The European Union (EU) plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality across its Member States. With its authority, it can compel Member States to adopt progressive measures aimed at fostering a feminist, free, and equal Europe. One significant avenue through which we have been advocating for the EU to promote gender equality is by leveraging its funding mechanisms. By incorporating gender equality and intersectionality into the distribution of EU funds, resources can be allocated more effectively to support initiatives aimed at advancing women's and LGBTIQ+ rights, both within the EU and internationally. We worked relentlessly for  the first ever EU Directive on violence against women, through which the Union is pushing Member States to take more measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, online and offline. Our feminist MEPs are committed to shape an EU which  works towards holding digital platforms accountable for facilitating hate speech, so-called revenge porn and other forms of gender-based online. We want to secure that new emerging technology, including AI, doesn’t discriminate or set back our rights and freedoms.We were part of making history through the adoption of the Pay Transparency directive, which will force employers to make information about their employers salaries more transparent and establish measures to close  the gendered pay gap in companies. 

Through the Women on Boards Directive we pushed to take the a first step towards achieving more gender balance in company boards, and pushing for more gender equality at the top of corporate 

Furthermore, we are committed to protecting the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community and ensuring that sexual and reproductive health and rights are upheld through legislation and empowering societal change. 

Keywords: gender equality, feminism, social inclusion, human rights, sexual equality, women's empowerment

Reducing carbon emissions in housing is a crucial step in tackling climate change and achieving a just transition to a climate-neutral economy. A transition to a green economy has to include housing renovation, zero-emission transport, and renewable energy production to address both environmental and social challenges.

This is because investing in green housing initiatives, such as energy-efficient renovations, can significantly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions that lead to climate change. We also know that for every 1 million euros invested in energy renovation of buildings, an average of 18 jobs are expected to be created in the EU. This not only helps combat climate change but also addresses social issues by providing quality employment opportunities, particularly for low- and medium-skilled workers. More greener and better jobs also contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities. The green transition is estimated to add up to 2 million new jobs in the EU, emphasising the potential for higher quality and more affordable housing.

We believe that everyone has to have access to basic goods and services for a decent life.

In summary, reducing carbon emissions in housing is therefore a key component of a comprehensive green and social strategy, offering a dual benefit of mitigating climate change and promoting social well-being through job creation, improved housing, and enhanced access to essential services.

Keywords: emissions, housing, home insulation, energy efficiency, energy poverty, climate change

Energy prices are influenced by various factors, including supply and demand, geopolitical events, and technological advancements. As climate change progresses and energy security concerns rise, it is even more important that we transition to a 100% renewable-based economy by 2040. One of the reasons that energy prices have gone up so much is that the main energy multinationals have profited off the crisis and have gambled with the prices of gas and electricity to make themselves richer at the expense of the people.

The transition to renewable energy sources can decrease energy prices for everyone as no fuel needs to be bought and burned to produce energy. This is why we need to speed up the transition by promoting technological advances and scaling up the economy for the renewable energy sector. Additionally, if we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels we are not hit as hard by price fluctuations in the global oil and gas markets.

Only a real shift to renewable energy can contribute to long-term sustainability and stable and reduced energy prices. Now the EU needs to make sure that the path is clear, politically, economically and technologically, to shape the European energy landscape so we can all use clean, affordable and safe energy in our homes.

Keywords: energy prices, energy crisis, energy cost, energy supply, cost of living, fuel bills

The EU safeguards privacy through various measures, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), spearheaded by the Greens/EFA Group, setting a global standard for data protection.

We advocate for technology neutrality, ensuring fair treatment for digital services. We prioritise the public interest over corporate agendas, advocating for ethical design and internet accessibility for all. We champion net neutrality to prevent discrimination in internet traffic and push for fair taxation of big tech companies to fund public services and a ban of facial recognition in public spaces. Moreover, we oppose upload filters and "link taxes" that threaten free expression online.

Our group stresses the importance of lifelong learning to adapt to the changing job market and advocate for strong cybersecurity measures to protect citizens. We promote transparency in government and digital platforms, advocating for open data and privacy by design. Additionally, we advocate for the right to access digital content across borders and oppose geo-blocking to foster cultural diversity in the digital world. Overall, we aim to ensure digital technology serves the interests of individuals and society as a whole, emphasising human accountability and rights in the digital age.

Keywords: privacy, data protection, digital, open data, net neutrality

Ukraine has applied to join the European Union (EU), and is now a candidate country for membership. We strongly support engaging with Ukraine on its path toward EU accession and advocate for its integration into the European Union. We condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine and demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces to uphold Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. 

Additionally, we emphasise the importance of the transition to clean energy to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, thereby supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom. The Group stresses the urgency of making the EU energy independent to stop funding Putin's war in Ukraine. 

Furthermore, we advocate for accelerating the transition to renewable energy to aid Ukraine and reduce fossil fuel dependency. We also highlight the significant number of refugees fleeing Ukraine and support extending temporary protection mechanisms to provide immediate aid to displaced persons. Overall, we view Ukraine's integration into the EU as crucial for promoting peace, independence, and solidarity in the region.

Keywords: war, Ukraine, Russia, Putin, aggression, fossil fuels

If bees were to disappear or become extinct, it would have catastrophic consequences for ecosystems, agriculture, and ultimately human survival. Bees, along with other pollinators, play a vital role in pollinating plants, including 78% of European wild flora and 84% of crops. In other words, they play a crucial role in our food production capacity. Bees pollinate many food plants such as apples, oranges, berries, nuts, and vegetables. Without them, we would suffer a significant reduction in food supply and diversity. 

The decline in wild bee populations is attributed to various factors, including pesticide use, climate change, loss of habitat, and changes in agricultural practices. This decline threatens agriculture, food security, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. We are advocating for stronger protections for pollinators, including a ban on pesticides that are harmful to bees, and a phase-out of synthetic pesticides altogether. We are also promoting more sustainable agricultural practices to save bees and ensure food security.

Keywords: bee, pollinator, biodiversity, pesticides