SNP’s Alyn Smith elected president of EFA group

 

Smith is succeeding Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras.

 

As well as his role as president of the EFA, Smith will be first vice-president of the Greens/EFA Group.

 

The Greens/EFA group is estimated to have 75 MEPs in the new parliament, making it the fourth largest group. It holds the balance of power after a 40-year-old alliance between the centre-right European People’s Party and Socialists and Democrats lost its majority in the elections.

 

“Lest we forget, Scotland voted decisively to Remain in the EU, and has just returned four pro-Remain MEPs out of six. Scotland is a European nation, and by electing a Scot from an unashamedly pro-Remain party as EFA president, I hope this shows that Scotland not only wants to play our part in contributing to this family of nations, but is also valued by the EU27,” Smith said.

 

The EFA consists of parties representing stateless nations, regionalist and minority political interests. The group has generally limited its membership to progressive parties.

 

Formed following the 1999 European elections , the Greens/EFA group now consists of three distinct European political parties, namely the larger European Green Party (EGP) and the European Free Alliance (EFA) and the smaller European Pirate Party.