Citizens

More accessible books available for blind and visually impaired people

Marrakesh Treaty

The European Parliament has approved the final deal on the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty in the EU. The treaty makes exceptions to some copyright rules for books and other materials in accessible formats for people who are blind or visually impaired (such as audiobooks, large print, and braille).

Anti-terror measures must not put fundamental rights at risk

New parliamentary committee on terrorism

The Greens/EFA group has ensured that the new committee will carefully assess the effects of security measures on fundamental rights.

Political groups block lobby transparency

Lobbying Transparency Register

Citizens have a right to know which lobbyists politicians have met in the process of creating a law. Regrettably, such a binding legislative footprint was not included in today's mandate. The objectors to mandatory lobby transparency will use the protection of their free mandate as a fig leaf.

Defending the rights of Breton Speakers

EFA Press Release from Jill Evans MEP (Wales)

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans and UDB (Breton Democratic Union), both members of the European Free Alliance (EFA) stand together to defend the rights of four Breton activists who had participated in the struggle against France's 'Labour Law'. Many people in Brittany have fought this law,...

EU Parliament debates current situation

Turkey

Talks on Turkey's accession to the EU should remain frozen until Turkey returns to democracy and substantially improves its approach to human rights, says Greens/EFA co-president, Ska Keller.

Stalled progress shows need for greater effort at EU level

Gender equality

MEPs have backed a report from Greens/EFA rapporteur Ernest Urtasun on equality between women and men in the EU. The report forms the European Parliament's response to the European Commission’s report on progress on gender equality in the EU for 2014-15.

Disproportionate, ineffective and expensive

EU entry/exit system

The Greens/EFA group have voted against new measures to create an entry/exit system for people from third countries travelling to and from the EU. Under the measures, authorities will be able to gather and store personal data on non-EU citizens, including tourists and business people. These costly and largely ineffective measures are set to undermine fundamental liberties in the interests of looking tough on crime and terrorism.

European Parliament votes to protect whistleblowers

Citizens across Europe should be able to speak up about crimes

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a report on the protection of whistleblowers.

EU must now quickly deliver benefits of treaty

ECJ ruling on Marrakesh Treaty

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has today (14 Feb) published its opinion on the Marrakesh Treaty for the blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled.

ECJ ruling on data retention

Swedish and UK regimes are incompatible with EU law

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has today ruled that the current data retention regimes for electronic communications services in Sweden and the UK are incompatible with EU law (1). The ECJ ruling states that "general and indiscriminate" retention of data is illegal, but does allow ...

European Parliament united in defence of fundamental rights

The European Parliament has approved a report on the Situation of Fundamental Rights in the EU in 2015, with the Greens/EFA Group voting in favour. Three of the four amendments presented by the Greens/EFA Group were approved. Following the vote, MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras, spokesperson on the subje...

Appeals procedure against whistleblowers Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet as well as journalist Edouard Perrin

Joint statement by whistleblowers Ana Garrido, Brigitte Heinisch, Jonathan Sugarman and András Horváth together with Greens/EFA Members of the European Parliament

We, whistleblowers and Members of the European Parliament, express our solidarity with the LuxLeaks whistleblowers Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet, as well as the journalist, Edouard Perrin, who all served the public interest by shedding light on illegal tax avoidance schemes in Europe. Retalia...