The S&D Group has been unwavering in its efforts throughout the 2019-2024 mandate to change people’s lives for the better. The last five years have been marked by unprecedented challenges that have required unparalleled action and decision-making from the EU.
As the leading progressive political group in the European Parliament, we have played a defining role in shaping policies and legislation that will advance social progress and that champion a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable future.
As we approach the close of what has to be one of the most extraordinary parliamentary terms we have ever faced, the S&D Group can look back at our achievements with pride and we can be hopeful for the future. Unexpected events sent shockwaves across the continent: a devastating pandemic, Russia’s unacceptable aggression against Ukraine, the hike of energy and consumer prices and their severe impact on millions of families across Europe. These elements, along with the recent barbaric atrocities of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and its disproportionate response claiming the life of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza and an appalling humanitarian catastrophe, have made the 2019-2024 mandate extremely challenging.
What is equally remarkable though is that throughout this turbulent period, our S&D Group and our PES family have shown exceptional resilience and strength. The S&D Group has been the driving force behind some of the most notable accomplishments in the EU’s recent history.
Together we have shown that it is both possible and necessary to reshape the way our Union works. We began this mandate in 2019 by delivering on our promise to ensure gender parity in the European Commission for the first time. During the pandemic, we proved that there was a credible alternative to the failed response to the 2008 crisis and the subsequent years of austerity. For the first time ever, we managed to establish a borrowing mechanism for the Union’s needs. Our Group was key in ensuring that Next Generation
EU channelled significant funding to our key priorities on climate change and on social investment. Our political family also made the Temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) possible.
Today we are witnessing how the military occupation of Ukraine by Putin’s regime, with all its repercussions, is putting even more pressure on the existing challenges we face: the aftermath of the pandemic, climate change, energy crisis, social justice, state of democracy, equality and women’s rights, to mention but a few. All these crises have truly been a wake-up call, and an opportunity for our Group to act on our political and policy agenda towards more integration, solidarity and sustainability.
What we have achieved in this mandate is significant: a European Climate Law and a European Green Deal with a just transition; economic governance based on sustainable development and a European investment strategy through the Recovery and Resilience Fund. We have ensured a strong social agenda including a European minimum wage; legislation on platform workers; a European strategy to fight poverty and a European Child Guarantee. Our fight continued with the regulation of the digital economy to protect consumer rights, privacy and children; minimum corporate taxation; a European Gender Equality Strategy; and much, much more.
We are living in extraordinary times. In times of uncertainty, the best thing we can do for our democracies and for the EU is to strengthen our social policies. Over this mandate, the S&D Group has delivered on policies that have required a radical rethinking of our society. We have fought for, and now must deliver on, game-changing projects such as the European Green Deal, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, Next Generation EU, the Rule of Law mechanism, and for changes on Tax Transparency. We have worked over the last five years to strengthen the EU’s place in the world. All this can be summarised: we have fought to deliver a truly green agenda with a red heart.
Together, we have successfully initiated this shift, and I am sure that our Group will continue to work tirelessly to improve people’s lives, and make sure the S&D Group leads across the Parliament in the next mandate.
Iratxe García Pérez, S&D Group President
S&D Group - Activity Report 2019-2024
- Standing with people during the pandemic
- Making social rights a reality
- Protecting people and the planet with the European Green Deal
- Fighting for Women’s Rights
- Building a fair economy for all
- Promoting the Rule of Law and Democracy
- Supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression
- Strengthening international solidarity
