Transparency

Time for the EU to protect whistleblowers

What the EU legislation on whistleblower protection should look like

The need to protect whistleblowers is increasingly recognised at both European and national level. In a recent public consultation done by the European Commission, an overwhelming majority of 96% of respondents agreed that we need legally binding minimum standards on whistleblower protection across the EU.

Sad day for Europe

Hungary elections

This result shows how big our responsibility is to defend democracy and fundamental rights everywhere in the European Union. It is true, Orbán secured his majority. But we should not forget that the Orbán government managed to silence opposition media, filled a lot of key positions in official institutions with people close to his party and lead an aggressive campaign driven by fake news when it comes to migration.

Catalan Political prisoners

Press conference with EFA MEP Jordi Solé

EFA MEP Jordi Solé gives an update on the situation in Catalonia at a press conference in the European Parliament, alongside relatives of the political prisoners and exiled politicians, on 26 March 2018.

Grand coalition soft on ethical concerns

Selmayr

"It beggars belief that the conservatives, liberals and socialists could not bring themselves to back criticism of the European Commission’s handling of Martin Selmayr’s appointment," says Bart Staes.

Rule of law must be respected by all EU Member States – regardless of which party is in power

Catalonia

Yesterday afternoon, the Spanish judiciary presented its formal accusations against former members of the Catalan Government. The judge accuses them of rebellion and ordered provisional imprisonement for five of them; adding them to the four that have been already in jail since last Octobe...

European Parliament must conduct negotiations transparently

ECJ ruling

"Citizens have a right to be able to follow and scrutinise the negotiations for the laws that govern them," says Heidi Hautala.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 12-16 March 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Commission ethics and appointment of the Secretary-General Selmayr, glyphosate saga and first meeting for PEST committee; Brexit and guidelines on the framework of future EU-UK relations, new special committee on taxation, protection of investigative journalists in Europe, EU Multiannual Financial Framework and own resources, Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base

Protection of investigative journalists in Europe - Quote from Benedek Jávor

Slovakia

The European Parliament will hold a debate this afternoon (14 March) on the protection of investigative journalists in Europe, following the murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner Martina Kušnírová.

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

13.03.2018

LIVE press conference 13 March 2018 10:30-10:50

Greens/EFA co-presidents Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts present the key issues of the plenary session and of the European agenda for the Greens/EFA group

What's coming up in Parliament

Strasbourg Flash - Plenary session 12-15 March 2018

A look ahead to next week's session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Reaction of the Greens/EFA presidents

Italian elections

"It was always clear that leaving Italy alone to deal with such a disproportionate share of the migration problem was cruel. Now we can see it was also politically short-sighted," comments Greens/EFA president Philippe Lamberts.

Greens/EFA group calls for postponement of budget discharge until Commission answers ethics questions

EU Commission ethics

"With the Commission showing so little regard for transparency and conflicts of interests, we cannot in good faith discharge their budget until they introduce the necessary ethics reforms," says Bart Staes.