EU

The theme of this year’s conference was “A Green Scotland in a Green Europe”. For party members this theme promised to deliver a really exciting Conferenc, because next year the Scottish Greens will be facing two major challenges: the Euro elections on 22 May and, even more momentous, the Referendum on Scottish Independence on September 18.

One important step would be to liberalize the EU's visa regime towards Turkey. Merkel has been one of the major opponents of a future Turkish accession to the EU. Without a change in her position - or another German Chancellor - it is hard to imagine progress in EU-Turkey relations.

The European Green Party (EGP) reacted with dismay to David Cameron’s speech this morning, where he outlined his plans to hold an in-out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

"The award is a timely wake-up call both for Europe's citizens but, particularly, for Europe's political leaders,” said  Greens/EFA co-president Dany Cohn-Bendit. “Although the EU is undergoing a deep period of crisis, it is not synonymous with crisis and remains a unique project for peace and unity. The EU is far from perfect, neither internally nor towards the outside, and we should take the Nobel Committee's decision as a challenge and encouragement to continue the European project and overcome national borders and limitations. The award is a call to action to respond to the crises facing Europe and the wider world."

This week all eyes were on the European Parliament as President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso made his annual State of the Union speech to a packed European Parliament. 

The popularity of the Union has also recovered somewhat, with more than half of respondents now claiming that membership was a good thing for their home country, and with 40% holding a positive view of the EU.

A lasting solution, by means of a comprehensive economic and fiscal union, remains elusive. The plans also continue to lack measures to provide for the necessary democratic accountability and notably exclude the European Parliament.

A deal struck at the ongoing EU summit, under which the EU's bail out funds could be used to directly recapitalise banks and purchase sovereign debt, has been welcomed by the Greens.