S&D Times - Plenary edition

Presentation by the Commission President-elect of the College of Commissioners and its programme

Iratxe García Pérez - President of the S&D Group

Debate and vote on Wednesday 27 November 2024

Faced with the challenging geopolitical situation, our Union needs stability and a strong government. It’s our responsibility to be able to move forward on the common challenges. The cooperation agreement between?S&Ds, EPP and Renew have set the lines for a five-year-unity in the European Union that will bring balance and strength.

Our progressive influence will be in the future decision-making of the European Commission. Europe has won, thus the citizens?have?won.

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Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine ?

Iratxe García Pérez - President of the S&D Group

Debate on Tuesday 26 November 2024; vote on Thursday 28 November 2024

After 1000?days?of brutal criminal Russian aggression, Ukraine?not only needs?our moral support of words, it needs ammunitions, tanks, fighters and air defences. Ukrainians defend the rules-based order and our freedom and democracy. Our group believes Putin’s nationalists,?and?authoritarian and criminal regime can be stopped and we admire the courage of Ukraine to do?so. We will be at?Ukraine’s?side until the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag waves alongside the blue and yellow of the European flag.

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EU budget 2025

Victor Negrescu - European Parliament’s leading negotiator on the topic in the EP’s committee on budgets

Debate on Tuesday 26 November 2024; vote on Wednesday 27 October 2024

Last Friday, I led the Parliament into negotiations with the member states and we reached a political agreement. Next week the plenary should give its green light to this agreement and I am optimistic about the outcome of the vote. At €200bn, EU budget 2025 is 6% bigger than this year’s, meaning a €10bn increase. It responds to the needs of Europeans while being able to pay back for the post-pandemic economic recovery of the Union without cutting the key programmes.

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Heléne Fritzon - Vice-president of the S&D Group for a Feminist Europe and Strategic Partners

Debate on Monday 25 November 2024

On this day,?we will once again call for strong legal instruments and preventive measures to protect women.?One?in 20 women in the EU have been raped?from?the age of 15.?One?in 10 women in the EU have been victims of online sexual harassment?from?the age of 15. Globally, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. It is totally unacceptable that women are killed just because they are women. We have a moral and legal obligation to eliminate gender-based violence.?

The S&D Group?is proud that in the last mandate, after years of our calls, the European Parliament and the EU member states have agreed on the first ever European law aimed at protecting women from violence, including from gender-based cyber violence, like cyberstalking and cyber-flashing. Unfortunately, rape was blocked from being included and our fight is not over. We call for identifying gender-based violence as an EU crime. We also urge all member states to get rid of outdated laws regarding rape. The crime of rape?based on?the lack of consent needs to be criminalised?at an?EU level.? We are determined to take on the fight until women everywhere in the EU are protected from all forms of gender-based violence.

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Recent legislation targeting LGBTQI persons and the need for protecting the rule of law and a discrimination-free Union

Birgit Sippel - S&D spokesperson in the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs

Debate on Wednesday 27 November 2024?

In 2024, it’s unacceptable that LGBTQI?people are still not safe in the EU. Pride events in multiple countries including Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Austria have been attacked, and harmful practices like conversion therapy are still legal in some EU member states. Recently, some EU countries have even started copying Russian-style anti-LGBTQI?propaganda laws. This is why we are asking for the list of EU crimes to be extended to cover hate crime and hate speech. We demand an EU-wide ban on conversion therapy, intersex genital mutilation, and forced sterilisations. We also call on the Council to finally reach unanimity on the Anti-Discrimination Directive, which has been stalled since 2008. Everyone deserves to live freely and safely, without fear of violence and discrimination.

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Continued escalation in the Middle East

Nacho Sánchez Amor - S&D spokesperson in the European Parliament’s committee on foreign affairs

Debate on Tuesday 26 November 2024

There are no words to describe the humanitarian crisis imposed by Israeli authorities on Palestinians in Gaza. The situation is worsening, with parts of northern Gaza at imminent risk of famine. The European Parliament must pressure EU member states to respond to this grave situation. Protecting UNRWA, the only lifeline for Palestinians, is essential, especially given the unacceptable and illegal ban by Israeli authorities that could soon take effect.

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The political and humanitarian situation in Mozambique

Kathleen Van Brempt - S&D vice-president for international trade, development, global sustainability and enlargement

Debate on Tuesday 26 November 2024

Our group condemns the violent dispersal of demonstrators in Mozambique following the latest elections. It is important to ensure respect for fundamental freedoms and the right of peaceful assembly and all parties must refrain from violence. The national electoral bodies should ensure maximum transparency and the Constitutional Council should appropriately address the concerns by all political parties. Mozambique needs EU support with the security and humanitarian situation, especially in the north of the country.