Quote of the week by Iratxe García, S&D Group president, on COVID-19 crisis

“The more decisive our action is now, the less damaging the impact of the economic and social crisis will be and the sooner we can recover. If the Commission and the Council were not up to the task at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, Parliament is calling on them to now rise to the challenge and take responsibility. My message to heads of state and government is that it’s not too late to act, but there’s not a single moment to lose.”

 

With the help of remote voting, MEPs are taking part in an extraordinary plenary session on the EU’s coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. You can watch the speech to plenary from Iratxe García, delivered remotely, on the recovery plan.

The S&D Group supports a position that calls for bold, concrete European solutions based on solidarity. Yesterday, the European Parliament already took a historic first step by calling for Eurobonds.

Women are on the frontline of the COVID19 pandemic. That’s why the S&D Group, together with the leaders of Party of European Socialists and its women’s organisation PES Women sent a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. You can read the S&D Group’s position in which we call for a proactive, gender-sensitive response to the crisis.

Next week, on Thursday 23 April, the European Council will meet in a video conference to follow-up on the EU's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The PES leaders will meet in a similar format ahead of the EU leaders meeting to coordinate the position of our political family.

The core activities of the Parliament also continue next week with remote meetings for MEPs working on foreign affairs, environment and public health, trade, development, industry, research and energy, fisheries and civil liberties, justice and home affairs.

The S&D Group will continue with its core activities with Bureau members meeting remotely on Tuesday 21 April and a Group meeting via video conference on Wednesday 22 April.

You can keep up-to-date on all our reactions to next week’s events on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

S&D MEPs continue to follow the #stayhome guidance by working remotely. You can follow our #stayhome campaign with tips on how to keep busy while at home on Instagram.

S&D press contact