Introduction to EFA Group in the EP
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European Free Alliance Group European Free Alliance Group The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament About us EFA's aims and objectives Every five years people elect their Members of the The EFA Group in the European Parliament works for: European Parliament (MEPs). The European Free Alliance is made up of MEPs from stateless nations, l self-determination for nations and regions regions and minorities. In the 2009 - 2014 term l the decentralisation of decision making EFA MEPs are from Catalunya, Corsica, Flanders, l the protection of human rights Latvia, Scotland and Wales. l a strong, sustainable economy l international solidarity Within the Parliament MEPs work in political groups. EFA members have formed a common group in the European Parliament with the Green Parties since 1999. 2 / The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament A little history The European Free Alliance was formed in Brussels in 1981 as an alliance of like minded political parties. At a meeting in Barcelona in 2004, EFA became one of the first registered European Political Parties, following new EU rules on party registration. EFA member parties represented in the European Parliament have formed a parliamentary group since 1999. EFA also has member parties in the Basque Country, Galicia, Sardinia and elsewhere which have been represented in the European Parliament. Across Europe, EFA member parties are in government in several different countries, regions or stateless nations. For more information on EFA the political party see www.e-f-a.org The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament / 3 Country: Wales Jill Evans (President of the EFA Group) Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales About Jill: Born in the Rhondda in 1959, Jill attended Assembly since 2007 and has succeeded in seeing Aberystwyth University and then worked as a many of its policies implemented. Research Assistant at the Polytechnic of Wales www.plaidcymru.org where she gained her M.Phil. Degree. She worked for the National Federation of Women's Institutes Jill in the European Parliament: in Wales and later for CHILD - The National l President of the EFA Group Infertility Support Network. l Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and of the Jill was a County Councillor for seven years and Delegation for relations with Iraq was elected as Plaid Cymru's Alternate Member of l Substitute Member of the Committee on the Committee of the Regions in 1993. She was Agriculture and Rural Development and of the Chair of Plaid Cymru 1994-96 and was first elected Delegation for relations with the Palestinian to the European Parliament in 1999 - one of the Legislative Council first MEPs in Plaid Cymru's history. l First Vice President of the Greens/EFA Group Jill was re-elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and 2009. She is Vice President of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, party spokesperson Contact: for European and International issues and chair of [email protected] CND Cymru. www.jillevans.net About Plaid Cymru: Office ASP 08H153, European Parliament, Founded in 1925, Plaid Cymru - The Party of rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60, Wales is a left wing nationalist party that advocates 1047 Bruxelles / Brussel Welsh independence within the EU. The party +32 (0)2 28 45103 campaigns for social justice, local democracy, sustainable development and international peace and justice. Plaid Cymru has formed part of the ‘One Wales’ coalition government in the Welsh 4 / The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament / Our Members Country: Flanders Frieda Brepoels (Vice President of the EFA Group) Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie About Frieda: An architect by profession, Frieda has been active in Frieda in the European Parliament: politics for almost 30 years, from local council (in l Vice President of the EFA group Bilzen from 1982-1991 and in Hasselt since 2006), l Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to provincial (as Council Member from 1985-1987 Delegation for Relations with Japan and of the and as Deputy from 1991-1999), Flemish (Member Euromed delegation of the Flemish Council 1987-1991) and federal level l Substitute member of the Subcommittee on (Member of the Federal Parliament from 1987-1991 Human Rights, the Committee on Transport and and 1999-2003). In 2004 she was elected to the Tourism and of the Mashrek delegation European Parliament where she worked mainly on l Member of the ad hoc working group on the environment, public health and civil liberties issues. Middle East Re-elected in June 2009, Frieda joined the European l President EP Section Parliamentary Network for Free Alliance and works in the committees on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament foreign affairs, human rights and transport. l Chair of the MEP group for kidney health, Vice Chair of the Alzheimer Alliance in the About the N-VA: