Greens–European Free Alliance

The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) is a political group of the European Parliament composed primarily of green political parties.^[5][6][7]

The Greens/European Free Alliance
European Parliament group
Name	The Greens/European Free Alliance
English abbr.	Greens/EFA[1]
French abbr.	Verts/ALE[2]
Formal name	Parliamentary Group of The Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament
Ideology	Green politics
Political position	Centre-left[3] to left-wing[4]
European parties	European Green Party (majority) Volt Europa (majority) European Free Alliance (minority) European Pirate Party (majority)
From	1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Preceded by	The Green Group European Radical Alliance
Chaired by	Bas Eickhout Terry Reintke
MEP(s)	53 / 720
Website	greens-efa.eu

The group consists of four distinct European political parties, namely the European Green Party (EGP), Volt Europa (Volt), part of the European Free Alliance (EFA) and the European Pirate Party (PPEU).

History

Formed following the 1999 European elections for the 5th European Parliament, the group has generally limited its membership to progressive parties.^[8] These European parties are joined by MEPs from non-aligned national parties, which have included the Dutch Europe Transparent (2004–2009) and the Swedish (2009–2014), German (2014–) and Czech (2019–) Pirate Parties.^[9]

9th European Parliament

On 9 June 2019, following a pan-European vote of party members, Volt Europa chose to join the Greens–European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament.^[10][11]

10th European Parliament

On 19 June 2024, the group elected Bas Eickhout, and re-elected Terry Reintke, as Co-Presidents of the group.^[12] On 25 June, the group elected the members of its bureau.^[13]

MEPs

10th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2024–2029)

Greens–European Free Alliance has MEPs in 17 member states. Dark green indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light green indicates member states sending a single MEP.

State	National party	European party		MEPs[14]
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative		EGP	2 / 20
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	1 / 8
	Green		EGP	1 / 12
Croatia	We can!		EGP	1 / 12
Czech Republic	Czech Pirate Party		PPEU	1 / 21
Denmark	Green Left		EGP	3 / 15
Finland	Green League		EGP	2 / 15
France	The Ecologists		EGP	5 / 81
Germany	Alliance 90/The Greens		EGP	12 / 96
	Volt Germany Volt Deutschland (Volt)		Volt Europa	3 / 96
Italy	Green Europe		EGP	4 / 76
Latvia	The Progressives		EGP	1 / 9
Lithuania	Union of Democrats "For Lithuania"		EGP	1 / 11
Luxembourg	The Greens		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft		EGP	4 / 31
	Volt Netherlands Volt Nederland (Volt)		Volt Europa	2 / 31
Romania	Independent Nicolae Ștefănuță		Independent	1 / 33
Slovenia	Vesna - Green Party		EGP	1 / 9
Spain	Republican Left of Catalonia		EFA	1 / 61
	Galician Nationalist Bloc		EFA	1 / 61
	Catalunya en Comú		EGP associate member	1 / 61
	Més–Compromís		EFA	1 / 61
Sweden	Green Party		EGP	3 / 21
European Union	Total			53 / 720

9th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2019–2024)

Greens–European Free Alliance MEPs 2019-2024. Dark green indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light green indicates member states sending a single MEP.

State	National party	European party		MEPs[15]
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne)		EGP	3 / 19
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	2 / 8
	Green Groen		EGP	1 / 12
Czech Republic	Czech Pirate Party Česká pirátská strana (Piráti)		PPEU	3 / 21
Denmark	Green Left Socialistisk Folkeparti (SF)		EGP	2 / 14
Finland	Green League Vihreä liitto (Vihr)		EGP	3 / 14
France	Europe Ecology – The Greens Europe Écologie Les Verts (EELV)		EGP	10 / 79
	Let's Do Corsica Femu a Corsica (FaC)		EFA individual member	1 / 79
	Breton Democratic Union Unvaniezh Demokratel Breizh (UDB)		EFA	1 / 79
Germany	Alliance 90/The Greens Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Grüne)		EGP	21 / 96
	Ecological Democratic Party Ökologisch-Demokratische Partei (ÖDP)		EFA individual member	1 / 96
	Pirate Party Germany Piratenpartei Deutschland (Piraten)		PPEU	1 / 96
	Volt Germany Volt Deutschland (Volt)		Volt Europa	1 / 96
	Independent Nico Semsrott		Independent	1 / 96
Greece	Kosmos Κόσμος		None	1 / 21
Italy	Territorial Equity Movement Movimento Equità Territoriale (MET)		EFA individual member	1 / 76
	Independents Ignazio Corrao, Rosa D'Amato		Independent	2 / 76
Ireland	Green Party Comhaontas Glas		EGP	2 / 13
Lithuania	Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga (LVŽS)		None	2 / 11
Luxembourg	The Greens Déi Gréng (DG)		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft GroenLinks (GL)		EGP	3 / 29
Poland	Independent Sylwia Spurek		Independent	1 / 52
Portugal	Independent Francisco Guerreiro		Independent	1 / 21
Romania	Independent Nicolae Ștefănuță		Independent	1 / 33
Spain	Republican Left of Catalonia Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)		EFA	2 / 59
	Galician Nationalist Bloc Bloque Nacionalista Galego (BNG)		EFA	1 / 59
Sweden	Green Party Miljöpartiet de gröna (MP)		EGP	3 / 21
European Union	Total			72 / 705

