Plenary focus - March 2020

The racist attacks in Hanau that killed nine people show once again how organised far-right terrorist groups are in planning to take over Germany and Europe by force. These extremists repeatedly carry out deadly outrages, and this is why the Left Group in the Parliament has requested a debate on this urgent issue. The EU needs a firm response to deal with this massive threat.

Meanwhile, the EU’s Banking Union has exacerbated the too-big-to-fail problem by allowing the big banks to become even bigger whilst the smaller banks disappear. This streamlining of the banking sector has thus given rise to mega banks and shadow entities, meaning a volatile and dangerous financial system. It is our role as MEPs to ensure a safe and well-regulated banking sector for the public.

After the plenary session, I will be heading to the border and see for myself the crisis at hand. One should never make deals with nor rely upon someone like Erdogan - especially when it comes to human lives. As much as I loathe that individual lives have become political pawns, the main culprit for this humanitarian disaster lies in the capitals of the EU member states, not in Ankara. For years, they have failed to set up a functioning EU asylum system. EU leaders must immediately return to the negotiating table with the Parliament, and to finally agree on an EU asylum system that upholds existing laws.

The Climate Law proposed by the Commission is a total let down. It postpones binding regulations from being set, and turns a blind eye to what climate experts have told us. The coming decade will be crucial in combating climate change. We need concrete measures and we need them now. 50 per cent emissions cuts by 2030 is not enough to save our planet.

Once again, public money will support private profits. This strategy aims to help big companies conquer world markets. However, the creation of European ‘corporate champions’ will never guarantee quality jobs across Europe. What we need is an industrial policy that serves working people, not shareholders. This means public investment and quality jobs in regions that are most in need.

The new plan put forward by the Commission is a typical example of their outdated thinking: there is no such thing as a circular economy where economic growth is decoupled from resource use and its environmental impact! This plan perpetuates the myth that capitalism is sustainable for people and the planet. No matter how green it is, capitalism is a dead end.

The continuous violation of the rule of law in Turkey is unacceptable. Osman Kavala is a human rights activist who has worked tirelessly to bring citizens together for a better future for all in Turkey. The charges against him are unfounded and his re-arrest even before he had been released is a serious breach of his human rights. We express our deepest solidarity with Osman Kavala and other academics, writers and researchers fighting for human rights in Turkey, and will continue to stand up on their behalf in the European Parliament.