European Free Alliance
Encyclopedia
The European Free Alliance (EFA) is a European political party
. It consists of various national-level political parties
in Europe
which advocate either full political independence
(statehood
), or some form of devolution
or self-governance
for their country or region. The alliance has generally limited its membership to progressive parties, and therefore, not all European regionalist parties are members of EFA.
The EFA and European Green Party
operate together to form The Greens–European Free Alliance political grouping in the European Parliament
. The EFA's youth wing is the European Free Alliance Youth
(EFAY).
regionalists and separatists have been represented in the European Parliament
. In that election five regionalist parties got seats: the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) of Northern Ireland
, the Scottish National Party
(SNP), the Flemish People's Union
(VU), the Walloon Democratic Front of Francophones
(FDF) and the South Tyrolean People's Party
(SVP). The SNP, although being a social-democratic
party, joined the European Progressive Democrats
, which was led by the Gaullist
Rally for the Republic
, the SDLP the Socialist Group
, VU and FDF the Technical Group of Independents
, which comprised both conservative
and left-wing
MEPs, and the SVP the European People's Party group.
In 1981 several European regionalist parties joined forces to form a pan-European political alliance, called the European Free Alliance. It was not until the 1989 European Parliament election
that the EFA members formed a united group in the European Parliament. Before the regionalists had been seated divided, with the SNP with the Gaullist European Democratic Alliance
, VU, the Valdotanian Union
and the Basque Nationalist Party
(PNV) in the Rainbow Group
, together with green parties, and Batasuna
among the Non-Inscrits
.
In 1989 the regionalists, including EFA members, formed a group also called the Rainbow Group
. It consisted out of three Italian MEPs (for Lega Nord and the Sardinian Action Party
), two Spanish MEPs (for the PNV and the Andalusian Party, PA), one Belgian MEP (for VU), one French MEP (for the Union of the Corsican People
, UPC), one British MEP (for the SNP) and one Irish MEP (Neil Blaney
, independent). They were joined by 4 MEPs from the left-wing Danish Eurosceptic People's Movement against the EU
, while the other regionalist MEPs, including those of the SDLP, the SVP and the Convergence and Union of Catalonia (CiU) refused to join EFA.
In the 1994 European Parliament election
the regionalists lost considerably. Moreover they had suspended the membership of Lega Nord for entering into government with the post-fascist National Alliance
and the PNV chose to join the European People's Party
. The three remaining EFA members in the Parliament (SNP, VU and Canarian Coalition
formed a common group with the Energie Radicale list. This group was called European Radical Alliance
.
Following the 1999 European Parliament election
the EFA members in parliament formed a common European parliamentary group with the European Green Party
called The Greens–European Free Alliance. The EFA supplied ten members: two of the Scottish SNP, two of the Welsh Plaid Cymru
(PC), two of the Flemish VU, one of the Basque PNV, one of Basque Solidarity
(EA), one of the Andalusian PA and one of the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG).
In the 2004 European Parliament election
the EFA was reduced to four MEPs two of the SNP (Ian Hudghton
and Alyn Smith
), one of PC (Jill Evans) and one of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC; Bernat Joan i Mari
, replaced at the mid-term by MEP Mikel Irujo of Basque EA) plus two affiliate members (Tatjana Ždanoka
of For Human Rights in United Latvia
(PCTVL) and László Tőkés
, independent MEP and former member of Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UMDR). The cooperation between EFA and the Greens was continued. In 2004 the EFA formally became a European political party
.
Following the 2008 revision of the EU Regulation that governs European political parties allowing the creation of European foundations affiliated to Europarties, the EFA established in September 2007 its official foundation/think tank
, the Centre Maurits Coppieters (CMC)
In the 2009 European Parliament election
the EFA got six MEPs elected: two from the SNP (Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith), one from the PC (Jill Evans), one from the Party of the Corsican Nation (PNC; François Alfonsi
), one from the ERC (Oriol Junqueras) and Tatjana Ždanoka, individual member of the EFA from Latvia. After the election the New-Flemish Alliance
(N-VA) also joined the EFA. The EFA subgroup thus counts 7 MEPs.
Declaration of 2000 the EFA codified its political principles. The EFA stands for "a Europe of Free Peoples based on the principle of subsidiarity, which believe in solidarity with each other and the peoples of the world."
