Today is a sad day for the European project

EFA press release Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP

Following the triggering of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union today, which begins the Brexit process, Josep-Maria Terricabras, President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament said that an inevitably difficult and complicated negotiation now lies ahead in order to try and reach an agreement.

Brexit must not undermine the EU’s binding principles

Article 50 triggered by UK

"We will be sorry to see the UK go. However, the decision of one member to leave should not put all of Europe’s shared achievements at risk. We will not allow Brexit to undermine the basic principles that bind the EU. " The Greens/EFA co-presidents react to the triggering of Article 50.

Brexit

Prime Minister’s speech sets out self-defeating agenda

British Prime Minister Theresa May has today delivered a highly anticipated speech, outlining her position for the Brexit negotiations. The speech confirms that the British Government has chosen the hardest form of separation between the UK and the European Union, exiting the single mar...

Italian referendum

After ill-conceived vote, Italy must look to solve fundamental problems

Responding to the result of the Italian constitutional referendum, and the subsequent resignation of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Greens/EFA group president Philippe Lamberts said: "It is obvious that Italy's political system, which is one of Europe's most intricate and most ...

After the Panama Papers: towards fair corporate taxation in Europe

03.12.2016

After the Panama Papers the Green Group in the European Parliament pushed hard for political action and played a leading role in obtaining an inquiry committee, which started working in July 2016. There are also several national and regional inquiry committees to examine current tax practices of mem...

EFA President in Brexit talks

President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament Josep-Maria Terricabras is taking part in the first of a series of exchanges of view on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. Josep-Maria Terricabras Today's meeting and exchange of views with the European Commiss...

Corporate Tax Avoidance

Greens uncover new tax scandal involving chemicals giant BASF

  The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has uncovered that chemical giant BASF used aggressive tax strategies and a series of ‘tax tricks’ to avoid paying almost a billion euros in tax over a five year period between 2010 and 2014.  The new revelations come ahea...

PANA Committee

Greens/EFA MEPs launch EULeaks whistleblower platform

A group of Greens/EFA MEPs today launched EULEAKS, an online platform which will allow whistleblowers to upload documents securely and anonymously. The platform, which can be accessed via the Greens/EFA website (http://www.greens-efa.eu), went live following the first meeting of the Committee of Inq...

The State of the Union

Plenary speech by Ian Hudghton

Brexit - Scotland's democratic will must be recognised

Press release from EFA MEP Ian Hudghton (SNP)

In a European Parliament debate on the future of the EU, dominated by the response to Brexit, SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP called for the democratic will of the people of Scotland to be recognised. MEP Ian Hudghton The debate followed a major speech on the 'State of the Union' by EU ...

Urgent reforms to Commission's Revolving Door rules necessary following Barroso's move to Goldman Sachs

The previous President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, who was in the job for 10 years, has been head-hunted by Goldman Sachs to become their chair and advisor and to lead the way on their behalf during the Brexit negotiations.

Scotland's Remain vote must be respected

Scotland's decisive vote in favour of remaining part of the European Union at the recent referendum must be respected, according to SNP MEP Ian Hudghton. Mr Hudghton was speaking in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the outcome of the recent European Summit, called to discu...