Data Retention under the Proposal for an EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

A study commissioned by the Greens/EFA Group

This legal opinion concerns the question whether and how the recent Opinion 1/15 of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the Draft EU/Canada PNR Agreement impacts the Proposal for a Regulation on an Entry/Exit System. For that purpose, it analyses in detail the main findings in Opinion 1/15 and related earlier case law on data retention schemes before applying the identified principles to the context of data collection and retention in the planned EES.

Alternatives to herbicide in weed management

A report from PAN Europe, commissioned by the Greens/EFA group

The present report aims to emphasise that we already have all the tools necessary to gradually start building a pesticide-free agricultural model and to confirm that weed control is possible using other means than harmful herbicides.

European Parliament demands protection for whistleblowers across Europe

Whistleblower protection

The European Parliament will call on the Commission to propose legislation to protect whistleblowers across Europe, no matter how they came across the information or which channel of reporting they use to sound the alarm, according to a report adopted today by the Legal Affairs Committee.

European Commission should promote dialogue

Letter to Vice-President Timmermans on Catalan Referendum

The Greens/EFA group co-presidents have written to European Commission Vice-President Timmermans, calling on the Commission to seek dialogue between Spanish and Catalan authorities.

Legal note on establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace

Dissenting note for legal basis from Ms Heidi Hautala

There is no doubt about the interplay of development and security, or the importance of capacity building and cooperation with the security sector actors, in particular in fragile and conflict-affected third countries. However, the choice of legal basis must be based on Treaty provisions and the true centre of gravity of proposed actions, not on the political expediency.

Letter to the European Patent Office

Patenting of "natural" seeds.

Today and tomorrow (27.-28.07.17), the European Patent office will discuss the patenting of "natural" seeds. Two resolutions of the European parliament, an opinion by the Council and a legal notice by the Commission all asked the EPO to stop this practice which is not allowed by the European regulation. Since 2014, EPO has been letting corporations privatise and hold rights on plants existing in Nature or bred by farmers, an unacceptable situation bordering bio-piracy

Future of Cohesion policy post-2020

A Greens/EFA position paper

The Greens/EFA are in favour of a strong, autonomous and targeted cohesion policy. Cohesion policy should remain an expression of solidarity and make a meaningful contribution to the future of Europe.

The feasibility of associate EU citizenship for UK citizens postBrexit

A study commissioned by EFA MEP Jill Evans

This report has five principal findings on the protection of the status of Union citizenship and the...

Stop blocking Dublin reform and open legal channels for migrants and refugees

S&D and Greens/EFA letter to the European Council

The S&D and Greens/EFA groups in the European Parliament have sent a joint open letter to European Council President, Donald Tusk, and the Heads of States and Governments, ahead of the next European Council meeting on 22/23 June, asking for immediate action to reform the Dublin Agreement and open legal channels for migrants and refugees.

Follow-up of the Panama Papers and the rule of law in Malta

Briefing ahead of European Parliament Plenary Debate on Malta

The Panama Papers has been a blow on Malta’s reputation to fight anti-money laundering and enable tax dumping, with revelations by the ICIJ consortium in April 2016 that politically exposed members of the Maltese government owned shell companies in tax havens. This briefing looks at the revelations and sets out key asks of the Greens/EFA group.

Letter to European Commission on money laundering allegations in Malta

The European Commission must to look into these serious allegations and open an infringement procedure against Malta if deemed necessary.

Q&A on the Effort Sharing Regulation

The ‘Effort Sharing Regulation’ (ESR) sets binding national emission reduction targets for 2021-2030 for road transport, buildings, agriculture and waste. These sectors represent around 60% of EU greenhouse gas emissions. But will it meet the EU's Paris Climate Agreement commitments?

Panama Papers investigation: obstruction and lack of cooperation hinder progress

Greens/EFA paper on one year of the PANA committee

One year into the investigation of the Panama Papers, we look at what has been learned so far, and what needs to be done to deliver tax justice.

Nuclear power in Europe

A threat to citizens

More than half of Europe´s nuclear power plants (NPP) have been operating for more than 30 years. As they get older, NPPs become riskier: the material becomes brittle and security standards become outdated. While security relevant components may fail at any time and not all materials can be exchanged, thereby increasing the frequency of incidents and, as a consequence, imminent risks.

Letter - Stay Strong, Musa

Letter from Greens/EFA to Musa Kart

Letter from Greens/EFA MEP Eva Joly and the group co-presidents to jailed Turkish cartoonist, Musa Kart.

Countering antigypsyism in Europe

A publication by Green MEPs

Although EU institutions and Member States have taken a range of measures to promote the social inclusion of disadvantaged Roma in Europe, there has been no substantial improvement in the situation over the last decade. Many Roma in Europe continue to face poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and violent racism.

Sixty years. What next?

60th anniversary of the Rome treaty

The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament together with the European Green Party express their vision on the future of Europe in a paper issued on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signature of the Rome treaty

Transparency of the General Expenditure Allowance

Greens/EFA Group Policy

To put in practice the Parliament's call last year for full transparency of the general expenditure allowance (GEA), and to clearly lead by example in one of our strategic priority areas, the Greens/EFA group has adopted a series of measures to ensure transparency and accountability of the GEA

Conclusion of the EU-Canada CETA

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

The EU-Canada agreement 'CETA' is different from TTIP, but its contents are just as concerning. In their motion for resolution, the Greens/EFA explain the reasons why they are opposed to the conclusion of this trade deal.

Job Creation in a Post-Growth Economy

A study commissioned by the Greens/EFA

The study examines the relationships between jobs, GDP and energy consumption over the years and to check how far we went with energy efficiency. It also lays the foundations of a green macroeconomic model which allowed us to estimate the impact of innovative measures such as working time reduction and green taxation on energy.