Quote of the week by S&D MEP Sorin Moisa
“The EU-Canada trade deal has the potential to generate jobs in the EU and create new economic opportunities for EU companies, notably SMEs. CETA is the first step towards a progressive EU trade agenda. The S&D Group will continue to push for a transparent, inclusive and progressive review and implementation of CETA.”
Past activities
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada (CETA), women’s rights and reproductive health, the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Greek adjustment programme, the new development policy, protection of whistleblowers, a fiscal capacity for the eurozone, secure borders, robots and the future of Europe were just a few topics on the plenary agenda for our Group in the past week.
We have also witnessed a major setback for the environment, as key elements of plans to reform the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) were voted down by the EPP Group.
See the key points on last week’s agenda in our plenary wrap-up
Activities
In the following days our Group president will start a series of meetings with progressive heads of states across Europe. Building the New European Left is his priority and our Group fully backs his initiative.
We are also looking forward to the events we are organising this spring - our #EuropeTogether event in Rome and the third edition of the School of Democracy.
Upcoming activities
The S&D Group is on the march to build the New European Left. On Monday, our President, Gianni Pittella, will start a European tour to meet Progressive leaders and relaunch a common European platform together. By debating and engaging with citizens, civil society, trade unions and entrepreneurs, the new European Left should forge a political approach based on three pillars:
- growth and an end to the era of austerity
- a more ethical economy stemming from greater fiscal justice and a stronger fight against tax avoidance and evasion
- and a new social agenda.
The first stop of this tour will be in Madrid on February 20th, then Lisbon on the 21st and finally London on February 23rd and 24th. The tour will then continue on to Hungary, Greece, Germany, France and the Netherlands in the coming weeks.
At the end of this European tour, our president will put forward all the proposals and suggestions gathered in a coherent and consistent political strategy to be presented on the 24th March at the next S&D Together event – Shaping the Future of Europe – in Rome.
In April, we are looking forward to meeting 100 young democrats from all over the world, in the third edition of the School of Democracy. We will be debating the hottest issues Europe is now facing, together with politicians and specialists in a three-day event focused on democracy.
Energy poverty is also one of our priorities at the moment. We believe that the issue of rising energy poverty requires greater attention from all legislators. And this is why we have kicked off our END Energy Poverty campaign to help put an end to this.