The EFA sees itself as an alliance of stateless
peoples, which are striving towards independence, autonomy, recognition or that want a proper voice in Europe. It supports European integration on basis of the subsidiarity
-principle. It believes however that Europe should move away from further centralisation. It works towards the formation of a Europe of Regions. It believes that regions should have more power in Europe, for instance participate in the Council of the European Union
, when matters within their competence
are discussed. It also wants to protect the linguistic
and cultural diversity within the European Union.
The EFA stands on the left
of the political spectrum, and in the Brussels declaration it emphasises the protection of human rights
, sustainable development
and social justice
. In 2007 the EFA congress in Bilbao
added several progressive principles to the declaration: including a commitment to fight against racism
, antisemitism, discrimination
, xenophobia
and islamophobia
and a commitment to get full citizenship for migrants, including voting rights.
EFA members are generally progressive parties, although there are some notable exceptions such as the conservative New Flemish Alliance and Bavaria Party
, the Christian democratic ProDG, the centre-right Liga Veneta Repubblica and the far-right South Tyrolean Freedom
.
In the General Assembly every member party has one vote. It is the supreme council of the EFA. Only member parties can participate in the EFA. The EFA also has observers. Before becoming member a party needs to have been observer of the EFA for at least one year. Only one member party per region is allowed. If a second party from a region wants to join the first party needs to agree, these two parties will then form a common delegation with one vote. The EFA also recognizes friends of the EFA, a special status for regionalist parties outside of the European Union.
The Bureau takes care of daily affairs. It is chaired by Eric Defoort
, a member of the New Flemish Alliance. Marta Rovira of the Republican Left of Catalonia is secretary-general, while François Alfonsi
of the Party of the Corsican Nation
is treasurer. The other members of the Bureau are all vice-president: Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru
), Gustave Alirol (Occitan Party
), Fabrizio Comencini
(Liga Veneta Repubblica), Ana Miranda Paz (Galician Nationalist Bloc), Ian Hudghton
(Scottish National Party
), Sybren Posthumus (Frisian National Party
), Sebastian Colio (Basque Solidarity
), Dimitrios Ioannou (Ouranio Toxo/Vinozito
), Rolf Granlund (Future of Åland
), Reinhild Campidell (South Tyrolean Freedom
) and Lucy Collyer (PSM Entesa Nacionalista).
European political party
A European political party, formally a political party at European level, informally a Europarty, is a type of political party organization operating transnationally in Europe and in the institutions of the European Union. They are regulated and funded by the European Union and are usually made up...
. It consists of various national-level political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
which advocate either full political independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
(statehood
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
), or some form of devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
or self-governance
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
for their country or region. The alliance has generally limited its membership to progressive parties, and therefore, not all European regionalist parties are members of EFA.
The EFA and European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
operate together to form The Greens–European Free Alliance political grouping in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The EFA's youth wing is the European Free Alliance Youth
European Free Alliance Youth
European Free Alliance Youth is a youth organisation made up of members who belong to organisations, movements or political parties that safeguard and promote the cultural, linguistic and national diversity of Europe...
(EFAY).
History
Since the 1979 European Parliament electionEuropean Parliament election, 1979
The 1979 European elections were parliamentary elections held across all 9 European Community member states. They were the first European elections to be held, allowing citizens to elect 410 MEPs to the European Parliament, and also the first international election in history.Seats in the...
regionalists and separatists have been represented in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. In that election five regionalist parties got seats: the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP), the Flemish People's Union
People's Union (Belgium)
People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists....
(VU), the Walloon Democratic Front of Francophones
Democratic Front of Francophones
The Francophone Democratic Federalists , is a Francophone political party based in Brussels, Belgium founded on 11 May 1964. Until 1982, the FDF dominated Brussels' municipal politics. It is led by Deputy Olivier Maingain....
(FDF) and the South Tyrolean People's Party
South Tyrolean People's Party
The South Tyrolean People's Party is a regionalist Christian democratic political party active in the Italian province of South Tyrol.Founded in 1945, the SVP represents the German-speaking population of the province, as well as Ladin speakers. Since the first election of the Provincial Council in...
(SVP). The SNP, although being a social-democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
party, joined the European Progressive Democrats
European Progressive Democrats
The Group of European Progressive Democrats was a heterogeneous political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1973 and 1984.-History:...
