Preparation of the European Council meeting of 28 and 29 June 2018 Debate: Tuesday;

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Debate: Tuesday

Vote: Aucun

The Commission’s proposed seven-year budget ignores the problems of EU citizens. We call for an EU budget that strengthens economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Commission wants to spend more money on “Fortress Europe” and on economic stimulus programmes for military corporations. It wants to make cuts to the Cohesion Policy and the Social Fund from which all citizens and regions benefit. The Council must call on the Commission to end austerity and reduce the wealth gap between poor and rich regions. Member states still disagree with the reform of asylum and migration policies and still are not supporting the southern European countries. The proposed compromise of the Bulgarian Presidency does not solve the problem. Without more solidarity, without a fair redistribution of refugees, and without safe and legal access, the EU is failing to comply with its human rights obligations.

Debate with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte

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Debate: Wednesday

Vote: Aucun

Prime Minister Rutte is well known for his saying that to have a vision one needs to go to the eye doctor. But this is just a smokescreen: the vision he advocates is purely neoliberal and prioritises the interests of multinational companies. I hope that the European Parliament shows him the negative social effects of the policies he stands for.

Debate with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte

By Anja Hazekamp

Debate: Wednesday

Vote: Aucun

When taking office last year, Rutte’s government presented itself as ‘the greenest government ever’. However, this very same government is thwarting all kinds of measures meant to protect public health, animals and the environment. It opposed an EU ban on glyphosate, measures against overfishing, and keeps on derogating from rules meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rutte’s government should first start working towards a green future for the Netherlands and Europe before it can qualify to become environmentally friendly again.

Clearing obligation, reporting requirements, risk-mitigation techniques and trade repo

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Debate: Monday

Vote: Tuesday

Derivatives were at the heart of the global financial crisis. The European Market Infrastructure Regulation, enacted in 2012, aimed to address systemic risks posed by derivatives in the wake of the crisis. Now the Commission and major political groups want to unpick some of these regulations. This proposal will make our financial system less secure and more vulnerable to a future crisis.

Cyber Defence

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Debate: Tuesday

Vote: Wednesday

It is necessary to protect vulnerable citizens, users of communication networks and social networks against powerful companies and intelligence agencies that take advantage of our personal data for their business. But it is also important to protect ourselves from those who carry out campaigns against fictitious enemies with the purpose of influencing the electoral results of countries considered unfriendly.

Further macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

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Debate: Tuesday

Vote: Wednesday

Granting micro-financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine under a fast track procedure is a very expensive act of campaigning for the Poroshenko government. But for the first time this financial aid comes with social policy conditions attached. On the initiative of my group, the Council and the Commission had to guarantee in writing and ahead of time that the disbursement of the MFA would not jeopardize social cohesion in Ukrainian society. In addition to economic and fiscal requirements, for the first time poverty reduction became a goal. The Commission will have to report on the social impact of its policies.

Proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions

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Debate: Wednesday

Vote: Thursday

A common framework for the proportionality test is one of the most controversial proposals in the Commission´s service package. I am convinced that the regulation of professions should be the remit of member states. The directive focuses on the functioning of the internal services market whatever the social consequences may be. We cannot accept the inclusion of the health sector.

Monitoring the application of EU law in 2016

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Debate: Aucun

Vote: Thursday

The proper monitoring of the application of EU law is of utmost importance for the sustainability of the EU project. This report is not limited to a shallow presentation of formal elements and statistical data. It strives to highlight and specify the need to respect and strengthen core EU principles and values, such as the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights, solidarity and equality. Particular attention should be paid to the appropriate implementation of measures adopted, crucially in the field of asylum and migration.

European research programmes

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Debate: Aucun

Vote: Aucun

Israel has continuously violated international law and human rights in its occupation of Palestine and during the arbitrary detention of Palestinians. Following the massacres that took place in the Great March of Return, in which about 120 Palestinians killed and 14 000 injured in just seven days, there is a need for the EU to change its approach to Israel. Thus, with the support of more than 150 European trade unions, political parties, human rights organisations and faith groups from over 16 European countries, we call on the EU to exclude Israeli companies with military and security ties from Horizon2020 and FP9.