A transition to a climate friendly economy is possible now

Climate debate

"More and more young people are getting tired of politicians that have nice words for them but don’t take action against climate change. In the last weeks of this parliamentary term we need to take bold steps to get serious on climate protection", comments Greens/EFA MEP and climate spokesperson, Bas Eickhout.

Brexit Withdrawal Agreement voted down

Quote from Philippe Lamberts

On the news that the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement has failed to pass the UK House of Commons for the second time in a massive defeat of 149 votes, Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament and Member of the Brexit Steering Group, comments:

Reform of the European Citizens' Initiative is a step forward

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

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (Greens/EFA) has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament in favour of reforming the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The vote passed with 535 votes in favour, 90 against and 41 abstentions. Terricabras is spokesperson for the Greens/EFA gro...

Anti-money laundering blacklist debate in European Parliament

Quote from Judith Sargentini

On the initiative of the Greens/EFA group, the European Parliament will debate the "Urgency for an EU blacklist of third countries in line with the Anti-Money Laundering Directive".

EU's tax haven blacklist starting to have an impact

Tax

European Union Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) have just agreed to further expand the list of jurisdictions included on the EU's tax haven blacklist and which countries will remain on the grey list for further scrutiny.

Jean-Claude Juncker defends selecting men for high-level finance posts

Quotes from Ska Keller and Sven Giegold

The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has today (Tuesday, 12 March) sent a letter in response to the dispute over the allocation of high-level financial posts exclusively to men, defending the selection procedures for the appointment of the three top posts at the European Central Ban...

Deal reached to protect whistleblowers a victory for the truth

Whistleblowers

The Greens/EFA group have been the driving force campaigning for whistleblower protection and it's been a long road to get here, given that there was no official support for an EU-wide directive when we started campaigning years ago

Oxfam report on tax blacklist

Quote from Molly Scott Cato MEP

Oxfam have published their latest findings into the EU's tax haven blacklist. European Union finance ministers will sign off on an updated EU black list next week, where it expected that several key tax havens will be removed from the list.

European Parliament endorses Laura Codruta Kovesi for European Chief Prosecutor

Quotes from Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts

The European Parliament's Conference of Presidents has endorsed the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former head of the Romanian Anti-Corruption Agency (DNA), for the role of European Chief Prosecutor at the new European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).

ECJ ruling a victory in the fight for health, transparency and the environment

Glyphosate

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must publish all studies around the cancer risks of glyphosate.

Sustainable Investments agreement reached

Quote from Molly Scott Cato MEP

“We are proud that once again the EU leads the world on environmental standards: this time by agreeing the world’s first mandatory disclosure regime for a major financial market," Molly Scott Cato, Greens/EFA MEP who worked on the file, comments.

EU Justice Programme final trilogue

Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

Today, final trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council were concluded on the EU Justice Programme for the years 2021-2027, which includes greater support for citizens, civil society and legal experts.

Troika Laundromat leak

Quotes from Judith Sargentini and Molly Scott Cato

The OCCRP have just released their investigation the "Troika Laundromat", exposing how 4.6 billion USD from Russia and elsewhere was channelled through European banks and businesses, in what appears to be efforts to obscure the origin of the funds involved.

EPP to debate Fidesz

Quote from Judith Sargentini

On the news that the member parties from the European Peoples Party have request a debate on expelling the Hungarian party Fidesz, Judith Sargentini, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary report comments: "While it's welcome that a few EPP parties are finally coming around ...

Member States hostile to EU anti-money laundering blacklist

Quote from Judith Sargentini MEP

Judith Sargentini, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, comments.

European Semester Winter Package

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The European Commission's has just published its European Semester 'winter package', which upgrades Greece's macroeconomic inequalities to "excessive", but leaves Germany with its previous assessment.

European Parliament united on urgent need for stronger tax policies, demands that Member States stop blocking tax reforms

Tax justice

The European Parliament special committee on taxation (TAX 3) just voted on its final report, which calls for EU Member States to match the ambition of the European Parliament on tackling tax evasion, avoidance and money laundering.

European Parliament committees support Kovesi for European Chief Prosecutor

European Public Prosecutor's Office

The winning candidate in both committees is Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former head of the Romanian Anti-Corruption Agency (DNA), who has been widely celebrated for her efforts in prosecuting ex-officials for high-level graft and corruption in the country.

Brexit votes in Westminster

Quote from Philippe Lamberts

"It's clear that the cards are up for Theresa May's Brexit strategy and she has to play her hand, " says Greens/EFA co-president, Philippe Lamberts.

Deal on EU fund a worrying gift to defence industry, but bans funding for killer robots

European Defence Fund

Early this morning, an agreement was reached in trilogue negotiations on the European Defence Fund. The seven year, €13 billion fund will allow for spending on weapons of mass destruction, white phosphorus or depleted uranium ammunition without any Parliamentary scrutiny.

