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.

Turkey-Syria

Group statement

Again, a major disaster is unfolding in Syria. The sudden announcement by President Trump of the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria has given Turkish President Erdogan the opportunity to let his armed forces invade Syria and thereby bring further chaos, bloodshed and human misery to the cou...

MEPs joint declaration condemns Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs condemn Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs from different political groups in the European Parliament – including Greens/EFA - have come together to co-sign a political declaration that condemns Turkey's military intervention in Syria. They call upon the EU to impose sanctions against Turkey and to tackle the humanita...

Amazon fires debate

Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

On the initiative of the Greens/EFA and other groups, the European Parliament debated the on-going fires in the Amazon rainforest. Heidi Hautala MEP and Greens/EFA spokesperson on trade comments.

Saving lives is not a crime

Mission Lifeline judgement

In the case of Malta against the captain of the private sea rescue boat 'Lifeline', captain Claus-Peter Reisch was today sentenced to a fine of 10,000 euros due to alleged inadequate registration of the vessel.

European Commission failed to complete investigation before end of mandate

Babis case

In the hearing of the Budget Control Committee of the European Parliament with EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the case of a possible conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis was raised again.

EU-China summit

Quote from Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

The European Union is now learning to speak with one voice towards China. This concerns economic issues from the Chinese silk road policy to its industrial policy 'Made in China 2025', but also includes the establishment of a brutal police state in Xinjiang in China's west.

Revisions to Gas Directive will limit power of monopolies to threaten energy supply

Energy

Late last night, trilogue negotiations were concluded on revisions to the Gas Directive, which strengthens EU market rules around gas pipelines entering the EU from third countries. The revisions will make it harder for Member States and third countries, such as Russia, to pursue pipeline projects which that undermine European solidarity and pose a security risk, such as Nord Stream 2.

EU-Morocco fisheries agreement violates international humanitarian law

Fisheries

Today, Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the planned fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco. The vast majority of the catches under this agreement are however to take place to the waters of Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco.

It's time to fix globalisation for the better!

Enough with trade policies that demand too much of our planet, hurt the world's most vulnerable, put profit before people. It's time to fix globalisation for the better! A sustainable model that delivers for all is possible

EU countries must develop counter strategy on nukes

Crisis on INF

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced that the United States will formally withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which was signed between the US and the Soviet Union and successfully led to the disarmament of around 2,700 short and intermediate range missiles primarily from European soil during the 1990s. The end of the INF Treaty could result in a new global arms race for short and intermediate range nuclear weapons and pose a severe risk to global security.  This development comes after the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, of which 70 states have so far signed, and 20 have ratified. So far the only EU country which has ratified the ban treaty is Austria.

Historic name deal between Greece and North Macedonia a victory for peace

Prespes Agreement

This historic agreement is a victory for peace in the region. Having overcome huge obstacles, the Prespes name deal opens the door to a European future for North Macedonia and cements peace between the two countries. Both Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev must be commended for their pragmatic and courageous efforts to resolve the name dispute