Structural and cohesion policy

EU's cohesion policy goals must not become a hostage of economic cycles

The European Parliament today adopted a report on EU structural and investment funds (1). The report sets out the EP's position on a proposal by the European Commission to directly link EU member states' macroeconomic stability with the payment of EU Cohesion Funds. Commenting on the outcome of vote...

Greek bailout

Democratic control is essential

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has written to European Parliament president Martin Schulz, calling for a stronger involvement of the Parliament in the supervision of the latest Greek aid programme. While the Greens have been critical of the terms of the latest programme, they expressed their fu...

Still time to strike win-win deal with Greece

Press release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall (Catalonia)

MEP Ernest Maragall, a member of the European Parliament's Budgets Committee, has said that a 'win-win' solution is still possible that will allow Greece to remain in the Euro, if both the EU and Greek government are willing to recognise that there is still time and space for a real dialogue. "...

Juncker investment plan is a missed opportunity

Press release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall (Catalonia)

EFA MEP Ernest Maragall - a member of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee - has voted against the European Commission proposal for a European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), which he says is insufficient to bring about fair and sustainable growth in...

OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Bart Staes on behalf of the Greens/EFA group, The European Parliament, –        having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European ...

EU investment plan

MEPs vote to give clearer focus to Juncker Plan

The European Parliament's budgetary and economic affairs committee today voted on the draft European Fund for Strategic Investments. The outcome will serve as the basis for the Parliament's position in negotiations with EU governments and the European Commission. Commenting after the vote, Greens/EF...

ITER nuclear fusion project

MEPs' concerns with ITER budget underline need to pull the plug

The European Parliament's lead budgetary control committee refused to recommend granting a discharge (1) to the EU budget line for the ITER nuclear fusion project in a vote yesterday evening. The report voted by the committee highlighted concerns with cost overruns, delays and mismanagement. Comment...

Transparency and anti-corruption

EU rules on whistleblower protection must be prioritised

The European Parliament today adopted a report on the fight against fraud. The report included a clear call on the European Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal on the protection of whistleblowers. After the vote, Green transparency spokesperson Benedek Javor said: "It is high ...

Education in Valencia and the EIB

At the invitation of Valencian MEP Jordi Sebastià, fellow MEPs from the EFA Group in the European Parliament, Ernest Maragall and Jill Evans, visited the region to look into the use of European Investment Bank (EIB) loans to support education. Jordi Sebastià is concerned that whilst the Region of ...

EFA MEPs back single seat for European Parliament

Several EFA MEPs have given their backing to the campaign for a single seat for the European Parliament. At an event in Brussels, MEPs signed a pledge calling for an end to the Parliament's monthly commute to Strasbourg which costs the taxpayer some 180 million euros annually. Jordi Sebastià signs...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 15-19 December 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included tar sands, EU GMO authorisations, EU Commission's work plans and 'better regulation', European economic governance, EU budget shortfalls, EU summit, LuxLeaks, recognising Palestine, CIA abuses and the complicity of EU member states,...

EU budget

Shortfalls and chaotic budgeting doomed to continue

The European Parliament today voted to approve an agreement on the EU's budget for 2015. The Greens/EFA group has criticised the deal, which will leave the EU again facing shortfalls next year, with Green budgetary spokesperson Indrek Tarand saying: "By failing to truly solve the problem of the...