Transparency and Democracy

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.

Deal reached to protect whistleblowers a victory for the truth

Whistleblowers

The Greens/EFA group have been the driving force campaigning for whistleblower protection and it's been a long road to get here, given that there was no official support for an EU-wide directive when we started campaigning years ago

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities 11-14 March 2019

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

EU Justice Programme final trilogue

Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

Today, final trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council were concluded on the EU Justice Programme for the years 2021-2027, which includes greater support for citizens, civil society and legal experts.

European Court of Justice to decide if transparency over cancer studies should override commercial secrets

On the 7th March 2019, the European Court of Justice will deliver its verdict in a landmark case pitting the public interest in transparency against the commercial interests of private companies. The case was brought by four Greens/EFA MEPs in May 2017, after EFSA claimed that it had used unpublished studies by Monsanto, Syngenta and Cheminova to conclude that glyphosate was not carcinogenic.

European Parliament committees support Kovesi for European Chief Prosecutor

European Public Prosecutor's Office

The winning candidate in both committees is Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former head of the Romanian Anti-Corruption Agency (DNA), who has been widely celebrated for her efforts in prosecuting ex-officials for high-level graft and corruption in the country.

Citizens’ Rights improved as European Parliament Strengthens the Role of the EU Ombuds(wo)man

To improve democracy and the rights of citizens in Europe, the Greens/EFA decided to strengthen the European Ombuds(wo)man’s office so that it could better investigate maladministration and conflicts of interest. We also managed to secure a role for the Ombuds(wo)man’s Office in important areas such as whistleblower protection and sexual harassment.