Wikipedia

European Free Alliance

TheEuropean Free Alliance(EFA) is aEuropean political partythat consists of variousregionalist,[7][8][9]separatist[10]andminority[9]political parties in Europe. Member parties advocate either for full politicalindependenceandsovereignty,or some form ofdevolutionorself-governancefor their country or region.[11]The party has generally limited its membership tocentre-leftandleft-wingparties;[12][13]therefore, only a fraction of European regionalist parties are members of the EFA. Since 1999, the EFA and theEuropean Green Party(EGP) have joined forces withinGreens–European Free Alliance(Greens/EFA)groupin theEuropean Parliament,although some EFA members have joined other groups from time to time, for example theNew Flemish Alliancewhich sits with theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group.

European Free Alliance
AbbreviationEFA
PresidentLorena Lopez de Lacalle(ES)
Secretary-GeneralJordi Solé(ES)
Founded9 July 1981;43 years ago(1981-07-09)
HeadquartersBoomkwekerijstraat 1, 1000Brussels,Belgium
Think tankCoppieters Foundation
Youth wingEuropean Free Alliance Youth
Membership(26 January 2025)2[1]
IdeologyRegionalism
Autonomism
Separatism
Political positionBig tent[2]
European Parliament groupGreens/EFA(3 MEPs)
ECR(N-VA,3 MEPs)
EPP Group(Manuela Ripa,direct member, 1 MEP)
The Left(Pernando Barrena,direct member, 1 MEP)
ColoursPurple
European Parliament
8 / 720
[3][4]
European Council
1 / 27
[5]
European Commission
0 / 27
[6]
Website
e-f-a.orgEdit this at Wikidata

The EFA is represented in theEuropean CouncilbyBart De Weverof the New Flemish Alliance, who has served asPrime Minister of Belgiumsince 2025. Two EU regions are led by EFA politicians:FlanderswithMatthias Diependaeleof the New Flemish Alliance andCorsicawithGilles SimeoniofFemu a Corsica.Additionally,Scotlandis led byJohn Swinneyof theScottish National Party.

The EFA's youth wing is theEuropean Free Alliance Youth(EFAY), established in 2000.

History

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Regionalists have long been represented in theEuropean Parliament.In the1979 electionfour regionalist parties obtained seats: theScottish National Party(SNP), the FlemishPeople's Union(VU), the Brussels-basedDemocratic Front of Francophones(FDF) and theSouth Tyrolean People's Party(SVP). The SNP, although being predominantlysocial-democratic,joined theEuropean Progressive Democrats,a conservative group led by the FrenchRally for the Republic.The VU and the FDF joined the heterogeneousTechnical Group of Independents,while the SVP joined theEuropean People's Party group.[14]

In 1981, six parties (VU, theFrisian National Party,Independent Fianna Fáil,theParty of German-speaking Belgians,theParty for the Organization of a Free Brittanyand theAlsace-Lorraine National Association), plus three observers (theUnion of the Corsican People,UPC, theOccitan Partyand theDemocratic Convergence of Catalonia,CDC), joined forces to form the European Free Alliance.[15][16]Regionalist MEPs continued, however, to sit in different groups also after the1984 election:the SNP in the Gaullist-dominatedEuropean Democratic Alliance;the VU, theSardinian Action Party(PSd'Az) andBasque Solidarity(EA) in theRainbow Group,together with Green parties; the SVP in theEuropean People's Party group;the CDC with theLiberal Democrats;andHerri BatasunaamongNon-Inscrits.[17]

Only after the1989 European Parliament electiondid EFA members form a united group, calledRainbowlike its green predecessor. It consisted of three Italian MEPs (two forLega Lombardaand one for the PSd'Az), two Spanish MEPs (one each for the PNV and theAndalusian Party,PA), one Belgian MEP (for VU), one French MEP (UPC), one British MEP (SNP) and one independent MEP from Ireland. They were joined by 4 MEPs from the Danish left-wing EuroscepticPeople's Movement against the EU,while the other regionalist parties, including the SVP, Batasuna and theConvergence and Unionof Catalonia (CiU) declined to join.[18]

In the1994 European Parliament election,the regionalists lost many seats. Moreover, the EFA had suspended its major affiliate,Lega Nord,for having joined forces in government with the post-fascistNational Alliance.Also, the PNV chose to switch to theEuropean People's Party(EPP). The three remaining EFA MEPs (representing the SNP, the VU and theCanarian Coalition) formed a group with the FrenchÉnergie Radicalelist and the ItalianPannella List:theEuropean Radical Alliance.[19]