, which was led by the Gaullist
Gaullism
Gaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
Rally for the Republic
Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
, the SDLP the Socialist Group
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the social-democratic political group in the European Parliament, formed by MEPs of the Party of European Socialists and allied centre-left parties. The group dates its ancestry via various names back to the beginning of the European...
, VU and FDF the Technical Group of Independents
Technical Group of Independents (1979–1984)
The Group for the Technical Coordination and Defence of Independent Groups and Members was a mixed political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1979 and 1984.-History:The Technical Group of Independents was formed in 1979...
, which comprised both conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
MEPs, and the SVP the European People's Party group.
In 1981 several European regionalist parties joined forces to form a pan-European political alliance, called the European Free Alliance. It was not until the 1989 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1989
The 1989 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Community member states in June 1989. It was third European election but the first time that Spain and Portugal voted at the same time as the other members...
that the EFA members formed a united group in the European Parliament. Before the regionalists had been seated divided, with the SNP with the Gaullist European Democratic Alliance
European Democratic Alliance
The European Democratic Alliance was a heterogeneous political group in the European Parliament between 1984 and 1995.-History:Following the 1984 elections, the Group of European Progressive Democrats renamed itself on 24 July 1984 to the Group of the European Democratic Alliance...
, VU, the Valdotanian Union
Valdotanian Union
The Valdotanian Union is a regionalist-centrist Italian political party active in Aosta Valley. Its leaders are Ego Perron, party president, and Augusto Rollandin, President of the Region....
and the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
(PNV) in the Rainbow Group
Rainbow Group (1984–1989)
The Rainbow Group: Federation of the Green Alternative European Links, Agalev-Ecolo, the Danish People's Movement against Membership of the European Community, and the European Free Alliance, in the European Parliament was a Green, far left and Regionalist political group with seats in the...
, together with green parties, and Batasuna
Batasuna
Batasuna was a Basque nationalist political party based mainly in Spain, where it was outlawed in 2003, after a court ruling declared proven that the party was financing ETA with public money. Batasuna is included in the "European Union list of terrorist persons and organizations" as a component...
among the Non-Inscrits
Non-Inscrits
Non-Inscrits are Members of the European Parliament who do not sit in one of the recognized political groups....
.
In 1989 the regionalists, including EFA members, formed a group also called the Rainbow Group
Rainbow Group (1989–1994)
The Rainbow Group in the European Parliament was a regionalist political group with representation in the European Parliament between 1989 and 1994.-History:In 1989 the previous Rainbow Group split...
. It consisted out of three Italian MEPs (for Lega Nord and the Sardinian Action Party
Sardinian Action Party
The Sardinian Action Party is a regionalist social-democratic political party in Sardinia, which has recently sided with The People of Freedom, the largest centre-right party in Italy.-History:...
), two Spanish MEPs (for the PNV and the Andalusian Party, PA), one Belgian MEP (for VU), one French MEP (for the Union of the Corsican People
Union of the Corsican People
The Union of the Corsican People was a political party in Corse, France founded by Max Simeoni on July 4, 1977, which represented the autonomist branch of Corsican nationalism...
, UPC), one British MEP (for the SNP) and one Irish MEP (Neil Blaney
Neil Blaney
Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...
, independent). They were joined by 4 MEPs from the left-wing Danish Eurosceptic People's Movement against the EU
People's Movement against the EU
The People's Movement against the EU is a political association in Denmark against the European Union. It was founded in 1972 as a cross-party campaign platform for a 'no' vote in Denmark's referendum on EEC membership...
, while the other regionalist MEPs, including those of the SDLP, the SVP and the Convergence and Union of Catalonia (CiU) refused to join EFA.
In the 1994 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1994
The 1994 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994.This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall number of seats and a fall in overall turnout to...
the regionalists lost considerably. Moreover they had suspended the membership of Lega Nord for entering into government with the post-fascist National Alliance
National Alliance (Italy)
National Alliance was a conservative political party in Italy.Gianfranco Fini was the leader of the party since its foundation in 1995, however he stepped down in 2008 after being elected to the nominally non-partisan post of President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and was succeeded by...
and the PNV chose to join the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
. The three remaining EFA members in the Parliament (SNP, VU and Canarian Coalition
Canarian Coalition
The Canarian Coalition , abbreviated to CC, is a Canarian nationalist and liberal political party in the Canary Islands of Spain. The party aim is for greater autonomy for the islands, but short of independence. The party has governed the Canary Islands since 1993...
formed a common group with the Energie Radicale list. This group was called European Radical Alliance
European Radical Alliance
The Group of the European Radical Alliance was a heterogeneous political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 1999.-History:...
