Human Rights

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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European flags
© Photo European Parliament

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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No arms for Assad!
© sceka

EU must impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions

Turkey/Syria

The European Union must show President Erdogan that his actions have consequences and agree on an immediate arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions. De-escalation and the protection of the civilian population against war crimes and ethnic cleansing must be the top priority.

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Catalonia Protest
Sasha Popovic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Catalan leaders' sentences a 'travesty of justice'

Press Release from Alyn Smith MEP (SNP), President of the EFA Group in the EP

Responding to today's verdict in the trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders which saw them receive sentences of between 9 and 13 years imprisonment, Alyn Smith, SNP MEP and President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament described the sentences as 'a travesty of justice which will o...

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European flags
© Photo European Parliament

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 16-19 September 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included: Hungary – Rule of Law, Amazon Fires, Christine Lagarde appointed President of the European Central Bank, Climate Debate Ahead of UN Summit, Brexit, New von der Leyen Commission, Money Laundering Greens/EFA nominees for the Sakharov Prize, Patentability of plants and essential biological processes, Laura Codruța Kövesi, new European Chief Prosecutor.

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MEPs to establish Kurdish Friendship Group

Support for fundamental rights from across the political spectrum

Around a dozen MEPs from a variety of political groups have met at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to agree the establishment of a Kurdish Friendship Group. The aim is to provide a forum of support and discussion for issues of concern relating to the Kurdish people. It is anticipated that t...

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International © ktsimage
© ktsimage

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise

Quote by Heidi Hautala

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise and it is comes at the wrong time when there is an increasing demand for sustainable development. The price for the Mercosur agreement will be paid by farmers, the environment and the climate.

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Refugess arrive in greece
ggia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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.

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Fingerprint
©byrev (pixabay)

Compulsory biometric data in ID cards a security smokescreen and a danger for privacy

ID cards

The Greens/EFA group voted against this invasion of personal privacy.

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Viktor Orbán

Fidesz suspended from EPP

Hungary

The European People's Party (EPP) have just voted to suspend Fidesz, the Hungarian party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from their pan-European party. The EPP and Manfred Weber need to decide where they stand: on the side of a party that tramples on media and academic freedom, campaigns against refugees and civil society or on the side of those who defend European values and the rule of law

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Corporate

Fate of Fidesz in EPP to be decided tomorrow

Quote from Ska Keller

Tomorrow (Wednesday 20th) the European People's Party (EPP) will decide on the future of Fidesz, following the recommendation of several members to expel the Hungarian party from the EPP. Ska Keller, President of the Greens/EFA Group and leading candidate of the European Greens for the European elections comments.

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European flags
© Photo European Parliament

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate debate, the final trilogue on Whistleblower Protection Directive, the second Brexit vote, the reform of the European citizens’ initiative, the Clean Air for All resolution, the European Anti-Money Laundering Blacklist, the opening of trade negotiations between the EU and the US, gender balance and top EU financial roles,...

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