Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament’s Post

𝗔 𝗻𝗘𝗨 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! As you read this, all recently elected Members of the European Parliament are traveling to Strasbourg to inaugurate a fresh, 🆕 mandate. 🤞 Can the EU be back on the global map & become #aDigitalPowerhouse this time? YES & YES, but only if #competitiveness is the number 1️⃣ priority. Some tips from our #DESummerSummit by Margrethe Vestager, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Doris Põld, Karen Massin, and Yota Paparidou 👇:

🔔 Unmissable opportunity: ask your question to the Spitzenkandidaten at the Maastricht Debate 2024! 🇪🇺 The first 2024 European elections debate is around the corner. On 29 April, the lead candidates of the different European political parties will convene for the Maastricht Debate 2024 to exchange views on their plans for the 2024-2029 parliamentary legislature. 👨💻 👩💻 While registrations for in person attendance have now closed, interested parties can submit questions to the participants in video format. All you have to do is record a short video of a maximum of 30 seconds, post in on either Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), and include the #MaastrichtDebate. Questions should be related to one of the three themes of the debate: 🔹 Climate Change 🔹 Foreign and Security Policy 🔹 EU Democracy. 👉 Additional information can be found on the organisers’ website: https://bit.ly/3xBi1OQ #EU #Elections #EUelections2024 Studio Europa Maastricht POLITICO Europe Maastricht University Gemeente Maastricht Provincie Limburg (België) European Parliament

The proposed legislation is dead after the government acknowledged a lack of support for it to progress through Congress. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41dlYpG #Australia #DisinformationLaw #SocialMediaRegulation #FreeSpeech #PolicyDebate

Scotland's National Outcomes - Consultation with Parliament https://lnkd.in/dPCmzE6n Also take a look at the detailed outcomes https://lnkd.in/eyx2BfHk #govtech

Want a quick refresh on the latest policy developments in Brussels and beyond? Check out our weekly #EUDigest, where we looked at the following developments: ✅ European Parliament kicks off Commission confirmation process 📈 Calls to complete single market gain momentum 🎯 EPP discusses priorities for the new mandate Read the full analysis here, or download your own copy: https://lnkd.in/e9_ZNtaW

Curious about the next Commission's policy direction? 🧭 Check out our latest #EUdigest analysis, where we explore the following developments:  ✉️ Commission publishes written answers to MEPs ahead of hearings  🇻🇪 ‘Venezuela majority’ gaining ground in European Parliament  🤝 New cooperation deal between Commission and European Parliament Read the full analysis here, or download your own copy: https://lnkd.in/exqw8rHm #EUElections24 #EUtransition #EuropeanElections

We need to remember why the EU Parliament exists: to reflect the people's will, drive necessary change, and amplify citizens' voices. Forgetting this threatens our future. Parliament must always represent the people, ensuring democracy and accountability! https://lnkd.in/e9mNGA2Q

In this article, we provide a brief explainer on the European Parliament and its links with the Executive (i.e. European Commission). #EU #digitalization Fabien Roy, Jacqueline Mailly, May Lyn Yuen, Lourdes Catrain, Hugo Paemen, Hélène Boland, Cláudia Mendes Pinto, Grégoire Paquet, Anastasia Vernikou

One would hope that these #EUelections results which project an increase in strength of the far right and fascism in Europe would serve as a lesson, but unfortunately it will not. When will the European centre and some so-called progressive politicians learn that you cannot beat the far right by becoming the far right in your deeds and actions. You cannot beat hate and fascism through hate. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Rather, what you have done is legitimise extreme lunatics and mainstreamed their discourse giving them more legitimacy. People who outrightly want a return to Nazi-style politics. Have you forgotten your own history? You would think that this is common sense, but for many politicians and groups, clinging to power, wealth, and status trumps respect for human life and dignity. The end result is a Europe which will continue to become unsafe for everyone, especially racialised and marginalized communities, and surprise surprise, also for the far right and its supporters. When you are all ready, we will fight for a better world together - when the weeks will become decades.

Interesting to see the results so far for the European Parliament elections across EU member states. On a positive note, and as someone who previously ran for election as an MEP candidate in 2009 campaigning for a “ Green New Deal” I was happy to see the extent to which people were engaging with this EP election. In the past the EU was seen as somewhat remote and disconnected from what was happening politically for Irish people on an everyday basis. It was clear from the EP election that took place in Ireland on Friday that ordinary people have a much greater awareness of the importance of the EU for policy and decision- making in Ireland. They clearly took this election seriously and were selective about the candidates they elected to the European Parliament. It was also a huge relief that the political centre- ground held in terms of the results of the local elections that accompanied the EP elections. There was a legitimate concern that right and far- right parties would make serious inroads into local government in Ireland but fortunately this did not happen to any significant extent. What is deeply worrying today however if the news that the French President Emmanuel Macron has called a snap election in France in response to the very strong results that lthe far right party, the Nationsl Rally led by Marine le Pen, achieved in three French local elections. This is a high -risk gamble by Macron and could see a far right party in government in France in a few months time. Given that the French- German axis is the political “ motor” of the European Union, and given the worrying rise of the far- right AfD party in Germany, Europe is in a very precarious political position right now. Hopefully politicians across the progressive end of the political spectrum will finally realise how serious the threat to democracy in Europe has become. They should launch a major, well- resourced and well- thought out political initiative to defend and promote democracy across the European Union and in its external neighbourhood. Not to do so will leave the door wide open for the political far -right in Europe to walk in and to assume political control in the not- too- distant- future . And that political outcome does not bear thinking about!! #EUelectionresults #Farrightsuccessinlocalelectionsinfrance #Macronsurpriseelection #Nationalrallysuccessinfrenchlocalelections