Bland declarations on employment will not solve inequality

Roadmap for a Social Europe

We were waiting for a roadmap that could curb inequalities and tackle the scourge of poverty, but instead the Commission has offered bland declarations on employment. The Commission Roadmap reduces the social agenda to the issue of employment and leaves out issues such as poverty and social exclusion.

A necessary tool but commitment to coal phase-out needed

Just Transition Fund

The Just Transition Fund is a necessary tool to support the regions that will be affected by the move away from coal and other polluting industries, which we have long been calling for. Unfortunately, the Commission's proposal does not set a binding date for the phase-out of coal.

Oriol Junqueras elected President of EFA Group in the European Parliament

EFA MEPs elect ERC's Junqueras to succeed Alyn Smith

Catalan MEP Oriol Junqueras has today (Tuesday) been elected President of the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament. He succeeds SNP MEP Alyn Smith who was elected to the UK Parliament at the December UK General Election. The European Free Alliance forms a joint parliamentary...

ECJ rules Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a MEP

Today, European Court of Justice has ruled that our colleague Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a Member of the European Parliament. The Spanish Supreme Court had ruled that Junqueras could not take up his seat after he was elected in the last European elections in May, as he was in pretrial detention for having participated in the organization of a self-determination referendum in Catalonia. The Greens/EFA group have long been calling for a political solution.

Europe will benefit from public drinking water dispensers and cleaner water

Drinking Water Directive

Yesterday (Wednesday, 18 December), the representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of Member States and the European Commission agreed on stricter limits for lead and endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A allowed in drinking water.

European Parliament criticises China's repressive policy in Xinjiang

Sakharov Prize for Ilham Tohti

The Sakharov Prize this year goes to the Uighur professor of economics and civil rights activist Ilham Tohti.   Reinhard Bütikofer, Chairman of the China Delegation of the European Parliament and Greens/EFA spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, comments:"The European Parliament has t...

Parliament vote shows Commission must begin Rule of Law dialogue

Malta

On the initiative of the Greens/EFA group, the European Parliament has just voted on a resolution on the Rule of Law in Malta, after the recent revelations around the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The vote calls on the Commission to enter into dialogue with the Maltese Government in the context of the Rule of Law Framework.

Parliament votes for Emily O'Reilly to continue work in holding EU institutions to account

European Ombudsman

The European Parliament has voted to elect Emily O'Reilly to continue in her current role as European Ombudsman, an independent role that is designed to hold EU institutions and bodies to account, as well as promoting good administration. O'Reilly won in the third round of votes. There were five candidates in the first round.

Debate on conflict of interest and corruption in EU funds

Quote from Mikuláš Peksa MEP

The European Parliament debates conflict of interest and corruption in EU funds. The Greens/EFA group had pushed for this debate after a European Commission audit report confirmed that the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is in a large-scale conflict of interest, as he personally benefited from EU funds

Deal reached on taxonomy will support sustainable investments

Quote from Bas Eickhout

A deal has been reached on a framework to facilitate sustainable investment. All financial products that make the claim that they contribute to environmental sustainability will have to prove this by disclosing the share of their investments into activities that are considered sustainable.

Climate summit closes with timid call to step up ambition - reaction from Bas Eickhout MEP

COP25

After two weeks of negotiations, the 25th UN climate conference (COP25) in Madrid has ended today without an agreement on binding rules for the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. The next climate summit will take place in Glasgow, in November 2020, where countries are supposed to present their plans for achieving the Paris targets.

Climate targets need action

Quote from Ska Keller

Agreeing on a target is important but only half the battle. What counts now is how the EU and Member States will work to achieve the targets. The long term budget is a litmus test for how serious they are.

Taxonomy deal not agreed today by Member States

Sustainable Finance

The same day the Commission came forward with the "European Green Deal", Member States have not passed the Taxonomy deal agreed last Thursday. Member States will have another opportunity to revisit the deal on Monday.

A welcome and necessary step but now we need to see real action

European Green Deal

The Green Deal has serious shortcomings when it comes to agricultural funds and trade policy and these need to be addressed for a truly ambitious climate policy. The Green Deal needs clear and binding measures that limit global warming to 1.5c, herald the phase-out of fossil fuels, and protect biodiversity.

Hungary and the rule of law

Ministerial meeting with EP rapporteur, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA)

The ability for the Hungarian people to live in a free and democratic European country is too important to push into the long grass. Nothing will change for Hungarian people without courage and political will from Member States.

Compromise on sustainable investment will boost greener economic activities

Taxonomy

The European Parliament, Council and Commission have reached a compromise on a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, known as 'taxonomy'. This will create an EU classification framework for identifying which economic activities are sustainable will be created.

