European Green Party

Ideology and positions

The European Greens have committed themselves to the basic tenets of Green politics as seen across Western Europe, namely environmental responsibility, climate action, individual freedom, inclusive democracy, diversity, social justice, gender equality, global sustainable development and non-violence.

The European Greens was the first party to form out of various national movements to become a European entity, committed to the integration of Europe. The party aims to amplify the views of member parties by having common policy positions, mutual election manifestos, and cohesive European election campaigns. The European Greens also has networks which brings Green politicians together, such as the Local Councillors Network.

Charter

According to its charter, the European Greens is working towards a just and sustainable transition towards societies "respectful of human rights and built upon the values of environmental responsibility, freedom, justice, diversity and non-violence". The charter's guiding principles provide a framework for the political actions taken by member parties.

The priorities outlined in the charter include protecting human health and wellbeing, maintaining biological diversity, combatting global warming, transitioning to a just and sustainable economy, strengthening inclusive democracies, safeguarding diversity, and ensuring social justice.

History

Green politics in Europe emerged from several grassroots political movements, including the peace movements, the ecology movement and movements for women's rights.

The anti-nuclear movement in Germany first had political expression as Vereinigung Die Grünen, which formed in March 1979, and established itself as a party for the European Parliament in January 1980. Similarly, activists in Britain's Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had formed the Ecology Party in 1975. However, it also brought in ecological movements, which had become active across Western European nations in the 1970s. Environmental groups became especially political after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which strengthened groups such as the Italian Green Party. In the Netherlands, feminists dominated GroenLinks party. Elements of all these national parties would go on to form the European Green Party.

Representatives from these and other parties sat in the European Parliament after the 1984 European Parliament election. The following 11 members of this grouping, which was briefly known as the Rainbow Group, came from parties which went on to be part of the European Greens:

• 1 Agalev MEP and 1 Ecolo MEP from Belgium
• 1 Pacifist Socialist MEP and 1 Radicals MEP from the Netherlands
• 7 Grünen MEPs from Germany The European Green Party itself was officially founded at the 4th Congress of the European Federation of Green Parties on 20–22 February 2004 in Rome. At the convention, 32 Green parties from across Europe joined this new pan-European party. As such, the European Greens became a trans-national party, and the very first European political party.

In the 2004 European Parliament election, member parties won 35 Seats and the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament secured 43 in total.

In the 2009 European Parliament election, even though the European Parliament was reduced in size, the European Greens' member parties won 46 seats, the best result of the Green Parties in 30 years. The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament secured 55 seats in total.

In the 2014 European Parliament election, the Green candidates were José Bové and Ska Keller. These elections marked the first time there were primaries including Spitzenkandidaten at the European elections, which allows Europeans to not only vote for who should represent them in the European Parliament, but also help to decide who should lead the European Commission. In May they presented a common programme including the Green New Deal at the launch of the European Greens' campaign which called for "a new direction of economic policy aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and improving our quality of life". The slogan of the campaign was 'Change Europe, vote Green'. The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament obtained 50 seats in total.

The candidates for the 2019 European Parliament election were Ska Keller and Bas Eickhout, who campaigned for climate protection, a social Europe, more democracy and stronger rule of law. That year, the Greens made the strongest ever showing across Europe, in part due to rising public awareness about climate change and the impact of youth movements for climate. The strongest surge was in Germany as Alliance 90/The Greens replaced the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Germany as the second-strongest party. The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament obtained 74 seats in total. The Greens' results signified a new balance of power as the European People's Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) lost their majority.

By 2023, The Economist analysed that "the policies espoused by environmentalists sit squarely at the centre of today's political agenda".

Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout were elected by the European Greens to be lead candidates for the 2024 European Parliament election. The campaign ran under the slogan "Choose Courage". They were elected by more than 300 delegates at an Extended Congress in Lyon, France in February 2024. The campaign is focused on a Green and Social Deal, and the fight against the rise of the far right in Europe.