.
Following the 1999 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 1999
The European Parliament Election, 1999 was a European election for all 626 members of the European Parliament held across the 15 European Union member states on 10, 11 and 13 June 1999. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and Luxembourg, where voting is compulsory and where...
the EFA members in parliament formed a common European parliamentary group with the European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
called The Greens–European Free Alliance. The EFA supplied ten members: two of the Scottish SNP, two of the Welsh Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
(PC), two of the Flemish VU, one of the Basque PNV, one of Basque Solidarity
Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
(EA), one of the Andalusian PA and one of the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG).
In the 2004 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
the EFA was reduced to four MEPs two of the SNP (Ian Hudghton
Ian Hudghton
Ian Stewart Hudghton is a Scottish politician, and has been a Scottish National Party Member of the European Parliament for Scotland since 1998, when he won his seat in a rare European Parliamentary by-election, after the death of sitting SNP MEP Allan Macartney.Since the 2004 European elections,...
and Alyn Smith
Alyn Smith
Alyn Smith is a Scottish politician, and Scottish National Party Member of the European Parliament for Scotland.He is also the SNP's agricultural spokesman.-Early life and career:...
), one of PC (Jill Evans) and one of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC; Bernat Joan i Mari
Bernat Joan i Mari
Bernat Joan i Marí is a Spanish politician andMember of the European Parliament with the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya,part of the European Free Alliance and sits on...
, replaced at the mid-term by MEP Mikel Irujo of Basque EA) plus two affiliate members (Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
of For Human Rights in United Latvia
For Human Rights in United Latvia
For Human Rights in United Latvia is a left-wing political party in Latvia, supported mainly by ethnic Russians and other non-Latvian minorities. Co-chairpersons of its Ruling Board are Tatjana Ždanoka, Jakovs Pliners and Miroslav Mitrofanov....
(PCTVL) and László Tőkés
László Tokés
László Tőkés is a Romanian politician of Hungarian ethnicity, currently serving as a Member of the European Parliament and Vice President of the European Parliament ....
, independent MEP and former member of Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UMDR). The cooperation between EFA and the Greens was continued. In 2004 the EFA formally became a European political party
European political party
A European political party, formally a political party at European level, informally a Europarty, is a type of political party organization operating transnationally in Europe and in the institutions of the European Union. They are regulated and funded by the European Union and are usually made up...
.
Following the 2008 revision of the EU Regulation that governs European political parties allowing the creation of European foundations affiliated to Europarties, the EFA established in September 2007 its official foundation/think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, the Centre Maurits Coppieters (CMC)
In the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
the EFA got six MEPs elected: two from the SNP (Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith), one from the PC (Jill Evans), one from the Party of the Corsican Nation (PNC; François Alfonsi
François Alfonsi
François Alfonsi is a French politician, Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the South-East France constituency and Mayor of Osani....
), one from the ERC (Oriol Junqueras) and Tatjana Ždanoka, individual member of the EFA from Latvia. After the election the New-Flemish Alliance
New-Flemish Alliance
' is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism...
(N-VA) also joined the EFA. The EFA subgroup thus counts 7 MEPs.
Ideology
In the BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
Declaration of 2000 the EFA codified its political principles. The EFA stands for "a Europe of Free Peoples based on the principle of subsidiarity, which believe in solidarity with each other and the peoples of the world."
The EFA sees itself as an alliance of stateless
Statelessness
Statelessness is a legal concept describing the lack of any nationality. It is the absence of a recognized link between an individual and any state....
peoples, which are striving towards independence, autonomy, recognition or that want a proper voice in Europe. It supports European integration on basis of the subsidiarity
Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. The Oxford English Dictionary defines subsidiarity as the idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which...