Commission audit finds conflict of interest with Czech PM's companies

Andrej Babiš

The leaked report clearly states Andrej Babiš controls the Agrofert group and that contracts awarded to his companies are in breach of Czech and EU law. The Commission audit has found that around €11 million will need to be returned as a result of Andrej Babiš' conflict of interest.

Greens/EFA request public access

Andrej Babiš audit report

In a letter to EU-Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Mikuláš Peksa, Greens/EFA Member of the Czech Pirates, on behalf of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament calls to publish the European Commission´s audit report immediately regarding the investigation against Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on conflict of interest.

EU Ministers fail to agree corporate transparency measures

Quote from Ernest Urtasun MEP

EU Ministers failed to agree on Thursday 28 November, on proposals for greater corporate transparency. The proposals, which have been on the table for over three years, for public country-by-country reporting would ensure more transparency around the profits earned and taxes paid by large multinational companies.

Calls for bolder and urgent climate action

Press Release from EFA MEP Aileen McLeod

The European Parliament today voted to declare a climate and environmental emergency in Europe. There were calls for the EU to take the necessary action in cutting greenhouse gasses in order to achieve climate neutrality. The European Parliament resolution was supported by SNP MEP Aileen McLeo...

Climate emergency declaration must lead concrete actions

The EU must commit to a range of goals including: Achieving climate neutrality by 2040, a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030, and to put the environment and biodiversity at the centre of the EU's agricultural policy to halt biodiversity loss

European Parliament to send mission to Malta after the revelations around the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The priority of the Parliament mission must be to investigate all potential links to the Prime Minister who has protected and defended three ministers for so long. Malta must adhere to the rule of law and European values so that there can be justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and her family.

Neither blank cheque nor a red card

Greens/EFA abstain on the vote of the new Commission

The Greens/EFA are very concerned about the selection of Commissioners from Hungary, France and Croatia and are extremely critical of the linking of the title 'promoting our European way of life' with migration policy.

Maltese Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri resigns

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

Keith Schembri the Chief of Staff of the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, has resigned following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech last week in connection with the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech owns the company 17 Black, which appeared in the 'Panama Papers' with connections to Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women & Istanbul Convention

Quote from Alice Bah Kuhnke, MEP

The EU must take a stand and end all gender based violence. The Commission must make violence against women and girls and other forms of gender-based violence a crime under EU law. We need considerably more investment in the fight against violence against women and a radical change of course to put an end to hatred against women.

World Children's Day – Europe must do more to build a better world for all children

Press release from EFA MEP Diana Riba (ERC)

On World Children's Day – 20 November 2019 – EFA MEP Diana Riba has called for the EU to do more to build a better world for all children. That means ensuring that children's rights are respected in all aspects of EU law, and taking concrete steps to end child poverty in Europ...

Greens/EFA call on action instead of empty declarations

Climate emergency

A Group of MEPs among which the Greens/EFA tabled an amendment for the resolution ahead of the UN Climate Conference COP25 to ask for the declaration of climate emergency on a European level. The European Parliament should not only officially declare climate emergency, but also agree on a number of concrete measures to make the declaration tangible.

Breakthrough for climate budget

EU budget 2020

The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission agreed on a green EU budget for the year 2020. The climate budget is finally becoming real under pressure from the Greens/EFA and the European Parliament. The ambitious fight against youth unemployment threatened to fail because of national egotisms in the Council. Yet, in the end, the European Parliament prevailed.

EIB takes big step towards becoming a climate bank but loopholes remain

European Investment Bank

EU Member States and the Commission agreed to a new energy lending policy for the European Investment Bank. It is a good step in the right direction and a milestone on the road to ending investments for fossil fuels altogether. The EIB needs to become the climate bank of Europe but we're not quite there yet.

ECJ ruling on Oriol Junqueras' rights as MEP

Press Release from EFA MEPs Alyn Smith (Scotland) & Diana Riba (Catalonia)

The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament has welcomed today's opinion from the European Court of Justice's Advocate General in favour of Greens/EFA MEP Oriol Junqueras. The Advocate General stated that an MEP's mandate comes solely from the electorate and cannot be ...

ECJ Advocate General's Opinion on Oriol Junqueras

Quotes from Ska Keller & Diana Riba

The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has issued the opinion that our colleague Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a Member of the European Parliament, despite the Spanish Supreme Court not letting him take up his seat after he was elected in the last European elections in May.

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

ECJ rules Poland in breach of EU Treaties for rules on judges

Quote from Terry Reintke MEP

The European Court of Justice has just ruled that Poland is in breach of the EU Treaties for measures aimed at lowering the retirement age of judges, at different ages for men and women, and for allowing the Minister of Justice discretion to prolong judges' service. The Greens/EFA group have long argued that this amounts to political interference in the independence of the Polish judiciary and runs counter to the rule of law and European values.