8th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2014–2019)

State	National party	European party		MEPs 2014[16]
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative		EGP	3 / 18
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	1 / 21
	Green		EGP	1 / 21
Croatia	ORaH[B 1]		EGP	1 / 11
Denmark	Socialist People's Party		EGP	1 / 13
Estonia	Indrek Tarand (independent)		Independent[17]	1 / 6
Finland	Green League		EGP	1 / 13
France	Europe Ecology – The Greens[B 2]		EGP	6 / 74
Germany	Alliance '90/The Greens		EGP	11 / 96
	Pirate Party		PPEU	1 / 96
	Ecological Democratic Party		None	1 / 96
Hungary	Politics Can Be Different		EGP	1 / 21
	Dialogue for Hungary		None	1 / 21
Italy	Federation of the Greens		EGP	1 / 73
Latvia	Latvian Russian Union		EFA	1 / 8
Lithuania	Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union		None	1 / 11
Luxembourg	The Greens		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft		EGP	2 / 26
Spain	Republican Left of Catalonia[B 3]		EFA	1 / 54
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens		EGP	1 / 54
	Coalició Compromís		EFA	1 / 54
	New Catalan Left		EFA	1 / 54
Slovenia	Verjamem		None	1 / 8
Sweden	Green Party		EGP	4 / 20
United Kingdom	Green Party of England and Wales		EGP	3 / 73
	Scottish National Party		EFA	2 / 73
	Plaid Cymru – Party of Wales		EFA	1 / 73
European Union	Total			52 / 751

7th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2009–2014)

State	National party	European party		MEPs 2009[18]
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative		EGP	2 / 19
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	2 / 22
	Green		EGP	1 / 22
	New Flemish Alliance[B 4]		EFA	1 / 22
Denmark	Socialist People's Party		EGP	1 / 13
Estonia	Indrek Tarand (independent)		Independent[17]	1 / 6
Finland	Green League		EGP	2 / 13
France	The Greens		EGP	15 / 74
	Party of the Corsican Nation		EFA	1 / 72
Germany	Alliance '90/The Greens		EGP	14 / 99
Greece	Ecologist Greens		EGP	1 / 22
Latvia	Latvian Russian Union		EFA	1 / 9
Luxembourg	The Greens		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft		EGP	3 / 26
Spain	Republican Left of Catalonia[B 3]		EFA	1 / 54
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens		EGP	1 / 54
Sweden	Green Party		EGP	2 / 20
	Pirate Party		PPEU	2 / 20
United Kingdom	Green Party of England and Wales		EGP	2 / 73
	Scottish National Party		EFA	2 / 73
	Plaid Cymru – Party of Wales		EFA	1 / 73
European Union	Total			55 / 751

6th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2004–2009)

State	National party	European party		MEPs 2004
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative		EGP	2 / 19
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	1 / 24
	Green		EGP	1 / 24
Denmark	Socialist People's Party		EGP	1 / 14
Finland	Green League		EGP	1 / 14
France	The Greens		EGP	6 / 78
	Party of the Corsican Nation		EFA	1 / 78
Germany	Alliance '90/The Greens		EGP	13 / 99
Italy	Federation of the Greens		EGP	2 / 78
Latvia	Latvian Russian Union		EFA	1 / 9
Luxembourg	The Greens		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft		EGP	2 / 23
	Europe Transparent		None	2 / 23
Romania	László Tőkés (independent)[B 5]		Independent	1 / 35
Spain	Republican Left of Catalonia[B 3]		EFA	1 / 54
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens		EGP	1 / 54
Sweden	Green Party		EGP	1 / 19
United Kingdom	Green Party of England and Wales		EGP	2 / 78
	Scottish National Party		EFA	2 / 78
	Plaid Cymru – Party of Wales		EFA	1 / 78
European Union	Total			42 / 751

5th European Parliament

Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (1999–2004)

