Citizens

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Defending democratic rights in Catalonia

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has co-signed a question to the European Commission condemning the actions of the Spanish government in trying to prevent Catalonia's forthcoming independence referendum. It follows reports that Spain's prosecutor general has threatened 712 democratically electe...

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EU must defend freedom of expression in Spain

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras (Catalunya)

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras has called upon the European Commission to defend the right to freedom of expression in Spain and to mediate with the Spanish Government in respect of Catalonia's forthcoming referendum on independence. He addressed his remarks directly to European Commissi...

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Passenger data agreements need to be revised

Opinion of the European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice has today presented its opinion on the compatibility of the EU-Canada Passenger Name Record data agreement (PNR) with EU law. The judges stated that the agreement should must be concluded in its present form, singling out in particular the long-term storage of pass...

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Jeremy Brooks (CC BY-NC 2.0)

MEPs sharply criticize human rights violations in Turkey

Turkey

“The clear criticism on President Erdogan is also a clear message to those Turkish people who are standing up against the authoritarian course of the Turkish president," says Greens/EFA co-president, Ska Keller.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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European Union

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,...

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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.

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CC BY-SA 2.0 | Molly Adams

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.

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Bob Mical, CC BY-NC 2.0

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.

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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.

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