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EFA reaction to waiving immunity of Catalan MEPs

09.03.2021

Press release from EFA MEPs Jordi Solé and Diana Riba

"Ultimately, Catalonia’s future will be determined by the people of Catalonia" - Solé The EFA Group in the European Parliament has responded to the outcome of a vote in the European Parliament to lift the parliamentary immunity of three Catalan MEPs involved in Catalonia...

Call on the European Commission to urgently propose a directive to prevent, respond and end gender-based violence

08.03.2021

An opinion by the Greens/EFA Group

On International Women’s Day, we call on the European Commission to propose a comprehensive and inclusive directive to prevent, respond to and end gender-based violence online and offline.

Greens/EFA rejects the waiver of immunity of three Catalan MEPs

08.03.2021

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament believes that the political conflict in Catalonia and Spain needs to be resolved by political means, and that an important condition for this to succeed is to avoid the continuous judicialization of politics. The Group fully supports the so-called 'Dialogue Table' established between the Catalan and the Spanish governments

Austrian government rejects EU-Mercosur Agreement

08.03.2021

Trade

The Austrian Vice-Chancellor, Werner Kogler, has rejected the signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement, in a letter to Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa. The Austrian government stresses that the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement is in contradiction with the objectives of the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. The Portuguese EU Presidency had announced that it would attempt to complete the ratification of the agreement in the coming months. On Thursday (11 March), the representatives of EU member states will meet to discuss a possible additional protocol on deforestation and climate.

Climate action will bring over one million new jobs

05.03.2021

New study

The new study: The 2030 Climate Target - How more climate action boosts the economy, commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament calculates that there could be over one million new jobs in the renewable energy and e-mobility sectors, if 60% of emissions reduction targets are met. The Greens/EFA group are calling for emissions reductions of 65% by 2030 to meet keep global temperature rises beneath 1.5c of warming. The study comes shortly before the next round of negotiations on the European Climate Law on 12 March.

Achieving 60% emission reductions by 2030

04.03.2021

Assessment of policy options

This study from Cambridge Econometrics analyses impacts of increased climate action in the EU27 using a macroeconomic model. The key questions are: is an increase to a 60% GHG reduction target possible? What could be key policy elements? What would be the economic and employment effects of meeting this target?

Pay Transparency

04.03.2021

Quote from Kira Peter-Hansen MEP

Today, the European Commission has presented its proposal for a directive on pay transparency. The aim of the proposal is to achieve more equal pay between women and men. The proposal for a directive will apply to all employers with more than 250 employees and The Greens/EFA have long demanded transparency on the pay of men and women.

Why the EU urgently needs to act on gender-based violence

04.03.2021

An opinion by MEP Terry Reintke

Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations in the world, claiming thousands of lives every year even before the pandemic. Under COVID-19, it has surged worldwide into a shadow pandemic. It’s time the EU moves from empty words to concrete actions.

Making the EU foreign policy a feminist one

03.03.2021

Practicing what we preach

The principle of gender equality is a core value of the EU, and as such, it should be integrated into all EU policies, both internal and external. For years, a gender perspective has been absent from foreign and security policymaking, hindering an effective EU response to global challenges.

Non-binding recommendations are no incentive for inclusion

03.03.2021

Disability Strategy

Today, the European Commission has announced its strategy for persons with disabilities for the next ten years. The Strategy lacks binding measures and targets and only makes recommendations for European policies for persons with disabilities in the coming years and is part of the European Pillar of Social Rights. On Monday (8 March), MEPs will debate the report on the implementation of equal treatment in employment and occupation in the light of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Fidesz MEPs leave EPP - quote from Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP

03.03.2021

Hungary

Today, the European People's Party grouping of conservative MEPs in the European Parliament have overwhelmingly voted to support rule changes that would make it easier to exclude members from the EPP group. The Fidesz delegation of MEPs from Hungary have declared they will leave the EPP group in the European Parliament.

EU Human Rights Sanctions

02.03.2021

Russia - Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP

EU foreign ministers have agreed to sanction four Russian officials over the jailing of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, which is the first listings on the EU's new Global Human Right's Sanctions Regime.