News

On 8 April 2021, the French National Assembly approved the ‘Molac’ Law: an opposition bill to protect and promote regional languages. With 51% of the French population speaking a different language at home than French, the lack of regional language protection until now may be startling to some. How did Paul Molac and other regional…

Lachlan Muir, SNP The Scottish parliamentary election on 6th May comes at an immensely challenging time – not just for Scotland but for the whole world. The global pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges and the impacts have been felt across every aspect of society and the economy.  The first priority of any government must be…

Dr Stoyko Stoykov is the Co-President of United Macedonian Organisation “Ilinden” PIRIN, a political party representing the Macedonian minority of Bulgaria and member of EFA. The European Union (EU) proudly espouses to build a society in which inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination will prevail. The promotion of freedom, human dignity, equality, rule of law…

Jule Goikoetxea is a is a Basque political philosopher, writer and feminist activist, known for her theoretical and literary works. She is the author of Privatizing Democracy: Global Ideals, European Politics and Basque Territories. Jule was a featured speaker at our International Women’s Day Event, and the article below is a shortened version of her speech.  What is…

The Turkish government, under Erdogan, has moved to ban the Democratic People’s Party (HDP). EFA is extremely concerned with this action and firmly stands beside the HDP, offering our full support.  After years of pressure and attempted repression of Erdogan’s opposition in Turkey, the public prosecutor’s office is attempting to ban the HDP entirely. The…

Following the Joint Declaration on the Conference of the Future of Europe, EFA requested a meeting at the earliest opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to playing a positive role in the Conference and achieving a better European Union in the interests of all its nations and peoples.  Today, 17 March, EFA met with Matta de’…

We are deeply concerned with the European Parliament vote to lift the parliamentary immunity of Catalan MEPs Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí.  The lifting of parliamentary immunity sets a precedent for member states to use the European Parliament as a battleground for their personal grievances, undermining the democratic authority of the European Union…

EFA is concerned by the continuing oppression against the HDP (People’s Democratic Party).  In a recent letter sent to EU representatives and high-level officials from Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, HDP co-chairs, the HDP documents the series of measures taken against them by the government of President Erdoğan.  The internationally binding rulings, including those of…

EFA expresses its concern regarding violations of the ceasefire agreements in Nagorno-Karabakh and continuing breaches of international humanitarian law.  Paragraph 8 of the brokered ceasefire statement signed on November 9th, 2020 states that the “exchange of prisoners of war, hostages, and other detainees as well as the remains of the fatalities shall be carried out”.…

EFA is saddened to hear of the passing of Roelof Falkena, co-founder of the European Free Alliance and member of the Frisian movement.  Roel will be remembered in EFA for being one of the most charismatic and relevant politicians of Fryske Nasjonale Partij (FNP) and of the European Free Alliance. For more than two decades,…