State	National party	European party		MEPs 1999
Austria	The Greens – The Green Alternative		EGP	2 / 21
Belgium	Ecolo		EGP	3 / 25
	Green		EGP	2 / 25
	People's Union		EFA	2 / 25
Denmark	Socialist People's Party		EGP	1 / 16
Finland	Green League		EGP	2 / 15
France	The Greens		EGP	9 / 87
Germany	Alliance '90/The Greens		EGP	7 / 99
Italy	Federation of the Greens		EGP	2 / 87
Ireland	Green Party		EGP	2 / 15
Luxembourg	The Greens		EGP	1 / 6
Netherlands	GreenLeft		EGP	2 / 23
Spain	Eusko Alkartasuna		PNV	1 / 63
	Basque Nationalist Party		PNV	1 / 63
	Andalusian Party		EC	1 / 63
	Galician Nationalist Bloc		EFA	1 / 63
Sweden	Green Party		EGP	2 / 22
United Kingdom	Green Party of England and Wales		EGP	2 / 87
	Scottish National Party		EFA	2 / 87
	Plaid Cymru – Party of Wales		EFA	2 / 87
European Union	Total			48 / 626

1. From 20 April 2016 the MEP Davor Škrlec become independent
2. For 2019 it include Benoît Biteau, an independent politician
3. Until 31 December 2011.
4. From 2004 to 2009 with EPP-ED and from 2014 with ECR
5. Realigned with the EPP since 2009

Group leadership

Presidents

The Greens/EFA group is usually co-chaired by 2 presidents, at least one of them must be a woman.

Co-chairperson		Took office	Left office	Country (Constituency)	Party	Co-chairperson		Took office	Left office	Country (Constituency)	Party
Paul Lannoye		1999	2004	Belgium (French)	Ecolo	Heidi Hautala		1999	2004	Finland	Green League
Daniel Cohn-Bendit		2004	2014	Germany	Alliance 90/ The Greens	Monica Frassoni		2004	2009	Italy (North-West)	Federation of the Greens
						Rebecca Harms		2009	2016	Germany	Alliance 90/ The Greens
Philippe Lamberts		2014	2024	Belgium (French)	Ecolo
						Ska Keller		2016	2022	Germany	Alliance 90/ The Greens
						Terry Reintke		2022	present	Germany	Alliance 90/ The Greens
Bas Eickhout		2024	present	Netherlands	GroenLinks

Bureau

2024–present

Group bureau during the 10th European Parliament.^[13]

Position	Name	National Party	European Party
Co-President	Bas Eickhout	GroenLinks		EGP
Co-President	Terry Reintke	The Greens		EGP
Treasurer and Vice-President	Kira Marie Peter-Hansen	Green Left		EGP
Vice-President	Alice Bah Kuhnke	Green Party		EGP
Vice-President	Marie Toussaint	The Ecologists		EGP
Vice-President	Virginijus Sinkevičius	Union of Democrats		EGP
Vice-President	Ignazio Marino	Green Europe		EGP
Vice-President	Sergey Lagodinsky	The Greens		EGP
President of the EFA delegation	Diana Riba	Republican Left of Catalonia		EFA

European Parliament results

Election year	No. of overall seats won	+/–
1999	48 / 626	48
2004	42 / 732	6
2009	55 / 736	13
2014	50 / 751	5
2019 (pre-Brexit)	74 / 751 [19]	24
2019 (post-Brexit)	69 / 705	5
2024	53 / 720	16

References

1. "Who we are". Archived 18 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Greens-efa.eu. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
2. "Qui sommes-nous ?" Archived 23 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Greens-efa.eu. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
3. "The Greens – The Green Alternative". The Democratic Society. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
4. "Austrian government teeters as Greens seek options to oust PM Kurz". Reuters. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
5. Tapio Raunio (2012). "Political Interests: The European Parliament's Party Groups". In John Peterson; Michael Shackleton (eds.). The Institutions of the European Union. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 978-0-19-957498-8.
6. Andreas Staab (2011). The European Union Explained, Second Edition: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact. Indiana University Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-253-00164-1.
7. Lori Thorlakson (2013). "Federalism and the European Party System". In Alexander H. Trechsel (ed.). Towards a Federal Europe. Taylor & Francis. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-317-99818-1.
8. Gupta, Devashree (April 2008). "Nationalism across borders: transnational nationalist advocacy in the European Union". Comparative European Politics. 6 (1): 61–80. doi:10.1057/palgrave.cep.6110127. S2CID 144152782.
9. "VoteWatch Europe: European Parliament, Council of the EU" Archived 10 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Votewatch.eu. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
10. @EuropeElects (9 June 2019). "EU28: Volt Europa membership vote on..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. Petitjean, Euranet Plus News Agency | Sophie (12 June 2019). "Volt Europa : "We need European solutions to European problems"".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. "GREENS/EFA Group elects Bas Eickhout and Terry Reintke as Co-Presidents". Greens/EFA Group. 19 June 2024.
13. "Greens/EFA Group elects bureau". Greens/EFA. 25 June 2024.
14. "MEPs by Member State and political group". Retrieved 17 July 2024.
15. "MEPs by Member State and political group". Retrieved 9 December 2022.
16. See the 2014 European Parliament election results.
17. "Indrek Tarand". European Parliament. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
18. "List of elected MEPs". Greens-efa.eu. Archived 9 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
19. "2019 Election Results" Archived 27 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Election-Results.eu. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

External links

• Official website Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine