Greens/EFA demand urgent action on climate

Global climate strike

We need fast action now. CO2 must have a fair price. We urge the new European Commission to make climate priority a reality and increase our CO2-reduction target from the weak 40 per cent to at least 65 per cent by 2030. It is also unacceptable for aircraft and ships to not pay the price and to benefit from tax subsidies.

Brexit vote European Parliament

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

The European Parliament has voted by a large majority on a Brexit resolution calling on the EU to protect citizen's rights and, if no agreement is reached, to extend Article 50 in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit and preserve peace in Ireland.

Amazon fires debate

Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

On the initiative of the Greens/EFA and other groups, the European Parliament debated the on-going fires in the Amazon rainforest. Heidi Hautala MEP and Greens/EFA spokesperson on trade comments.

MEPs endorse Christine Lagarde as the new President of the European Central Bank

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The European Parliament voted to endorse Christine Lagarde as the new President of the European Central Bank.

Green light for a permanent tax committee

Tax

Coordinators in the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee of the European Parliament agreed to create a permanent sub-committee on tax and financial crime. It is a victory for all of us who want to see an end to the dodgy tax practices and illicit activities that undermine the global financial system and divide our societies.

New revelations about VW cheating must force Commission to act

Four years of Dieselgate

According to the German broadcaster SWR, Volkswagen continued to cheat on emissions tests using defeat devices in diesel engines under Euronorm6 after the diesel scandal came to light in 2015. The revelations were published before Chancellor Angela Merkel opens the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Von der Leyen must change title of Commissioner for "Protecting our European way of life"

European Commission

Yesterday, a majority of Committee Chairs, led by Greens/EFA MEP Karima Delli, voted to demand that European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen change the controversial name for the proposed Commission portfolio that includes migration.

Greens/EFA not convinced on von der Leyen proposal

European Commission

The next European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled the proposed candidates for Commissioners and their portfolios. The nominees will face hearings in the European Parliament in the coming weeks.

UK House of Commons votes against no-deal Brexit

Quotes from Philippe Lamberts and Ska Keller

The House of Commons has clearly indicated its determination to avoid no-deal Brexit for a second time and this must be respected by the UK government, regardless of who is in Number 10 Downing Street.

UK MEPs sign joint declaration on Brexit

Cross party declaration commits to working together in the face of Brexit

The proroguing, or shutting down the UK Parliament in order to limit scrutiny of the implications of a potential no deal Brexit is completely unacceptable. The signatories commit themselves to continue to work across party lines and declare that it is vital that MPs do likewise.

Greens/EFA call for new proposal for Common European Agricultural Policy

IPCC report on climate change and land

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a damming report on climate change and the devastating effects of desertification, land degradation, land management its consequences for people, animals, the environment and climate.

Greens/EFA group voted against Ursula von der Leyen

Election of EU Commission President

"Good intent alone is not enough. We were elected on an agenda for change and we did not hear enough on our key demands, namely on concrete proposals to avert climate breakdown. She promised a 'green deal' without green content. " says Greens/EFA co-President Ska Keller

Greens/EFA to vote against Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President

EU Top jobs

Following today's hearing with the nominee for EU Commission Presidency, Ursula von der Leyen, the Greens/EFA group decided to vote against her candidacy next week, says Greens/EFA President Ska Keller:

Greens/EFA Vice-Presidents will push for more transparency, ethics and openness

Heidi Hautala & Marcel Kolaja elected Vice-Presidents of European Parliament

Today, the European Parliament voted to confirm key positions in the Bureau of the European Parliament. The Greens/EFA group had two Members elected for Vice-President positions, Heidi Hautala, Green MEP from Finland and Marcel Kolaja, European Pirates MEP from Czech Republic. Our MEPs will push for more transparency, ethics, openness and digitisation and protection from harassment for staff.

Greens/EFA group reject Council deal

EU top jobs

Today, the leaders of the Heads of State and governments in the European Council agreed on a list of names for top EU positions. The deal agreed in the Council fails to respect the lead candidate process and the results of the European elections, says Ska Keller President of the Greens/EFA group in ...

Greens/EFA put forward Ska Keller as candidate for the EP presidency

EU top jobs

Today the Greens/EFA group put Ska Keller forward as candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament. The vote will take place on Wednesday.

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise

Quote by Heidi Hautala

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise and it is comes at the wrong time when there is an increasing demand for sustainable development. The price for the Mercosur agreement will be paid by farmers, the environment and the climate.

