Minorities

Irish PM calls for dialogue in Catalonia

EFA MEP Jordi Solé asks Ireland's PM about the situation in Catalonia

Ireland's Prime Minister has called for dialogue between the Spanish government and Catalonia following recent elections which saw a pro-independence majority elected. The Taoiseach was in Strasbourg to deliver a keynote speech on the future of Europe to the European Parliament and hold a deb...

Tatjana Ždanoka to stand down as MEP

Press Release from EFA in the European Parliament

Latvian and EFA MEP Tatjana Ždanoka has announced that she intends to stand down as a Member of the European Parliament from March 2018. Ms Ždanoka will then focus on her party's campaign for the Latvian national elections to the Saeima due to be held in October this year. Tatjana Ždano...

MEP delegation to visit Catalan political prisoners

Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

A delegation of seventeen MEPs from different political groups is set to travel to Madrid in the coming weeks to visit the prisons where Catalan political prisoners are being held following the recent referendum and declaration of independence in the Catalan Parliament. Eight members of the legit...

Concerns over situation in Catalonia

Statement from EFA MEPs J-M Terricabras & Jordi Solé (Catalonia)

The European Parliament has this week heard concerns about the situation in Catalonia following the independence referendum held on 1 October. The Spanish authorities are preparing to suspend the democratically elected Catalan government and impose direct rule from Madrid. Two civil society leade...

EU must defend freedom of expression in Spain

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

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras has called upon the European Commission to defend the right to freedom of expression in Spain and to mediate with the Spanish Government in respect of Catalonia's forthcoming referendum on independence. He addressed his remarks directly to European Commissi...

ImagiNation - 100 years of visual political communication on self-determination

28.08.2017

An exhibition by the European Free Alliance

This exhibition invites your ImagiNation to promenade through 100 years of visual political communication on self-determination. The exhibition is at the European Parliament from 28 August (evening) until 1 September.   EFA - ImagiNation poster exhibition It provides an opportunity ...

You don't need to be a Catalan independentist to support the referendum on self-determination

Opinion Article by EFA MEP Jordi Solé, originally published in The Parliament Magazine

It was summer 2010 when many Catalans came to the conclusion that their country no longer belonged in the Spanish state. The Spanish Constitutional Court, after a four year long procedure, was expected to finally issue its ruling on Catalonia's statute of autonomy. This new Catalan home-rule ...

Europe's Languages Charter – 25 years later

25th anniversary of the adoption of the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages

To mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages by the Council of Europe, diverse MEPs intervened in the European Parliament's Strasbourg Plenary session in their own native languages. The MEPs included President of the EFA Group in the ...

Defending the rights of Breton Speakers

EFA Press Release from Jill Evans MEP (Wales)

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans and UDB (Breton Democratic Union), both members of the European Free Alliance (EFA) stand together to defend the rights of four Breton activists who had participated in the struggle against France's 'Labour Law'. Many people in Brittany have fought this law,...

International Romani Day

Green Publication on Countering antigypsyism in Europe

On the occasion of the International Romani Day on the 8th of April, a new publication by Green MEPs has been launched. It raises awareness of the most critical aspects of discrimination against European Roma and contributes to the fight against antigypsyism.

Countering antigypsyism in Europe

A publication by Green MEPs

Although EU institutions and Member States have taken a range of measures to promote the social inclusion of disadvantaged Roma in Europe, there has been no substantial improvement in the situation over the last decade. Many Roma in Europe continue to face poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and violent racism.

MEPs back copyright exceptions on books for people who are blind or visually impaired

Marrakesh Treaty

The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs committee has taken the next step towards ensuring access to published works for people who are blind or visually impaired.