Tue 13 Debate on the future of Europe with Chancellor Merkel
Udo BULLMANN udo.bullmann@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +33(0)3 88 1 75342
“Europe now needs determination, leadership, and clarity. Europe needs more social responsibility, especially when it comes to combating youth unemployment. Europe needs humanity when it comes to integrating people who have fled and cannot return to their homeland. In order to progress, Europe needs Angela Merkel to deliver a powerful speech on Tuesday, in which she lays out a truly European vision. One that is not disturbed by her own party, the EPP, or right wing forces the EPP is in government with in some European countries.”
S&D press officer: Angelika Pentsi +32 473 93 00 60
Wed 14 EU resilience against foreign influence on the EP election campaign
Udo BULLMANN udo.bullmann@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +33(0)3 88 1 75342
“It was us, the S&D Group, who put this topic on the political table again and again. We need to protect the integrity of elections from on- and offline interferences; otherwise, our democracy is at stake and with it our liberal way of life. However, time is running out and we need to make sure that talks are actually followed up with actions. If we really want to make a difference, we need to get to the core of the problem, namely the algorithms that are able to read our citizens like open books and can thus be abused to manipulate them by spreading hatred and lies.”
S&D press officer: Angelika Pentsi +32 473 93 00 60
Tue 13 Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027
Isabelle THOMAS isabelle.thomas@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +33(0)3 88 1 75432
“By voting broadly on 5 November on our report on the next MFF, the committee on budgets has demonstrated its determination in securing a decent European budget for the post-2020 period. We reaffirm the position set by the Parliament on 14 March, which maintains historical policies, supports flagship programmes like Erasmus+ and the Youth Employment Initiative, as well as the target of 30% of European spending on the fight against climate change by 2027. More importantly, we have pushed for and achieved that no new priority will be set without corresponding new resources that shall be introduced. The budget austerity proposed by the Commission is unacceptable. The European Parliament is expected to confirm this vote on 14 November in plenary. We will then be in a strong position to refuse the austerity of the Council in the upcoming negotiations.”
S&D press contact: Jan Bernas +32 471 64 87 77
Tue 13 UN Global compact for migration
Elena VALENCIANO elena.valenciano@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +33(0)3 88 1 75846
“The withdrawal by the governments of Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and possibly Croatia from the UN Global Compact on migration is a shameful decision that severely undermines the image of the EU and all the work done in the UN in order to reach a historic agreement. The Global Compact aims precisely at facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration, reducing the impact of irregular migration and ensuring the dignity and protection of all migrants. The S&D Group has managed to include this debate to demand in particular the Austrian Presidency’s responsibility for this absurd move that gives even more fuel to extremist and xenophobic groups.”
S&D press officer: Tim Allan + 32 475 63 56 73
Mon 12 Clean Energy package
José BLANCO LÓPEZ jose.blancolopez@europarl.europa.eu Tel : +33(0)3 88 1 75378
Miroslav POCHE miroslav.poche@europarl.europa.eu Tel : +33(0)3 88 1 75328
“Thanks to the leadership of the S&D Group, the European Parliament has managed to move the position of member states to increase the ambition for energy efficiency and renewable energies. We want to align the European objectives with the fulfilment of the Paris Agreement. Our Group believes that Europe must lead the transition to a decarbonised economy and towards the fight against climate change. To this end, we have pushed for more ambitious targets, administrative simplification, legal certainty and a just transition.”
S&D press officer: Victoria Martín De La Torre + 32 473 23 41 73
Wed 14 Telecom package
Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI miapetra.kumpula-natri@europarl.europa.eu Tel : +33(0)3 88 1 75294
Constanze KREHL constanze.krehl@europarl.europa.eu Tel : +33(0)3 88 1 75134
“The S&Ds are very happy to see the final vote on the telecommunication package, the Code. Digitalisation is rapidly changing our societies and we need a good landscape in Europe for digital infrastructure, governance and services in order to keep us on top of the competition. The Code will help transfer Europe to an age of high speed fibre-optic and 5G connections, while making sure the consumer always has the availability to choose and that prices remain low. From now on, Europeans can also make calls to other member states for a maximum of 19 cents per minute, thanks to a provision obtained by the S&D Group. The reformed and reinforced agency of European regulators will be there to see all rules are followed, though work remains on developing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) into a fully-fledged agency. The final result of the Code is a clear success for the European Parliament and the S&D Group.”
S&D press officer: Victoria Martín De La Torre + 32 473 23 41 73
Tue 13 Humanitarian visas
Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR juanfernando.lopezaguilar@europarl.europa.eu Tel: +33(0)3 88 1 75336
“The EU has to open legal pathways so that those who are looking for protection can arrive in Europe without risking their lives. Against the background of an unacceptable death toll in the Mediterranean, the European Parliament needs to deliver. After many years of intense negotiations in the civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, we are asking the Commission to present a concrete proposal on European Humanitarian Visas. We need to do more to help those in need. This is a positive step in the right direction and I just hope that the plenary will also support this positive outcome.”
S&D press officer: Tim Allan + 32 475 63 56 73
Wed 14 Rail passengers’ rights and obligations
Bogusław LIBERADZKI boguslaw.liberadzki@europarl.europa.eu Tel : +33(0)3 88 1 75423
“To protect passengers and develop rail infrastructure, service is at the core of the S&Ds’ transport policy. With this report, we strengthen the rights of passengers across Europe. We have achieved that regional rail services be included in the rail passenger rights regulation, making sure that delay compensations are also paid and that the compensation level be increased. Moreover, the carriage of bicycles on board of any train in the EU will soon be reality. We want to make sure that our citizens can combine the advantages of mobility by rail and by bike. Finally, the railway systems will become more accessible for persons with reduced mobility, who will no longer have to inform large railway stations of their travel plans in advance. Railway services must be safe and accessible to all citizens.”
S&D press officer: Victoria Martín De La Torre + 32 473 23 41 73
