Jordi Solé: #SOTEU - 'Europe must stand by its citizens'

Press release from the EFA Group in the European Parliament

EU has a duty to act when democracy and self-determination is threatened within its borders Speaking in today's State of the Union debate in the European Parliament with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament Jordi Solé...

Jordi Solé elected President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament

Press Release from the EFA Group in the European Parliament

- Jordi Solé replaces Oriol Junqueras and becomes Vice President of Greens/EFA Group Catalan MEP Jordi Solé has today been elected President of the European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament and becomes First Vice President of the Greens/EFA Group. He replaces ...

MEPs denounce reports of political espionage

EFA MEP calls for investigation into phone hacking reports

EFA MEP Diana Riba (ERC) has submitted a written question to the European Commission which denounces the revelations of political espionage against leading Catalan politicians, published this week by the Guardian and El Pais newspapers. The initiative has been supported by about fifteen MEPs from...

Coronavirus / Europe's islands - call for urgent EU intervention

Press Release from EFA MEP François Alfonsi (Corsica)

Europe's islands could face economic collapse as a result of the necessary measures put in place to combat the spread of Coronavirus, and targetted intervention at EU level is needed to prevent this. That is the message that a cross party group of MEPs representing many of Europe's island...

Riba asks Commission and UN to investigate Spanish Supreme Court after threats to public officials

Press Release from EFA MEP Diana Riba (Catalonia)

EFA MEP Diana Riba (ERC) has written to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, following the Spanish Supreme Court's warning that Prison Board officials could be liable for the offense of 'breach of official duty'...

Unprecedented EU response needed to avert worst of virus crisis

COVID-19

We need a coordinated European response like no other to meet the challenge of this global pandemic head-on. We must focus on protecting the most vulnerable; from those at high risk, to the homeless and marginalised, to refugees who have no protection whatsoever from this pandemic in overcrowded camps with very little medical attention

Spain accused of ‘criminalising dissent’

EFA MEPs supporting Catalan academics

Spanish authorities have been accused of ‘criminalising dissent’ after it emerged that supporters of Catalan self-determination are facing legal action and other measures simply for supporting a peaceful referendum. The issue was raised at a meeting of the EU - Catalonia Dialogue Plat...

Focus on Europe’s minorities, national communities and languages

EFA MEPs support new European Parliament Intergroup

A new group has been set up in the European parliament that will be a focal point for discussion on the issues facing Europe’s minorities, national communities and languages. Europe’s rich linguistic, national and regional diversity is one of its greatest strengths, but significant ch...

New MEP makes maiden and valedictory speech in European Parliament

Press release from EFA MEP Heather Anderson (SNP)

Newly elected SNP MEP Heather Anderson has given her maiden speech to the European Parliament – the day before Brexit. The speech was made during a debate on the European Commission’s work programme for 2020 and in the presence of Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the ...

SNP & Plaid Cymru MEPs vote against Brexit withdrawal agreement

Press Release from EFA MEPs Jill Evans (Wales) & Christian Allard (Scotland)

Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru MEPs voted against the UK's withdrawal from the EU at Wednesday's European Parliament session in Brussels. SNP MEPs have campaigned hard to prevent Scotland being dragged out of the EU against its will. Scotland voted heavily to remain in the EU ...