Grief and sorrow

12.12.2018

Attack in Strasbourg

We mourn the deaths following the terrible attack around the Christmas market in Strasbourg. Our deepest sympathy is with the injured, the relatives and friends of the dead. We stand together in solidarity with the victims and all the people of Strasbourg.

Parliament calls for more transparency on the authorisation of pesticides and additives in the food chain

11.12.2018

Food law

Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of greater transparency around the authorisation of pesticides, GMOs and additives in the food chain. "We cannot rely on the industry to judge whether its own products are harmful. We need more scrutiny by independent scientists", declared Bart Staes, Greens/EFA group spokesperson on pesticides

People should not have to risk their lives to seek asylum

11.12.2018

Refugees

The European Parliament voted to set up an EU-level humanitarian visa system for third-country nationals. The proposal would allow asylum seekers to apply for visas and is designed to create a safe channel for those in need of asylum and to reduce the amount of people risking their lives in trying to travel to Europe. The European Commission now has to present a legal proposal

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

11.12.2018

LIVE press conference 11 December 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

Internships in the Greens/EFA Group

11.12.2018

Read the detailed information and conditions

The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament offers internships at its Secretariat in Brussels. These are established to award students or young graduates of universities the possibility to supplement the knowledge, which they acquired during their studies and to familiarise them with the activities of the Greens/EFA group in the EP.

The “innovation principle” is a regulatory Trojan horse from the industry

10.12.2018

How a group of industries with problematic products are trying to weaken the precautionary principle

Few words carry a more positive image than “innovation”: solving humanities’ problems, bringing comfort, relief and fun. So why the hell are the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament opposing the introduction of the so-called “innovation principle” in the Horizon Europe Regulation, which will be setting the terms for the next 160 billion euro EU research funding programme? Because this is in reality an industry stunt to hinder the precautionary principle, and the EU citizens' safety. Here is how.

ECJ ruling on Article 50

10.12.2018

Quote from Alyn Smith

"If the UK chooses to change their minds on Brexit, then revoking Article 50 is an option and the European side should make every effort to welcome the UK back with open arms." commented Alyn Smith Greens/EFA (SNP) MEP and co-litigant on the case.

What's coming up in Parliament

07.12.2018

A look ahead to the December plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

New report: The cost of corruption across the EU

07.12.2018

Corruption

The report on the cost of corruption on citizens' life finds that with the €904 billion a year lost to corruption across the EU we could end world hunger, eliminate malaria, provide basic education, safe water, sanitation, healthcare and electricity and still have money left over (€360 billion). The Greens/EFA group are calling for the EU and its Member States to take a far more proactive stance in the fight against corruption.

The costs of corruption across the European Union

07.12.2018

Report

Using the most recent data and studies available, this document compares the costs of corruption to public investment in education, healthcare, childcare and housing, elderly care, or policing and fire services. The aim is to raise public awareness about the cost of corruption across the EU by giving tangible examples of what this could mean for the average person, and to call for a substantial increase in the fight against corruption by the European Union institutions.

Time for stricter testing around pesticide authorisation

06.12.2018

PEST final report

The final report calls on EU governments and the European Commission to step up environmental and health assessments of pesticides and pesticide active substances, to ensure that no conflicts of interest affect the authorisation procedure and to make risk assessments transparent. The product glyphosate will be tested for cancer risks. MEPs will vote on the final report in the plenary session of the European Parliament in January.

EU-wide class action law suits will hold companies to account

06.12.2018

Consumer rights

Today, the majority of the members of the Legal Affairs Committee today voted in favour of greater consumer protection and for the possibility of EU-wide class action law suits. Representative entities, such as consumer organisations, will be able to bring collective redress before the courts if infringements affect people in several EU countries.