Message from S&D Group Leader Iratxe García
“Donald Trump’s return to power and his shameful rapprochement with war criminal Vladimir Putin have made it clear that we cannot rely on third parties to guarantee our security. This crisis offers us an unprecedented opportunity to take a leap forward in building a true European defence union.
We cannot – and will not – allow Ukraine’s sacrifice to be in vain. And we cannot resign ourselves to helping Ukraine only to resist. We must help Ukraine to win this war with bold and decisive action with the confiscation of the €200 billion in frozen Russian state assets to rebuild and arm Ukraine and allow the use of our weapons to strike military targets on Russian soil.”
Up next:
In anticipation of a large-scale protest in Belgrade this Saturday, we fully support the people of Serbia who are demanding justice, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption. The European Union stands for freedom. This includes the right to peaceful protest. We call for calm, restraint and de-escalation of tensions. We stand for democracy and accountability, and we condemn misinformation and violence!
We are also preparing for the upcoming European Council Summit on 20-21 March. As customary, a PES pre-summit will take place on 20 March, where our Group leader will meet and discuss our common position with other progressive leaders in the EU.
For any media requests related to the PES pre-summit, please contact the President’s spokesperson.
Now, back to work in the European Parliament
Next week, we will continue our fight to protect the voice of civil society and the right of the non-governmental organisations to express their opinions on EU legislation. Another decisive moment in this fight for democracy will be next week during votes in different committees. Next Tuesday, 18 March, the European Parliament's committee on budgetary control is voting on the discharge of the EP for 2023. The report drafted by the EPP rapporteur on the matter, Monika Hohlmeier, includes amendments attacking the work of civil society. These amendments wrongly imply that NGOs have a shadowy influence over the decision making process of the European Parliament.
The same day, 18 March, the conservatives are raising objections on the LIFE Programme’s multiannual financing in the European Parliament's committee on environment, climate and food safety. These objections – one joint by the EPP and the ECR groups and another by the group of the Patriots for Europe – have the political aim to undermine the work of environment-related NGOs benefiting from the EU LIFE programme. In fact, this is clearly another attack against civil society with unjustified accusations on its influence over the EU political process. For the S&D Group these attacks undermine European democracy and the diversity of views it should uphold.
Also on Tuesday, 18 March, our MEP Bruno Gonçalves, S&D spokesperson on taxation, will take part in the EU Tax Symposium – an annual event bringing together politicians, academics and civil society to discuss the future of EU taxation. This year’s theme focuses on strengthening competitiveness and fairness to drive prosperity. The S&Ds believe that in a time of unprecedented geopolitical shifts and existential threats to democracy, Europe must address public frustration over economic and social inequality through bold tax reforms.
Again, on Tuesday, the European Parliament will kick off negotiations on a key piece of European legislation aimed at improving working conditions for trainees. Our MEP Alicia Homs, European Parliament’s rapporteur on traineeships, will present the draft report to the Parliament’s employment committee. The situation is alarming: almost half of all trainees receive no pay, and those who do may only be compensated, for instance, for transportation costs. The S&Ds firmly advocate for protecting the rights of all trainees. This can only be achieved through strong regulation at the EU level. Trainees perform real work and should be treated as workers.
On the same day, our MEPs in the committee on consumer protection will start discussions on the EU Parliament’s future position on the challenges posed by e-commerce imports from third countries. Our shadow rapporteur, Maria Guzenina, will defend the crucial need to put consumers’ safety and health, especially that of the most vulnerable, at the very centre of the debate. It is vital to keep unsafe products coming from third countries (toxic cosmetics, exploding batteries, unsafe toys) out of the European Single Market. Our Group will also call to put an end to the avalanche of parcels that often contain counterfeit or hazardous items, which have a dramatic impact on the environment.
On Wednesday, 19 March, the European Commission is expected to present its Defence package.
We advocate for a robust and unified European defence strategy that aligns with the principles of peace, sovereignty, and social welfare. In response to ongoing geopolitical challenges, notably Russia's aggression in Ukraine, we emphasize the necessity for the European Union to assume greater responsibility for its security. We propose that member states pool resources for defence spending to prevent fragmentation, which weakens defence capabilities and escalates costs. This collective approach is essential to deter future aggression and ensure peace and prosperity for all Europeans. Moreover, we underscore that increased defence investments should not compromise social welfare. We advocate for the creation of new EU investment tools that bolster strategic industries without diverting funds from cohesion policies. This perspective reflects our commitment to preserving the EU’s social model while enhancing its defence capabilities.
On the same day, the European Commission is also set to present the Savings and Investments Union Strategy. The S&Ds support the further development of Europe’s Capital Markets Union. To ensure its success, small investors must have access to better, simpler and low-cost investment products across the EU. We need more efficient and harmonised supervision of the financial industry at the EU level, along with strong investor protection rules to safeguard citizens’ rights when saving for retirement or a pension.
Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament’s committees on regional development and employment will hold a joint debate on a European Plan for Housing, focusing on perspectives from both urban and rural areas. For the S&Ds – who put housing on the EU agenda – ensuring decent, affordable and sustainable homes for all remains a top priority. Housing is a human right, not a commodity for speculation and profit.
Upcoming events:
On Wednesday, 27 March, our Group is organising an event titled Free Information - Strong Democracy. Group Leader Iratxe García will be joined by MEPs Hannes Heide and Sandro Ruotolo to discuss the imperative of media freedom in Europe and the challenges for youth in the age of online disinformation and foreign interference.
Register here to join us in the European Parliament or follow the discussions live here.
We will not back down on workers’ rights! The EU law on adequate minimum wages, adopted in October 2022, was a historic achievement, with a significant impact on wages in several member states. However, on 14 January 2025, the Advocate General of the EU Court recommended annulling the law.
If the Court follows this recommendation, it would deal a major blow to European workers and social Europe, with potentially dangerous spill-over effects on other legislative projects.
Join our event on Thursday, 27 March, bringing together legal experts, civil society representatives and members of the S&D Group to discuss the Advocate General’s recommendation. The symposium will also serve as an opportunity to raise public awareness of the political risks that an annulment of this law would entail.
Please register here to attend the event in person or follow the live streaming here.
And as always don’t forget to stay updated on all our initiatives and reactions on Facebook, Bluesky, X, Instagram, Telegram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and TikTok!
