After a string of disappointing election results, European Green parties appear to be in decline. More than 40 of their leaders recently met in Brussels in an attempt to revive their fortunes.
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Europe's fading Green parties met in Brussels to learn from their electoral setbacks and prepare for a comeback.
Speaking about their future, they said they wanted to focus on a "just transition" that responds to citizens' concerns, and to support a green investment plan at the European level.
"What we definitely need is to give concrete answers to people's everyday concerns about the cost of living," Vula Tsetsi, co-president of the European Green Party, told Euronews.
"We think it is very important not to pit the defence and security budget against the just transition, the cost of living and a more social Europe. But this requires investment and political courage", she added.
Meanwhile, at a time when "simplification" is the watchword of the European Commission, Ciarán Cuffe, co-president of the European Green Party, said he is "concerned" about the future of the Green Pact, the EU's roadmap for achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
He warned against "throwing the baby out with the bathwater".
"If we simplify European legislation, we cannot lose sight of why these laws are there. So, for example, on corporate sustainability due diligence, it's about trying to stop modern sweatshops in Bangladesh and elsewhere," he said.
The Greens have suffered several electoral setbacks over the past year. While they were the fourth largest group in the European Parliament during the previous legislature (2019-2024), they lost 18 seats in June, dropping from 71 to 53 MEPs.
In the German federal elections in February, the Greens led by Robert Habeck obtained 11.61% of the vote, losing 33 seats in the Bundestag.
Meanwhile, the Greens have also seen a decline in Austria. After being part of the country's government with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), they received 8.24% of the vote in the 2024 parliamentary elections and lost 10 seats in the National Council.
"When you're in government, you have to make compromises. So it's not easy to win over voters," said Tsetsi.
Cuffe blamed the defeats on the party's inability to grasp the issue of defence.