At the 2024 Maastricht Debate, organised by Politico and the University of Maastricht, European Green top candidate Bas Eickhout asked directly to Ursula von der Leyen, top candidate of the European People's Party, what her position was towards the far right in Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy. Von der Leyen told the audience that a collaboration with the ECR "depends very much on how the composition of the Parliament is, and who is in what group."

Numerous analyses in European quality media consider this as a win for the Greens and the turning point of the 2024 election campaign. The European Greens criticised heavily that von der Leyen, as incumbent president of the European Commission and lead candidate for the EPP, opened the door to collaboration with the far right.

Organisational structure

The European Green Party is a European political party, constituted out of political parties from European countries. Parties can also become associate members. Members of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament not belonging to a member party can be admitted as a special member with speaking rights but no vote.

The governing bodies of the EGP are the Council and the Committee.

• The Council takes place twice a year and is the main decision-making body of the European Greens and consists of delegates of member parties. During Councils, delegates from European Greens parties set a common political direction, linked to the development of the European project and its values. They do so by debating and vote on resolutions on key issues in Europe. Delegates are allotted based on their most recent European or national election results. Each party has at least two delegates. consists of delegates of member parties. These are allotted on the basis of their most recent European or national election results. Each party has at least two delegates.
• The Committee consists of thirteen members, including two Co-Chairs (one man and one woman), a Secretary General a Treasurer and a representative from FYEG. They are responsible for daily political affairs, execution of the Council's decisions and the activities of the EGP office and staff. Co-Chairs Ciarán Cuffe and Vula Tsetsi, Secretary General Benedetta De Marte, Treasurer Marc Gimenez, Christina Kessler from FYEG and Committee Members Rasmus Nordqvist, Sibylle Steffan, Marina Verronneau, Marieke van Doorninck, Jelena Miloš, Elīna Pinto, Rui Tavares, and Joanna Kamińska were elected at the 39th European Green Party in Dublin, Eire. The EGP has had several Co-Chairs.

Co-chairs of the European Greens

• The Congress is an enlarged meeting of the Council which is convened by the Council at least once every 5 years and hosts more delegates.

Networks

The EGP hosts a collection of networks that have specific special interest focus, including:

• Balkan Network
• Mediterranean Network
• Gender Network
• European Queer Greens
• Local Councillors Networks
• European Green Disability Network
• European Network of Green Seniors

Partnerships

• Federation of Young European Greens
• Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
• Global Greens
• Green European Foundation

Membership

Full members

Associate members

Former members

Individual members

The EGP also includes a number of individual members, although, as most other European parties, it has not sought to develop mass individual membership.

Below is the evolution of individual membership of the EGP since 2019. |arg:cols=year,EGP

Funding

As a registered European political party, the EGP is entitled to European public funding, which it has received continuously since 2004.

Below is the evolution of European public funding received by the EGP. |arg:where=party |arg:eq=EGP |arg:cols=year,maximum_allocated,amount_received

In line with the Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations, the EGP also raises private funds to co-finance its activities. As of 2025, European parties must raise at least 10% of their reimbursable expenditure from private sources, while the rest can be covered using European public funding.

Below is the evolution of contributions and donations received by the EGP. |arg:cols=year,EGP |arg:cols=year,EGP

Electoral standing and political representation

Main article: European Greens election results

The table below shows the results of the Greens in each election to the European Parliament, in terms of seats and votes. It also shows how many European Commissioners the European Greens have, and who led the parliamentary group. It also lists how the Green parliamentary group and supra-national organisations was named and what European parliamentary group they joined.

