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Unity in diversity - EFA

EFA in the European Parliament

Summary overview of the work of EFA MEPs in the European Parliament 2014 -2019

The European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament is made up of MEPs representing Europe’s stateless nations, regions and minorities. Over the 2014 -2019 Parliamentary term, EFA MEPs have come from Catalonia, Galicia, Latvia, Basque Country, Scotland, Valencia and Wales. ...

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MEP calls for international election observers in EU poll

Press Release from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP)

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has today given an impassioned speech in the European parliament in Strasbourg warning that the Leave campaigns lied and broke the law, and that politicians from the campaign will do so again in the upcoming EU elections. Alyn said: "President, thank you. So as a Scotti...

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'Idiotic Westminster chaos of Brexit'

Press Release from EFA MEP Ian Hudghton (SNP)

The SNP's leader in the European Parliament, Ian Hudghton MEP, has called out the 'idiotic Westminster chaos of Brexit'. As the European Parliament debated recent developments in Brexit this afternoon, Mr Hudghton reminded MEPs that Scotland had voted to remain in the EU. He argued...

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Brexit - 'Leave a light on for Scotland'

Press Release from EFA MEP Alyn Smith (SNP)

SNP Member of the European parliament Alyn Smith has, to warm applause, urged the European Union to "leave a light on" for Scotland to find our way back to the EU if we are removed against our democratic will. The intervention was warmly applauded across the Chamber and by Presidents Tu...

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Tax avoidance

Tough new measures needed to tackle tax avoidance

Press Release by EFA MEP Jordi Solé (ERC)

The European Parliament has backed a report setting out tough new measures to tackle tax avoidance and financial crimes. This is the result of a year-long special committee which was set up to look into the matter, following several recent scandals such as Luxleaks and the Panama papers. Green...

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People together

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...

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European Union

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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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