Languages

Geoblocking and minority languages

EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) wants the European Commission to ensure that legislation on access to web based programming while abroad facilitates the use of Welsh and other minority languages. Jill Evans says that 'geoblocking' – or blocking access to online content based on location – can ...

Situation in Hungary

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Judith Sargentini, Benedek Jávor, Ulrike Lunacek, Monika Vana on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group The European Parliament, –  having regard to the preamble to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), in particular the second and the fourth to seventh indents thereof, –&n...

Situation in Burundi

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Maria Heubuch, Heidi Hautala, Bodil Valero, Judith Sargentini on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group The European Parliament, –  having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement, –  having regard to the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi of ...

Radicalisation

EU Parliament finds common ground on measures to tackle radicalisation

The European Parliament today adopted a report setting out its position on how to tackle radicalisation in Europe. After the vote, Green civil liberties spokesperson Jean Lambert said: “The European Parliament has today found common ground on how to tackle radicalisation, which has to be a core el...

Paris attacks

European response must focus on cooperation and not scaling back freedoms

The European Commission today outlined some proposals aimed at guiding Friday's meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers in response to the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. Ahead of the extraordinary council meeting, Green home affairs spokesperson Judith Sargentini said: "It is sti...

Working towards a summit on language diversity in Europe

EFA MEP Jordi Sebastià has hosted a seminar at the European Parliament to prepare for a Summit on Language Diversity in Europe, scheduled for December 2016. A Protocol on Language Diversity, an effective tool supporting language equality and diversity in Europe, will be presented at the event. Th...

Welcoming migrants will help Europe lead in the world

Press release from EFA MEP Ernest Maragall (Catalonia)

Responding to today's debate on migration in the European Parliament, Catalan MEP Ernest Maragall said that welcoming migrants could help Europe lead in the world. MEP Ernest Maragall The MEP pointed out that nations such as the USA, Canada and Australia, which have welcomed migrants are leaders in ...

Turkey attack

MEPs call for impartial investigation in cross-political letter to Turkish PM

Over 50 MEPs from different political groups have co-signed a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu calling for a 'full and impartial investigation' of the recent Ankara bombings. The letter expresses concern for the escalation of violence in Turkey and condemns attacks on innocent civilian p...

Refugee crisis

Internal squabbling prolonged as EU rights and freedoms under threat

Commenting on the outcome of today's meeting of EU home affairs ministers on the refugee crisis, Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts said: "It is disheartening that, despite the ever more dramatic humanitarian crisis on the EU's southern borders, EU governments could only agree to prolong...

Linguistic and minority rights must be respected in Europe

Press release from EFA MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (Catalonia)

In a significant new report approved today, MEPs have stated that the EU must respect ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Significantly, the report also called upon EU Member States that have not yet done so to ratify and effectively implement the Framework Convention for the Protection of Na...

Empowering the regional dimension and minority rights in the new Member States

Empowering the regional dimension and minority rights in the new member states was the focus of a conference organised at the European Parliament this week by the European Free Alliance Group. The event heard from speakers from a variety of political groups and backgrounds about the diverse experien...

Freedom flotilla - call to release Gaza blockade activists

Press release from EFA MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (ERC)

President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament Josep-Maria Terricabras has paid tribute to those involved in the 'Freedom Flotilla' and called for a peaceful end to the blockade of Gaza. Israeli armed forces intercepted the ship 'Marianne' early this morning and it is now being escorted to th...