-principle. It believes however that Europe should move away from further centralisation. It works towards the formation of a Europe of Regions. It believes that regions should have more power in Europe, for instance participate in the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
, when matters within their competence
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
are discussed. It also wants to protect the linguistic
Languages of the European Union
The languages of the European Union are languages used by people within the member states of the European Union. They include the twenty-three official languages of the European Union along with a range of others...
and cultural diversity within the European Union.
The EFA stands on the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
of the political spectrum, and in the Brussels declaration it emphasises the protection of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. In 2007 the EFA congress in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
added several progressive principles to the declaration: including a commitment to fight against racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, antisemitism, discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
, xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
and islamophobia
Islamophobia
Islamophobia describes prejudice against, hatred or irrational fear of Islam or MuslimsThe term dates back to the late 1980s or early 1990s, but came into common usage after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States....
and a commitment to get full citizenship for migrants, including voting rights.
EFA members are generally progressive parties, although there are some notable exceptions such as the conservative New Flemish Alliance and Bavaria Party
Bavaria Party
The Bavaria Party is a separatist political party in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany. It was founded in 1946 and describes itself as patriotic Bavarian, advocating Bavarian independence within the European Union...
, the Christian democratic ProDG, the centre-right Liga Veneta Repubblica and the far-right South Tyrolean Freedom
South Tyrolean Freedom
The South Tyrolean Freedom is a separatist German-speaking political party active in South Tyrol committed to the reunification of South Tyrol with the state of Tyrol within Austria....
.
Organization
The main organs of the EFA organization are the General Assembly, the Bureau and the Secretariat.In the General Assembly every member party has one vote. It is the supreme council of the EFA. Only member parties can participate in the EFA. The EFA also has observers. Before becoming member a party needs to have been observer of the EFA for at least one year. Only one member party per region is allowed. If a second party from a region wants to join the first party needs to agree, these two parties will then form a common delegation with one vote. The EFA also recognizes friends of the EFA, a special status for regionalist parties outside of the European Union.
The Bureau takes care of daily affairs. It is chaired by Eric Defoort
Eric Defoort
Eric Defoort is a Flemish politician and president of the European Free Alliance.In the past two years , Prof. Dr. Eric Defoort was the president of the Flemish Popular Movement , a non-party linked movement advocating Flemish autonomy...
, a member of the New Flemish Alliance. Marta Rovira of the Republican Left of Catalonia is secretary-general, while François Alfonsi
François Alfonsi
François Alfonsi is a French politician, Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the South-East France constituency and Mayor of Osani....
of the Party of the Corsican Nation
Partitu di a Nazione Corsa
The Party of the Corsican Nation is a political party seeking autonomy for Corsica. It was founded in Corte in 2002 by members of three nationalist parties, Union of the Corsican People , A Scelta Nova and A Mossa Naziunale....
is treasurer. The other members of the Bureau are all vice-president: Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
), Gustave Alirol (Occitan Party
Partit Occitan
The Occitan Party is a political party in France. Its aims include greater autonomy for the Occitania region of southern France. The Occitan Party was formed in Toulouse in 1987 through the union of different occitanist movements , of candidates to the 1986 regional elections a d of various...
), Fabrizio Comencini
Fabrizio Comencini
Fabrizio Comencini is a Venetist politician.Comencini started his political career in the Italian Social Movement , for which he was elected to the Regional Council of Veneto in 1985 and 1990. In the early 1990s, during his second term as regional councillor, he switched to Liga Veneta–Lega Nord...
(Liga Veneta Repubblica), Ana Miranda Paz (Galician Nationalist Bloc), Ian Hudghton
Ian Hudghton
Ian Stewart Hudghton is a Scottish politician, and has been a Scottish National Party Member of the European Parliament for Scotland since 1998, when he won his seat in a rare European Parliamentary by-election, after the death of sitting SNP MEP Allan Macartney.Since the 2004 European elections,...
(Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
), Sybren Posthumus (Frisian National Party
Frisian National Party
The Frisian National Party is a Frisian nationalist political party in the Netherlands. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics...
), Sebastian Colio (Basque Solidarity
Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
), Dimitrios Ioannou (Ouranio Toxo/Vinozito
Rainbow (political party)
The Rainbow is a political party in Greece, and a member of the European Free Alliance. It is known for its activism amongst what it regards as the Ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece and their descendants abroad...
