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Europe Ecology – The Greens (Europe Écologie Les Verts, EELV) is a green centre-left political party in France and is a party member of the European Green Party. The party was formed on 13 November 2010 in Lyon, from the merger of The Greens and Europe Ecology.

History
In the 2019 European elections, EELV performed significantly above expectations, winning 13.5% of the vote and 13 out of 79 MEPs, placing third behind LREM and RN. This came despite EELV having not polled above 10% during the campaign. During his victory speech, Yannick Jadot, besides being alarmed by the success score of the Rassemblement National and the rise of far-right parties in Europe, spoke of the green European wave Vague Verte Europèenne. On the national level, EELV became one of the big players of french politics. Moreover, Yannick Jadot was also pleased about the increase in participation for that election, especially the participation of the youth.

After the Covid-19 pandemic crisis started, the EELV party has created 45 proposals to face the situation with two major points. First, the party is promoting the best intra-state and inter-state cooperation and solidarity, and secondly, it is urging to change the prevention system for such future crises.

Ideology

 * Ecology

As a green party, EELV prioritises and emphasises environmental issues. It calls for a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions, phasing out nuclear energy in favour of renewable energy, the creation of 600,000 'green jobs', eco-friendly urban planning (the creation of green housing and the promotion of public transportation), the development of sustainable agriculture and a moratorium on the use of genetically modified organisms. EELV, like the Greens before it, has generally opposed large-scale development projects, most recently the Aéroport du Grand Ouest in Notre-Dame-des-Landes (Loire-Atlantique), although the PS and the previous government officially support the project. After a longlasting opposition, the French prime minister Edouard Philippe announced on the 17 of January 2018 that the project was definitely canceled. This was a big victory for both the EELV and the European Green Party.


 * Economy

On economic issues, EELV leans strongly to the left. Besides the creation of 'green jobs' in fields such as thermal isolation and renewable energies, it also supports a carbon tax and raising the progressive income tax levels for high earners (60% for incomes between €100,000 and €500,000, 70% for incomes over €500,000). EELV is close to some anticapitalist and many alter-globalisation activists. In its alternative budget in 2011, EELV proposed to reduce the public debt by closing fiscal loopholes.


 * Europe

The party has traditionally supported European federalism, and is a member of the European Green party, although many of its European policies are in conflict with the current direction and leadership of the European Union. EELV, like the Greens before it, has been one of the strongest proponents of decentralisation, officially supporting "differentiated federalism" which would devolve significant powers to the regions of France. The regionalist federation Régions et Peuples Solidaires has long been closely allied to the green movement in France.


 * International Relations

The EELV party is in favor of a reduction of French external trading of weapons. Indeed, like the Greens before it, EELV is promoting a pacifist defense policy for state security and even tends to be anti-militarist. Eva Joly, who was the EELV candidate for the presidential election of 2012 suggested the suppression of the military parade of the [[French National Day|14 of July ]] (French national day). It is also in favor of a massive foreign investment plan for developing ecology in Africa. On the societal domain, EELV wants to promote international decriminalization of homosexuality, trans-identity, and gender parity in international institutions.


 * Gender Representation

The greens have long promoted gender equality in politics. It is one of its most important operating rules. During elections times, the results are always made gender-equal in order to make sure that the rule is respected. Indeed, its leadership and electoral candidates tend to respect gender parity and the EELV group in the French National Assembly has two co-presidents, one male and one female. Another example of gender equality in the party is that its federal council is composed of 75 men and 75 women for a total of 150 members. The ecologist groups are the only ones respecting gender equality in the national assembly and with the CRC in the senate.


 * Society

Regarding societal questions, EELV is considered as progressist. The principle is based on the individual's autonomy above any religious or state reason in deciding for one's life. Moreover, the green movement supports political reform, including voting rights for foreigners in both local and national elections, abolishing the cumul des mandats, term limits and a 'Sixth Republic' with more powers for the parliament and direct democracy.

EELV is especially in favor of:
 * The equality of rights between homosexual and heterosexual couples (marriage and adoption)
 * Realy gender parity (all elections list have to be 100% gender equal)
 * The right to proceed to euthanasia
 * To end nuclear energy
 * To respect biodiversity
 * To give the right to vote to foreigners for local elections
 * The interdiction for the cumulation of mandates

Leadership
The party executive is formed by the Executive Bureau. The national secretary is the leader of the executive bureau and is the party's most senior leader. The federal council is composed of 150 members (75 men and 75 women) and serves as the party's parliament, meeting on a monthly basis. The party appoints two spokespersons, usually one man and one woman for the gender parity.


 * National secretaries: Cécile Duflot (2010-2012), Pascal Durand (2012-2013), Emmanuelle Cosse (2013-2016), David Cormand (2016–2019), Julien Bayou (2019-present)
 * Party's spokepersons: Pascal Durand (2010-2012), Élise Lowy and Jean-Philippe Magnen (2012-2013), Éric Loiselet and Sandrine Rousseau (2013-2014), Sandrine Rousseau and Julien Bayou (2014-2016), Sandra Regol and Julien Bayou (2016-2019), Alain Coulombel et Éva Sas (2019-present)
 * President of the federal council: Philippe Meirieu (2010–2013), Thierry Brochot (2013–2016), Nicolas Bonnet (2016-2019), Henri Arevalo (2019-present)