Member States' climate plans need far more ambition

Quote from Bas Eickhout

The European Commission has released its assessment of EU Member States' National Energy and Climate Plans, and found that national governments need to step up their ambitions to meet EU climate and energy targets and be in line with the Paris Agreement.

Eurozone budget: small steps will not address flaws of the Euro

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The Eurogroup of Eurozone Finance Ministers has agreed on general principles for reforms of the common currency, including on a Eurozone budget as well as a reform of the European Stability Mechanism Treaty.

Greens/EFA group positions elected

New Greens/EFA Bureau

We are pleased to announce that the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has elected its new bureau, consisting of 9 MEPs, with Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts continuing as co-presidents.

SNP MEP elected President of EFA Group in the European Parliament

Alyn Smith succeeds Josep-Maria Terricabras

Alyn Smith MEP has today been elected President of the European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament. He succeeds Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras who stood down at the recent European election. An MEP for the Scottish National Party (SNP) since 2004, Alyn was recently re-el...

Leaders of four main political groups agree on political process

European Parliament/Commission Presidency

As leaders of four political groups of the European Parliament – EPP, S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA – we met today for the second time since the European Parliament elections.

Greens/EFA demand action from Tusk & Juncker on Czech PM Babiš' conflict of interest

The Greens/EFA group has sent two separate letters to the European Commission and Council demanding they take immediate action on the conflict of interest surrounding Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Leaked copies of the Commission's audit into the conflict surrounding Babiš' business Agrofert, which received EU subsidies, shows that large sums of EU and Czech money are distributed to Agrofert and will need to be repaid.

Green wave reaches the European Parliament

European Elections

According to preliminary election results, the Greens/EFA group will significantly increase in size and are on course to hold more seats than ever before in the European Parliament.

Saving lives is not a crime

Mission Lifeline judgement

In the case of Malta against the captain of the private sea rescue boat 'Lifeline', captain Claus-Peter Reisch was today sentenced to a fine of 10,000 euros due to alleged inadequate registration of the vessel.

10-point plan for European tax justice

Tax justice

The Greens/EFA group have launched a 10-point plan for tax justice in the European Union, which will form part of its core demands for the coming legislative period in the European Parliament. The Greens/EFA Group has already been at the forefront of driving demands to combat excessive tax avoidance, tax evasion and money laundering in Europe.

EU must change from a kerosene tax paradise to a global pioneer for climate action

Aviation/CO2 tax

The non-governmental organisation "Transport and Environment" today published a study, kept secret by the European Commission, on the consequences of a kerosene tax on aviation.

Climate protection should not be a footnote

Sibiu/Future of the European Union

On the 9th May, heads of states and governments of the European Union Member States will meet in Sibiu to discuss the future of the EU. They are due to agree to a 10 point declaration on the future of Europe.

Urgent action needed to prevent mass extinction

Biodiversity/IPBES Report

Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA spokesperson climate and lead candidate in the European elections for the European Green Party, comments, "from insects to bees, birds to beasts, hundreds of thousands of species across our planet teeter on the edge of extinction."

Greens/EFA launch plan to improve media freedom and journalist protection

World Press Freedom Day

To mark World Press Freedom Day tomorrow (May 3rd), the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament will launch plans to improve media freedom and journalist protection in the European Union together with a petition directed at the European Commission.

Greens/EFA call for strong new law on social rights

Social Union

On the 1st of May, all over Europe we will celebrate worker’s and social rights. On this occasion, the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament are putting on the table a series of demands for a real Social Union.

European Parliamnet calls for an end to endocrine disrupters

Quote from Bas Eickhout MEP

Members of the European Parliament have just called for an end to substances that can have an impact on the hormonal system, such as bisphenol A, in food packaging, cosmetics and toys. The European Commission must act now in order to minimise exposure to endocrine disruptors and must close the looph...

European Defence Fund boost for the defence industry with no Parliamentary scrutiny

Quote from Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

MEPs have just adopted a €13 billion boost for the defence industry. The new fund will provide arms companies with fresh money from the EU budget as of 2021. The majority of MEPs voted to waiver their parliamentary scrutiny over the design of the programme. The Greens/EFA succeeded in ensuri...