US formally requests to withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement

Climate change

Donald Trump is shirking the USA's responsibility to the world and to its own people by pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

EU Member States continue to block progress on tax transparency

Tax Transparency

EU Member States continued to block public tax transparency of large companies. At the meeting of the relevant Council Working Party on Company Law, representatives of the national governments were unable to agree on a common position on the Commission proposal for public country-by-country reporting.

The European Council must open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania

Eu enlargement

The European Parliament, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA group, adopted a firm response to the decision by three countries (France, Denmark and the Netherlands) to block opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania at last week's European Council.

EU Member States must stop blocking action on tax transparency

Tax

Members of the European Parliament voted on a resolution calling on Member States to make progress on measures designed to improve tax transparency for multinationals. In the five years since the LuxLeaks scandal, which showed the extent of multinational tax avoidance, EU Member States have blocked a European Commission proposal on public country-by-country reporting (CbCR) from April 2016. The German government, together with a handful of EU tax havens, have blocked action.

EU should impose sanctions on Turkey over Syria military intervention

Press Release from EFA MEP François Alfonsi (Corsica)

EFA MEP François Alfonsi has called on the EU to impose sanctions against the Turkish regime in response to their aggression against the Kurdish people in Rojava, northern Syria. Turkey launched a unilateral military intervention and invasion of Kurdish controlled areas. This has caused si...

European Parliament demands better protection for bees

Bee protection / pesticides

The Parliament's objection is sending a strong signal to the Commission not to bow to the pressure of Member States and the agro-chemical industry. The Parliament is demanding a new text that fully implements existing scientific guidelines. Bee populations are suffering everywhere largely due to the use of pesticides, with major consequences for our ecosystems and food supplies.

Parliament votes to invest in climate protection, youth and sea rescue

EU budget 2020

The European Parliament has taken a bold step towards a more forward-looking and greener budget. Those Member States who are serious about fighting climate change, youth unemployment and the catastrophe in the Mediterranean must now agree to putting more money where it's needed.

EU must impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions

Turkey/Syria

The European Union must show President Erdogan that his actions have consequences and agree on an immediate arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions. De-escalation and the protection of the civilian population against war crimes and ethnic cleansing must be the top priority.

EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

"It's unfortunate that EU enlargement is being held back by the French President. Only by having a credible path to EU membership can we help to build stability and lasting peace in the Western Balkans."

Brexit deal reached

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

In our view, any deal should be put to the vote of the British people, who should have the final say as to whether they accept it and leave on a negotiated basis or ultimately choose to stay. Needless to say, in such a referendum, all British components of the Greens/EFA group will staunchly campaign for the latter option

European Council must give green light to opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

EU Enlargement

Ahead of the European Council meeting, the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament are calling on the Council to open EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

Catalan leaders' sentences a 'travesty of justice'

Press Release from Alyn Smith MEP (SNP), President of the EFA Group in the EP

Responding to today's verdict in the trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders which saw them receive sentences of between 9 and 13 years imprisonment, Alyn Smith, SNP MEP and President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament described the sentences as 'a travesty of justice which will o...

Spanish court finds Catalan leaders guilty - Greens/EFA call for political solution

Catalan crisis

The Spanish Supreme Court has found Catalan leaders, including Greens/EFA MEP Oriol Junqueras and the former Greens/EFA MEP Raül Romeva, guilty of sedition and missuse of funds and handed down sentences of up to 13 years. This ruling comes ahead of a hearing at the European Court of Justice that may have established the immunity of Oriol Junqueras as an elected MEP. The Greens/EFA group call for a political solution.

MEPs joint declaration condemns Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs condemn Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs from different political groups in the European Parliament – including Greens/EFA - have come together to co-sign a political declaration that condemns Turkey's military intervention in Syria. They call upon the EU to impose sanctions against Turkey and to tackle the humanita...

Parliament rejects Goulard - politics of trust must be at heart of new Commission

New Commission

Today, following the second joint-hearing of the Commissioner-designate Sylvie Goulard in the European Parliament, MEPs have not endorsed her candidacy for the Commission. The Greens/EFA group voted against.

EIB must become climate bank & stop support for fossil fuels

Climate

Today, the European Parliament will debate 'Greening the European Investment Bank' (EIB) at the plenary session in Brussels. The Greens/EFA group support calls for turning the EIB into a climate bank and are calling for the EIB to stop financial support for any fossil fuel projects by 2020, ...

European Parliament votes to make the MFF work for the climate

EU budget

Today a large majority of MEPs voted to make the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 work for the climate. Rasmus Andresen, shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA group on the EU's 2020 budget, comments: "The European Parliament wants to turn the EU budget into the driving f...