MEPs and activists are blocking the runway of the F-16 airbase to request the withdrawal of US nuclear bombs

Four members of the European Parliament: Michèle Rivasi (France), Tilly Metz (Luxembourg), Molly Scott Cato (United Kingdom) and Thomas Waitz (Austria) and a group of activists of “Agir pour la Paix” entered a Belgian air base  Kleine Brogel. They came in holding banners “Nuclear free zone for Europe” and symbolically blocked runway of the F-16 airbase to request the withdrawal of US nuclear bombs on European soil.

First EU limits for heavy-duty vehicles vital to reduce pollution

CO2 emissions

Trucks and heavy goods vehicles will have to reduce their CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025, and by 30% by 2030, compared with 2019 levels. Thanks to the pressure of the European Parliament, the targets for 2030 are now legally binding. In 2022, the Commission will also have to propose post-2030 targets in line with the Paris Agreement.

MEP demands urgent plan for replacement of EU funds

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru)

Member of the European Parliament for Wales, Jill Evans, has joined calls with a cross-party group of MEPs in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May asking her to urgently bring forward a proposal to replace the funding provided for Wales by the EU. Wales currently benefits from billions of pound...

Environment Committee wants significantly greener agriculture policy

CAP reform

Today, the Environment Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament voted on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy. MEPs favour a much greener CAP reform than proposed by the European Commission, says ENVI committee member Bas Eickhout, leading candidate of the European Greens for the European elections:

A big step towards a more social Europe

European Labour Authority

Negotiations on the European Labour Authority have just been concluded with stronger protections for cross-border workers. The European Labour Agency will strengthen the functioning of the Internal Market and will help better detect mailbox companies, bogus self-employment and other fraudulent business models across all EU Member States and mediate between national authorities in labour disputes. It will also cooperate with trade unions and social partners in EU Member States. The Greens/EFA group have long argued for a more social Europe that protects workers' rights.

EU deal on copyright a blow to the free internet

Copyright

"This deal is a threat to small publishers, authors and internet users alike and risks putting the internet as we know it solely in the hands of the tech and media giants. Upload filters do not work as algorithms simply cannot tell the difference between copyright infringements and legal parodies. Even the most sophisticated upload filters routinely block perfectly legal content." Julia Reda, Greens/EFA Vice President and shadow rapporteur on the Copyright Directive

Trial of Catalan political prisoners

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

EFA MEPs from Catalonia have spoken out in the European Parliament this week as the trial gets underway in Madrid of the Catalan political prisoners - government ministers, civil society leaders and former Speaker of the Catalan parliament - for seeking to assert Catalonia's right to self-determ...

Deal against a sustainable and fair international trade policy

EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

The European Union's trade agreement with Singapore and the accompanying investment protection agreement have just been adopted by the majority of Members of the European Parliament. The Greens/EFA voted against.

New EU blacklist successful tool to combat money laundering

Anti-Money Laundering

The European Commission has unveiled its 'blacklist' of 23 jurisdictions where there is a significant risk of money laundering. The list contains 'third country' jurisdictions and includes places such as the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Panama and Saudi Arabia. The list will require all traders in the EU doing business in goods or services worth more than €10,000 in jurisdictions on the blacklist to undertake enhanced due diligence on transactions. The blacklist comes as a result of the EU's Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which is currently being ratified by Member States, and will see the Commission undertake enhanced assessments of the jurisdictions on the list.

Revisions to Gas Directive will limit power of monopolies to threaten energy supply

Energy

Late last night, trilogue negotiations were concluded on revisions to the Gas Directive, which strengthens EU market rules around gas pipelines entering the EU from third countries. The revisions will make it harder for Member States and third countries, such as Russia, to pursue pipeline projects which that undermine European solidarity and pose a security risk, such as Nord Stream 2.

Italian PM Conte to address European Parliament

Future of Europe

The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will address the European Parliament in the "Future of Europe" debate. The President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, Philippe Lamberts, criticizes the Italian government for its short-sighted economic and social policies.

Palm oil

Quote Bas Eickhout

"The battle is not over, the proposal is under consultation for the next four weeks so we, along with civil society and the public, still have time to close these loopholes and clamp down on destructive palm oil entering the EU. Green victories never come without a fight." Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the file and leading candidate of the European Green Party in the European elections

EU-Morocco fisheries agreement violates international humanitarian law

Fisheries

Today, Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the planned fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco. The vast majority of the catches under this agreement are however to take place to the waters of Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco.

Expansion of Frontex should only happen with stronger fundamental rights

Frontex

The members of the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs have just voted on their position on the mandate for the negotiations on the European Border Management Agency, Frontex. The Greens/EFA were able to assert their demands to hold Frontex accountable for possible violations of fundamental rights, to strengthen the role of the Officer for Fundamental Rights and not to allow the European Border Management Agency to deport people from third countries to other third countries.

Corporate Europe Observatory report on Council lobbying

Quote from Benedek Jávor MEP

A new report from Corporate Europe Observatory: "Captured states: when EU governments are a channel for corporate interests” reveals that the complex and opaque nature of decisions made in the Council of Ministers often benefits corporate interests over those of citizens.

