Historic highs, local lows: the European Green Party in 2025 Published: 1 December 2025 Analysis 2025 brought mixed fortunes for the European Green Party: record election results in Norway and Portugal, historic membership surges in Germany and the UK, and the election of the first Green mayor in Copenhagen and Riga. However, the loss of governmental power in Germany was a notable setback. Tobias Gerhard Schminke from Europe Elects has the data and details. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
3 Questions on Polish politics after the presidential election to Green Vice-Minister Urszula Zielińska Published: 12 June 2025 3 Questions After PiS' victory at the presidential election run-off in Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for and survived a confidence vote on 11 June 2025. What’s next for the country’s governing coalition, at a critical moment for Europe’s climate, democracy, and security agenda? Roderick Kefferpütz asked Urszula Zielińska, Green Vice-Minister for Climate and Environment, what the result means for the future of the ruling coalition, the Greens’ priorities in the months ahead and Poland’s role in the EU. Roderick Kefferpütz, Urszula Zielińska
The Greens after Germany’s election: Seize the opportunity for a new start! Published: 27 February 2025 Commentary Despite the more difficult majorities in society and parliaments, the Greens should not spend too much time licking their wounds. Instead: open the gates and invite people everywhere to get involved in forward-looking politics. Jan Philipp Albrecht
2025: another tough year ahead for the Greens? Published: 3 February 2025 Analysis After a rocky 2024, electoral prospects look bleak for members of the European Green Party. However, with at least seven national parliamentary and 10 head-of-state elections, as well as dozens of local and regional elections in 16 countries, there is plenty of opportunity for a Green surprise. This article reviews the 2025 electoral prospects for European Green Party members in Europe. Eric Balonwu
2024 in review: Green parties face mixed fortunes amid anti-government backlash Published: 19 December 2024 Analysis 2024 was a challenging year for any government’s ruling party. Incumbent governments struggled as the cost-of-living crisis disgruntled voters around the globe. This was especially true for junior coalition partners, who often bear the brunt of electoral backlash. Green parties were no exception to the rule. Eric Balonwu
Böll·Europe Podcast #21 | Reinhard Bütikofer on Europe, foreign policy and the Green movement Published: 18 December 2024 Podcast episode Roderick Kefferpütz, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU talks to Reinhard Bütikofer. He was Member of the European Parliament for the Green/EFA group for 15 years, from 2009 to 2024. During his time at the European Parliament, Reinhard Bütikofer focused on foreign affairs, international trade, and EU-China relations. He served as the chair of the EP delegation for relations with China and was a long-standing member of the delegation for relations with the United States. As Co-Chair of the European Green Party from 2012 to 2019, and as a Leader of the German Green Party from 2002 to 2008, he played an important role in shaping Green policies in Europe. In this episode, they delve into his insights on evolving global challenges, the trajectory of Green EU policies, and the future of EU-China relations, in a conversation filled with reflections, and strategies for addressing pressing global issues. Roderick Kefferpütz, Reinhard Bütikofer
Böll EU Newsletter 6/2024 - Greening the von der Leyen II Commission Published: 18 July 2024 Newsletter Habemus presidentem: With 401 votes in favour, the European Parliament has reconfirmed Ursula von der Leyen as the president of the European Commission. This vote was not a given. Unable to rely on the support of the super grand coalition of conservatives, social democrats, and liberals alone, von der Leyen went out of her way to secure Green votes in particular. Roderick Kefferpütz
Greens in the EU election: down in the West, up in the East, South and North Published: 11 June 2024 Analysis 2019 was an extraordinary election year for the European Green Party, and it was clear from the beginning of the 2024 campaign that it would be tough to match it again this year. While the Greens lost seats overall, most of the losses were concentrated in Germany and Western Europe, while the bloc was able to pick up new seats in the South and East. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
How the Green Party will fight the UK general election in 2024 Published: 5 February 2024 Commentary The Green Party of England and Wales hopes to win three seats in the General Election by appealing to voters who are uninspired by Labour. Ros Taylor talks to party activists about the growing differences between the two parties and how increasing numbers of Green councillors put their policies into practice. Ros Taylor