Following the1999 European Parliament election,in which EFA parties did quite well, EFA elected MEPs formed a joint group with theEuropean Green Party,under the nameGreens–European Free Alliance(Greens/EFA). In the event the EFA supplied ten members: two each from the Scottish SNP, the WelshPlaid Cymru,and the Flemish VU, and one each from the Basque PNV and EA, the Andalusian PA and theGalician Nationalist Bloc(BNG).[20]

In the2004 European Parliament election,the EFA, which had formally become aEuropean political party,[21]was reduced to four MEPs: two from the SNP (Ian HudghtonandAlyn Smith), one fromPlaid Cymru(Jill Evans) and one from theRepublican Left of Catalonia(ERC;Bernat Joan i Marí,replaced at the mid-term by MEPMikel Irujoof the Basque EA). They were joined by two associate members:Tatjana ŽdanokaofFor Human Rights in United Latvia(PCTVL) andLászló Tőkés,an independent MEP and former member of theDemocratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania(UMDR). Co-operation between the EFA and the Greens continued.

Following the 2008 revision of the EU Regulation that governs European political parties allowing the creation ofEuropean foundationsaffiliated to European political parties, the EFA established its official foundation/think tank,theCoppieters Foundation(CF), in September 2007.[22]

In the2009 European Parliament election,six MEPs were returned for the EFA: two from the SNP (Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith), one from Plaid Cymru (Jill Evans), one from theParty of the Corsican Nation(PNC;François Alfonsi), one from the ERC (Oriol Junqueras), and Tatjana Ždanoka, an individual member of the EFA from Latvia. After the election, theNew Flemish Alliance(N-VA) also joined the EFA. The EFA subgroup thus counted seven MEPs.[23]

In the2014 European Parliament election,EFA-affiliated parties returned twelve seats to the Parliament: four for the N-VA, two for the SNP, two for "The Left for the Right to Decide"(an electoral list primarily composed of the ERC), one for"The Peoples Decide"(an electoral list mainly comprisingEH Bildu,a Basque coalition including EA), one for "European Spring"(an electoral list comprising theValencian Nationalist Bloc,BNV, and theAragonese Union,ChA), one from Plaid Cymru, and one from theLatvian Russian Union(LKS). Due to ideological divergences with the FlemishGreens,[24]the N-VA defected to theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group(ECR)[25][26]and the EH Bildu MEP joined theEuropean United Left–Nordic Green Left(GUE/NGL) group. Thus, EFA had seven members in the Greens/EFA group and four within ECR.[27]

In the2019 European Parliament electionthe EFA gained a fourth seat in the United Kingdom, due to the SNP gaining a third seat to add to Plaid's one. However, the EFA suffered the loss of these seats in January 2020 due toBrexit,which meant SNP and PC MEPs had to leave.

Ideology

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In the Brussels declaration of 2000, the EFA codified its political principles. The EFA stands for "a Europe of Free Peoples based on the principle ofsubsidiarity,which believe in solidarity with each other and the peoples of the world. "[28]The EFA sees itself as an alliance ofstatelesspeoples, striving towards recognition, autonomy, independence or wanting a proper voice in Europe. It supports European integration on basis of the subsidiarity-principle. It believes also that Europe should move away from further centralisation and works towards the formation of a "Europe of regions". It believes that regions should have more power in Europe, for instance participating in theCouncil of the European Union,when matters within theircompetenceare discussed. It also wants to protect thelinguisticand cultural diversity within the EU.

The EFA broadly stands on the left wing of the political spectrum.[29][30]EFA members are generallyprogressive,although there are some notable exceptions as the conservativeNew Flemish Alliance,Bavaria Party,Democratic Party of Artsakh,Schleswig PartyandFuture of Åland,the Christian-democraticSlovene Unionand the far right[31][32][33][34][35][36]South Tyrolean Freedom.

Organisation

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The main organs of the EFA organisation are the General Assembly, the Bureau and the Secretariat.

General Assembly

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In the General Assembly, the supreme council of the EFA, every member party has one vote.

