Major breakthrough on transparency for MEPs

06.12.2018

Transparency/Lobbying

The Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has voted for the first time for binding lobby transparency for MEPs. MEPs who co-author EU laws will need to publish any meetings they have had with interest representatives that fall under the scope of the EU Transparency Register. The Greens/EFA group have long been calling for much stronger rules around lobbying in the European Parliament, in order to increase the transparency and accountability of decision making.

A new EU law for more transparency in the food chain

06.12.2018

No more dirty secrets in the authorisation procedure for pesticides, GMOs, food additives and novel food!

Democracy and science have in common the fact that they cannot be properly carried out in the dark: both require transparency. The altercation around the reauthorisation of the herbicide glyphosate in 2017 shed an uncomfortable light on the opacity of both the assessment process and the authorisation process of pesticides in the EU. The Commission's imperfect attempt to make the situation better will be debated and voted on next week in the European Parliament, under strong industry lobby pressure.

Hungary: Orban and the end of the freedom of speech

05.12.2018

Media freedom and democracy in Hungary

During the past weeks, we have seen important breaches of democracy in Hungary: a convicted thief, the former prime minister of Macedonia was granted asylum, the Central European University was shut down and will have to move to Vienna, and government mouthpiece media came under the control of one foundation, headed by an ally of Viktor Orbán. The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament call on the Council to react to protect democracy and freedom of speech before the situation deteriorates further.

Our demands for the COP24 negotiations

05.12.2018

UN climate talks in Katowice

This December government leaders will gather in Katowice, Poland for the COP24 climate summit, where all countries of the world, including EU Member States, must commit to put forward higher 2030 climate targets by 2020. To stay below 1.5°C, as indicated in the landmark IPCC report, the EU needs to commit to significantly increase both its long-term and 2030 targets.

EU Member States must show solidarity on the redistribution of refugees

04.12.2018

Common European Asylum Policy

The European Commission has just announced the unravelling of the European asylum package and the postponement of the reform of the Dublin System for the redistribution of asylum seekers, a controversial issue between EU governments, as well as the amendment of the Asylum Procedures Regulation.

Plan to tax tech giants falls flat in the Council

04.12.2018

Digital tax

"The fact that the Finance Ministers cannot come to an agreement on something as important as a digital tax is extremely disappointing," comments Molly Scott Cato, economic affairs spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group.

Reforms too little to avert the next crisis

04.12.2018

Eurozone

Eurozone finance ministers have emerged from an overnight meeting with proposals for reforms of the single currency. The proposals agreed to include a Eurozone budget. However, these reforms do not go far enough to prevent the next crisis, according to the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.

Britain can step back from the brink

04.12.2018

ECJ Opinion on Brexit

"It was always clear that Brexit is a lose-lose game but the legal opinion of the Court of Justice reminds us that it's still possible for the UK to step back from the brink." commented Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group and member of the Brexit Steering Group in the European Parliament.

A social budget for a social Union

03.12.2018

European Social Fund Plus

"We are taking steps towards a more social union. Projects such as promoting jobs for young people and helping the homeless promote social cohesion and need more support. A social budget for the future must have top priority in the budget negotiations. A social Europe can show the value that the European Union can have in people's lives". Jean Lambert, Social Policy spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments.

Closure of CEU a dark day for Hungary and Europe

03.12.2018

Hungary

"So long as the EPP continues to keep Fidesz within their ranks, they are endorsing and supporting Orbán's assault on the rule of law. This was a supposedly a red line for the EPP, now Manfred Weber must clarify how he expects to reconcile the actions of the Hungarian government with Fidesz's role in the group." Judith Sargentini, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary report, comments on the closure of the Central European University in Budapest.

Into the spoon

30.11.2018

Can a business be socially and environmentally responsible while being economically profitable? Into the Spoon is a perfect example of how this can be achieved. Watch this video and get to know some of the people who are making the just and Green transition happen!

European Commission finds Czech PM Babis has conflict of interest

30.11.2018

Andrej Babiš

Several international media outlets are reporting that the European Commission's legal service has concluded that Prime Minister of Czech Republic Andrej Babiš has a conflict of interest between his role as head of the Czech government and his business dealings.