Member States must lead the transition

EU Emissions Trading System

Bas Eickhout comments on the revision to the EU’s Emissions Trading System - "Thanks to the insistence of the Greens, EU governments can now shut down coal plants without having to pass the CO2 on to other sectors."

Future of the European Union & Croatia

Leaving the shadows of the past behind

The European Parliament continued today its series of debates with invited European leaders on the Future of Europe with the visit of the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković. Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller used her speech to raise questions regarding widening social inequality and environmental concerns in Croatia.

New list shows full extent of financial secrecy

Financial Secrecy Index

A new report from the Tax Justice Network shows the real world state of financial secrecy. "Unless European leaders grasp the full extent of this crisis, money will continue to drain away from national treasuries, with painful results for people in their countries," says Molly Scott Cato.

Greek and FYROM talks about conflict over the name of FYROM

Reaction from Ska Keller

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev raised the prospect of settling the conflict over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). An agreement opens up the possibility for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to join the European Union, as well as NATO.

The Bulgarian Presidency must show leadership on asylum reform

Refugee policy

"Transferring responsibility for refugees to neighbouring European countries is not an acceptable solution to the EU's solidarity crisis," comments Ska Keller, president of the Greens/EFA group.

New study highlights corruption and calls for action at EU level

Study on Bulgaria

A new report commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament shows that much more ambition is required in the fight against corruption within Bulgaria and at EU level.

We must seize this opportunity to strengthen European democracy

Transnational lists

"We have just taken an important step forward in the process of creating a single European constituency. Until now, European elections have struggled to advance a genuinely EU-wide public debate," says Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur Pascal Durand.

Only full transparency can restore confidence in blacklist

Tax Havens

EU Finance Ministers have agreed to remove eight jurisdictions from the EU blacklist of tax havens. The Greens/EFA group wrote to the Council Presidency and the Chair of the Code of Conduct Group last week, demanding greater transparency on the creation and management of the blacklist

Greens/EFA group demands transparency

EU tax haven blacklist

The Greens/EFA Group has written today to the Council Presidency and to the Chair of the Code of Conduct Group regarding the EU blacklist of tax havens.

Reaction of Molly Scott Cato

European Commission VAT proposals

"The current VAT rules are an out-dated mess. We need to adopt a definitive regime so that VAT is always paid where the goods or services are consumed and at the VAT rate of that Member States," says Greens/EFA MEP Molly Scott Cato

European Parliament group presidents endorse Special Committee on Glyphosate

Following a Greens/EFA initiative, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament endorsed the mandate of a Special Committee to analyse and assess the authorisation procedure for pesticides today. The decision will be endorsed by the next plenary.

The EU must become a world leader on renewables

Renewable Energy Directive

The European Parliament has voted on its position for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, part of the European Commission’s Clean Energy Package. The report sets out targets for renewable energy for 2030 and calls for an end to the use of palm oil in biofuels.

Enshrining the Paris Agreement in EU law

EU Energy Governance

Claude Turmes and Michele Rivasi herald a "great victory for the climate and citizens".

Energy efficiency will keep bills down while protecting the climate

Energy Efficiency Directive

Greens/EFA MEP Benedek Jávor welcomes the passing of strong measures on energy efficiency: "It’s not just about keeping emissions down. It is also crucial to citizens’ health and to keeping energy bills down for citizens and businesses."

European Parliament agrees stricter rules for dual-use technology exports

No more spyware for dictators

"The European Parliament has delivered on its promise to strengthen the EU's human rights policy by making exports of surveillance technology stricter", comments Greens/EFA rapporteur Klaus Buchner.

Greens/EFA presidents on the Bulgarian Presidency and the visit of the Irish Prime Minister

Future of Europe

The Greens/EFA presidents look ahead to the debates on the Bulgarian Presidency and the visit of the Irish Prime Minister.

Single use plastics have no place in the EU economy

EU plastic strategy

Bas Eickhout and Davor Škrlec react to the European Commission's new Plastic Strategy: "There can be no room for unnecessary single use plastics in the European economy."

