Commission’s decision to withdraw Anti-Corruption Report Widely Criticised

The European Commission was supposed to publish its second Anti-Corruption Report last year, but after a series of delays it has now been withdrawn and will no longer be published. Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans confirmed to the European Parliament last week that they had decided to scrap the report but promised to MEPs, who have heavily criticised this decision, that corruption is still an important topic.

Attack against civil society stalled until independent Court of Auditors Report

Response to the controversial EPP report

A couple of weeks ago, we sounded the alarm in response to a controversial report, penned by the EPP group in the European Parliament, which attacked NGOs and civil society organisations in a biased and unconvincing manner.

World Press Freedom Day

We can all help to protect press freedom together!

Today, 3rd May, is World Press Freedom Day. A day for celebrating freedom of speech, and for acting to protect those who are struggling, every day, to expose the truth.

World Press Freedom Day 2017

Free press is in danger in more ways than one...

Budget accountability

Checking the spending of public funds

It’s that time of the year again, when the European Parliament reviews the spending of public funds by 52 EU institutions, and formally signs-off on the final accounting, this for time for the year 2015. Every year, there are a number of controversies that emerge, and this year is no different...

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.

Turkish referendum

Reaction of the Greens/EFA group

After a campaign that took place in a climate of intimidation and fear, with outrageous restrictions on freedom of the press, Erdogan is now on track to transform the country into a one-man authoritarian regime. It is now high time for the EU to increase the pressure on Erdogan to end his fight against the free press and the opposition

Commission finally recognises need to revise European Citizens' Initiative

European Citizens' Initiative

Vice-President Timmermans has announced that the European Commission will present proposals to revise the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) later this year. The ECI in force today has so far failed to deliver on its original promise, which is why the Greens/EFA group, civil society and citizens who have tried to use the ECI, Josep-Maria Terricabras responds to the good news.

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 3-6 April 2017

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary included: Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests; One year anniversary of the Panama Papers; Dieselgate: inquiry report and type approval legislation; EU-Syria strategy; Brexit: Article 50 resolution; Money Market Funds; MFF revision; GMO objection; Roaming charges.

Whistleblower protection in Europe

29.03.2017

Greens/EFA roundtable

The need to protect whistleblowers is increasingly recognised at both international and national level, and the EU institutions are pushing forward on the issue:   The European Commission has recently launched a public consultation on the issue of whistleblower protection and...

European Parliament calls for greater transparency and integrity

Constitutional committee backs report

If MEPs are to demand the European Commission be more transparent, they need to do ask the same of themselves, says Sven Giegold.

Parliament calls for improved citizen participation and transparency in report on e-democracy

From the Greens/EFA Transparency and Democracy Campaign

The European Parliament recently adopted a report on e-democracy which makes a series of recommendations on digital tools, citizen participation, and internal party democracy. Since transparency and democracy is one of our key priorities, we tabled a number of amendments to give the report some teeth.