EU Institutions

Greens/EFA group welcomes four Italian MEPs

On 9 December, four Italian MEPs, Rosa D'Amato, Ignazio Corrao, Eleonora Evi, and Piernicola Pedicini, joined the Greens/EFA group by unanimous acclamation. The Greens/EFA group now has 73 Members.

Conflicts of interest - Commission letter on Andrej Babiš leaked

Quotes from Viola von Cramon & Mikuláš Peksa

According to a leaked letter in Czech media, the European Commission has reiterated its position that the Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, is in conflict of interest between his role as PM and his business dealings.

EFA MEPs: Elections review ignores 'flagrant democratic violations'

Press release from the EFA MEPs in the European Parliament

MEPs have debated and adopted a report taking stock of the 2019 European elections. Whilst the review contains some positive points, such as increased voter turnout and the spitzenkandidaten process, it ignores some of the flagrant democratic violations related to the election, notably with regar...

European Council Summit & Rule of Law

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

It's shameful that Hungary and Poland are attempting to derail the entire Recovery Plan and MFF because their governments no longer stand for the values on which this Union is built. There is no European Union without European values, which include democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.

Hungary & Poland block MFF/Recovery Plan

Quotes from Philippe Lamberts & Ska Keller

Representatives of the governments of Hungary and Poland have blocked the decision on 'Own Resources', which halts agreement on the Recovery Package and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The European Council will hold a leaders' summit via video conference on the 19th of November.

Impact of Covid-19 measures on democracy, fundamental rights & rule of law

Quote from Sergey Lagodinsky

The Covid crisis must not be used as an excuse by governments to encroach on peoples' rights and the rule of law. The true test of a democracy is how well it fares in a crisis and this year has shown that some EU governments are all too quick to undermine the rule of law and European values.

#EUCO

Quote from Ska Keller, Greens/EFA Co-President

Without an agreement, both the EU and Britain will lose.

Greens/EFA plenary session debriefing

4-9 October

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate law, rule of law and fundamental rights mechanism, rule of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the rule of law, reinforcing the youth guarantee, forest strategy, approval of McGuinness and Dombrovskis, fight against money laundering following the FinCEN files.

Bulgaria: Rule of law report

Quotes from Ska Keller MEP and Daniel Freund MEP

Members of the European Parliament have just voted (Thurs. 8 Oct.) on a report on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, following widespread protests over a series of corruption scandals tied to the country's political elite.

Europe's Regions must play key role in EU Recovery Plan

EFA MEP Diana Riba: "Thinking globally and acting locally is more necessary than ever"

EFA MEP Diana Riba has called for Europe's regions to play a key role in the the EU's forthcoming recovery plan, designed to help the EU's economy and society recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Diana Riba was speaking in the European Parliament's debate on the recen...

Hungary and ECJ ruling on Central European University

Quote from Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP

The ECJ has ruled on what should be clear in any European democracy; that measures to limit academic freedom are incompatible with EU law. Forcing out a university is undemocratic, it goes against European values and now it's been ruled as illegal.

Daphne Caruana Galizia prize for journalists agreed by European Parliament

Quotes from Heidi Hautala MEP and Sven Giegold MEP

The Bureau of the European Parliament has just agreed to launch the Daphne Caruana Galizia prize for journalism. The prize, proposed by the Greens/EFA group, will distinguish outstanding journalism revolving around the principles and values of the European Union.