Gene Editing Myths and Reality

A guide through the smokescreen

An unprecedented drive is under way to promote new genetic modification techniques that are collectively termed gene editing. A new report looks at the claims and shows them to be at best misleading and at worst deceptive.

Affordable and Accessible Medicines for All

Greens/EFA action plan

We need to alter the current innovation model for pharmaceuticals if we want to ensure accessible and affordable medicines for all. Ensuring access to all medicines for patients in need is a core human rights obligation, linked with the principles of equality, non-discrimination and transparency.

EU law in the 'first wave' : the legality of national measures to tackle the COVID-19 crisis

A study commissioned by MEPs Terry Reintke and Tineke Strik

COVID-19 has challenged not just the public health but also the legal structure of the European Union. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the extent to which Member States have complied with or breached EU law in four key areas during the COVID-19 ‘first wave’

Our demands for a European framework on minimum wages

A Greens/EFA position paper

We need a European framework directive setting thresholds for decent adequate minimum wages in the Member States. In-work poverty is a big problem in Europe. If we want a social Europe, we need to make sure everyone earns a wage you can live on - a living wage.

Genome editing in agriculture

A Greens/EFA perspective

Biodiversity and ecosystems are under extreme threat, with around one million species facing extinction. In order to respond to these unprecedented and closely interlinked crises, our food and agricultural systems need to be rapidly transformed. High input, industrial farming based on monocultures and factory farming must be replaced by high biodiversity, locally adapted food production systems, ones which produce healthy food while respecting animal welfare and the environment.

The Crucial Role of Third-Country Migrant Workers in the European Union

A Greens/EFA Position Paper

The Greens/EFA Group and the European Parliament have consistently called for a more holistic approach covering all pillars of the European Union's asylum and migration system. This is becoming even more important in times of COVID-19 pandemic crisis, showing that migrant workers are an integral part of European societies.

Greens/EFA group opposes any Israeli annexation and reaffirms the need for a two-state solution

Position paper

Over many years, the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians has come to a standstill. This is due to the ongoing Israeli occupation, serious shortcomings on the side of the Palestinian leadership but also the attitudes of the international community and in particular the US, the EU and the Arab League. Developments on the ground have seen growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continuing unabated. Those are major impediments to the peace process.

The Eastern Partnership

Future Made to Measure

As the EaP turned 10 last year, the EU and several stakeholders are trying to formulate the priorities for the future or at least the coming 10 years of the EaP. The EU-EaP Summit on 19 June 2020 will give a major impulse to this debate. Thus, the EP is working on a Recommendation to the other EU institutions in the run-up to the summit. Read the Greens/EFA WG AFET position and vision

Protecting Schengen

Why internal border controls in Europe should be lifted immediately

Border controls in the European Schengen area jeopardise one of the most tangible achievements of an integrated Europe: the possibility to travel and live together in a common area without internal border controls. Internal border controls divide families and friends, they re-establish boundaries between long integrated regions and neighbourhoods and undermine the process of developing new regional cooperation. They seriously restrict our freedom. The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament stands up for the achievements of the Schengen area.

For a fair and efficient asylum system in Europe

Greens/EFA proposal

This paper lays out the GREENS/EFA vision for the future of the common European asylum system. Its scope is limited to the most contested elements of the upcoming European Commission proposal on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum: the creation of an external border procedure and a revision of the Dublin Regulation.

A Green/EFA contribution to a future EU Recovery Fund

On the 23 April, EU Leaders tasked the Commission to work on a proposal to set up a Recovery Fund targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of Europe most affected by the pandemic crisis. In this perspective, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament aims to contribute to this key debate, by proposing to integrate a democratically controlled grant-based recovery fund in the MFF, which would issue common bonds to fund the economic recovery post COVID-19.

The fisheries sector and the Coronavirus pandemic

Solving the crisis, thinking about tomorrow's fisheries

The crisis linked to the Coronavirus epidemic has had a major impact on the European fisheries sector. It has been marked by containment measures that have prevented some fishers from carrying out their activity, but even more by a crisis in demand. Greens/EFA MEPs are defending measures which must ensure both the good state of the marine environment and the sustainability of fisheries

Greens/EFA Recovery and Resilience Plan

More than ever, we Europeans see the importance of strong cooperation and solidarity to face collective economic, social and environmental threats. More than ever we Europeans understand the immeasurable value of well-funded and well-run public services and safety nets that underpin stable and inclusive societies and economies that truly work for all people.

The GREENS/EFA Financial Recovery Plan

Ahead of the final stage of the negotiations on the forthcoming long-term EU budget, we would like to present our proposal for an EU plan to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak from a budgetary point of view. This paper complements the Greens/EFA group’s proposal for a EU coronavirus fund.

The Greens/EFA’s proposal for an EU coronavirus fund

Ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on 7th of April 2020, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament unveils a proposal for an EU coronavirus fund to tackle the economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak. Europe is in a critical situation and we need European solidarity now more than ever.

European response to COVID-19 crisis

We must leave no one behind and face this together with open hearts

In response to the Corona crisis, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and the European Green Party are calling for European solidarity and cooperation in a new paper setting out policy responses to the crisis.

We need a European response to fight against the consequences of the COVID-19

Open letter to the Eurogroup

Green Members of the European Parliament call on the Ministers for Finance of the Eurozone to quickly adopt the following urgent initiatives

Kim interviews Ken Loach

On World Social Justice day, our MEP Kim van Sparrentak had the honour of chatting with film director Ken Loach about what the EU and its politicians need to do to fight social inequalities.

Analysis of the agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur

Greens/EFA Study

The study offers a comprehensive review of the disciplines and mechanisms covered in the hundreds of pages of text which make up the agreement, and of their potential effects. It covers all chapters published so far, addressing changes to trade flows in goods and services, rules, standard-making and non-tariff barriers to trade. The study is based on a textual analysis of the agreement itself, while also integrating secondary literature, impact assessments, and the perspectives and analyses of stakeholders on the agreement.

The abuse of European Patent law must stop!

This Thursday, 19 September, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution on the issue of the patentability of biological plants and animals, aka plants and animals that could be found in nature or bred by farmers.