MEPs reject tougher fiscal rules that would ensure more austerity

27.11.2018

Fiscal Compact

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in the European Parliament has rejected a report from the European Commission that would help enshrine austerity policies into law.

Article 50 hearing before ECJ

27.11.2018

Quote from Alyn Smith

A group of Scottish politicians, including Greens/EFA (SNP) Member Alyn Smith, will bring a case to the European Court of Justice on the question as to whether or not Article 50 can be withdrawn once the process of a Member State leaving the EU has started.

Greens/EFA take European Parliament to court over animal welfare conditions

27.11.2018

Animal Transport

The Greens/EFA group is taking the European Parliament to the European Court of Justice for having blocked the setting up of a committee of inquiry into the conditions around animal transport.

Greens/EFA demand debate on medical devices

26.11.2018

Implant files

The "Implant Files", a cross-border investigation by journalists into how medical devices on the EU market, such as pacemakers, artificial hips and contraceptives, which may have caused pain, injury or even death among patients, must be debated by the European Parliament, according to the Greens/EFA group.

Russia/Ukraine -Clashes and capture of Ukrainian ships by Russia

26.11.2018

Quote from Rebecca Harms

The EU and the Member States must be prepared to react to the breach of international law with targeted, tough sanctions and to support and protect Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity, including in the Sea of Azov.

Alleged conflict of interest Czech of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš

21.11.2018

Quote from Bart Staes MEP, Greens/EFA

"It is up to the European Commission, as guardian of the treaties, to look at all the evidence and decide if Babiš has a conflict of interest between his role as Prime Minister and his potential links to Agrofert. It would seriously undermine trust in the European political system if a sitting Prime Minister is negotiating EU funds that could end up in his own pockets."

More EU support for decommissioning the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

21.11.2018

Lithuania/Nuclear decommissioning

Members of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee just voted, by an absolute majority, to support nuclear decommissioning in Lithuania with €780 million, higher than the Commission's proposal of only €552 million.

European Parliament pushes for strong protection for whistleblowers in landmark vote

20.11.2018

The European Parliament took a clear position in favour of strong whistleblower protection, making several essential improvements to the European Commission’s draft legal proposal presented earlier this year. The report, supported by an overwhelming majority in the legal affairs committee, will be the Parliament’s negotiating position

A step towards greater European sovereignty

20.11.2018

International trade/Foreign investment screening

"At a time when European Member States increasingly rely on foreign investment in strategic sectors, it is essential for the EU to acquire information sharing and coordination tools to defend our economic and political sovereignty." Reinhard Bütikofer, Greens/EFA Member of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament, comments on the agreement on exchange of information.

Towards a more social Europe

20.11.2018

Child benefit/EU Employment Agency

There will be no cuts in child benefit for parents whose children live in an EU Member State other than that in which the parents work, according to the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee.

European Parliament calls for the strongest possible protection for whistleblowers

20.11.2018

The Legal Affairs Committee voted in favour

Whistleblowers are the drivers of positive change. They have uncovered tax dodging, data breaches and war crimes, and in the process they have helped to change politics. That's why this proposal is now a good basis with which to protect those who wish to disclose information in the public interest.

This "eurozone budget" will not help avert the next crisis

20.11.2018

The euro

"This proposal is no more than a basic compromise, that does not even come close to solving the basic design flaws of the single currency. Anyone who believes this path will avert future euro crises is deluding him- or herself. ", commented Philippe Lamberts, Greens/EFA co-president and Sven Giegold, economic and financial affairs spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group.