Tax avoidance/Panama Leaks

EU Parliament must set up inquiry committee

In response to the Panama Leaks revelations, which showed wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes, the Greens have called for an immediate response at EU level. The Greens/EFA group is leading the push for the creation of a European Parliament inquiry...

Jan Albrecht interviews US whistleblower Bill Binney

NSA mass surveillance

Undeclared work

New EU platform must not become debating club

The European Parliament today voted to approve the establishment of a European Platform to prevent undeclared work. The Greens welcomed the new platform, with social policy spokesperson Terry Reintke stating: "Undeclared work is a widespread phenomenon in Europe, which leads to the exploitation...

Trade secrets

New EU rules open the door to abuses by unscrupulous firms

A legislative agreement on new EU rules on the protection of trade secrets was today endorsed by the European Parliament's Legal Affairs committee. The Greens have expressed concern with the law, with Greens/EFA MEP Julia Reda, commenting after the vote: “These new rules on 'trade s...

EU General Data Protection Regulation

The outcome of the negotiations and 10 key points

The new Data Protection Regulation aims at establishing a single level playing field on the ba-sis of high data protection standards, fit for the digital age. As part of the EU’s Digital Single Market it will make it easier for data controllers and users to know what their rights and obligations are and to enforce their rights.

10 steps towards tax justice in Europe

It’s been a year since the Luxleaks scandal. The Greens pushed hard for change and got the European Parliament to support tax transparency. But the fight continues.

EP tax investigation

Special committee must be extended to allow more complete investigation

The European Parliament's special committee investigating tax issues yesterday evening voted on a report, summarising the findings of the investigation so far. While the Greens voted in favour of the report, which contains some ambitious proposals, the group has argued that the investigation is ...

EP tax investigation

Report adopted but special committee must be granted extension to allow more complete investigation

On 26 October, the European Parliament's special committee investigating tax issues voted on a report summarising the findings of the investigation so far. While the Greens voted in favour of the report, which contains some ambitious proposals, we criticise the incomplete nature of the investigation, with member states and corporations refusing to cooperate with Parliament.

Data protection/Facebook

'Safe Harbor' must be immediately suspended by EU Commission

The advocate general of the European Court of Justice today issued his legal opinion on a case concerning the transfer by Facebook of the data of EU citizens to the US under 'Safe Harbor'. The advocate general found that the transfer of private data to the US by Facebook is at odds with EU data prot...

Recent revelations of high-level corruption cases in FIFA

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

 Tabled by Helga Trupel, Ernest Urtasun, Barbara Lochbihler, Igor Soltes on behalf of the Greens/EFA group The European Parliament, –        having regard to the recent corruption scandals which tarnish FIFA, –     ...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 9-12 March 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included Lux Leaks and tax evasion, gender equality, lorry design and road safety, credit card fees; services trade and liberalisation, EU enlargement progress; energy union and Ukraine, transparency and anti-corruption, Russia and Nemtsov's murder; counter-terrorism cooperation with third countries and human rights.

Transparency and anti-corruption

EU rules on whistleblower protection must be prioritised

The European Parliament today adopted a report on the fight against fraud. The report included a clear call on the European Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal on the protection of whistleblowers. After the vote, Green transparency spokesperson Benedek Javor said: "It is high ...