Security

Well deserved prize for human rights defender Ilham Tohti

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Greens/EFA have supported and do welcome this choice. Ilham Tohti is the paradigmatic non-violent prisoner of conscience who has been jailed for life just for speaking up on behalf of Uyghur minority in China, even after being sentenced he has held on to his consistent approach of trying to build bridges between Han Chinese and the Uyghur minority.

EU should impose sanctions on Turkey over Syria military intervention

Press Release from EFA MEP François Alfonsi (Corsica)

EFA MEP François Alfonsi has called on the EU to impose sanctions against the Turkish regime in response to their aggression against the Kurdish people in Rojava, northern Syria. Turkey launched a unilateral military intervention and invasion of Kurdish controlled areas. This has caused si...

EU must impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions

Turkey/Syria

The European Union must show President Erdogan that his actions have consequences and agree on an immediate arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions. De-escalation and the protection of the civilian population against war crimes and ethnic cleansing must be the top priority.

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 21-24 October 2019

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

Turkey-Syria

Group statement

Again, a major disaster is unfolding in Syria. The sudden announcement by President Trump of the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria has given Turkish President Erdogan the opportunity to let his armed forces invade Syria and thereby bring further chaos, bloodshed and human misery to the cou...

MEPs joint declaration condemns Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs condemn Turkish military intervention in Syria

Sixty MEPs from different political groups in the European Parliament – including Greens/EFA - have come together to co-sign a political declaration that condemns Turkey's military intervention in Syria. They call upon the EU to impose sanctions against Turkey and to tackle the humanita...

Saving lives is not a crime

Mission Lifeline judgement

In the case of Malta against the captain of the private sea rescue boat 'Lifeline', captain Claus-Peter Reisch was today sentenced to a fine of 10,000 euros due to alleged inadequate registration of the vessel.

European Defence Fund boost for the defence industry with no Parliamentary scrutiny

Quote from Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

MEPs have just adopted a €13 billion boost for the defence industry. The new fund will provide arms companies with fresh money from the EU budget as of 2021. The majority of MEPs voted to waiver their parliamentary scrutiny over the design of the programme. The Greens/EFA succeeded in ensuri...

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities - plenary session 15-18 April 2019

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

Back to the future? How the EU can regain relevance in the Western Balkans?

A GREENS/EFA Conference

At the beginning of the current legislative term the Commission communicated that there will be a 5-year enlargement stop. This led to a loss of credibility of the EU's most powerful incentive for the region's transformation. Since then we witnessed more autocracy and foreign influences in the Western Balkan region. Behind this background the conference aims to assess also latest developments and ask "How the EU can regain relevance in the Western Balkans?"

Deal on EU fund a worrying gift to defence industry, but bans funding for killer robots

European Defence Fund

Early this morning, an agreement was reached in trilogue negotiations on the European Defence Fund. The seven year, €13 billion fund will allow for spending on weapons of mass destruction, white phosphorus or depleted uranium ammunition without any Parliamentary scrutiny.

MEPs and activists are blocking the runway of the F-16 airbase to request the withdrawal of US nuclear bombs

Four members of the European Parliament: Michèle Rivasi (France), Tilly Metz (Luxembourg), Molly Scott Cato (United Kingdom) and Thomas Waitz (Austria) and a group of activists of “Agir pour la Paix” entered a Belgian air base  Kleine Brogel. They came in holding banners “Nuclear free zone for Europe” and symbolically blocked runway of the F-16 airbase to request the withdrawal of US nuclear bombs on European soil.