EU Institutions

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Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 16-19 April 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Future of Europe - debate with President Macron; Selmayr: Commission ethics in question – Discharge of Commission 2016 budget; Money Laundering - New legislation will deliver real benefits for citizens; Organics - Parliament seals the deal on new legislation; Greenhouse gas emissions; The Circular Economy; Energy performance of buildings; Facebook & Cambridge Analytica - Parliament response to scandal; Protection of journalists - resolution following recent murders; Dieselgate - new legislation on type-approval and market surveillance.

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EU must respond to the threat to investigative journalism

Protection of journalists

Greens/EFA transparency spokesperson Benedek Jávor comments on the threat to investigative journalism.

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EU should act when Member States fail on fundamental rights

Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya MEP Jordi Solé has called on EU leaders Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Antonio Tajani, to 'be brave and show leadership' in helping find a political solution to the conflict between Catalonia and Spain. Jordi Solé was speaking in today...

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EPP group defeated in transparency dispute

Transparency of MEP spending

A row is currently underway in the European Parliament over reforms to MEPs' General Expenditure Allowance. In today's vote on the Discharge of the European Parliament's budget for 2016, the EPP tried to water down commitments to reform. These were defeated.

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European Parliament censures Commission over mishandling of Secretary General appointment

Selmayr

The European Parliament has today backed a resolution criticising the European Commission for its handling of the appointment of Martin Selmayr as Commission Secretary General.

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European Union

Macron's actions must match his rhetoric

President Macron/Future of Europe

"Like many others, we are pleased to see a French President who is ready to show leadership on Europe. Europeans must work together to take on this century’s challenges. The tasks confronting us are too big to be faced alone," says Greens/EFA co-president, Philippe Lamberts.

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The time for warnings has passed – the EU must trigger article 7

Hungary

Greens/EFA MEP Judith Sargentini has today presented her report on the European Parliament's investigation into whether or not Hungary is in breach of the values of the European Union. Sargentini's report recommends that the Council initiate Article 7 proceedings against Hungary.

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President Macron: show leadership on tax reforms

Tax Justice

The Greens/EFA group has written to the French President, calling on him to show leadership on tax justice.

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Time for the EU to protect whistleblowers

What the EU legislation on whistleblower protection should look like

The need to protect whistleblowers is increasingly recognised at both European and national level. In a recent public consultation done by the European Commission, an overwhelming majority of 96% of respondents agreed that we need legally binding minimum standards on whistleblower protection across the EU.

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Sad day for Europe

Hungary elections

This result shows how big our responsibility is to defend democracy and fundamental rights everywhere in the European Union. It is true, Orbán secured his majority. But we should not forget that the Orbán government managed to silence opposition media, filled a lot of key positions in official institutions with people close to his party and lead an aggressive campaign driven by fake news when it comes to migration.

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Catalan Political prisoners

Press conference with EFA MEP Jordi Solé

EFA MEP Jordi Solé gives an update on the situation in Catalonia at a press conference in the European Parliament, alongside relatives of the political prisoners and exiled politicians, on 26 March 2018.

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Greens/EFA

Grand coalition soft on ethical concerns

Selmayr

"It beggars belief that the conservatives, liberals and socialists could not bring themselves to back criticism of the European Commission’s handling of Martin Selmayr’s appointment," says Bart Staes.

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