EFA MEPs: Elections review ignores 'flagrant democratic violations'

Press release from the EFA MEPs in the European Parliament

MEPs have debated and adopted a report taking stock of the 2019 European elections. Whilst the review contains some positive points, such as increased voter turnout and the spitzenkandidaten process, it ignores some of the flagrant democratic violations related to the election, notably with regar...

EFA MEPs: Unacceptable 'censorship' of EP Report on Fundamental Rights

Press release from the EFA Group in the European Parliament

EFA MEPs have described as unacceptable the 'censorship' of the European Parliament's report on fundamental rights in the European Union 2018-2019. The report gives a broad overview of the situation on fundamental rights across the EU, and has been the product of many months of prepar...

Respect for self-determination key to resolving Nagorno Karabakh conflict

EFA MEPs call for immediate ceasefire, de-escalation and talks

EFA MEPs have called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. The European Parliament held a debate on the issue with the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. EFA MEPs Jordi Solé a...

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 ...

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

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 ...

EFA Group welcomes new SNP MEP

Heather Anderson replaces Alyn Smith

The European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament has welcomed new Scottish National Party (SNP) MEP Heather Anderson. Ms Anderson replaces former EFA Group President Alyn Smith who was elected to Westminster at the December UK General Election. The appointment also means that ...

UK Settlement Scheme criticised as 'not fit for purpose'

Press Release from EFA MEP Christian Allard (SNP)

EFA MEP Christian Allard (Scottish National Party) has slammed the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme, describing it as “not fit for purpose” and calling for it to be scrapped. The call came during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on citizens’ rights after Brexit....

Oriol Junqueras elected President of EFA Group in the European Parliament

EFA MEPs elect ERC's Junqueras to succeed Alyn Smith

Catalan MEP Oriol Junqueras has today (Tuesday) been elected President of the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament. He succeeds SNP MEP Alyn Smith who was elected to the UK Parliament at the December UK General Election. The European Free Alliance forms a joint parliamentary...

ECJ rules Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a MEP

Today, European Court of Justice has ruled that our colleague Oriol Junqueras has the right to be a Member of the European Parliament. The Spanish Supreme Court had ruled that Junqueras could not take up his seat after he was elected in the last European elections in May, as he was in pretrial detention for having participated in the organization of a self-determination referendum in Catalonia. The Greens/EFA group have long been calling for a political solution.

Calls for bolder and urgent climate action

Press Release from EFA MEP Aileen McLeod

The European Parliament today voted to declare a climate and environmental emergency in Europe. There were calls for the EU to take the necessary action in cutting greenhouse gasses in order to achieve climate neutrality. The European Parliament resolution was supported by SNP MEP Aileen McLeo...