), Rolf Granlund (Future of Åland
Future of Åland
The Future of Åland is a separatist political party in the Åland Islands. The goal of the party is to make Åland an independent state....
), Reinhild Campidell (South Tyrolean Freedom
South Tyrolean Freedom
The South Tyrolean Freedom is a separatist German-speaking political party active in South Tyrol committed to the reunification of South Tyrol with the state of Tyrol within Austria....
) and Lucy Collyer (PSM Entesa Nacionalista).
Members
| Current state(s) | Party | Seeking to represent |
Joined (Observer/Member) |
MEPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Unity List |  Carinthian SlovenesCarinthian Slovenes Carinthian Slovenes are the Slovene-speaking population group in the Austrian State of Carinthia. The Carinthian Slovenes send representatives to the National Ethnic Groups Advisory Council... |
2005/2006 | 0 |
 Belgium |
Social Liberal Party(a) |  Flanders |
2001 | 0 |
| Belgium |
New Flemish Alliance | Flanders |
2010 | 1 |
| Belgium |
ProDG | German-speaking Belgians German-speaking Community of Belgium The German-speaking Community of Belgium is one of the three federal communities of Belgium. Covering an area of 854 km² within the province of Liège in Wallonia, it includes nine of the eleven municipalities of the so-called East Cantons... |
2009/2011 | 0 |
 Kingdom of Bulgaria |
United Macedonian Organization Ilinden–Pirin | ethnic Macedonians Macedonians (ethnic group) The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness... |
2006/2007 | 0 |
 Czech Republic |
Moravané Moravané Moravané is a small non-parliamentary political party in Moravia in the Czech Republic.-History:It arose in 2005 by the coalescence of older two regional parties: Hnutí samosprávné Moravy a Slezska – Moravské národní sjednocení and Moravská demokratická strana Moravané ("Moravians") is a small... |
 Moravia |
2006 | 0 |
 Independent State of Croatia |
List for Fiume |  Free State of Fiume |
2009/2010 | 0 |
 Finland |
Future of Åland Future of Åland The Future of Åland is a separatist political party in the Åland Islands. The goal of the party is to make Åland an independent state.... |
 Åland Islands |
2005/2006 | 0 |
 Early Modern France |
Savoyard League Savoyard League The Savoyan League is a French regionalist political party based in Savoy.The party supports the independence of Savoy from France. The two departments of Savoy, named Savoie and Haute-Savoie have belonged to France since the Treaty of Turin in 1860... |
 SavoieSavoie Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860... |
1999/2000 | 0 |
| Early Modern France |
Savoy Region Movement | Savoie Savoie Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860... |
1991 | 0 |
| Early Modern France |
Occitan Party |  Occitania |
1982 | 0 |
| Early Modern France |
Party of the Corsican Nation |  Corsica |
1981 | 1 |
| Early Modern France |
Breton Democratic Union Union Démocratique Bretonne The Breton Democratic Union is the main autonomist and regionalist party in Brittany and Loire-Atlantique. It advocates devolution for Brittany as well as the promotion of the Breton language and its associated culture.... |
 Bretagne |
1987 | 0 |
| Early Modern France |
Unser Land |  Alsace |
1991 | 0 |
| Early Modern France |
Catalan Unity Catalan Unity Catalan Unity is an independence party based in southern France. It represents the Catalan minority in Northern Catalonia.-See also:*Republican Left of Catalonia*... |
 Northern CataloniaNorthern Catalonia Northern Catalonia is a term that is sometimes used, particularly in Catalan writings, to refer to the territory ceded to France by Spain through the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659... |
1991 | 0 |
 Germany |
Bavaria Party Bavaria Party The Bavaria Party is a separatist political party in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany. It was founded in 1946 and describes itself as patriotic Bavarian, advocating Bavarian independence within the European Union... |
 Kingdom of Bavaria |
2007/2008 | 0 |
| Germany |
The Friesen The Friesen The Friesen is a regionalist political party in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, seeking to promote the interests of the Frisian ethnic group.... |
East Frisia East Frisia East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony.... |
2008/2009 | 0 |
| Germany |
South Schleswig Voter Federation South Schleswig Voter Federation The South Schleswig Voter Federation is a regional political party in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany... |
 Danes, North FrisiaNorth Frisia North Frisia or Northern Friesland is the northernmost portion of Frisia, located primarily in Germany between the rivers Eider and Wiedau/Vidå. It includes a number of islands, e.g., Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Nordstrand, and Heligoland.-History:... ns |
2009/2010 | 0 |
 Greece |
