Plenary focus - July 2020

The challenges facing the EU were not triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic; rather, they have been exacerbated by the crisis. Germany’s Presidency of the EU Council has got to solve all these problems, not in the interests of the big companies and the mega rich, but for the benefit of all Europeans. This means putting an end to the austerity policy, practising universal human rights at the EU’s external borders, and to stop a race-to-the-bottom, dumping competition with Britain.

As of now, no one is yet able to explain how the recovery plan is actually going to work. Which macro economic conditionalities will be imposed on member states, for example? Will there be any democratic supervision by the European Parliament? Which new own resources will be created, and when? Who will eventually pay off the remaining debt? None of these questions has been answered so far - and the European Parliament is shut out of all the negotiations. As we face the worst economic crisis in European history, this is totally unacceptable.

This report, approved by a huge majority in the Employment Committee, represents an unprecedented step forward in reversing the cycle of labour market deregulation. Not only does the text update the list of priorities following the Covid-19 pandemic, it also stresses the need for sustainable social investment in public services, and the fight against precarious work with the reinforcement of collective bargaining as ultimate objectives in eradicating poverty and social exclusion.

By starting with the intention to intensify illegal drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s intrusion into Greek and Cypriot exclusive economic zones will bring instability to the region. Its action not only violates Cypriot & Greek territories, but also the international Law of the Sea, the sovereign rights of EU member states, and the principle of good neighbourly relations. All these in addition to the Turkish air force’s daily incursion into Greek airspace. Furthermore, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to use refugees and migrants as a political tool for pressuring the EU - further destabilising the region. EU institutions must strongly condemn and take concrete measures against Turkey’s illegal actions.

The Mobility Package is a huge step forward in terms of rights and equal pay for European drivers. Over two parliaments, GUE/NGL MEPs have been fighting for the best possible outcome in all the committees, and we are now just a vote away from fulfilling our goals. I believe this is an important victory for European workers, trade unions and for the Left. From now on, there will be more clarity on the rules and procedures - and less for social dumping. This is a game changer.

With the chronic economic and social crisis now made worse by Covid-19, my report will mean more money can be allocated this year to helping young people to find employment. This initiative will help the regions that are most affected by youth unemployment: it is as urgent as it is imperative.

Racism and discrimination against Roma continue to be a problem in all EU countries. With the pandemic, the already-dire living conditions for Roma people have deteriorated further. Community scapegoating has also happened in several places. It is high time that we put all our efforts into defeating antiziganism, and to ensure equal participation in our society for all Roma.

This regulation on trans-European energy networks permits highly polluting projects to obtain huge amounts of public funding. In a climate emergency, this is unacceptable. We urgently need fundamentally different rules. To build a new energy system based on affordable green energy for all. Public money should serve the people and the planet.