Lost in Translation

Back-room debates about the impact of trade secrets on whistle-blowers shows urgent need for EU wide whistle-blower protection

Today, unfortunately, the controversial Trade Secrets directive was formally adopted by the Council, but only after several delays due to disagreements over how specifically to translate a key provision in the text: the word "wrongdoing".

Debate on the future of Europe

25.05.2016

Part 2 - Making the (green) case for Europe – Europe as Emotion

As a self-proclaimed “pro-European force”, the Greens consider that European solutions and EU-wide solidarity are essential to address the numerous crises our societies are faced with. At the same time, we also openly criticize the policies decided at the EU level and the liberal-conservative political majority that takes them. But in an increasingly polarized political debate on Europe, between “populist revolution” and “coalition of the status quo”, the Green voice should have a distinctive resonance – how could we achieve that?

Demolishing Palestine - Israel's demolition policies

Greens/EFA MEP Jordi Sebastià together with colleagues from the GUE/NGL group organised a hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels to consider the impact of Israel's demolition policies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. It was reported that whilst damage to EU funded projects in the occup...

Turkey

Erdogan attempts to 'correct' election outcome by stripping MPs of immunity

The Turkish parliament will today debate and vote on a draft law to strip over 130 Turkish MPs of their parliamentary immunity. The law will need to be adopted in two separate votes, with the second vote taking place Friday.  Commenting on the debate and votes, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca H...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 9-13 May 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included improving transparency of foreign direct investment; Greek bailout and Euro crisis in the spotlight again; Situation in Turkey and visa liberalisation; Reforming EU asylum policy; Saving the Schengen free movement system; Small step towards corporate tax transparency; Panama Papers: EP inquiry into tax evasion and money laundering in the EU.

Trade agreements

EU-Canada trade agreement must not be applied before full democratic ratification process

EU trade ministers will meet tomorrow (13 May) with the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA) on the top of their agenda. Commenting ahead of the Trade Council, Green trade spokesperson Yannick Jadot stated: "There are legitimate concerns that the European Commission and EU governments in favour ...

China/trade

EU should not consider China as market economy if criteria not met

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution setting out its position on the question of market economy status for China. After the vote, Green spokesperson on China Reinhard Bütikofer stated: "All the evidence makes clear that China is not a market economy. The EU therefore has no reaso...

Turkey

Rule of law concerns cannot be ignored by EU in visa liberalisation

The European Parliament today debated the situation in Turkey and the proposed visa liberalisation with the EU. In the context of the debate, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms stated: "The clamp-down against all opposition by the Erdogan regime has reached new level. The sentencing of the j...

Yes to Turkey visa liberalisation, but not at any price

Press release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall

Greens/EFA MEP Ernest Maragall, a member of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Turkey, has spoken out in support of liberalising EU visa conditions for Turkish citizens to visit Europe. But the Catalan MEP said that visa liberalisation should not be approved until the Turkish s...

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

10.05.2016

LIVE press conference 10 May 10:30-10:50

Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts present the key issues of the plenary session and of the European agenda for the Greens/EFA group

China’s market economy status

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Reinhard Bütikofer, Yannick Jadot, Ska Keller, Philippe Lamberts, Claude Turmes, Bas Eickhout on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group The European Parliament, –  having regard to the EU’s anti-dumping legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on prote...

EU asylum rules

Proposals fall far short of overhaul and raise serious fundamental rights concerns

The European Commission today presented proposals for reforming the EU's system of asylum rules. Commenting on the proposed reforms, Green asylum spokesperson Jean Lambert said: "Despite the widespread acknowledgement that the EU's Dublin system of asylum rules is not fit for the task, the Com...