Rainbow Rainbow (political party) The Rainbow is a political party in Greece, and a member of the European Free Alliance. It is known for its activism amongst what it regards as the Ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece and their descendants abroad... |
ethnic Macedonians Macedonians (ethnic group) The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness... |
1999/2000 | 0 |
 Italy |
South Tyrolean Freedom South Tyrolean Freedom The South Tyrolean Freedom is a separatist German-speaking political party active in South Tyrol committed to the reunification of South Tyrol with the state of Tyrol within Austria.... |
 South Tyrol |
2009 | 0 |
| Italy |
Liga Veneta Repubblica |  Veneto |
1999/2000 | 0 |
| Italy |
Sardinian Action Party Sardinian Action Party The Sardinian Action Party is a regionalist social-democratic political party in Sardinia, which has recently sided with The People of Freedom, the largest centre-right party in Italy.-History:... |
 Kingdom of Sardinia |
1984 | 0 |
| Italy |
Slovene Union Slovene Union The Slovene Union is a centrist Italian political party representing the Slovene minority in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Its name in Slovene means literally "The Slovene Community", but the denomination "Slovene Union" is used in other languages.... |
Slovenes |
1991 | 0 |
| Italy |
Autonomy Liberty Participation Ecology Autonomy Liberty Participation Ecology Autonomy Liberty Participation Ecology is a regionalist political party active in Aosta Valley, whose progressive ideology mixes elements of social democracy, green politics and social liberalism... |
 Aosta Valley |
2007/2011 | 0 |
 Latvia |
For Human Rights in United Latvia For Human Rights in United Latvia For Human Rights in United Latvia is a left-wing political party in Latvia, supported mainly by ethnic Russians and other non-Latvian minorities. Co-chairpersons of its Ruling Board are Tatjana Ždanoka, Jakovs Pliners and Miroslav Mitrofanov.... |
 Baltic RussiansBaltic Russians The term Baltic Russians is usually used to refer to the Russian-speaking communities in the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.The term "Baltic Russians" does not imply a separate ethnic subcategory among the Russians. It came into use in the context of discussions of their fate after... , Latgalians Latgalians (modern) This article is about modern ethnic group of Latvians inhabiting or coming from Latgalia. For ancient Baltic people see Latgalians.In Latvian, latgalieši refers to the ethnic Latvians of Latgalia, which has been developing separately from the rest of ethnic Latvia until 1917.In Latgalian language,... |
2010 | 1 |
 Netherlands |
Frisian National Party Frisian National Party The Frisian National Party is a Frisian nationalist political party in the Netherlands. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics... |
 Friesland |
1981 | 0 |
 Poland |
Silesian Autonomy Movement Silesian Autonomy Movement The Silesian Autonomy Movement is a movement officially declaring its support for the autonomy of Silesia as part of a unified Europe. The association was founded in January 1990 by Rudolf Kołodziejczyk and is based in the Polish part of Upper Silesia... |
Upper Silesia Upper Silesia Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of... |
2002/2003 | 0 |
 Slovakia |
Party of Regions of Slovakia | Prešov Prešov Prešov Historically, the city has been known in German as Eperies , Eperjes in Hungarian, Fragopolis in Latin, Preszów in Polish, Peryeshis in Romany, Пряшев in Russian and Пряшів in Rusyn and Ukrainian.-Characteristics:The city is a showcase of Baroque, Rococo and Gothic... and Košice Košice Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary... |
2008/2009 | 0 |
 Spain |
Galician Nationalist Bloc |  Galicia (Iberian peninsula) |
1994/2000 | 0 |
| Spain |
Aragonese Junta |  Aragon |
2003/2004 | 0 |
| Spain |
Majorca Socialist Party Majorca Socialist Party The Majorca Socialist Party is a political party in Majorca, Spain. The PSM defines itself as socialist, environmentalist, and Catalan nationalist, from a Majorcan point of view.... |
 Balearic Islands |
2000/2008 | 0 |
| Spain / Early Modern France |
Republican Left of Catalonia | Catalan Countries |
1989 | 1 |
| Spain / Early Modern France |
Basque Solidarity Eusko Alkartasuna Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party... |
 Basque Country |
|1986 | 0 |
| Spain |
Andalusian Party |  Andalusia |
1999 | 0 |
 United Kingdom |
Mebyon Kernow Mebyon Kernow Mebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists... |
 Cornwall |
2003 | 0 |
| United Kingdom |
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966... |
 Wales |
1983 | 1 |
| United Kingdom |
Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
 Kingdom of Scotland |
1989 | 2 |
- (a) Merged into Groen! in December 2009. On the local level S-LP still has elected members who remain active under that name until 2012 when the next local elections will take place.
