What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 25-28 March 2019

A look ahead to the March II plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Product quality/Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

Quote from Julia Reda MEP

Last night, 'trilogue' negotiations between the European Commission, Council and Parliament were concluded on changes to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, part of the new deal for consumers released by the Commission last year, aimed at tackling among others the unfair practice of so-called “dual quality” by companies operating across different Member States.

ExxonMobil’s lobbyists should be removed from European Parliament

Following ExxonMobil’s refusal to give testimony at a hearing of the European Parliament’s Environment and Petitions Committees, the Greens/EFA Group have today called for their lobby badges to be removed until they agree to face MEPs in a public setting. When representatives of Monsanto refused to attend a similar hearing we also got their access badges revoked, so we think the same thing should be done for ExxonMobile.

Fidesz suspended from EPP

Hungary

The European People's Party (EPP) have just voted to suspend Fidesz, the Hungarian party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from their pan-European party. The EPP and Manfred Weber need to decide where they stand: on the side of a party that tramples on media and academic freedom, campaigns against refugees and civil society or on the side of those who defend European values and the rule of law

Ending the secrecy that allowed the car emissions scandal to flourish

Dieselgate

After car manufacturers were caught manipulating the results of emissions tests designed to reduce the amount of pollution emitted by vehicles in Europe, the Greens/EFA Group is still pushing hard to fix the failures in the EU’s regulatory process that allowed for this massive-scale emissions fraud.

Fate of Fidesz in EPP to be decided tomorrow

Quote from Ska Keller

Tomorrow (Wednesday 20th) the European People's Party (EPP) will decide on the future of Fidesz, following the recommendation of several members to expel the Hungarian party from the EPP. Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA Group and leading candidate of the European Greens for the European elections comments.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate debate, the final trilogue on Whistleblower Protection Directive, the second Brexit vote, the reform of the European citizens’ initiative, the Clean Air for All resolution, the European Anti-Money Laundering Blacklist, the opening of trade negotiations between the EU and the US, gender balance and top EU financial roles,...

President Tajani's comments on Mussolini

Quotes from Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts

The statements made by the President of the European Parliament are unworthy and absolutely unacceptable. Antonio Tajani must withdraw his trivialisation of fascism or resign as President of the European Parliament

Our co-President Philippe Lamberts calling for Tajani's resignation

We are appalled by the recent comments made by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani praising the fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini.

Strengthening the European Citizens’ Initiative

Improving Your Power to influence the EU

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is the EU’s most important tool for participatory democracy. Historically championed by the Greens/EFA Group, which has pushed to ensure that citizens have stronger powers to influence EU decision-making, the ECI allows citizens from different EU M...

Reform of the European Citizens' Initiative is a step forward

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

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (Greens/EFA) has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament in favour of reforming the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The vote passed with 535 votes in favour, 90 against and 41 abstentions. Terricabras is spokesperson for the Greens/EFA gro...

Breakthrough for whistleblowers as EU institutions agree on new law to protect them from retaliation

Thanks to the high profile revelations by whistleblowers in recent years, including the #luxleaks case and #PanamaPapers, and to the campaigning efforts of NGOs, trade unions and journalists, the final result is an ambitious text that will set minimum standards for how whistleblowers should be protected across the European Union.