Reform of the European Citizens' Initiative is a step forward

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras (ERC)

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (Greens/EFA) has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament in favour of reforming the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The vote passed with 535 votes in favour, 90 against and 41 abstentions. Terricabras is spokesperson for the Greens/EFA gro...

MEP demands urgent plan for replacement of EU funds

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru)

Member of the European Parliament for Wales, Jill Evans, has joined calls with a cross-party group of MEPs in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May asking her to urgently bring forward a proposal to replace the funding provided for Wales by the EU. Wales currently benefits from billions of pound...

Trial of Catalan political prisoners

Press release from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé

EFA MEPs from Catalonia have spoken out in the European Parliament this week as the trial gets underway in Madrid of the Catalan political prisoners - government ministers, civil society leaders and former Speaker of the Catalan parliament - for seeking to assert Catalonia's right to self-determ...

Non-compliance with EU rules on railway safety

Press release from EFA MEP Ana Miranda (Galicia)

Galician MEP Ana Miranda has insisted that the opening of infringement procedures against the Spanish state for non-compliance with EU rules on rail safety, announced last Thursday by the European Commission, should have political consequences for former Spanish ministers José Blanco and Ana ...

Leaving the EU will devastate regional development

Press release from EFA MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru)

The worst regional inequality in Europe is between London and Wales, new research has found. The research from the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) also found that the UK would be entitled to €13 billion (in excess of £11 billion) of regional development funding for the...

Calls for swift action on citizens' rights in event of Brexit no-deal

Press release from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP)

As the deadline to reach a Brexit agreement approaches, and with no obvious way forward to reach a deal, Alyn Smith MEP has authored a joint letter to EU leaders calling for swift action to protect the rights of citizens in the event of a chaotic no-deal. The letter, cosigned by twenty-four other...

Parliament approves Terricabras report on Fundamental Rights

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras

The European Parliament has today voted to approve a report prepared by MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras which analyses the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (in 2017). The report, approved by MEPs, calls for "impartial" investigations into the excessive use of police for...

Call for unilateral action to guarantee citizens' rights in Brexit

Press release from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP)

Greens/EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP) has today urged the EU to act unilaterally to guarantee the rights of citizens who have been left in limbo following the UK Government’s botched handling of the Brexit negotiations. Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the SNP MEP said: &ldqu...

EFA Group President comments on Strasbourg attack

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families" - Terricabras

The President of the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament, Josep-Maria Terricabras, has commented on yesterday's fatal attack in Strasbourg. Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP said: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the events in Strasbourg yesterday evening. &...

ECJ ruling on Article 50

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.