Renew Europe

Journalists play a crucial role in our society by holding power to account and defending our democratic values. They are vital to maintaining transparent institutions and working towards a fairer world. But this commitment to truth often comes at a grave cost. In 2024 alone, 54 journalists have lost their lives, many of them in conflict zones, according to UNESCO. Others continue to face daily threats, illegal detention, and online harassment, particularly women journalists. These dangers are not limited to war zones – many reporters are targeted in peaceful countries while investigating corruption, human rights abuses, or environmental crimes. We are deeply concerned by the growing risks faced by journalists across the world. Today, we urge all nations to take stronger action: protect journalists from violence, ensure their safety, hold those responsible for crimes accountable, and support victims. On this day, we stand with the brave journalists who, despite the dangers, continue to seek out the truth. Your courage strengthens our democracy, and we thank you for your service.

The Georgian people stand tall and strong for a European future! With reports of fraud, intimidation, vote-buying and foreign interference, the 2024 elections raise serious concerns about democratic backsliding. The Georgian people deserve fair and transparent elections. Their voices have been heard. The world is watching, and the message is clear: democracy must win!

💡 Check out the key insights from the 2024 post-electoral Eurobarometer - this latest survey explores the issues that motivated European citizens to vote, their views on the future and benefits of EU membership.   🔷 What drove voters to the polls?  The 2024 European elections were shaped by several key issues that motivated citizens to cast their votes. Rising prices and the cost of living were top concerns for 42% of voters, closely followed by the economic situation (41%). The international situation (34%) and the need to defend democracy and the rule of law (32%) were also significant factors in voter turnout, highlighting a shared concern for Europe's stability and democratic values. Additionally, migration and asylum (28%), the environment and climate change (28%), and the EU’s defence and security (28%) were also motivating factors for voters. 🔷 Why EU membership matters to citizens?  Support for the European Union remains strong, with seven in ten Europeans (70%) believing their country benefits from being part of the EU. This enduring support is grounded in four key reasons why citizens view membership as beneficial: ▶️ Increased cooperation between Member States (36%) stands out as the top reason, emphasizing the importance of unity in tackling shared challenges. ▶️ Protecting peace and strengthening security (32%) is also a key benefit, with citizens recognizing the EU’s role in maintaining stability across the continent. ▶️ The EU’s contribution to economic growth (28%) is another significant factor, as citizens value the economic opportunities that come with membership. ▶️ Lastly, the creation of new work opportunities (24%) further underscores the EU’s role in improving citizens' lives through job creation and economic development. Additionally, 65% of citizens are optimistic about the future of the EU, showing that many view the Union as a source of hope and progress for the future. As we look ahead to the future, these findings highlight the importance of addressing citizens' concerns while reinforcing the benefits of EU membership and strengthening trust in European democracy.

Following this week's debate in the European Parliament, it is evident that closing the skills gap is critical to ensuring Europe’s green and digital transitions lead to inclusive growth and sustained competitiveness. With 54% of EU businesses facing skills shortages, immediate action is necessary. Renew Europe is fighting to tackle the root causes of this gap, now clearly outlined by the Draghi report: underperforming education systems, a shrinking labour force, limited opportunities for adult learning, low labour mobility, and poor working conditions. These challenges undermine Europe’s potential to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. While education and training policies are primarily managed by Member States, the EU has a crucial role in fostering cooperation, providing guidance, and supporting necessary reforms and investments. Ensuring access to education, training, and lifelong learning for all is a key principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights—this is our guiding compass for building a stronger, more competitive Europe. Renew Europe has a clear plan - we aim to reform education systems, boost adult learning, create a common EU certification system for skills, and ensure that funding for education and training initiatives is tied to accountability and measurable impact. This is not just a recommendation—it is a strategic and future-oriented approach to securing Europe’s place in the world economy. We want the incoming European Commission to act swiftly to implement these initiatives and work towards closing the skills gap. The path forward is set, and our goal is to reskill and upskill the EU workforce to ensure that no one is left behind.  