Bureau and Secretariat

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The Bureau takes care of daily affairs. It is chaired byLorena Lopez de Lacalle(Basque Solidarity), president of the EFA, whileJordi Solé(Republican Left of Catalonia) is secretary-general andAnke Spoorendonk(South Schleswig Voters' Association) vice-president and treasurer.[37]

The Bureau is completed by other twelve vice-presidents: Peggy Eriksson (Future of Åland),Jill Evans(Plaid Cymru), Fernando Fuente Cortina (More—Commitment), David Grosclaude (Occitan Party), Wouter Patho (New Flemish Alliance), Frank de Boer (Frisian National Party), Patrik Peroša (The Olive Tree – Slovene Istria Party), Livia Ceccaldi-Volpei (Femu à Corsica), Zsolt Szilágyi (Hungarian Alliance of Transylvania), Ana Miranda (Galician Nationalist Bloc),Roberto Visentin(Pact for Autonomy) and Lorena López Sánchez (New Canaries).[37]

Membership

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Before becoming a member party, an organisation needs to have been an 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 EFA, the first party needs to agree, at which point these two parties will then form a common delegation with one vote. The EFA also recognises friends of the EFA, a special status for regionalist parties outside of the European Union.[28]

The following is the list of EFA members and former members.[38][39]

Full members

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Country Party Region / Constituency MPs MEPs[a]
Albania Macedonian Alliance for European Integration[40] Ethnic Macedonians - Not in the EU
Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Artsakh[41][42] Republic of Artsakh/Ethnic Armenians – Not in the EU
Austria Unity List Carinthia/Ethnic Slovenes – –
Belgium New Flemish Alliance Flanders
25 / 150
3 / 21
Bulgaria United Macedonian Organization Ilinden–Pirin Pirin/Ethnic Macedonians – –
Czech Republic Moravian Land Movement Moravia – –
Denmark Schleswig Party Schleswig/Ethnic Germans – –
Finland Future of Åland Åland – –
France Breton Democratic Union Brittany – –
Catalan Unity Northern Catalonia – –
Let's Make Corsica Corsica
2 / 577
 –
Occitan Party Occitania – –
Our Land Alsace – –
Party of the Corsican Nation Corsica
1 / 577
 –
Savoy Region Movement Savoy – –
Germany Bavaria Party Bavaria – –
South Schleswig Voters' Association Schleswig-Holstein/Ethnic Danes/Frisians
1 / 736
 –
Greece Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace Western Thrace/Ethnic Turks – –
Italy Pact for Autonomy Friuli-Venezia Giulia – –
South Tyrolean Freedom South Tyrol – –
Valdostan Union[b] Aosta Valley
1 / 600
 –
Free Sicilians Sicily – –
Netherlands Frisian National Party Frisians/Friesland – –
Romania Hungarian Alliance of Transylvania Transylvania/Ethnic Hungarians
1 / 330
 –
Serbia League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Vojvodina/Ethnic minorities(e.g.Hungarians) – Not in the EU
Slovenia The Olive Tree – Slovene Istria Party Slovene Istria – –
Spain Andalusia by Herself Andalusia – –
Aragonese State Aragon – –
Basque Solidarity Basque Country – –
Galician Nationalist Bloc Galicia
1 / 350
1 / 61
More–Commitment Valencian Country
1 / 350
1 / 61
More for Menorca Menorca – –
New Canaries Canary Islands – –
Republican Left of Catalonia Catalonia/Catalan Countries
7 / 350
1 / 61
Socialist Party of Majorca Balearic Islands – –
United Kingdom Mebyon Kernow Cornwall – Not in the EU
Plaid Cymru Wales
4 / 32
 Not in the EU
Scottish National Party Scotland
9 / 57
 Not in the EU
Yorkshire Party[43] Yorkshire – Not in the EU

Individual members

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Country MEPs Party
Basque Country Pernando Barrena EH Bildu
Germany Manuela Ripa Ecological Democratic Party

