ECJ rules Poland in breach of EU Treaties for rules on judges

Quote from Terry Reintke MEP

The European Court of Justice has just ruled that Poland is in breach of the EU Treaties for measures aimed at lowering the retirement age of judges, at different ages for men and women, and for allowing the Minister of Justice discretion to prolong judges' service. The Greens/EFA group have long argued that this amounts to political interference in the independence of the Polish judiciary and runs counter to the rule of law and European values.

EIB must become climate bank & stop support for fossil fuels

Climate

Today, the European Parliament will debate 'Greening the European Investment Bank' (EIB) at the plenary session in Brussels. The Greens/EFA group support calls for turning the EIB into a climate bank and are calling for the EIB to stop financial support for any fossil fuel projects by 2020, ...

Right intentions and promising words are not enough

Hearing with Frans Timmermans

On the hearing of Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President-designate for a “European Green Deal”, Bas Eickhout, Coordinator of the Greens/EFA in the Committee on Environment, comments:

Hearing of Valdis Dombrovskis

Executive Vice President-designate for „An Economy that Works for People“

Valdis Dombrovskis opened the way for greening the economy. On green financing, Valdis Dombrovskis took a step forward, announcing a new action plan on sustainable finances and promising to work on transparency and disclosure. However, he was particularly unclear in his answers on social policies.

EU must change from a kerosene tax paradise to a global pioneer for climate action

Aviation/CO2 tax

The non-governmental organisation "Transport and Environment" today published a study, kept secret by the European Commission, on the consequences of a kerosene tax on aviation.

For a Europe with MORE!

It's time to turn away from austerity thinking to a real social Union that benefits people. Ahead of the International Workers' Day, the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament are putting on the table a series of demands to fight social exclusion, poverty & unemployment in the European Union.

We need decent minimum incomes for all in Europe

Too many people in the European Union cannot make ends meet and live a decent life. We want this to change. The Greens/EFA group is calling for a minimum income scheme in all EU countries to be set at 60% of the national median income. It’s time for the EU to become a union of solidarity, not austerity.

Parliament vote on mobility risks creating second class workers

Mobility Package

The majority of Members of the European Parliament, have voted in favour of exemptions for a range of transport journeys from the Posting of Workers Directive.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 25-28 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the Copyright Directive; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund; the Framework for sustainable investment; the final report of the TAX3 committee; the Mobility Package; recent developments on the Dieselgate scandal; the rule of law in Malta and Slovakia; the 2017 'discharge'; the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 25-28 March 2019

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

Company cross-border re-structuring in Europe

a first success for workers and the fight against letter-box companies

The European Parliament and the Council finally reached an agreement on the mobility aspect of the new legislative package on company law including measures for protecting and reinforcing worker’s rights in Europe. The deal reached will support honest companies moving within the EU, but will also provide tools to catch dishonest companies looking for the loopholes to profit from the differences between Member States in financial, social and employment rules.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 February 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the EU-Singapore trade agreement, the protection of animals during transportation, the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, the debate on the Future of Europe with the Italian Prime Minister, the final trilogues on copyright and on the gas directive, ...