Observer members
| Current state(s) | Party | Seeking to represent |
Joined | MEPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany |
Wendish People's Party | Sorbs Sorbs Sorbs are a Western Slavic people of Central Europe living predominantly in Lusatia, a region on the territory of Germany and Poland. In Germany they live in the states of Brandenburg and Saxony. They speak the Sorbian languages - closely related to Polish and Czech - officially recognized and... , Lusatia Lusatia Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland... |
2009 | 0 |
| Denmark |
Schleswig Party | German Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
2011 | 0 |
| Italy |
Movement for the Independence of Sicily Movement for the Independence of Sicily The Movement for the Independence of Sicily is a separatist movement, with the goal to obtain independence of the island from Italy... |
 Sicily |
2009 | 0 |
 Hungary |
Renewed Roma Union Party of Hungary | Roma in Hungary Roma minority of Hungary Hungarian Roma, also known as Romani Hungarians, are Hungarian citizens or resident aliens in Hungary of Roma descent. They comprise between 2% and 6-11% of the total population... |
2009 | 0 |
Former members
| Current state(s) | Party | Seeking to represent |
Joined (Observer/Member) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium |
Party of German-speaking Belgians Party of German-speaking Belgians ProDG , is a political party active in the German-speaking community of Belgium. The party groups politicians from the previous PDB and PJU parties. The party was formed in 2008 and figured on the voting bulletins at first in 2009... |
German-speaking Belgians German-speaking Community of Belgium The German-speaking Community of Belgium is one of the three federal communities of Belgium. Covering an area of 854 km² within the province of Liège in Wallonia, it includes nine of the eleven municipalities of the so-called East Cantons... |
1981 | Ceased activity in 2009 |
| Belgium |
People's Union People's Union (Belgium) People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists.... |
Flanders |
1981 | re-emerged in 2001, and finally split into the New-Flemish Alliance New-Flemish Alliance ' is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism... and SPIRIT |
| Italy |
Lega Nord |  Padania |
Suspended in 1994, left in 1996 (joined ELDR until 1997 then independent) | |
| Spain / Early Modern France |
Basque Nationalist Party Basque Nationalist Party The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country... |
Basque Country |
| | Left in 2004 (joined the European Democratic Party European Democratic Party The European Democratic Party is a centrist European political party in favour of European integration. It was initiated on April 16, 2004 and formally founded on December 9 in Brussels... ) |
| Italy |
Valdotanian Union Valdotanian Union The Valdotanian Union is a regionalist-centrist Italian political party active in Aosta Valley. Its leaders are Ego Perron, party president, and Augusto Rollandin, President of the Region.... |
Aosta Valley |
Expelled in 2007 after lack of activity in EFA structures | |
| Italy |
Union for South Tyrol | South Tyrol |
Expelled in 2008 over its opposition to the Bilbao declaration | |
 Kingdom of Romania |
Transilvania–Banat League | Transylvania Transylvania Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical... and Banat Banat The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small... |
Ceased activity | |
| Slovakia |
Hungarian Federalist Party Hungarian Federalist Party The Hungarian Federalist Party was a Slovakian political party defending the interests of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia. It had a status of observer in the European Free Alliance until its disbanding in 2005.... |
Hungarians |
Ceased activity | |
| Italy |
Emilian Free Alliance | Emilia Emilia (region of Italy) Emilia is a historical region of northern Italy which approximately corresponds to the western and north-eastern portions of today’s Emilia-Romagna region... |
1999/2000 | Ceased activity in 2010 |
 Lithuania |
Lithuanian Polish People's Party | Poles Poles thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe... |
2003/2004 | Ceased activity in 2010 |