Greens / Efa Priority

Transparency and Democracy

Democratic decisions can't be taken in the dark. Citizens' voices need to be heard. Transparency is needed to ensure equality and to prevent private interests from taking over the political process. The Greens/EFA are leading the way in the fight for more transparency and democracy in the EU and its institutions

Voting box
© Colonel

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...

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Circular economy

Towards a sustainable Single Market focused on consumers

Single Market

The European Parliament voted in favour of the report by Greens/EFA MEP David Cormand which is part of the action plan for the Circular Economy, one of the pillars of the European Green Deal. In particular, it calls for the sustainability and reparability of products, reuse and the development of the collaborative economy sector.

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people sign © Brandon Laufenberg
© Brandon Laufenberg

Milestone for consumer protection

Class action lawsuits

This is a milestone for European consumer protection and an example of the power and influence of the EU law. EU-wide class action will give consumers better means to combat adverse commercial practices. This is a tool for the EU and the member states to improve consumer protection.

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Hemicycle Brussels
Photo European Parliament - Architecte : Association des architectes du CIC : Vanden Bossche sprl, C.R.V. s.a., CDG sprl, Studiegroep D. Bontinck

Plenary Flash 23-26 November 2020

Greens/EFA priorities

During this week plenary session, the European Parliament will debate and vote on tackling homelessness rates in the EU, planned obsolescence, LGBTI equality strategy, new industrial strategy, abortion rights in Poland, pharmaceutical strategy, MFF/Recovery Plan, ...

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Lady Justice Statue - iStock.com/MarkusBeck
Lady Justice Statue - iStock.com/MarkusBeck

Impact of Covid-19 measures on democracy, fundamental rights & rule of law

Quote from Sergey Lagodinsky

The Covid crisis must not be used as an excuse by governments to encroach on peoples' rights and the rule of law. The true test of a democracy is how well it fares in a crisis and this year has shown that some EU governments are all too quick to undermine the rule of law and European values.

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LGBTI strategy photo action
LGBTI strategy photo action

Crucial need to support LGBTI communities and fight discrimination

LGBTI Strategy

Today (12 Nov. 2020), the European Commission has just released the first ever EU LGBTI strategy to fight discrimination of people because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender attributes. For many people in the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual/Transgender and Intersexual) community, discrimination is still an everyday reality.

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Jigsaw and money
Jigsaw and money © alexsl

Long-term budget stronger on climate, biodiversity & rule of law

MFF/Own resources

Negotiators for the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed on a text for the EU's seven year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The Parliament succeeded in gaining an additional €16 billion in top-ups for EU programmes such as EU4health, Horizon, Erasmus and Rights and Values, on top of the €1,074bn MFF and €750bn Recovery Fund EUCO agreement from July.

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Lady Justice Statue - iStock.com/MarkusBeck
Lady Justice Statue - iStock.com/MarkusBeck

Rule of law mechanism deal reached

Quotes from Terry Reintke MEP & Daniel Freund MEP

Negotiators from the European Parliament, Commission and Council have just agreed on a deal on an EU rule of law mechanism. "This mechanism is not as strong as the European Parliament wanted and it will be a challenge, but we can make it work. The Parliament will keep the pressure up to defend the rule of law. " said Greens/EFA opinion rapporteur Terry Reintke

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Circular economy

Anna Cavazzini elected new Chair of IMCO committee

Parliamentary committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee has just voted Greens/EFA MEP Anna Cavazzini as the new Chair, succeeding Petra De Sutter, who moved to the new Belgian government as Deputy Prime Minister.

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European Parliament Building Strasbourg © European Union 2017 - Source : EP
European Parliament Building Strasbourg © European Union 2017 - Source : EP

Greens/EFA plenary session debriefing

4-9 October

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate law, rule of law and fundamental rights mechanism, rule of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the rule of law, reinforcing the youth guarantee, forest strategy, approval of McGuinness and Dombrovskis, fight against money laundering following the FinCEN files.

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Bulgaria: Rule of law report

Quotes from Ska Keller MEP and Daniel Freund MEP

Members of the European Parliament have just voted (Thurs. 8 Oct.) on a report on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, following widespread protests over a series of corruption scandals tied to the country's political elite.

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European court of justice
european court of justice ©katarina_dzurekova (CC BY 2.0)

Hungary and ECJ ruling on Central European University

Quote from Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP

The ECJ has ruled on what should be clear in any European democracy; that measures to limit academic freedom are incompatible with EU law. Forcing out a university is undemocratic, it goes against European values and now it's been ruled as illegal.

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