Culture

Respecting Linguistic Diversity?

01.06.2016

Language discrimination in the EU

Respecting linguistic diversity? Language Discrimination in the European Union You will be able to follow the event live (player below) CONFERENCE PROGRAMME Hosts: GUE-NGL and EFA-Greens in partnership with ELEN. Interpretation. Irish, Welsh, Catalan, Spanish, French, English. Backgrou...

Digital Single Market

Baby step forward as Commission misses point on geoblocking

Commenting on today's presentation of an 'anti-geoblocking package' as part of the European Commission's Digital Single Market initiative, Greens/EFA digital agenda spokesperson Julia Reda said: "The proposed 'anti-geoblocking' regulation doesn't do what it says on the tin. When most Europeans ...

EU-US 'Privacy Shield' data exchange

No blank cheque for data transfers without equivalent protection standards

 The European Parliament will today debate the proposed 'Privacy Shield' framework for the transfer of the private data of EU citizens to the US, ahead of a vote on a resolution setting out parliament's position tomorrow. In the context of the debate and vote, Green home affairs and data protec...

MEPs back improvements to flagship Erasmus+ scheme

Press Release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall (Catalonia)

In a key report by Greens/EFA MEP Ernest Maragall voted today by the European Parliament, MEPs have called for the EU's flagship Erasmus+ programme to do more to promote mobility through vocational training in Europe. But MEPs rejected an amendment calling for the documentation about the prog...

Trade Secrets

Must not outweigh the public interest

In many of the biggest political scandals of the past months – Luxleaks, Dieselgate and now the Panama Papers – we saw trade secret laws abused as a shield against investigation and exposure of how corporations are harming the public good, avoiding taxes and endangering public safety. Whistleblowers find themselves fighting for their freedom in court – or in hiding. And yet, the European Parliament is about to expand corporate secrecy and deter whistleblowing by adopting the Trade Secrets Directive.

Unlocking the potential of Erasmus+

Press release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall (Catalonia)

In a landmark report by Greens/EFA MEP Ernest Maragall, the European Parliament's Culture Committee has called for the EU's flagship Erasmus+ to do much more to promote mobility in vocational training across Europe. The report, approved by the Culture Committee today, says that whilst Erasmus+ has b...

Unlocking the potential of Erasmus+

Today our MEP Ernest Maragall has issued a report calling for Erasmus+ to do much more to promote mobility in vocational training across Europe. Mobility can greatly improve employability, but there are currently far too many barriers for young people in vocational training. With young unemployment still unacceptably high, Erasmus+ must be reformed to help unlock the full potential of Europe's young people.

Trade secrets

New EU rules open the door to abuses by unscrupulous firms

A legislative agreement on new EU rules on the protection of trade secrets was today endorsed by the European Parliament's Legal Affairs committee. The Greens have expressed concern with the law, with Greens/EFA MEP Julia Reda, commenting after the vote: “These new rules on 'trade s...

Geoblocking and minority languages

EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) wants the European Commission to ensure that legislation on access to web based programming while abroad facilitates the use of Welsh and other minority languages. Jill Evans says that 'geoblocking' – or blocking access to online content based on location – can ...

Justice and home affairs council

PNR deal diverts energy from real solutions

Yesterday afternoon a provisional agreement was reached between the European Parliament and Council on the stall proposal to create an EU passenger name record system, to access and store the data of air passengers travelling in the EU (1). Commenting on the deal and in the context of the council of...

StandUp4Freedom / A Clim'Art Moment

26.11.2015

A cultural event promoting our shared freedoms with Carolyn Carlson, Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi, Nicolas Hulot and many others

Data protection/Facebook

'Safe Harbor' must be immediately suspended by EU Commission

The advocate general of the European Court of Justice today issued his legal opinion on a case concerning the transfer by Facebook of the data of EU citizens to the US under 'Safe Harbor'. The advocate general found that the transfer of private data to the US by Facebook is at odds with EU data prot...