Plenary focus - January

The Bulgarian Presidency is a good opportunity to move forward with the Western Balkans’ accession process in order to promote some much-needed peace and stability whilst paving the way for development. Moreover, the new presidency must play a constructive role in boosting the social agenda and the need for cohesion policies that would benefit both the people of the Balkans and the EU. Social, economic and cultural convergence is what the Bulgarian Presidency should be aiming for.

The whole negotiation process for the governance file was tortuous. For sure, we now have a highly-ambitious document though I am not quite sure the current text corresponds with the ones on the emissions trading system and effort-sharing regulation. Also, the question of energy poverty has not been sufficiently dealt with. I therefore hope for a better result in the plenary.

The EU’s Energy Union has led to the liberalisation of Europe’s internal energy market and, as is the case in other sectors, has brought about a monopolist concentration at a European level by benefitting oligopolies and harming consumers - especially those who are most vulnerable. Public and democratic control over the energy sector is therefore a fundamental requisite in order to ensure a more sustainable, green, social and fair energy sector.

As trafficking in human beings (THB) increases, with millions of women and girls destined for sexual exploitation, the Commission still hasn’t produced a coherent post-2016 strategy. Instead of finding ways to combat this form of transnational organised crime, they have published a list of priorities and actions. We need to improve the existing directive and ensure member states’ obligation of due diligence in protecting victims from the sex trade, sexual abuse and safegaurding labour workers from slavery. We have to tackle the issue of demand and ensure that perpetrators such as brothel owners, pimps and men who pay for sex are brought to justice.