New CO2 emissions standards for trucks and heavy goods vehicles

Quote from Bas Eickhout MEP

Today, the European Parliament voted by a large majority to approve the new CO2 emissions standards for trucks and other heavy goods vehicles. The CO2 emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles regulation will see new trucks and heavy goods vehicles reduce their CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025, and...

Parliament improves the text to protect our freedoms

Removal of terrorist content online

The European Parliament has just adopted its position on the proposal for a regulation on the prevention of the dissemination of terrorist content online.

PM Andrej Babiš could face prosecution for EU subsidies fraud

Czech Republic

Czech police have finalised their investigation and proposed to the state prosecutor to charge six people including Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his wife for their alleged roles in the Stork's Nest scandal involving the fraud CZK 50 million in EU funds.

Parliament votes for EU measures to support justice, rights and values

Rule of law

The European Parliament voted to confirm two complimentary programmes that will help support the rule of law in the EU. The Rights and Values Programme will ensure that the European Union can directly support NGOs or other organisations that work on advancing rights, European values, democracy and the rule of law. The Justice Programme includes greater support for citizens, civil society and legal experts and contribute to the development of justice in the EU

New rules wasted opportunity to tackle dual quality of products

Consumer protection

The European Parliament voted on better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection rules. While there are some improvements on current consumer protection legislation, today's changes are a wasted opportunity to tackle the dual quality of products.

Parliament approves greater transparency on approval of pesticides and GMOs

Food law

Public interest and people's health is more important than protecting the secrets of chemical giants or not embarrassing the European Food Safety Authority. The complete lack of transparency in the authorisation of pesticides, genetic engineering and food additives, will finally be addressed.

Future of Europe debate with Latvian Prime Minister

Krišjānis Kariņš

Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments on the Future of Europe debate with the Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.

European Parliament fails to remove ExxonMobil lobby badges

Quote from Molly Scott Cato MEP

Yesterday, (Tuesday, 16 April) the European Parliament administration denied the Greens/EFA request to remove the Parliamentary access badges of ExxonMobil lobbyists, after they refused to attend a hearing on climate denial.

Facebook’s new rules will hurt democratic debate

Facebook/European elections

As of this week, Facebook put in place new rules for political advertisement in all EU Member States. Effectively, political advertisements will be only allowed in the country where an individual or organisation is based.

Horizon Europe Programme

Quote from Jakop Dalunde MEP

With more than a third of Horizon Europe’s budget being earmarked for climate-related expenditure, EU is sending the right signal in order to leverage additional public and private funding in order to solve the global challenges at our doorstep, said Greens/EFA MEP Jakop Dalunde.

MEP calls for international election observers in EU poll

Press Release from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP)

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has today given an impassioned speech in the European parliament in Strasbourg warning that the Leave campaigns lied and broke the law, and that politicians from the campaign will do so again in the upcoming EU elections. Alyn said: "President, thank you. So as a Scotti...

EU Whistleblower Protection Directive approved

Quote from Benedek Jávor MEP

For the first time across the EU, those who wish to expose corruption, wrong doing and illegality in the workplace will be able to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will have legal guarantees and rights to protection. This Directive has been a long time coming and is a shining example of how the EU can directly improve the lives of citizens.

10 priority measures to save the climate

Greta Thunberg in the European Parliament

Bas Eickhout, climate spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group and lead candidates of the European Greens for the European Elections calls for a reduction of CO2 emissions of 65% by 2030, for the economy to switch completely to renewable energies by 2050 at the latest and for a fairer and environmental friendly tax system.

European Commission failed to complete investigation before end of mandate

Babis case

In the hearing of the Budget Control Committee of the European Parliament with EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the case of a possible conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis was raised again.

EU-US trade talks

Quote from Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

We need a fair partnership, but not a deal at the expense of the environment and European standards. The Commission and the Council are undermining the EU's negotiating position by trying to avoid a transparent debate out of fear of public opinion. We will help to ensure that this does not happen.

Copyright Directive

Quote from Julia Reda MEP

The Council of Ministers adopted the Copyright Directive, including ancillary copyright for press publishers and a de facto obligation for Internet platforms to use upload filters

Brexit: UK and EU agree delay to 31 October

Philippe Lamberts on the outcome of the Brexit summit

The fact that the UK is now very likely to participate in the European elections will provide an opportunity for pro-EU forces in the UK to stand up and mobilize. We will spare no effort to demonstrate to citizens across the 28 the positive value that the EU can have for all of us.