comments from Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts following the debate in the European Parliament on Brexit this morning.

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©igor-ovsyannykov

Events in Catalonia

Greens/EFA reaction

Regardless the outcome of the vote, both sides have to come back to the negotiation table. This is a political problem and it needs to be solved politically, not by police force

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Loopholes must not undermine good progress on passenger rights

Rail Passenger Rights

The European Commission has published its proposals on updating the European rules on rail passenger rights. The Greens/EFA group welcomes the moves to ensure equal passenger rights across the EU, but has concerns with the so-called force majeure clause.

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Automatic filters are not the solution

Digital Summit

“The European Commission's idea that complex questions of internet policy can be solved with automated filtering tools is misguided and dangerous," says Julia Reda, Greens/EFA spokesperson for digital policy. Her comments come ahead of the first Digital Summit of Heads of State and Government on Friday 29 September, in Tallinn.

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Group Presidents to withdraw access to Monsanto lobbyists

Monsanto Papers

The parliamentary leaders in the European Parliament decided to withdrawn access to lobbyists and other representatives of the Monsanto group from the United States until further notice. The Greens/EFA Group had requested this after Monsanto declined to attend Parliament for a hearing on the Monsanto Papers.

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© tanner-van-dera

More political pressure needed

Schengen and migration

Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller comments on the European Commission's plans for the future of the Schengen area and the European refugee and migration policy.

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Chafer Machinery (CC BY 2.0)

EFSA's evaluation of glyphosate no longer valid - Bart Staes

Monsanto Papers

Greens/EFA MEP Bart Staes has called on European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Director Bernhard Url and EU governments to re-consider the evaluation of glyphosate due to serious concerns that the agency mishandled its analysis of the safety of glyphosate.

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©igor-ovsyannykov

The EU Commission should mediate between Spanish and Catalan authorities

Catalan referendum

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has called on the European Commission to facilitate dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan authorities to help resolve the political situation around the proposed referendum on Catalan independence.

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Football Leaks

Reaction from Ernest Urtasun to PANA hearing

The European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) has today held a public hearing on ‘Tax-planning: Do celebrities and companies breach EU law?’. The hearing included discussion on the so-called Football Leaks.

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Migrants © Samuel Aranda

End to program must not mean end of relocation

Relocation of refugees

The EU’s refugee relocation program is about to expire. The relocation of refugees in Europe must continue. We Greens have long demanded a permanent distribution system. The ongoing reform of the Dublin system offers a historic opportunity. We must use it to ensure there is solidarity in European asylum and refugee policy on a long-term basis.

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MEPs call for dialogue in Catalan situation

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé

Nearly 50 MEPs from across the political spectrum have today signed a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy 'to express our deep concern regarding the situation in Catalonia, which has reached a critical point.' The MEPs are critical of the 'repressive actions' of the Spa...

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Catalonia is under siege

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

Catalan MEPs have written to all members of the European Commission and MEPs following today's attack on Catalan democracy by Spanish armed police. Spain's Guardia Civil raided several Catalan ministries, arresting members of the government, ahead of Catalonia's independence referendu...

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European flags © Xavier Häpe

Spain must comply with EU fundamental rights charter

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé

Catalan Greens/EFA MEPs Josep-Maria Terricabras and Jordi Solé have written to the Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to protest the political and judicial persecution by Spanish authorities against politicians, media, civil servants ...

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© Colonel

Defending democratic rights in Catalonia

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has co-signed a question to the European Commission condemning the actions of the Spanish government in trying to prevent Catalonia's forthcoming independence referendum. It follows reports that Spain's prosecutor general has threatened 712 democratically electe...

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European Parliament demands greater transparency in the EU

Transparency & lobbying

The European Parliament calls for stricter rules on lobbying. Today, the majority of MEPs adopted a report from Green rapporteur Sven Giegold on "Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU Institutions". Greens / EFA, Social Democrats and some member of EPP, ECR and ALDE groups backed the report.

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© andreas-gucklhorn

EU must recognise the potential of green jobs

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Wales)

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has proposed in parliament that the new EU skills strategy should take account of the vast potential to develop green technologies and acknowledge their importance in creating high skilled jobs in the future. She also called for action to ensure that migrants to Europe ...

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Greens/EFA force vote on the Militarisation of EU development policy

Development

Tomorrow, the Greens/EFA group will attempt to force a vote on the militarisation of development policy. MEPs will decide whether or not the mandate for the negotiations of the European Commission’s proposed revision to the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) requires further parliamentary approval or can go direct to trilogues.

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EU must defend freedom of expression in Spain

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras (Catalunya)

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras has called upon the European Commission to defend the right to freedom of expression in Spain and to mediate with the Spanish Government in respect of Catalonia's forthcoming referendum on independence. He addressed his remarks directly to European Commissi...

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©markus-spiske

Greens/EFA group puts pressure on Commission to take action

Dieselgate

The European Commission needs to stop dragging its heels on Dieselgate, according to Greens/EFA MEP, Bas Eickhout. The Greens/EFA group has chosen Dieselgate as the subject of its first Topical Debate slot.

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©florian-pircher

Binding standards needed to keep network safe

EU Commission Cyber Security Strategy

The digitalisation of everyday life and the so-called Internet of Things requires more security for information technologies, as made clear by the May 2017 "WannaCry" incident.

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© Alexander Briel

Juncker must show citizens that the EU can improve their lives

State of the Union

The Greens/EFA group will call on President Juncker to be much bolder in meeting the needs of European citizens in their response to his annual State of the Union address.

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Arms embargoes needed against countries that breach humanitarian law

EU arms exports

The EU Member States must place arms embargoes against all countries that fail to uphold international humanitarian law. That is one of the key demands of a report from Greens/EFA MEP Bodil Valero on EU arms exports.

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caroline-attwood

Better cooperation needed to stop further food scandals

Fipronil eggs scandal

Following a request from the Greens/EFA group, the European Parliament will hear Council and Commission Statements today on the Fipronil eggs scandal. You can follow the debate live from around 10.15am on the European Parliament website.

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Ilias Bartolini (CC BY-SA 2.0)

More action required to stop the poverty driving forced migration

Migration

"What is sorely missing now is proposals to really counter the poverty driving forced migration. Because that is what we want to see; that people are not forced to leave their home town to pursue a better future", says Green migration spokesperson Judith Sargentini.

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asjjuni0/pixabay

Health and safety of citizens must come first

EU-Japan food controls

The Greens/EFA group has today won the support of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee for its objection to proposals to change the rules on the import of food from the Fukushima area of Japan.

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Investor courts have no place in a fair EU trade policy

ECJ to rule on CETA

Yannick Jadot welcomes the announcement that the ECJ will have a say on CETA.

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Ggia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

EU Commission must get tough on boycotting Member States

ECJ ruling on relocation scheme

Member States must show solidarity or face consequences, says Greens/EFA president Ska Keller.

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©thong vo

Passenger data agreements need to be revised

Opinion of the European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice has today presented its opinion on the compatibility of the EU-Canada Passenger Name Record data agreement (PNR) with EU law. The judges stated that the agreement should must be concluded in its present form, singling out in particular the long-term storage of pass...

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Development policy being militarised through the back door

Legal Affairs committee approves dubious interpretation of EU Treaties

"It is deeply concerning that development policy risks being militarised through the back door. The view supported by the majority of the Legal Affairs committee is quite at odds with the arguments put forward by the Parliament’s own legal services," says Heidi Hautala.

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