Human Rights

European Parliament calls for EU human rights sanctions regime

Human rights

An EU-wide human rights sanctions regime would be an essential part of the EU's foreign policy and would embolden the EU to act as global human rights defender. Europe must be able to close our banks and borders to those who attack human rights and this proposal will give us the tools to do exactly that

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Hemicycle European Parliament Strasbourg — European Union

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities 11-14 March 2019

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

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Democracy©-Tobias-Keckel — ©-Tobias-Keckel

EU Justice Programme final trilogue

Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

Today, final trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council were concluded on the EU Justice Programme for the years 2021-2027, which includes greater support for citizens, civil society and legal experts.

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Trial of Catalan political prisoners

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé

EFA MEPs from Catalonia have spoken out in the European Parliament this week as the trial gets underway in Madrid of the Catalan political prisoners - government ministers, civil society leaders and former Speaker of the Catalan parliament - for seeking to assert Catalonia's right to self-determ...

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The EU needs new tools to protect and support the rule of law

European Values

Today, the European Parliament voted in favour of a support scheme for civil society organisations working to promote human rights and democracy in the EU. Almost €1 billion will be allocated to the scheme, and it will also become easier for smaller organisations to apply for EU funds. The report authored by Greens/EFA MEP Bodil Valero also contains special emergency measures to support civil society organisations in Member States where there is a rapid and serious deterioration of the rule of law.

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Parliament approves Terricabras report on Fundamental Rights

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras

The European Parliament has today voted to approve a report prepared by MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras which analyses the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (in 2017). The report, approved by MEPs, calls for "impartial" investigations into the excessive use of police for...

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Justus Lipsius EU Council — JLogan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Romania has a lot of work to do at home and in Brussels

EU Council Presidency

On the start of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council, Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament comments.

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Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 10-14 December 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included humanitarian visas, conflict of interest of Czech Prime Minister, transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, the digital service tax, the revocability of Art 50 ...

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Refugee Camp Lebanon — Worldbank (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Global migration needs a global response

UN Migration Pact

"The European Union will undermine its credibility if it cannot show its united support to this global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, a voluntary declaration that promotes the protections of human rights, and the humane treatment of migrants," says Judith Sargentini.

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Ending corporate abuses: why Europe must support a UN Treaty

Towards a UN binding treaty on business and human rights

Globalisation heavily relies on the exploitation of workers in developing countries by Transnational Corporations. However, when these workers' human rights are abused, it is basically impossible for them to achieve proper redress. International pushes for the creation of a UN binding treaty on business and human rights seek to redress this profoundly unequal dynamic and end corporate impunity.

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Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 12-15 November 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Clean Energy Package; Emissions from Trucks and other heavy Duty vehicles; Future of Europe debate with Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Romania rule of law resolution; Multiannual Financial Framework; Humanitarian visas.

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MEPs concerns at harsh sentences sought for Catalan leaders

Press release from the EFA Group in the European Parliament

MEPs from various political groups in the European Parliament, including the European Free Alliance, have signed a joint statement expressing their concern at the harsh sentences for Catalan political prisoners demanded by the Spanish prosecutor this week. Several Catalan pro-independence leaders...

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