European Green Party

Green politics emerged from grassroots political movements, such as the environmental, peace, and women's rights movements. They forged the Greens' political priorities: climate change, peace, environment, democracy, social justice and health. Greens emerged as a new political force in the 1970s in several European countries and have been represented in the European Parliament since 1984.[2]

The European Green Party was founded at the 4th Congress of the European Federation of Green Parties on 20–22 February 2004 in Rome, as the evolution of this already existing federation. The foundation of the new party was finalised with the signing of the treaty constituting the party. 32 Green parties from across Europe joined this new pan-European party.[3] The Greens were the first to form a political party at the European level.

The European political party amplifies the political expression 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.[3][4]

The current presence of European Greens member parties in national governments is the highest in history. They are now in government in eight countries in Europe: Austria (The Greens), Belgium (Groen and Ecolo), Bulgaria (Green Movement), Germany (Alliance 90/The Greens), the Republic of Ireland (Green Party), Latvia (The Progressives), Luxembourg (The Greens), Montenegro (United Reform Action) and Scotland (Scottish Greens).

The table below shows the results of the Greens for the six direct elections to the European Parliament, in terms of seats and votes. It also shows how many European Commissioners the European Greens have, 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.[5]

Ulrike Lunacek, ex vice-president of the European Parliament and Michaele Schreyer, the only Green European Commission member so far

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.

Alice Bah Kuhnke, Deputy chairwoman of the Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) group in the European Parliament.

The governing bodies of the EGP are the Council and the Committee.[7]

• 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.[8]
• The Committee consists of nine members, including two Co-Chairs (one man and one woman), a Secretary General and a Treasurer. They are responsible for daily political affairs, execution of the Council's decisions and the activities of the EGP office and staff. Co-Chairs Thomas Waitz and Mélanie Vogel, Secretary General Benedetta De Marte, Treasurer Ute Michel, and Committee Members Vula Tsetsi, Sibylle Steffan, Małgorzata Tracz, Rasmus Nordqvist and Mina Jack Tolu were elected at the 35th European Green Party in Riga, Latvia. The EGP has had several Co-Chairs.

Co-chairs of the European Greens

Mandate	Co-chairs	Member party	Years	Secretary General	Council election
May 2022 –	Mélanie Vogel	EELV	05/2022 – Present	Benedetta De Marte	Riga,  Latvia, November 2022
	Thomas Waitz	Die Grünen	05/2022 – Present
Nov 2019 – May 2022	Evelyne Huytebroeck	Ecolo	11/2019 – 05/2022	Mar Garcia	Tampere,  Finland, November 2019
	Thomas Waitz	Die Grünen	11/2019 – 05/2022
Nov 2015 – Nov 2019	Monica Frassoni	Federazione dei Verdi	11/2015 – 11/2019	Mar Garcia	Lyon,  France, November 2015
	Reinhard Bütikofer	Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen	11/2015 – 11/2019
Nov 2012 – Nov 2015	Monica Frassoni	Federazione dei Verdi	11/2012 – 11/2015	Jacqueline Cremers (until end 2014) Mar Garcia (from January 2015)	Athens,  Greece, November 2012
	Reinhard Bütikofer	Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen	11/2012 – 11/2015
Oct 2009 – Nov 2012	Monica Frassoni	Federazione dei Verdi	10/2009 – 11/2012	Jacqueline Cremers	Malmö,  Sweden, October 2009
	Philippe Lamberts	Ecolo	10/2009 – 11/2012
May 2006 – Oct 2009	Ulrike Lunacek	Die Grünen	05/2006 – 10/2009	Juan Behrend	Helsinki,  Finland, May 2006
	Philippe Lamberts	Ecolo	05/2006 – 10/2009
May 2003 – May 2006	Grazia Francescato	Federazione dei Verdi	05/2003 – 05/2006	Arnold Cassola	Saint Andrews,  Malta, May 2003
	Pekka Haavisto	Vihreä Liitto	05/2003 – 05/2006

• 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

  States with member parties

  States with associate parties

  States with candidate parties

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

The European Greens was the first European political party to form, signalling its commitment to the European project. In its charter, it nevertheless affirms that the political party is working to make the European Union more just, democratic and inclusive.  

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to European Green Party.

• A little group of papers of the European Green Party, is held by the Historical Archives of the European Union.
• Official website