Former members

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Country Party Region / Constituency Notes
Belgium Party of German-speaking Belgians German Community Merged intoProDGin 2008
People's Union Flanders Split into theNew Flemish AllianceandSpirit
Pro German-speaking Community German Community No longer a member since 2018
Social Liberal Party Flanders Dissolved in 2009
Walloon Popular Rally Wallonia Dissolved as party in 2011
Croatia List for Rijeka Rijeka No longer a member since 2023
Czech Republic Moravané Moravia No longer a member since 2018
France Alsace-Lorraine National Association Alsace/Lorraine Dissolved
Savoyan League Savoy Dissolved in 2012
Party for the Organization of a Free Brittany Brittany Dissolved in 2000
Union of the Corsican People Corsica Merged into thePNCin 2002
Germany The Frisians Frisians/East Frisia No longer a member since 2018
Lusatian Alliance Lusatia/Sorbs No longer a member since 2023
Greece Rainbow Ethnic Macedonians No longer a member since 2023
Hungary Renewed Roma Union Party of Hungary[hu] Romani people Dissolved in 2012
Ireland Independent Fianna Fáil United Ireland Dissolved in 2006
Italy Autonomy Liberty Participation Ecology Aosta Valley Merged intoValdostan Alliancein 2019
Citizens' Union for South Tyrol South Tyrol Expelled in 2008 for opposition to the Bilbao declaration
Emilian Free Alliance Emilia Dissolved in 2010
Friulian Homeland Friuli No longer a member after 2022 congress
Lombard League Lombardy JoinedLega Nordin 1991
Movement for the Independence of Sicily Sicily No longer a member after 2022 congress
Northern League Padania Suspended in 1994, left in 1996 and joinedELDR
Pro Lombardy Independence Lombardy No longer a member after 2022 congress
Sardinian Action Party Sardinia Expelled in 2020 for allying with theLega Nord
Slovene Union Ethnic Slovenes No longer a member since 2023
The Other South Southern Italy No longer a member after 2022 congress
Tuscany Freedom Committee Tuscany No longer a member in 2024
Valdostan Alliance Aosta Valley Merged intoValdostan Unionin 2024
Venetian League Veneto JoinedLega Nordin 1991
Venetian Republic League Veneto No longer a member after 2022 congress
Latvia Latvian Russian Union Ethnic Russians Expelled in 2022
Lithuania Lithuanian Polish People's Party[lt] Ethnic Poles Dissolved in 2010
Poland Kashubian Association Kashubia/Kashubians No longer a member since 2023
Silesian Autonomy Movement Upper Silesia/Silesians[44] No longer a member since 2023
Romania Transylvania–Banat League Transylvania(incl.Banat) Dissolved
Slovakia Hungarian Christian Democratic Association[hu] Ethnic Hungarians Merged intoMost–Híd 2023in 2023
Hungarian Federalist Party Ethnic Hungarians De-registered in 2005
Spain Andalusian Party Andalusia Dissolved in 2015
Aragonese Union Aragon No longer a member since 2018
Aralar Party Basque Country Dissolved in 2017
Basque Nationalist Party Basque Country Left in 2004 and joined theEDP
Canarian Coalition Canary Islands Left in 1999 and joined theELDR Group
Democratic Convergence of Catalonia Catalonia/Catalan Countries Joined theLDR Groupin 1987

Representation in European institutions

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Organisation Institution Number of seats
European Union European Parliament
8 / 720
[3][4]
European Commission
0 / 27
[6]
European Council
(Heads of Government)
1 / 27
[5]
Council of the European Union
(Participation in Government)
0 / 27
Committee of the Regions
17 / 329
[45]
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^The number of MEPs listed below may not match the total number of MEPs of the European party, as it does not include MEPs who join as individual members.
  2. ^Expelled in 2007 after lack of activity in EFA structures, rejoined at the 2022 congress

