European Union

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ECJ Advocate General's Opinion on Oriol Junqueras

Quotes from Ska Keller & Diana Riba

The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has issued the opinion that our colleague Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a Member of the European Parliament, despite the Spanish Supreme Court not letting him take up his seat after he was elected in the last European elections in May.

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business conflict ©mohamed mahmoud hassan

Legal Affairs Committee clears Commissioner candidates of conflicts of interest

Quote from Sergey Lagodinsky MEP

The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has just confirmed the absence of conflicts of interest for Commissioner candidates Thierry Breton (FR), Adina-Ioana Vălean (RO) and Olivér Várhelyi (HU). The Legal Affairs decision opens the way for the three candidates to appear before joint committee hearings on Thursday

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Protecting Journalists is Protecting Democracy

EU needs to step up ambition so that the #TruthNeverDies

The UN highlights each year, on 2 November, the need to end impunity for crimes against journalists, because journalists are in the front line when it comes to holding the powerful to account, which is why they are often violently silenced. This year, the UN is reminding us that each year one journalist gets a Pulitzer prize, but one hundred get shot. Press freedom across the world - including in Europe - is in crisis.

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Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 21-24 October 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the votes on the EU budget 2020, the search and sea rescue in the Mediterranean, the Turkish military operation in Northeast Syria, the public country-by-country reporting, pesticides and bees, the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania,...

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Well deserved prize for human rights defender Ilham Tohti

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Greens/EFA have supported and do welcome this choice. Ilham Tohti is the paradigmatic non-violent prisoner of conscience who has been jailed for life just for speaking up on behalf of Uyghur minority in China, even after being sentenced he has held on to his consistent approach of trying to build bridges between Han Chinese and the Uyghur minority.

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Macedonia Map © mjbs

The European Council must open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania

Eu enlargement

The European Parliament, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA group, adopted a firm response to the decision by three countries (France, Denmark and the Netherlands) to block opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania at last week's European Council.

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Budget © nobiggie

Parliament votes to invest in climate protection, youth and sea rescue

EU budget 2020

The European Parliament has taken a bold step towards a more forward-looking and greener budget. Those Member States who are serious about fighting climate change, youth unemployment and the catastrophe in the Mediterranean must now agree to putting more money where it's needed.

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Elen Schurova (CC BY-SA 2.0)

EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

"It's unfortunate that EU enlargement is being held back by the French President. Only by having a credible path to EU membership can we help to build stability and lasting peace in the Western Balkans."

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What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 21-24 October 2019

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

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Brexit deal reached

Quote from Philippe Lamberts MEP

In our view, any deal should be put to the vote of the British people, who should have the final say as to whether they accept it and leave on a negotiated basis or ultimately choose to stay. Needless to say, in such a referendum, all British components of the Greens/EFA group will staunchly campaign for the latter option

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© Alexander Briel

European Council must give green light to opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

EU Enlargement

Ahead of the European Council meeting, the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament are calling on the Council to open EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

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European Union 2017 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Parliament rejects Goulard - politics of trust must be at heart of new Commission

New Commission

Today, following the second joint-hearing of the Commissioner-designate Sylvie Goulard in the European Parliament, MEPs have not endorsed her candidacy for the Commission. The Greens/EFA group voted against.

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