As we approach the hearings for the Commissioners-designate, Renew Europe has released a 10-point action plan to tackle growing threats to democracy and judicial independence in several Member States. This plan outlines clear steps to reinforce the EU’s ability to respond and ensure that democratic values are protected across the Union. Key proposals include:  📌 Extending the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism to cover all EU funding programmes. 📌 Introducing 'smart conditionality' to redirect funds directly to communities and civil society, bypassing governments that undermine democratic principles. 📌 Creating a single EU mechanism for annual monitoring of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights. 📌 Expanding the European Public Prosecutor's Office’s mandate and funding to combat corruption. MEP Moritz Körner, who initiated the position paper, emphasizes: “The EU must consistently apply its tools to protect the rule of law. We must tie our financial resources to democratic standards to maintain the Union’s credibility and cohesion.” Read the full position paper: https://lnkd.in/dT988vm2

This week in Strasbourg, we have had the honour of welcoming prominent visitors to our Renew Europe group meeting. A warm welcome was extended to Yevheniya Kravchuk and Vadym Halaichuk. Through our permanent Ukraine Contact Group, our close cooperation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party, Sluha Narodu, has continued to provide invaluable insights into Ukraine’s security and reconstruction needs. We also highlighted the ongoing fight for justice for Ilham Tohti, the laureate of the European Parliament’s 2019 Sakharov Prize, whose life sentence for denouncing Uyghur oppression remains a flagrant violation of basic human rights. His daughter, Jewher Ilham, along with countless human rights activists in China and abroad, has been bravely dedicating her life to securing justice for her people. Another notable moment this week was the inauguration ceremony of a vehicle donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Responding to a call for help from the 112th Ukrainian Territorial Defence Brigade, we are proud to have supported the donation of a vehicle that will assist the 126th Battalion on the eastern frontline. This initiative, in partnership with Blue/Yellow Lithuania, winner of the 2022 European Citizens' Prize, is a testament to our continued commitment to Ukraine’s defence.

Today, the European Parliament gave broad support for a €35 billion macro-financial assistance loan to Ukraine, a significant step towards establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism (ULCM) of €45 billion. This mechanism, shaped at the G7 level, ensures that the loans from the EU and G7 contributors will be repaid, not by Ukraine, but through the windfall profits from Russia’s frozen assets. Renew Europe’s MEP Karin Karlsbro, as the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on this file, played a key role in the swift, unamended adoption of the proposal. With the escalation of Russia’s attacks, Ukraine urgently needs this financial support by the end of 2024. The success of the ULCM depends on extending sanctions and immobilizing Russian assets, a move Renew Europe fully supports. However, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposed renewing the freeze on Russia’s €210 billion sovereign assets for 36 months, insisting on just 6 months instead. This obstruction threatens Ukraine’s financial stability and delays vital support. Once again, Orbán’s regime reveals its true loyalties. Karlsbro stated: “Since Putin’s war began, it’s been clear that Russia must pay for the destruction of Ukraine. Today, the European Parliament can make that happen. By using the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets, we can provide up to €45 billion to Ukraine. The burden of rebuilding will be shouldered by those responsible —Russia."

We are back in Strasbourg and the Plenary session is about to start. Here are our priorities for this week: ▶️ Aid package for Ukraine ▶️ Actions against the Russian shadow fleets ▶️ Situation in Lebanon ▶️ Hate speech and anti-democratic discourse ▶️ Migration Stay tuned!

YES to Moldova's future in the EU! 💪 Moldova has taken a significant step towards joining the European Union. Despite attempts at destabilization, election interference, and claims of vote rigging, democracy has prevailed. With nearly all votes counted on Monday, a narrow 50,3% of Moldovans supported the constitutional change to include EU membership. This close win shows the determination of the Moldovan people and their strong desire for a future built on freedom and prosperity. We stand in full support of Moldova and President Maia Sandu as they continue their path toward the EU👏

The media landscape is evolving rapidly. Local newspapers, radio, and television were once the main sources of news. Today, we find news on YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Unfortunately, trust in many news sources has declined across Europe in recent years. Democracy relies on media freedom. As we see growing attempts to control or manipulate the media, trust in the news is increasingly being tested across Europe. In an era of rampant disinformation, it’s more important than ever to support a free, independent, and transparent media. We must demand that the media remain free from external influence, including excessive government interference. For Renew Europe, implementing the Media Freedom Act is critical. Journalists must be able to hold governments to account to ensure an open and thriving democracy across the EU. 📢 We will continue to fight for media freedom and for a media that serves truth and facts!📢