Press Releases

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.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Prime example of misguided EU security policy

European entry and exit system

The world won't be made safer by putting all tourists and business people under blanket supervision, says Jan Philipp Albrecht.

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Judith Sargentini to lead investigation into Hungary

Hungary

"With fellow EU countries refusing to call him to order, it now falls to the European Parliament to take the initiative," says Judith Sargentini.

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EU Member States should listen to the parliament on GMOs

Environment committee rejects GMOs

"The European Parliament has consistently made clear its opposition to GM authorisations. I hope that the Member States will take this into account when they come to make their own decision tomorrow," says Bart Staes.

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Grand coalition opens the door to misuse of civilian tools and development funds

EU Military Capacity Building in third countries

"It would be nothing short of scandalous if development money were to be diverted to the European defence industry in the future," says Bodil Valero.

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Contamination concerns cannot be ignored

Food safety / EU-Japan trade deal

Greens/EFA MEP Michèle Rivasi has written to the Chair of the European Parliament's Environment and Public Health Committee, objecting to the Commission's proposals to lift import controls on food from Japan put in place after the Fukushima disaster (1). The proposals, which come at the same time as the Commission approves a free trade deal with Japan, would reduce the safeguards designed to prevent radioactive elements (cesium 134 and 137) in foodstuffs from being imported into the EU.

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Rushed process is not serious

EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement

At today's EU-Japan summit, political agreement was reached on the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement (JEFTA). It would be the biggest ever FTA signed by the EU. Negotiations are now expected to continue at the technical level, despite the fact that many critical and highly political issues are yet to be decided on.

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MEPs sharply criticize human rights violations in Turkey

Turkey

“The clear criticism on President Erdogan is also a clear message to those Turkish people who are standing up against the authoritarian course of the Turkish president," says Greens/EFA co-president, Ska Keller.

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More accessible books available for blind and visually impaired people

Marrakesh Treaty

The European Parliament has approved the final deal on the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty in the EU. The treaty makes exceptions to some copyright rules for books and other materials in accessible formats for people who are blind or visually impaired (such as audiobooks, large print, and braille).

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Instead of attacking NGOs, Member States must offer real solutions

Refugees and migration

Joint statement from Italian, French and German Greens/EFA MEPs on the European Interior Ministers' action plan.

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Anti-terror measures must not put fundamental rights at risk

New parliamentary committee on terrorism

The Greens/EFA group has ensured that the new committee will carefully assess the effects of security measures on fundamental rights.

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MEPs back measures to fight VAT crime

VAT fraud

The European Parliament has backed the directive on the protection of the financial interests of the EU (or "PIF Directive"). This will reform the collection of VAT for cross-border businesses and will make consistent EU-wide rules on VAT fraud.

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Blatant disregard for the banking union rules

EU Commission approves rescue of Monte dei Paschi

"The European Commission has again shown blatant disregard for the rules of the European Banking Union. There is no legal justification for further banking subsidies from the European Commission, only a clearly political one," says Sven Giegold.

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Member States fail to protect public health and environment from endocrine disrupters

Toxic substances

The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has today voted to approve new criteria determining hormone-disrupting chemicals used in pesticides. The European Commission's criteria will make it very difficult to identify endocrine disrupters, meaning that few if any products would be removed from the market.

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Country-by-country reporting is a major win for tax justice

Tax Justice

The European Parliament has today backed proposals for country-by-country reporting of financial information, a major tool in the fight for tax justice. Country-by-country reporting would require large multinationals operating within the EU to publish financial information for all territories in which they operate, including those outside the EU.

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