European Parliament The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist party, with roots in the Flemish emancipation movement. The party promotes Contact: inclusive and democratic nationalism and is pro- [email protected] European. The N-VA was created in 2001, as the www.friedabrepoels.eu successor of the People's Union (Volksunie). Currently, the N-VA has representatives in the Office ASP 8H141, European Parliament, Flemish Parliament, as well as members of the Wiertzstraat 60, 1047 Brussel Federal Parliament, the Senate, the Brussels +32 (0)2 28 45862 Parliament and the European Parliament. The N-VA is also part of the Flemish government (2009-2014). N-VA strives for a stronger Flanders as an independent Member State in a stronger Europe. www.n-va.be Our Members / The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament / 5 Country: Scotland Ian Hudghton (Vice President of the EFA Group) (Scottish National Party) About Ian: Ian Hudghton was first elected to the European The party is also represented in the United Parliament in 1998, sitting alongside Winnie Ewing Kingdom Parliament, and has a substantial until her election to the Scottish Parliament. Prior presence at local government level in Scotland. to this he served as one of Scotland's four The Scottish National Party was once again the members of the EU Committee of the Regions. In largest party in Scotland at the 2009 European the 1999 European elections Ian headed the SNP elections. www.snp.org list, and was joined by Professor Neil MacCormick for a very productive five year partnership. Ian in the European Parliament: In 2004 and 2009 Ian once again led the SNP list l Vice President of the EFA Group of candidates. In 2009 the SNP had a highly l Member of the Committee on Fisheries, Committee successful election result, winning more votes than on Regional Development, and the Delegation for any other Party. In July 2009 Ian was elected Vice- relations with Canada President of the European Free Alliance Group. l Substitute Member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and of Following Winnie Ewing’s retirement in September the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint 2005, Ian was elected President of the Scottish Parliamentary Committee National Party, and has been re-elected each year since. Contact: About the SNP: [email protected] The Scottish National Party is a left leaning, pro- www.hudghtonmep.com European, nationalist party that advocates Scotland's independence from the United 8 Old Glamis Road, Kingdom. Formed in 1934, the SNP has been Dundee, DD3 8HP, Scotland represented continuously in the European Tel: +44 (0)1382 903206 Parliament since 1975. The SNP won the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament and went on to form a successful minority government. 6 / The European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament / Our Members Country: Scotland Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party) About Alyn: Born in Glasgow in 1973, Alyn grew up in Scotland The party is also represented in the United and Saudi Arabia, returning to Scotland in 1986. Kingdom Parliament, and has a substantial He attended Leeds University and spent an presence at local government level in Scotland. Erasmus year studying at Heidelberg in Germany. The Scottish National Party was once again the He graduated from Nottingham Law School in largest party in Scotland at the 2009 European 1996. Alyn also gained a Masters degree in elections. www.snp.org European Studies from the College of Europe in Warsaw. After a spell working with Scotland Alyn in the European Parliament: Europa in Brussels, Alyn moved to London where l Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural he qualified as a lawyer with commercial law firm Development, the Special Committee on the Clifford Chance. Financial, Economic and Social Crisis and the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula In 2000 Alyn moved back to Scotland working first l Substitute Member of the Committee on Culture for a legal firm in Edinburgh and from 2002 for and Education, Committee on Constitutional Affairs Richard Lochhead MSP then the SNP Group in the and the Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Scottish Parliament as an adviser on European, Iceland and Norway and to the European Economic Justice and Business policies. Elected to the Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee European Parliament for the first time in 2004, Alyn is Scotland’s youngest MEP. Contact: About the SNP: [email protected] The Scottish National Party is a left leaning, pro- European, nationalist party that advocates Office ASP 08H149, European Parliament, Scotland's independence from the United rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60, Kingdom. Formed in 1934, the SNP has been 1047 Bruxelles / Brussel represented continuously in the European +32 (0)2 28 45187 Parliament since 1975. The SNP won the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament and went on to form a successful minority government.