A Dutch united left: How the Greens and Labour are building a coalition for a just green transition Published: 8 September 2023 Commentary The Dutch Greens and Labour Party are joining forces. Short-term to win the upcoming elections, form a left-wing, progressive coalition government, and reclaim the Prime Ministership. Long-term to offer a comprehensive, compelling vision for the future, in which a green well-being economy, security of existence, and social and climate justice are central. An exciting development with valuable insights for coalition-builders anywhere. Mareike Moraal
Alignment on values, but not yet on strategy – Green Foreign Policy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Published: 23 February 2023 Commentary The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung’s Foreign Policy Conference in February gave a snapshot of the German Green Party’s foreign policy priorities vis-à-vis Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Teresa Eder
The rocky path to power for the Greens in 2023 Published: 31 January 2023 Analysis 2023 promises to be a crucial electoral year in Europe as voters elect new national leaders in several major countries, including Turkey, Poland and Spain. This article explores the role of the European Green Party (EGP) members in these elections. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
Pyrrhic victories? The Green electoral year 2022 Published: 1 December 2022 Analysis In 2022, European green parties increased their number of seats in most elections while witnessing some of their fiercest opponents win power. As such, the year was somewhat of a Pyrrhic battle for the Greens at the ballot box: though battles were technically won, the overall outcome can hardly be considered a complete victory. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
“The question is whether we are up to our responsibilities at this time” Published: 14 June 2022 Interview The new Federal Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens, Omid Nouripour, on political responsibility in times of climate crisis and war. Omid Nouripour, Peter Unfried
France at a crossroads: this time, democracy itself is at stake... again Published: 14 April 2022 Analysis After the first round of the presidential elections in France, there is everything to play for. The incumbent President, Emmanuel Macron, is in the lead (27.84%), but this time, Marine Le Pen (23.15%) has a real chance of victory in the runoff of 24 April 2022. This is our analysis of the elections. Jules Hebert
Why won’t Germany support a Covid-19 vaccine waiver? Anna Cavazzini answers this and more ahead of the EU-AU summit Published: 16 February 2022 Interview Four civil society representatives ask MEP Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA) about the Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver, as the wane of some countries’ Omicron winters poses a new threat to global vaccine equity. Laura Lopez Gonzalez
Challenging Janša, Orbán and Macron: the electoral 2022 year from a Green perspective Published: 26 January 2022 Analysis 2022 promises to be an exciting electoral year. At least seven seats of the European Council are up for grabs, of which the votes involving Emmanuel Macron and Viktor Orbán may electrify electoral enthusiasts the most. This piece reviews which European leaders will need to defend their positions and how the European Green Party (EGP) members are performing in polls before national, regional and local elections in Europe during 2022. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
“We must insist that our politics works for all people in Europe” Published: 21 December 2021 Interview Rasmus Andresen is the new spokesperson of the German Green delegation (Europagruppe Grüne) in the European Parliament. The Director of our European Union office, Eva van de Rakt, talked to him about the opportunities opened up at EU level by the Green participation in the German coalition government. Eva van de Rakt
Bittersweet victories: The European Greens and the elections of 2021 Published: 17 December 2021 Analysis The year 2021 was an unprecedented one for the European Green Party (EGP) and its members. The transnational political party organisation of environmentalists in Europe enjoyed some of its best election results in Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, Norway and Switzerland. At the same time, European Greens often failed to meet the high expectations set by polling. Moreover, substantial levels of support remain limited to Western Europe, although the elections in Bulgaria show that EGP member parties can make it to the national parliament, and even into government, in Eastern Europe. Tobias Gerhard Schminke
5 things you need to know about the Green fraction in the 20th German Bundestag Published: 24 November 2021 Listicle Following the German federal election of 26 September 2021, the German Greens achieved the biggest, most female, younger and diverse parliamentary group in their history. Let’s explore some fact and figures about the Alliance 90/The Greens fraction in the 20th Bundestag! Joan Lanfranco