Gulf between vision and action is far too wide

European Commission proposals on Social Europe

The European Commission has presented its proposals for a European pillar of social rights and work-life balance. This coincides with the publication of a reflection paper in which it sets out its long term vision for a social Europe. For the Greens/EFA group, this may be a first step, but there is still a long way to go.

Greens/EFA sounds the alarm against attacks on civil society and NGOs

It is beyond dispute that there is an increasing trend across the world to undermine democratic principles and shrink the freedoms and liberties that citizens and civil society organisations now enjoy. Hungary, Poland and Romania are recent EU examples of this.

Garment workers remain unsafe four years after Rana Plaza

Blog post by Jean Lambert MEP and Judith Sargentini MEP

Four years on from the Rana Plaza disaster, urgent action is needed to clean up the garment industry, say Green MEPs Jean Lambert and Judith Sargentini.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 13-16 March 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Mercury rules; Gender equality: still a long way to go on equality; Arctic policy; Animal welfare; Firearms control; LuxLeaks appeal verdict; Official controls in the food chain; Shareholders' rights; Conclusions of the European Council/Rome Declaration; Conflict minerals; Fishing sector data collection.

Closing loopholes will improve public safety

Gun control

Improvements to the firearms directive backed by the European Parliament include the prohibition of certain semi-automatic firearms and converted firearms, better measures for deactivation, tracing and storage of weapons, and more information exchange between EU countries.

EU must put rights of children first

Migrant children

The European Commission is due to address the European Parliament today on how to tackle the disappearance of migrant children in Europe. The Greens/EFA group is calling on the Commission and Member States to put the rights of children first, regardless of their migration status.

EU institutions must end exploitation of interns

Ombudsman rules EEAS trainees must receive a fair allowance

The European Ombudsman has delivered her judgement on unpaid internships with the European External Action Service (EEAS). She has recommended that the EEAS pay all of its trainees an appropriate allowance to allow greater access for young people from all backgrounds.

European Ideas Lab

03.02.2017

Greens meet changemakers

During a three-day event, Greens/EFA welcomed more than 300 "changemakers" from around 130 organizations of most European countries. This lab was the opportunity for us to listen, discuss and develop ideas with our guests.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 16-19 January 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: EP Presidency; Greens/EFA candidate for EP Presidency; EP Vice-Presidency; New MEPs joins Greens/EFA Group; Brexit; European Pillar of Social Rights; International Science and Technology Centre; Union Customs Code implementation; Money-laundering blacklist.

Social rights must be foundation of European Union

Press release by EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalunya)

Catalan MEP Jordi Solé has called for social rights to be a cornerstone of the European Union. MEPs in Strasbourg have been debating plans to create a 'European Pillar of Social Rights'. They insist that this must be more than well intentioned words, and call for a law to guaran...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 12-15 December 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: LuxLeaks appeal trial; 4th Railway Package: missed opportunity for progress; New Greens/EFA co-presidents and bureau announced; Commission Statement: rule of law in Poland; Sakharov Prize presentation; Commission Statement: Energy Union Package; Parliament’s rules of Procedure; Commission: Labour mobility package - coordination of social security systems; Revision of the Research fund for Coal and Steel; Council and Commission statements ahead of European Council; European Parliament presidency: Greens/EFA candidate; ETS vote in ENVI.

Commission labour mobility package

Proposals could undermine “social Europe”

The European Commission has today announced its proposals on EU social security coordination.They include plans to tighten the rules for accessing benefits for non-working citizens. For example, EU citizens currently receive unemployment benefits in the country in which they last worked. Under the C...