EU Institutions

Jean-Claude Juncker defends selecting men for high-level finance posts

Quotes from Ska Keller and Sven Giegold

The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has today (Tuesday, 12 March) sent a letter in response to the dispute over the allocation of high-level financial posts exclusively to men, defending the selection procedures for the appointment of the three top posts at the European Central Ban...

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

European Parliament endorses Laura Codruta Kovesi for European Chief Prosecutor

Quotes from Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts

The European Parliament's Conference of Presidents has endorsed the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former head of the Romanian Anti-Corruption Agency (DNA), for the role of European Chief Prosecutor at the new European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).

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.

EPP to debate Fidesz

Quote from Judith Sargentini

On the news that the member parties from the European Peoples Party have request a debate on expelling the Hungarian party Fidesz, Judith Sargentini, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary report comments: "While it's welcome that a few EPP parties are finally coming around ...

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.

Brexit votes in Westminster

Quote from Philippe Lamberts

"It's clear that the cards are up for Theresa May's Brexit strategy and she has to play her hand, " says Greens/EFA co-president, Philippe Lamberts.

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.

Expansion of Frontex should only happen with stronger fundamental rights

Frontex

The members of the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs have just voted on their position on the mandate for the negotiations on the European Border Management Agency, Frontex. The Greens/EFA were able to assert their demands to hold Frontex accountable for possible violations of fundamental rights, to strengthen the role of the Officer for Fundamental Rights and not to allow the European Border Management Agency to deport people from third countries to other third countries.

Sometimes the Truth Needs Friends

Whether you are five years old or eighty-five years old, anyone who tells the truth deserves to be protected, but right now those who do are at risk of getting fired, sued, harassed — and worse — by those who seek to silence them. The good news is that — in the European Union at least — all of this whistleblower harassment could soon become a thing of the past.