References

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  1. ^"List of members as per Article 32(2) of Regulation 1141/2014 (English)".Retrieved26 January2025.
  2. ^https:// cidob.org/es/publicaciones/serie_de_publicacion/project_papers/open_european_dialogue/policy_paper/pan_european_parties_who_are_they_what_do_they_want_and_can_they_win_elections[bare URL]
  3. ^ab"Parliament Members".Retrieved7 February2025.
  4. ^ab"European Free Alliance".Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations.Retrieved4 November2024.
  5. ^ab"Belgium's next Prime Minister: Who is Bart De Wever?".Retrieved7 February2025.
  6. ^ab"College of Commissioners".Retrieved7 February2025.
  7. ^David Hanley (2007)."Parties, Identity and Europeanisation: An Asymmetrical Relationship?".In Marion Demossier (ed.).The European Puzzle: The Political Structuring of Cultural Identities at a Time of Transition.Berghahn Books. pp. 152–.ISBN978-0-85745-863-6.
  8. ^Richard Corbett (2012)."Democracy in the European Union".In Elizabeth Bomberg; John Peterson; Richard Corbett (eds.).The European Union: How Does it Work?.Oxford University Press. pp.155–.ISBN978-0-19-957080-5.
  9. ^abNordsieck, Wolfram (2019)."European Union".Parties and Elections in Europe.Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2017.Retrieved30 May2019.
  10. ^"The European Free Alliance and the International Issues".ecpr.eu.
  11. ^"What's EFA and history".Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2019.Retrieved26 August2015.
  12. ^Gupta, Devashree (April 2008). "Nationalism across borders: transnational nationalist advocacy in the European Union".Comparative European Politics.6(1):61–80.doi:10.1057/palgrave.cep.6110127.S2CID144152782.
  13. ^David Hanley (2008).Beyond the Nation State: Parties in the Era of European Integration.Palgrave Macmillan. p. 132.ISBN9781139867757.Center-left and left-wing regionalist parties are typically associated with EFA. An exception is the Nieuwe-Vlaamse Alliantie, one of the heirs of the Flemish Volksunie, which belonged to the European Popular party in the period 2004 through 2009 and later became affiliated with EFA.
  14. ^Wolfram Nordsieck."Parties and Elections in Europe".Parties-and-elections.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2014.Retrieved10 May2014.
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  22. ^"Centre Maurits Coppieters (CMC) – Ideas for Europe".Ideasforeurope.eu.Retrieved20 October2013.
  23. ^Wolfram Nordsieck."Parties and Elections in Europe".Parties-and-elections.eu. Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2014.Retrieved10 May2014.
  24. ^"Will Flemish separatists save the Tories in Europe?".EurActiv – EU News & policy debates, across languages.13 May 2014.Retrieved26 August2015.
  25. ^Van Overtveldt, Johan (18 June 2014)."N-VA kiest voor ECR-fractie in Europees Parlement"[N-VA chooses ECR Group in the European Parliament].standaard.be(in Dutch).Retrieved18 June2014.
  26. ^"N-VA joins ECR group in European Parliament".Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2018.Retrieved26 August2015.
  27. ^"Up-to-date list of the MEPs for the new legislative period".Retrieved26 August2015.
  28. ^ab"European Free Alliance".E-f-a.org. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2013.Retrieved10 May2014.
  29. ^Gould, Andrew C.; Messina, Anthony M. (17 February 2014).Europe's Contending Identities: Supranationalism, Ethnoregionalism, Religion, and New Nationalism.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781139867757.
  30. ^"European Parliament: Guide to the political groups".BBC News.21 October 2015.
  31. ^https:// researchgate.net/publication/361017961_Autonomism_as_Political_Strategy_A_comparison_between_Quebec_Corsica_and_South-Tyrol[bare URL]
  32. ^Schmitt, Etienne (January 2022)."Autonomism as Political Strategy. A comparison between Quebec, Corsica, and South-Tyrol".[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^"I separati dell'Alto Adige".Corriere della Sera.Retrieved10 May2014.
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  35. ^"Frattini denuncia il" diario "della Klotz — Cronaca — Alto Adige".Altoadige.gelocal.it. 24 July 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 13 August 2013.Retrieved10 May2014.
  36. ^"La Stampa — Nel diario scolastico sudtirolesei terroristi si scoprono eroi".La Stampa.4 October 2011.Retrieved10 May2014.
  37. ^ab"Members of the Bureau Archive".e-f-a.org.
  38. ^"Members of the European Parliament".e-f-a.org.European Free Alliance.Retrieved16 July2024.
  39. ^"Member Parties".e-f-a.org.European Free Alliance.Retrieved16 July2024.
  40. ^"Стерјовски се сретна со претседателката на ЕФА, Лорена Лопез де Лакал"(in Macedonian). 9 March 2024.Retrieved10 March2024.
  41. ^"Member Parties".e-f-a.org.European Free Alliance.Retrieved26 August2015.
  42. ^"Democratic Party of Artsakh is the Associated Member of the European Free Alliance".dpa.am.Democratic Party of Artsakh. 17 April 2015.Retrieved26 August2015.
  43. ^"Opinion | Yorkshire First".Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2014.Retrieved11 January2015.
  44. ^"Statut – Ruch Autonomii Śląska"(in Polish). 16 November 2023. Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2023.Retrieved16 December2023.
  45. ^"European Committee of the Regions Members Page".Retrieved6 February2025.
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