Current electoral standing

Current political representation in European institutions

Notes

References

References

1. Nordsieck, Wolfram. (2019). "European Union".
2. Tatiana, Rovinskaya. (2015). "Greens in Europe: Incremental Growth". World Economy and International Relations.
3. (2019-05-28). "European elections: triumphant Greens demand more radical climate action". The Guardian.
4. Keating, Joshua. (2019-06-03). "An Answer to Climate Change—and the Far Right". Slate.
5. Heyman, Taylor. (2019-09-17). "Green wave could change the balance of power in European Parliament".
6. "Join Local Councillors Network".
7. (13-14 October 2006). "Charter of the European Greens". European Greens.
8. (2008). "Green identity in a changing Europe". [[Heinrich Böll Stiftung]].
9. Franceschini, Georgio. (2024). "Germany and nuclear weapons in the 21st century: atomic Zeitenwende?". Routledge.
10. (2006). "Green Parties: reflections on the first three decades". Heinrich Böll Foundation North America.
11. "The History of Alliance 90/The Greens {{!}} Heinrich Böll Stiftung".
12. (2013-03-01). "Environmentalism since 1945". Routledge.
13. (2011-07-20). "The big divide: is ideology holding back greens from embracing nuclear power?".
14. Wall, Derek. (1994). "Weaving a Bower Against Endless Night: an illustrated history of the UK Green Party [published March 1994 to mark the 21st anniversary of the party]". Green Party.
15. "Ideas, actors and political practices in the environmental history of Europe {{!}} EHNE".
16. (2011-06-24). "Nuclear Power, No Thanks! The Aftermath of Chernobyl in Italy and the Nuclear Power Referendum of 1987".
17. "The Green Party in the European Parliament – Taking Stock". Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
18. "European Greens Found European Greens – DW – 02/23/2004".
19. (9 May 2023). "About".
20. HENDRICK, Annette. (August 2014). "European Green Party 1981-2009". Etopia.
21. "Bittersweet victories: The European Greens and the elections of 2021 {{!}} Heinrich Böll Stiftung {{!}} Brussels office - European Union".
22. "Home | 2024 European election results | European Union | European Parliament".
23. "Home | 2024 European election results | European Union | European Parliament".
24. (24 February 2014). "Greens present 'Green New Deal' at campaign convention".
25. "Results of the 2014 European elections - European Parliament".
26. (26 May 2019). "Greens surge as parties make strongest ever showing across Europe". The Guardian.
27. (16 April 2019). "Climate change will be key issue in EU elections, poll shows".
28. "The Green Wave: A tsunami or just a storm in a teacup? | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Brussels office - European Union".
29. "Home | 2024 European election results | European Union | European Parliament".
30. "EU election: Surge for Greens, losses for centrist blocs – DW – 05/26/2019".
31. (7 December 2023). "In Europe, green policies rule while green politicians struggle". The Economist.
32. (2024-02-03). "European Greens field Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout as top candidates ('Spitzenkandidaten') for EU elections".
33. (30 April 2024). "Von der Leyen opens the door to Europe's hard right". Politico.
34. (29 April 2024). "Greens lionized by Europe's young voters at EU presidential debate". POLITICO.
35. (24 May 2024). "Scholz defiende que la Comisión Europea no debería contar con apoyo de la extrema derecha el próximo mandato". Infobae.
36. (20 May 2018). "Statutes of the European Green Party".
37. "EGP Rule Book".
38. (2023-05-09). "Committee".
39. (27 September 2023). "Networks".
40. "Adopted Annex B – EGP Membership List – 37th EGP EoCongress, Vienna 3 June 2023". European Green Party.
41. (9 September 2018). "United in diversity? Europarties and their individual members' rights". Routledge.
42. "Audit reports and donations".
43. "Funding from the European Parliament to European political parties per party and per year".
44. "Audit reports and donations".
45. (January 2026). "EPFO - Understanding party funding". European Democracy Consulting Stiftung.
46. "Directory".
47. "Results of the 2014 European elections – European Parliament". results-elections2014.eu.
48. (2023-06-12). "2019 European Parliament election in Portugal". Wikipedia.
49. (2023-08-08). "2022 Portuguese legislative election". Wikipedia.