Equal Opportunities

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...

A lesson well recited

Sven Giegold, Jean Lambert and Monika Vana assess commissioner-designate Dombrovskis

At first glance, Valdis Dombrovskis made an acceptable performance during his hearing. But when you scratch the surface his presentation seemed more like a well-rehearsed recital of a neoliberal version of a Juncker lesson. It remains to be seen if his prolific use of social trigger words will now be turned into commitments and actions.

Language diversity side-lined in new EU Commission

Press Release from the EFA Group in the European Parliament

The new European Commission is at risk of ignoring the importance of language diversity in Europe, according to Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales MEP Jill Evans, a member of the European Free Alliance (EFA) Group of MEPs. The Welsh MEP has criticised the decision not to appoint a dedicated EU Commi...

We are on the move! And you?

Join the climate march, the march to Paris 2015 and towards a real ecological transition!

This Sunday 21st September, all around the world, citizens will come together to call governments across the globe to take their responsibility and take real action to protect the planet. In many parts of the globe, citizens are calling for a real energy transition to renewable energy sources as well as a real ecological transformation of our society. Many great actions are taking place, and it is just the beginning. We are on the move! And You? Join the climate march, the march to Paris 2015 and towards a real ecological transition!

Team Juncker and employment and social policy

Green MEP Jean Lambert assesses proposed commissioner Marianne Thyssen

  So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? Overall, no. It is certainly not the "greenest Commission ever" and I think that some of the nominations defy logic. I am also not convinced that the restructuring of the Commission will mean better decision-ma...

Future EU commissioners

Juncker must send EU governments back to drawing board to ensure gender balance

The Greens have expressed concern at the lack of female candidates nominated by EU member states for commissioner posts in the next European Commission (1). Commenting on the situation, Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts stated: “The dearth of female candidates nominated ...

Greens/EFA Roundup

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 14-17 July 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included the vote on the EU Commission presidency as well as the debates on TTIP EU-US negotiations- EU, Ukrainian crisis and Europe's role, EU maternity leave rules and youth unemployment in Europe. Another EU priority for the Greens is the Special European Council and the repartition of EU top jobs

Youth employment

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled byTerry Reintke, Karima Delli, Monika Vana, Tamás Meszerics, Tatjana Ždanoka, Jean Lambert, Helga Trüpel, Ernest Urtasun, Jill Evans, Ska Keller, Jordi Sebastià, Bas Eickhout, Ernest Maragall on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group The European Parliament, – having regard to the Council ...

Strasbourg Flash

Weekly preview of the Greens/EFA group - 14-17 July 2014

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary include the vote on the EU Commission presidency as well as the debates on TTIP EU-US negotiations- EU, Ukrainian crisis and Europe's role, EU maternity leave rules and youth unemployment in Europe. Another EU priority for the Greens is the Special European Council and the repartition of EU top jobs

EC Presidency

Hearing of Mr Juncker at the Greens/EFA Group meeting

The Greens/EFA group will give Mr Juncker the opportunity for a hearing and will base their decision on if and how his priorities match with the Group's vision for the European Commission over the coming 5 years

Breaking out from the old pattern

A Green vision for the new EU Commission

  This time it’s different. The traditional “Europe at a crossroad” has morphed into a cliff-hanger situation. For the European Union, the next five years have become a matter of make-or-break choices. Shaken by the violent crisis of the past years, European public opini...

25 actions the next President of the EU Commission should commit to

  1. Strengthening democracy, changing political practice   1.1 Claim back the Commission’s autonomy from the influence of the European Council. This starts with the process leading to the election of the next POTEC and his programme. In addition, the EP’s role in init...