Latest news with #PfE
Budapest Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Gál: Patriots for Europe is leading the fight for a more competitive Europe
Kinga Gál, Head of the Fidesz-Christian Democrats delegation in the EP, said on Tuesday that the Patriots for Europe group, set up a year ago in the European Parliament, is currently leading the fight for a more competitive Europe, including the efforts against illegal migration and the Green Deal. Gál, who is also the first deputy leader of the PfE group, told a joint press conference with Jordan Bardella, the president of the National Rally and chairman of the PfE group, that the formation of the group represented a clear message from voters in last year's EP election that they wanted change and rejected the 'disastrous policies' of the previous European Commission. The Patriots are dedicated to protecting the interests of farmers, businesses and citizens, and reject decisions that go against these interests, she added. She said the Patriots for Europe group was also making efforts to promote the transparency and accountability of EU institutions. Within a short time, the necessary number of signatures had been collected to set up a parliamentary inquiry committee, and the group had also been involved in setting up a new working group to review the financing of NGOs by the EU, she added. Gál announced the launch of a new website to improve the transparency of contracts between the EC and civil organisations at The website offers information on the details of 37,000 contracts representing a total value of 17 billion euros signed between 2019 and 2023, she added.
Euronews
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Patriots look to derail EU climate policy with key parliament file
Key lawmakers from the eurosceptic Patriots for Europe (PfE) group have told Euronews they will seek to use a new power over a key climate file which was confirmed in the European Parliament on Wednesday to derail the EU's climate policy. On Tuesday it was confirmed that the PfE group will lead negotiations on the EU's new climate target to reduce greenhouse emissions by 90% on 1990 levels by 2040, reserving the key role of rapporteur in the Parliament for the file for one of the group's MEPs. On Wednesday an attempt to dilute this power by pushing the file through an emergency procedure which would allow it to be adopted "without a report or on the basis of an oral report by the committee responsible" failed when 379 MEPs voted it down. Wednesday's vote provided confirmation that the third largest group in the Parliament, which has systematically opposed the EU's climate policies, will now be tasked to produce a report and recommend a political line attached to the file. "Now that the vote has dissipated our concerns, we will seek to revise in depth the EU's climate policy, and not just modify on a very small scale some numerical targets," said Fabrice Leggeri, an MEP from the Patriots and France's National Rally. It's not yet clear which PfE MEP will bag the rapporteur role within the Environment committee (ENVI), which will oversee the legislative work, but officials touted that it might be an MEP from France's National Rally, which has a large contingent of lawmakers on the ENVI. The Commission 2024 proposal is aimed at reaffirming the bloc's "determination to tackle climate change" according to the Commission's website, and "shape the path" to climate neutrality, an objective that is at the heart of the EU's Green Deal. Patriots always disliked the Green Deal But far-right parties have lashed out against what they see as the bloc's climate change fanaticism and want to undo recent environmental rules. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called for the immediate suspension of the EU's Green Deal a few months ago. "We have always opposed this [emission reductions] target, which we consider too difficult to reach for European companies and citizens," Italian League MEP Silvia Sardone told Euronews. "We need to discuss the best outcome for the European citizens, which of course is different from the target pushed so far," added Sardone, the PfE's coordinator in the ENVI committee. The attribution of the file to the PfE results from a complex allotment system, which gives the large groups control over important files. The vote on Wednesday triggered a backlash from leftist and centrist MEPs a day before the chamber is set to vote a motion of censure against Ursula Von der Leyen's Commission. Many lambasted the centre-right European People Party for rejecting the emergency procedure and letting the file rest in the hands of the far right. The outcome of the vote on the emergency procedure was indeed another display of the so-called "Venezuela majority", the occasional alliance between EPP and right wing and far right parties to get crucial files through the Parliament. Prior to the vote, the EPP's Jeroen Lenaers had called the chamber to vote down the emergency procedure as "we just want to work on this proposal with the normal proceedings of this house." But the Greens argued that the Patriots' opposition to the EU's Green Deal will complicate negotiations ahead of the COP30 international climate conference in Brazil and before the United Nations deadline for submitting national climate plans. Sardone from Patriots confirmed that the file will not pass committee stage in time for the law to be approved by November, when the COP30 takes place. "The EPP is joining forces with right-wing extremists, making climate change deniers chief negotiators and putting the health, economy and credibility of the EU at risk," said Lena Schilling, an Austrian green MEP. "The heat waves of the past few weeks have claimed over 2,000 lives in the EU. The climate emergency is now, and it requires immediate action. Instead, the unholy alliance of conservatives and right-wing extremists is slowing [it] down."