EU countries must develop counter strategy on nukes

Crisis on INF

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced that the United States will formally withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which was signed between the US and the Soviet Union and successfully led to the disarmament of around 2,700 short and intermediate range missiles primarily from European soil during the 1990s. The end of the INF Treaty could result in a new global arms race for short and intermediate range nuclear weapons and pose a severe risk to global security.  This development comes after the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, of which 70 states have so far signed, and 20 have ratified. So far the only EU country which has ratified the ban treaty is Austria.

MEPs vote for new rules on lobbying in major victory for transparency

Transparency

The European Parliament has just voted for binding rules for more transparency around MEPs' meetings with lobbyists. The report calls for stricter rules around rapporteurs and other MEPs in other official positions to disclose their meetings with interest representatives on the Transparency Register. In an extremely unusual steps the EPP group had pushed through a secret ballot on the new transparency rules.

Future of Europe debate: Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Juha Sipilä

Quote from Ska Keller

The Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Juha Sipilä addresses the European Parliament on the Future of Europe. Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament and lead candidate, takes part in the debate.

Council must act on Hungary

Rule of law

We cannot foster autocracy within our Union, which is supposed to be based on democracy and the rule of law. So long as other EU governments stay quiet on the dire situation in Hungary, they are encouraging Orbán to continue on his anti-democratic path.

Non-compliance with EU rules on railway safety

Press release from EFA MEP Ana Miranda (Galicia)

Galician MEP Ana Miranda has insisted that the opening of infringement procedures against the Spanish state for non-compliance with EU rules on rail safety, announced last Thursday by the European Commission, should have political consequences for former Spanish ministers José Blanco and Ana ...

Transparency International Corruption Index

Quote from Benedek Jávor MEP

Transparency International released their annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which showed that among others Hungary has slid in score considerably over the five years. Malta, Romania and Bulgaria have all slipped significantly in TI's rankings in the last year.

Historic name deal between Greece and North Macedonia a victory for peace

Prespes Agreement

This historic agreement is a victory for peace in the region. Having overcome huge obstacles, the Prespes name deal opens the door to a European future for North Macedonia and cements peace between the two countries. Both Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev must be commended for their pragmatic and courageous efforts to resolve the name dispute

Government plans to legalise corruption

Romania

The Romanian government is planning to use emergency ordinance measures to allow officials convicted of corruption to escape their sentences. Romania, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, must immediately halt any attempts to provide amnesty for corruption offences, according to the Group/EFA group.

Work life Balance Directive

Statement by Ernest Urtasun

The European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission have reached an agreement on the Directive on work-life balance. In the future, the right to ten days of paid paternity leave will apply to all EU countries, as well as the right to five days/year of carers leave and the right to four months of parental leave per parent (two of which will be non-transferable and paid). In the European Union, women take almost three times more unpaid leave than men do to care for their children or parents.

New conflict of interest ruling on Czech PM Andrej Babis

Quote from Bart Staes MEP

A Czech municipal authority in Černošice has ruled that Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has a conflict of interest around his media organisations that are controlled by the Agrofert group. Under Czech law it is illegal for a Prime Minister to control media organisations.

Leaving the EU will devastate regional development

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru)

The worst regional inequality in Europe is between London and Wales, new research has found. The research from the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) also found that the UK would be entitled to €13 billion (in excess of £11 billion) of regional development funding for the...

The European Greens: "We need a rescue programme for the Mediterranean and not remnants"

Mission Sophia

The German government has announced that it will not extend the Sophia mission because of the dispute with the Italian government over the reception of refugees. The mission has so far saved 45,000 people from drowning during their journey to the European Union. Last weekend, more than 100 people drowned.

Golden visa schemes pose serious risks

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

Today, the European Commission warned EU Member States of controversial "golden visas" programmes that sell residence permits and even citizenship to non-EU citizens in exchange for money and investment. The European Commission's report is a result of a long running Greens/EFA push for more transparency around golden visa schemes.

Vast differences in corporate tax rates across EU shows urgent need for transparency – new report

Tax

Today, a new report by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament shows the privileges given to multinationals through low corporate tax rates across Europe. The report 'Effective Tax Rates of Multinational Enterprises in the EU' quantifies the difference between nominal and effective tax rates for multinationals in the EU. Effective tax rates in the European Union (15% on average) are well below nominal tax rates (23%). Multinationals may have an effective tax rate as low as 2% and as high as 30% across the EU.

The EU must not bow to Trump's delusional trade tariffs

TTIP reloaded

The Commission is breaking its promise not to negotiate trade deals at gunpoint. The Trump Administration has its finger on the trigger, threatening to increase steel tariffs further if negotiations do not move fast enough. The EU must maintain its position as the world's leading trading bloc and not bow to the whims of Donald Trump's delusional approach to trade.