International

Refugee resettlement

Incoherent proposals underline dysfunctional EU approach to refugee crisis

The European Commission today presented proposals to reinstate transfers of asylum seekers to Greece under the Dublin asylum system, as well as presenting updates on progress under the EU’s resettlement and relocation scheme and the EU-Turkey agreement. Responding to the Commission proposals, Gree...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 6-9 June 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included: Glyphosate: decision on extending the controversial substance; Food security and a fair food supply chain; Watering down EU rules on financial speculation; legal EU migration tainted by outsourcing to 3rd countries; Tobacco, health and the role of industry: international rules; Panama Papers: EP inquiry into tax evasion and money laundering in the EU; EU Commission refusing to act on health-damaging chemicals; Preventing further approvals of GMOs; MEPs demand regulation on open, efficient and independent EU administration.

CETA

Luxembourg parliament resolution demands legal clarification, not ready to vote on deal

The Luxembourg parliament voted in support of a resolution on the EU-Canada deal CETA on Tuesday (June 8), that calls upon the government to seek legal clarification on the investor rights provisions in the agreement. It also demands that CETA is a “mixed deal” requiring ratification in Member State parliaments once these legal irregularities have been addressed.

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

07.06.2016

LIVE press conference 7 June 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

EU funding for New Alliance ignores murky world of land-grabs and human rights violations

On the face of it, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition looks like an extremely worthy project: encouraging private investment in African farming to help improve food production and reduce hunger and poverty.

Migration

Outsourcing to 'third countries' an abdication of responsibility

The European Commission today presented its proposals for a 'Migration Compact' system for managing an EU approach to migration, as well as for a legal entry visa programme for high-skilled migrants, the so-called 'blue card'. Commenting on the 'Migration Compact', Green migration spokesperson Judit...

Human rights must be central to EU migration compact

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras (Catalonia)

MEPs in Strasbourg have debated the European Union's proposed new 'migration compact' aimed at addressing the root causes of migration. The European Commission proposes using EU funding to encourage private investment in migrants' countries of origin, notably Africa. The propos...

Ulrike Lunacek meets Azeri political prisoners

Ulrike Lunacek met today with Rasul Jafarov and Anar Mamadli, two of the Azeri political prisoners recently released from jail.

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".

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...

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 ...