With the climate agenda taking a back seat after the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine hit the economy and changed priorities, the European Greens arrived in Lisbon with a message, presented at an event attended by several personalities: they declared the European People’s Party of Ursula von der Leyen and Manfred Weber to be enemy number one.

Faced with the dilemma of continuing to ally with the centre-right group, even if it means making concessions whenever it allies with far-right groups, or distancing themselves, the Greens chose the first option.

At the start of the second day of the Greens’ 40th European Congress in Lisbon, the co-chairs of the European Greens accused the EPP of crossing a red line whenever it allies itself with the far right to pass anti-immigration legislation, undermining social rights and democratic principles.

Housing policies, labour rights and the conflict in the Middle East were also at the centre of the debate.