News

EFA calls on the Bulgarian government to ensure respect and recognition for the Macedonian minority in the country and to prevent any attempt of violation or restriction of the freedom of association, such as the announced deregistration of a minority human rights organisation. Several days ago, the Bulgarian prosecution requested the Regional court of Blagoevgrad…

Gender Equality in Politics to Build Real Democracies Today marks International Women’s Day, celebrating advances towards equality worldwide. Despite increasing awareness of gender equality issues and women’s rights, structural sexism, unequal power relations, economic and cultural barriers, as well as psychosocial issues remain deeply-rooted when it comes to the participation of women in politics. Women…

The platform is a cross party forum for MEPs who support dialogue between Spain and Catalonia to resolve the question of Catalan self-determination. During the meeting, which took place this week, Spanish authorities were accused of ‘criminalising dissent’ after it emerged that supporters of Catalan self-determination are facing legal action and other measures simply for…

Today marks the 44th anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the Sahrawi people continue resisting and fighting against an illegal occupation which infringes UN General Assembly Declaration1514, as well as all international law and treaties. The population of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) continues suffering from division between…

EFA President Lorena López Delacalle and Secretary General Jordi Solé have attended the launch of the new platform Autonomie e Ambiente (AeA) last Friday in Udine, the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. The project represents an important opportunity to reinforce regionalism and autonomy in the construction of a new Europeanism out of the Member State framework,…

Within the current scenario in which judicial structures are being used for the persecution of opponents by governments worldwide, the aim of this hearing is to highlight the ‘Lawfare’ concept and phenomenon from a first-hand perspective, from those who have faced (and still do) persecution, those who represent a problem, as well as from the…

A new European Parliament Intergroup has been set up with the support of EFA MEPs François Alfonsi and Tatjana Ždanoka to be a focal point for discussion on the issues facing Europe’s minorities, national communities and languages. Europe’s rich linguistic, national and regional diversity is one of its greatest strengths, but significant challenges that still…

‘The Role of Regions in European Integration: How can Vojvodina help Serbia in its Europeanisation Process’ conference has concluded with a call from EFA and its member party the LSV for the recognition of Vojvodina’s national and historical uniqueness, as well as for the strengthening and the guarantee of its full autonomy. The conference, which…

PRESS RELEASE FROM EFA MEPS JILL EVANS (WALES) & CHRISTIAN ALLARD (SCOTLAND) Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru MEPs voted against the UK’s withdrawal from the EU at Wednesday’s European Parliament session in Brussels. SNP MEPs have campaigned hard to prevent Scotland being dragged out of the EU against its will. Scotland voted heavily to…