Tatjana Ždanoka to stand down as MEP

Press Release from EFA in the European Parliament

Latvian and EFA MEP Tatjana Ždanoka has announced that she intends to stand down as a Member of the European Parliament from March 2018. Ms Ždanoka will then focus on her party's campaign for the Latvian national elections to the Saeima due to be held in October this year. Tatjana Ždano...

Failure to set shared objectives undermines common fisheries policy

Fishing

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a report on the conservation of fishery resources and protection of marine ecosystems. While Green MEPs backed the successful attempt to include a ban on pulse fishing, the Greens voted against the report, which fails to establish common objectives at an EU level.

Greens/EFA group offers full support to LuxLeaks whistleblowers in fight for justice

Luxleaks trial

“We are delighted that the court has overturned the verdict against Antoine Deltour. His brave action, and that of Raphael Halet who sadly lost his appeal today, was vital in bringing this tax scandal to public attention," said Greens/EFA transparency spokesperson Benedek Jávor.

Bulgarian EU Presidency will inherit very important files

Comments from Greens/EFA group presidents

"Bulgaria takes on the presidency at a testing time, and we are hoping that by the end of the presidency, Europe will have taken a step forward," says Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller.

Europe shows its teeth against tax dodging

IKEA investigation after Greens' report

he European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced the opening of an investigation into the tax affairs of IKEA. As many other big companies, IKEA has been using a series of tax loopholes for years to avoid paying taxes. It is the duty of the European Commission to stop these unfair behaviours and make sure that companies pay their taxes where they make their profits.

New legislation will deliver real benefits for citizens

Money Laundering

The European Parliament, Commission and Council successfully concluded trilogue negotiations on the revision to the anti-money laundering directive. The revised legislation includes a series of important measures for cracking down on money laundering, including the creation of ultimate beneficial ownership registers

EU wide ban on Nazi and fascist symbols and slogans

Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

The European Parliament this week held a debate with the participation of the European Commission on proposals for an EU wide ban on Nazi and fascist symbols and slogans. EFA MEP Jordi Solé took part in the debate and spoke of the current situation in the Spanish state. Speaking in the ...

People must be at the heart of Brexit process

EFA MEPs comment on Brexit debate in European Parliament

The European Parliament has approved a resolution recommending that the Brexit negotiations move to phase two. MEPs emphasised that the UK government must respect the commitments already given in order for progress to be made in the next phase, and that outstanding issues will need to be resolved...

Now the EU must turn plans into action

Panama Papers

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament is calling on the European Commission and European Council to take immediate steps to turn the recommendations of the Panama Papers inquiry into action.

Disappointing result for consumer rights

Phosphate additives

The European Parliament has just voted on an objection to Commission proposals that would allow phosphates to be used as additives in products such as donor kebabs. The objection, which was co-tabled by Greens/EFA MEP Bart Staes, fell just short of the required absolute majority.

Ska Keller on Brexit and Migration

European Council

This Thursday and Friday (14-15 December), leaders from the 28 EU member states will attend a meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The agenda includes migration and the decision on whether to progress to stage two of the Brexit negotiations.

Greens/EFA group calls for Commission decision to be annulled

Glyphosate

The Greens/EFA group will try to build a majority in the European Parliament to refer the European Commission’s decision to renew the licence for glyphosate to the European Court of Justice.

MEPs call for Paris Agreement to be translated into EU law

Energy governance

The European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health & Food Safety and Industry, Research & Energy committees have today adopted the report on the Governance of the Energy Union. This regulation will translate the outcome of the Paris climate agreement into EU law. The vote in plenary should take place in January 2018.

Greens/EFA group calls for Special Committee on pesticide authorisation

Glyphosate

At today's Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, the Greens/EFA group will call for the establishment of a special committee to investigate the handling of the assessment process for pesticides. The call for a special committee follows negotiations with the S&D and GUE/NGL groups.

EU Finance Ministers agree on whitewashed blacklist

Tax Havens

The EU Finance Ministers have today approved the EU’s tax haven blacklist. This lists 17 countries that have not responded to information requests from the European Council or that have not committed themselves to make their tax policy compliant with EU criteria.

Congratulations to “anti-Schäuble” Centeno

New Eurogroup leader

Today, the Eurogroup elected Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno as its new President. Sven Giegold, financial and economic policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, comments.

