European Union must defend multilateralism

Trade dispute with the USA

US President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from the European Union until 1 June.  Ska Keller, co-president of the Greens/EFA Group, comments: "The European Union must use this postponement as an opportunity to vigorously defend m...

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 Council has approved the Commission's mandate to negotiate the establishment of a multilateral court for the settlement of investment disputes (MIC). Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller comments: "This is little more than a re-branding exercise. Re-packaging the old system of inves...

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.

EFA MEPs speak out on press freedom

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Ana Miranda

EFA MEPs Josep-Maria Terricabras (Catalunya) and Ana Miranda (Galicia) spoke out in favour of journalists' freedom of expression during this week's European Parliament debate following the tragic murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner. The European Parliament will v...

EU budget must drive the green transition

Multiannual Financial Framework

The Greens/EFA group reaction to the EU budget.

Protection of investigative journalists in Europe - Quote from Benedek Jávor

Slovakia

The European Parliament will hold a debate this afternoon (14 March) on the protection of investigative journalists in Europe, following the murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner Martina Kušnírová.

EU must reject Trump's "every man for himself" approach

Trump trade tariffs

The Greens/EFA group responds to President Trump's trade tariff announcement.

European Labour Authority - quote from Terry Reintke

Social Fairness Package

"Setting up joint labour inspections could be a great way of protecting the rights of workers across borders," comments Greens/EFA social policy spokesperson, Terry Reintke,

Comments from Bart Staes on the European Parliament’s new PEST Special Committee

Glyphosate

"We want to make sure there can no re-run of the glyphosate saga. The re-authorisation of glyphosate highlighted the serious problems with the current process," says the committee’s co-rapporteur and Greens/EFA MEP, Bart Staes.

Theresa May must resolve the deep contradictions of her position

Brexit

The European Parliament will today (13 March) debate the guidelines on the framework of future EU-UK relations. The Greens/EFA group will use the debate to call on Theresa May to resolve the contradictions in her position.

European Commission must get its act together on ethics

Selmayr scandal

“For such a senior position to be approved without any scrutiny makes a mockery of transparency and democracy in the Commission," comments Greens/EFA MEP, Bart Staes.

Tax/CO2 €10bn tax gap reveals the flaws in vehicle taxes

CO2 Emissions

A new report from the Greens/EFA group shows that the growing gap between real life CO2 emissions from cars and in lab tests has contributed to a major tax gap on cars. The study calculates for the first time the theoretical loss in revenue for 11 EU member states amounting to more than €10 billion in 2016. Between 2010 to 2016 the loss was at least 46 bn Euros.

Terry Reintke to submit #MeToo petition to President of the European Parliament

International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day (Thursday 8th March), Greens/EFA MEP Terry Reintke will submit a petition to the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani.

European Commission finally names and shames Member States

Tax avoidance

“It is great to see the European Commission finally acknowledge the role of EU countries in facilitating tax avoidance," says Sven Giegold.

ECJ rules that intra-EU ISDS mechanisms are illegal

Investment protection

The European Court of Justice has today ruled that the investor-state dispute mechanism contained in the bilateral investment agreement between Slovakia and the Netherlands "has an adverse effect on the autonomy of EU law, and is therefore incompatible with EU law."

EFA welcomes new MEP

Miroslavs Mitrofanovs joins EFA Group

Miroslavs Mitrofanovs has joined the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament, part of Greens/EFA. He replaces Tatjana Ždanoka who has left the European Parliament to focus on her party's campaign for the Latvian national elections to the Saeima due to be held in October this ...

Reaction of the Greens/EFA presidents

Italian elections

"It was always clear that leaving Italy alone to deal with such a disproportionate share of the migration problem was cruel. Now we can see it was also politically short-sighted," comments Greens/EFA president Philippe Lamberts.

Judicial reform in Poland - quote from Ska Keller

Article 7

The planned reform of the judiciary in Poland is a "serious breach of the rule of law", according to the majority of MEPs.

Greens/EFA group calls for postponement of budget discharge until Commission answers ethics questions

EU Commission ethics

"With the Commission showing so little regard for transparency and conflicts of interests, we cannot in good faith discharge their budget until they introduce the necessary ethics reforms," says Bart Staes.