Trade secrets

Harmonisation could undermine fundamental rights

The European Parliament's Legal Affairs committee today voted on draft legislative proposals on the protection of trade secrets. While the Parliament's proposals are a slight improvement on the original Commission proposals, Greens/EFA demands on improving transparency requirements were rejected. Gr...

Copyright reform

Legal Affairs committee demands ambitious reform

The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs committee today voted by a broad majority on a report reviewing the EU’s current copyright framework. The report is authored by Pirate Party MEP and vice-president of the Greens/EFA group Julia Reda. The vote follows intense debate, multiple delays and the...

EU data protection rules

Ministers' agreement paves way for negotiations with EP

EU justice and home affairs ministers today adopted a common position on the draft EU legislation on data protection at their Council meeting. Following the decision, it was decided that legislative negotiations with the European Parliament will begin on 24 June (1). Commenting on the situation, Gre...

FIFA corruption case

EU Parliament calls for rethink on Qatar and Russia World Cups

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the ongoing corruption scandal at the international football authority FIFA. Commenting after the vote, Green MEP Helga Truepel said: "For years, FIFA has acted as a law unto itself and operated beyond the bounds of legal orthodoxy...

Situation in Syria, in particular in Palmyra and the case of Mazen Darwish

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Barbara Lochbihler, Davor Skrlec, Karima Delli, Ernest Urtasun, Eva Joly, Bronis Rope, Bodil Ceballos, Reinhard Butikofer on behalf of the Greens/EFA group The European Parliament, –    having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria, including on the destruction of cul...

Digital Single Market

Too little, too late in EU Commission's digital agenda plan for Europe

The European Commission will today present a communication outlining its proposals for the Digital Single Market. Commenting on a leaked draft of the proposals Green digital rights spokesperson Jan Philipp Albrecht said: “The much-heralded Digital Single Market project for Europe looks set to be...

Destruction of cultural sites perpetrated by ISIS/Da’esh

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Michèle Rivasi, Pascal Durand, Helga Trüpel, Ernest Maragall, Michel Reimon, Jordi Sebastià, Yannick Jadot, Alyn Smith, Jean Lambert, Davor Škrlec on on  behalf of the Greens/EFA group The European Parliament, –        having regard t...

Freedom in a time of crisis

15.04.2015

A Greens/EFA conference

The Greens/EFA conference "Freedom in a time of crisis" will look at the state of freedom of speech and how it affects writers around the world. Speakers include John Ralston Saul, president PEN international and writers Tahmina Aman from Bangladesh and Kamila Shamsie, from the UK.

Trade secrets can harm

your health, your environment, your career

The European Parliament is now discussing a draft proposal to establish a EU directive on trade secrets. A proper balance needs to be found to avoid abusive claims of improper use of trade secrets and overbroad protection.

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 ...

Youth employment

Commission proposal a boost for youth employment scheme roll-out

The European Commission today proposed making additional funds available for the pre-financing of the European Youth Guarantee Scheme (1) through reallocation under the European Social Fund. Welcoming the proposal, Green employment and youth spokesperson Terry Reintke said: "This proposal will...

We must not let our freedoms drown

Green MEP Michèle Rivasi about attack on Charlie Hebdo

Our thoughts go out to the 17 victims, artists and journalists defending freedom of expression, police, Jews, Christians, atheists and Muslims, their families, their loved ones. We must now make sure that we do not allow our freedoms to drown