Tax must be at the heart of Brexit negotiations

New report from Greens/EFA group

Cleaning up the UK's overseas territories should be a condition of any UK-EU trade deal after Brexit, according to the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament. The call comes as the group launches a new report which argues that the fight against tax havens, tax evasion and tax avoidance must be at the centre of Brexit negotiations.

Diverting funding towards military capacity building would be a backwards step and incompatible with EU law

Civilian conflict prevention

The European Parliament will today debate the outcome of trilogues on the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP). The Greens/EFA group has consistently argued against the reform of the regulation which aims at introducing a military capacity building program to the EU's only instrument for civilian conflict prevention.

EU must impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia

Situation in Yemen

The Greens/EFA group is calling on the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, to launch an initiative in the Foreign Affairs Council to impose an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia. The European Parliament will hold a debate this afternoon on the situation in Yemen, with a vote on a motion for a resolution tomorrow.

Commission must do more for small farmers

Common Agricultural Policy

The European Commission has today published a communication on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament is calling for much greater support for small farmers.

MEP delegation to visit Catalan political prisoners

Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

A delegation of seventeen MEPs from different political groups is set to travel to Madrid in the coming weeks to visit the prisons where Catalan political prisoners are being held following the recent referendum and declaration of independence in the Catalan Parliament. Eight members of the legit...

Binding targets are needed if EU is to be world leader on renewables

Renewable energy directive

Claude Turmes and Bas Eickhout respond to the weak renewable energy targets agreed by the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy committee. "“The EU should be striving to become the world leader in renewables. An ambitious renewables policy with national binding targets is key to cutting costs and accelerating the energy transition."

Binding targets will help cut bills and combat energy poverty

Energy efficiency

The European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy committee has today backed a report on the energy efficiency directive, setting out efficiency targets for 2030. "An ambitious energy efficiency policy is needed to bring down energy bills for European citizens and businesses," says Benedek Jávor.

EU should not let its own member states off the hook

Tax havens blacklist

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has welcomes a report from Oxfam, which sets out an alternative EU tax haven blacklist. "EU tax havens should not be let off the hook", says Sven Giegold.

Dark day for consumers, farmers and the environment

Glyphosate

The Appeals Committee of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has today approved the European Commission's proposal to renew glyphosate’s licence for five years. Greens/EFA food safety spokesperson Bart Staes comments.

EU still doesn't have rules in place to ensure whistleblower protection

LuxLeaks

"This trial shows why we need protection for whistleblowers. It is thanks to people like Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet that the public was made aware of the many tax and fraud scandals to break in recent years," says Greens/EFA transparency spokesperson Benedek Jávor.

Study: Major changes needed if CAP is to be made fit for purpose

Common Agricultural Policy

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is not fit for purpose, according to a new study co-commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.

New organic regulation one step closer to becoming a reality

Organic farming

"With a strong majority in favour of the new regulation, there is now a consensus in favour of bringing organic regulations up to speed so that they address the needs of this rapidly growing market," said Greens/EFA spokesman on agricultural policy Martin Häusling.

EU must lead the way in 2018

COP23

If the EU is to truly live up to its role as global climate leader, it must up its ambitions in 2018. The EU must arrive at COP24 in Katowice having gotten much closer to what is needed to implement the Paris Agreement.

Greens/EFA group calls for final adoption

Organic regulation

The EU Member States will vote on the negotiated compromise for a new EU organic regulation in the Council's special committee on agriculture.

EU must transform intent into real benefits for citizens

Social Summit

We welcome intentions to create a more socially conscious European Union. But good intentions are not enough. We need to see concrete action, with social issues at heart of the policy agenda.

First step towards Article 7

Rule of law in Poland

Europe must be united in telling the Polish government that there will be consequences if they to stray from the path of democracy.

Terricabras – Why this unequal treatment for Catalonia?

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

The European Commission has been accused of 'unequal treatment' in respect of Catalonia during a debate today in the European Parliament on the rule of law in Malta. Today's debate was in response to the recent brutal murder of a Maltese journalist. However the EU institutions are ...