The European Union needs to make a powerful and tangible difference in people’s daily lives.
The concerns of people are clear - cost of living, affordable housing, quality jobs and quality public health services, the disruptive risks from climate change, the rights of women and of minorities, and not least security and defence are among those concerns that rank highest.
They also know that Europe cannot slow down its efforts to fight climate change, but that these efforts must go hand in hand with a just transition that leaves nobody behind. They also know that the EU’s unwavering economic, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, with the participation of all its Member States, is vital for the security and the future of the European continent.
The S&D Group stands ready to address these concerns through the next Commission Work Programme and through its own political work. By delivering concrete results that will make a real difference in people’s daily lives, by upholding our commitment to fight climate change and by protecting the rule of law, as a standing core value, the European Union will also be able to make its democracies more resilient, and to protect its common future against destructive forces from inside and outside its borders, including the increased threats from the extreme right, and the need to counter disinformation and misinformation.
The S&D Group therefore believes that the next European Commission should pursue the following initiatives as a matter of priority:
- Social Progress and Quality Work Action Programme
- Climate, Environment, Energy, and Agriculture for a Just Transition
- European Security & Defence
- Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights
- A People-centred Budget and an Investment Capacity that deliver European Public Goods: Financing the Transition and Safeguarding Cohesion
- Fair Taxation
- Decent Housing for All
- HealthFirst Act
- A Feminist Europe
- Humane and Inclusive Migration
- A Strong Global Actor for Peace, Human Rights, Fair Trade and Development Cooperation
