Culture

Freedom in a time of crisis

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

Charlie Hebdo attack

Solidarity with the victims and their families

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has strongly condemned today's attack on the offices of the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo and expressed solidarity with the families, friends and colleagues of the victims. Commenting on the attack, Greens/EFA co-presidents Philippe Lamber...

Free Software and Open Standards in the European Parliament

Ensuring utmost transparency - Free Software and Open Standards under the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament

Do public bodies in Europe have an obligation to move from closed source and lock-in to vendor independence and free software? In general probably yes, but is it also true for the European Parliament? Definitely!

Digital market/Google

MEPs fail to focus consumer rights and net neutrality

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the digital single market and the current legal proceedings against Google. Commenting on the vote, Green digital agenda expert Jan Philipp Albrecht stated: "The core principle guiding the debate on the Google anti-trust case and the digita...

Outcome of the conference on employment (Milano, 8 October)

Plenary speech by Terry Reintke

EU employment summit

PR exercise in Milan fails to offer concrete measures

Commenting on today’s meeting of EU leaders in Milan on the issues of growth and unemployment, Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts stated:“The only employment this summit has created is for EU diplomats, journalists and hoteliers in Milan. It is purely a public relations...

Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship

Green MEP Helga Trupel gives our assessment of commissioner-designate Tibor Navracsics

What is your overall impression of how commissioner-designate Navracsics performed? He is a very talkative and eloquent person, but absolutely not ready for any self criticism and not ready to admit his role in the introduction of the media freedom hobbling law in Hungary. He...

Commissioner Test: Tibor Navracsics

Helga Trüpel