On this Wednesday, the European Parliament has voted on the EU budget 2017 and the revision of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF). Several Green amendments were adopted by majority. These include a freeze of 20 percent of the budget line, from which ex-Commissioners receive their transitional allowance payments for 3 years. The freeze will only […]
Despite global efforts in fighting tax dodging: ever more money hidden in tax havens
The Greens / EFA group has commissioned a study to look at the amount of wealth hidden by individuals in tax havens. Sarah Godar (HWR Berlin) and Hannes Fauser (FU Berlin) have concluded offshore financial centres seem to be doing fine, despite the financial crisis and the international efforts to increase financial transparency. Wealth from […]
Transparency and integrity in the European Parliament: petition and start of negotiations next week
Conservatives, Social Democrats and Liberals are still blocking more lobby transparency and tougher integrity rules in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, more than 47,000 EU citizens support a petition to call on MEPs to lift the blockade against a reform of lobby transparency and integrity rules. Our petition had initially been launched in German and English. […]
Letter to EU President Tusk on CETA
In an open letter to EU President Donald Tusk, the co-presidents and trade spokespersons of the Greens/EFA Group demand that the decision on signature, conclusion and provisional application of CETA is withdrawn from the agenda of today’s Trade Minister Council meeting in Luxembourg. They argue that the Council lacks the institutional and political legitimacy to […]
Expert consultation: Initiative report on Banking Union 2016
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) of the European Parliament currently works on an initiative report on the state of play in the Banking Union including European banking legislation and supervision. The initiative report of the European Parliament shall contribute to the discussion on the future course in European banking regulation and supervision. The […]
Public Health: MEPs vote to ban the use of mercury in dentistry
Members of the European Parliament’s Environment committee today voted to adapt EU legislation on mercury, to bring it in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury signed in 2013. The new regulation aims to ban mercury in dentistry by December 2022. Green member of the environment committee Bas Eickhout said: “Mercury is a highly toxic substance […]