SD Times - Issue 11

This week

?Mission to Athens

Group leader Iratxe García, and vice-presidents travelled to Athens and were hosted by PASOK leader and S&D MEP, Nikos Androulakis to promote our common European agenda.

Energy poverty and the housing crisis are huge concerns. More than 1/3 are paying more than 40% of income on housing.

We discussed progressive solutions with experts and civil society. We also visited a centre for migrant and refugee women living in Athens.

We also addressed the precarious employment situation of young Greek professionals, LGBTIQ+ rights, and the alarming situation of the rule of law and media freedom in the country.

We want to create new decent jobs for young people so that they don’t have to emigrate. We want to ensure affordable housing for all. We want to protect democracy and particularly rule of law and media freedom.

It is high time for change in Greece!

A new Energy Efficiency Directive

Deal! After 16 hours of negotiations, under the leadership of the European Parliament’s Chief Negotiator Niels Fuglsang, we agreed on a new Energy Efficiency Directive. The 2030 target is 11.7 % and the yearly energy saving obligation for EU countries will be nearly 1.5 %. The deal will lower people’s electricity bills, reduce gas imports, and deliver on our promise for real action to save the planet from the climate emergency.

Mission to New York on International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day, our MEPs were in New York participating in the

UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Their message: we fight against the backlash on women and girls’ rights, and support gender equality in the digital age & more.

What’s coming up

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March

In a debate next week, we will urge EU member states to ensure quick progress on the reform of the EU fiscal rules. They need to be reformed before coming back into force. Otherwise, we risk the return of austerity, which would increase inequalities and undermine the transition to a sustainable economy.

Adequate minimum income

On Tuesday, we will call for a new European law that guarantees an adequate minimum income in all EU member states. We have to ensure that everyone can live in dignity, provide adequate support for every person and every family in need, and end poverty. Key social actors, including trade unions and other civil society organisations, support our call for a European law. An adequate minimum income is indispensable, especially in times of social and economic crises, such as the one we are experiencing now.

A common EU response to save lives and to ensure safe and legal pathways

Also on Wednesday, we will debate the humanitarian tragedy that took the lives of more than 70 people, including children, off the coast of Italy.?It is a tragedy that could have been avoided. Giorgia Meloni’s government has actively made search and rescue at sea more difficult by introducing stricter rules for NGOs carrying out much needed rescue operations. It is clear the Italian government failed to act until it was too late and in the wake of this tragedy, we must have full transparency over the communication between the border agency Frontex and the Italian authorities. Beyond this catastrophe, it is time for Europe to agree to a more human and sustainable approach to search and rescue in the EU. Our Group will be making the clear case to use EU funds to save lives, instead of building walls.

Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by member states

Next week we will also vote to take an important decision to slash greenhouse gas emissions from EU’s main economic sectors to allow the bloc to achieve its 2030 climate targets. Our Group has already successfully pushed for speeding up the emission reductions efforts in the short term, as action to mitigate climate change cannot wait. We have also ensured that fairness and social justice were at the centre of the regulation. This will give a great signal to EU citizens and to the world that Europe is turning its climate promises into deeds.

Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories

Tens of thousands of people are protesting within and outside Israel against a deeply controversial judicial reform supported by Benjamin Netanyahu that risk weakening the judiciary power, undermining the rule of law, and deteriorating de facto the democracy in Israel. Their protest is our protest.

That’s why we insisted to have this debate next week in plenary.

The reform would in fact erode the independence of the Supreme Court by giving the governing coalition control over the appointment of judges, and the power to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes out of 120 in the Knesset. A weakened Supreme Court could be also used to establish more settlements. We protest strongly and will do what we can to make our voice heard. To make the things worse, since the Netanyahu’s far-right government came into power, we observed a dangerous escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. We are witnessing an occupation that is dramatically turning into a de facto annexation of the settlement territories. This is not acceptable.

Implementation report on the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement

Last but not least, in next week’s plenary session, MEPs will debate the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement of the UK from the EU three years after its entry into force. The report evaluates the application of the commitments regarding citizens’ rights and the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The debate is particularly significant as it comes at a critical juncture, following the recent agreement between the EU and the UK on the new Windsor Framework. This framework aims to alleviate the implementation of the protocol on Northern Ireland, making the debate all the more timely and relevant. The new agreement has already received an initial positive reaction from Parliament, as it recognizes the protocol's crucial role in preserving the integrity of the EU's single market while simultaneously enabling the smooth flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The new green lane proposal was possible thanks to the flexible approach that Vice President Maro? ?ef?ovi? took into these negotiations. Its full implementation now paves the way for a new chapter on relations between the EU and the UK.?