Budapest Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Fidesz MEPs: Patriots for Europe group has achieved a breakthrough
The ruling Fidesz's EP delegation said on Friday that the European Parliament's Patriots for Europe group has 'achieved a breakthrough' by contributing to the establishment of an EP body tasked with probing 'suspicious contracts' related to the European Union funding of NGOs. The MEPs told MTI that PfE group's members have for months demanded full transparency in connection with the contracts of NGOs funded by the European Commission. 'European citizens have a right to know where their money ends up and for what purpose,' they said. 'Enough of the deceitful games of the Brussels bureaucrats! We will keep going until it becomes clear to everyone that this is about a group of left-wing activists who pursue political activities with billions of euros in funding from Brussels, often against the interests of taxpayers.' Fidesz said this went against the principles of democracy and transparency, vowing that the Patriots would 'uncover the truth'. One of the first important steps in this process was the establishment of an investigative working group, Kinga Gal, the head of the Fidesz delegation in the European Parliament and the first deputy leader of the PfE group, said. They said the PfE group had been the first to highlight through a series of data requests the fact that the EC had signed more than 37,000 contracts with 'so-called civil society groups' worth a total of 2,800 billion forints (EUR 6.9bn) financed from taxpayer money. Many of these organisations, they added, functioned as political activists whose activities included promoting illegal migration and 'forcing green ideology' at the expense of farmers, entrepreneurs and border protection. But a right-wing majority that came together with the help of the PfE group has voted to set up a working group to investigate 'suspicious NGO contracts', thereby preventing 'Brussels's left wing from sweeping the matter under the rug again', the statement said. Fidesz said the Patriots group would continue its fight for transparency by demanding an investigation into the Pfizergate case and other 'abuses by Brussels'.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council bid to back out of housing scheme rejected
A council's bid to back out of a controversial plan to build thousands of new homes across Greater Manchester has been rejected by the government. Councillors in Oldham, which is Labour-led but with no overall control, narrowly voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) housing scheme earlier this year over concerns about building on green belt land. But the government has formally rejected their request, which housing minister Matthew Pennycook said had "no justification". The council's Labour leadership welcomed the move, but Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes said the decision was a "betrayal of democracy". A cross-party group of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and independent councillors had voted for the withdrawal from the scheme in February. The move had to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner because they had already voted to join in 2024. Under the plan drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, more than 11,500 homes would be built on sites in Oldham. In a letter to the council, Pennycook, responding on Rayner's behalf, said he could not approve the withdrawal "based on the information provided". He said: "PfE is an example of authorities doing the right thing – adopting a robust local plan only a year ago, which reflects strong cooperation between authorities. "Taking all of the above into account, and given that your letter does not set out a case for revocation, I see no justification to approve your request." The minister said the government was looking for "universal local plan coverage as quickly as possible" from local authorities across the UK. In Oldham, the PfE scheme will see green belt land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, south of Rosary Road and other locations developed into residential and commercial areas. Oldham Council's deputy Leader Elaine Taylor said: "We're grateful the government have seen through the reckless attempts made by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to put our green belt at risk." Meanwhile Sykes said the rejection was a "betrayal that the people of Oldham Borough will not forget or forgive". He said he feared PfE would see the council "forced to provide more land including green belt for development in the very near future". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Council 'not exiting housing scheme', hints Rayner Council votes to leave controversial housing plan Oldham Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Oldham Council's bid to back out of housing scheme rejected
A council's bid to back out of a controversial plan to build thousands of new homes across Greater Manchester has been rejected by the government. Councillors in Oldham, which is Labour-led but with no overall control, narrowly voted to withdraw from the Places for Everyone (PfE) housing scheme earlier this year over concerns about building on green belt land. But the government has formally rejected their request, which housing minister Matthew Pennycook said had "no justification". The council's Labour leadership welcomed the move, but Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes said the decision was a "betrayal of democracy". A cross-party group of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and independent councillors had voted for the withdrawal from the scheme in February. The move had to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner because they had already voted to join in the plan drawn up by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, more than 11,500 homes would be built on sites in Oldham. 'Reckless' In a letter to the council, Pennycook, responding on Rayner's behalf, said he could not approve the withdrawal "based on the information provided". He said: "PfE is an example of authorities doing the right thing – adopting a robust local plan only a year ago, which reflects strong cooperation between authorities. "Taking all of the above into account, and given that your letter does not set out a case for revocation, I see no justification to approve your request."The minister said the government was looking for "universal local plan coverage as quickly as possible" from local authorities across the Oldham, the PfE scheme will see green belt land in Beal Valley, Bottom Field Farm, Broadbent Moss, south of Coal Pit Lane, south of Rosary Road and other locations developed into residential and commercial Council's deputy Leader Elaine Taylor said: "We're grateful the government have seen through the reckless attempts made by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to put our green belt at risk."Meanwhile Sykes said the rejection was a "betrayal that the people of Oldham Borough will not forget or forgive".He said he feared PfE would see the council "forced to provide more land including green belt for development in the very near future". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
