Research and innovation policy

Dispute on Israeli settlements overshadows otherwise positive Horizon 2020 programme

The European Parliament today voted to adopt a series of legislative files setting out the EU's research and innovation funding programme 2014-20, Horizon 2020. The Greens gave a broad welcome to the programme but expressed regret that it failed to clearly exclude firms from illegal Israeli settleme...

Financing, management and monitoring of the CAP

Alyn Smith

Social funding

MEPs endorse opaque Council deal, depriving crisis countries of much-needed social funds

The European Parliament today voted to approve a proposal from the Commission on new financial allocations for certain member states under the European Social Fund (ESF) for the current period. The proposal would see additional funds for action on unemployment exclusively allocated to France, Spain ...

Cohesion Fund

Group pushes for new Greener elements

The Cohesion fund for the next programming period 2014 – 2020 was voted on by MEPs today. Although containing weaknesses in places, the outcome was a definite step forward with provisions the group had pushed for throughout the process. After the vote, Greek Green Nikos Chrysogelos, Mep of the ...

Macroeconomic conditionality

Cohesion policy must not be used to sanction regions in member states with fiscal problems

The European Parliament today voted on the Common Provisions Regulation, new rules governing how EU structural and investment funds are disbursed. The Greens/EFA hit out at provisions on macroeconomic conditionality, which would allow the Commission to propose suspending EU funds for regions in memb...

“Europe for citizens”

A mixed outlook

The European Parliament adopted on 19 November 2013 the new “Europe for Citizens” programme, aimed at improving EU citizens' knowledge of the EU and its history. The programme will support activities such as public conferences, targeted at fostering remembrance of the EU's past and increasing debate and citizens' interest and involvement with EU issues at EU level. However, although Greens support and will vote in favour of the programme, the group believes that the budget is too small to respond to the challenges faced by the European Union.

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

19.11.2013

Video - press briefing Strasbourg 19 November 2013

The Greens/EFA co-presidents Dany Cohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms presented the key issues of the plenary session for the Greens/EFA group

MFF/future EU budget

Final deal commits EU to a budget with no vision and no scope to redress this

The final agreement on the EU's multiannual financial framework (2014-20) was confirmed by the European Parliament in a vote today: the first time the EP has had a co-deciding role on the EU's budgetary framework. The Greens voted against the final outcome due to the overall level of ambition and ...

CAP reform

The Greens/EFA group stays on course until the final votes

This month the CAP reform is back to plenary in the European Parliament. Key debates and votes on legislative proposals following the trilogues (interinstitutional negotiations) (15 in total!) will take place this Wednesday 20th November in Strasbourg. Some of the more positive outcomes include n...

MFF/EU budget votes

EP president Schulz undermines democratic process and role of EP

The Greens/EFA group has hit out at a decision to prevent MEPs voting on any amendments in the context of this week’s votes in the European Parliament on the EU’s multiannual financial framework and the various multiannual funding programmes for 2014-20. Following a unilateral procedural decisio...

Strasbourg Flash

Weekly preview of the Greens/EFA group - 18-22 November 2013

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary include standards in public procurement, MFF and EU budget, single seat of the Parliament, boardroom quotas for women, rules on EU spending to hit crisis countries, priorities for additional social funds, agriculture policy reform, EU environment and climate change action

Strasbourg Flash - MFF special

Greens/EFA preview on the future EU budget and funding programmes for the November plenary 2013

With the European Parliament to vote on the EU multiannual financial framework 2014-20, as well as a series of votes on EU funding programmes for the budgetary period, this preview provides an overview from a Green perspective. Click for a printable-layouted version (pdf) - MFF: EU budget off on the...