Priority

International Day of the Disappeared

The fate of tens of thousands of people in Syria.

On the occasion of the "International Day of the Disappeared" (30 August) we would like to recall the fate of tens of thousands of people in Syria. Since March 2011, Syrian security forces have had countless people arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned, disappeared, and many of them killed.

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Biodiversity Forest © texasmary — © texasmary

Commission’s embarrassing reaction on access to justice on environmental matters

Aarhus Convention

This is the first time that the European Union is evaluated by the UN Aarhus Compliance Committee. Shockingly, it is also the first time that the Commission proposes to vote against the findings and recommendations made by the Committee to ensure the proper implementation of the world’s first international environmental treaty, also known as the “Aarhus Convention”.

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Development policy being militarised through the back door

Legal Affairs committee approves dubious interpretation of EU Treaties

"It is deeply concerning that development policy risks being militarised through the back door. The view supported by the majority of the Legal Affairs committee is quite at odds with the arguments put forward by the Parliament’s own legal services," says Heidi Hautala.

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Legal note on establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace

Dissenting note for legal basis from Ms Heidi Hautala

There is no doubt about the interplay of development and security, or the importance of capacity building and cooperation with the security sector actors, in particular in fragile and conflict-affected third countries. However, the choice of legal basis must be based on Treaty provisions and the true centre of gravity of proposed actions, not on the political expediency.

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Prime example of misguided EU security policy

European entry and exit system

The world won't be made safer by putting all tourists and business people under blanket supervision, says Jan Philipp Albrecht.

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Grand coalition opens the door to misuse of civilian tools and development funds

EU Military Capacity Building in third countries

"It would be nothing short of scandalous if development money were to be diverted to the European defence industry in the future," says Bodil Valero.

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sunflower©sergey-zolkin — ©sergey-zolkin

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 3-6 July 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Longer lifetimes for products would benefit consumers and business; Country by country reporting will help deliver tax justice; Endocrine Disrupters definition not fit for purpose; “PIF” directive will help Union in the fight against fraud; New parliamentary committee on terrorism; Turkey: EU progress incompatible with proposed constitutional reforms; Marrakesh Treaty - copyright exceptions on books for the blind or visually impaired; Refugees and migration.

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Rushed process is not serious

EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement

At today's EU-Japan summit, political agreement was reached on the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement (JEFTA). It would be the biggest ever FTA signed by the EU. Negotiations are now expected to continue at the technical level, despite the fact that many critical and highly political issues are yet to be decided on.

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Turkish Police — Jeremy Brooks (CC BY-NC 2.0)

MEPs sharply criticize human rights violations in Turkey

Turkey

“The clear criticism on President Erdogan is also a clear message to those Turkish people who are standing up against the authoritarian course of the Turkish president," says Greens/EFA co-president, Ska Keller.

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Lampedusa refugees — UNHCR (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Instead of attacking NGOs, Member States must offer real solutions

Refugees and migration

Joint statement from Italian, French and German Greens/EFA MEPs on the European Interior Ministers' action plan.

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Anti-terror measures must not put fundamental rights at risk

New parliamentary committee on terrorism

The Greens/EFA group has ensured that the new committee will carefully assess the effects of security measures on fundamental rights.

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The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

04.07.2017

LIVE press conference 4 July 2017 10:30-10:50

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

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