S&D Times
Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament
We fight for social justice, sustainability & equality for all European citizens
Quote of the week by Group leader Iratxe García on meeting the Palestinian Ambassador to the EU:
“A ceasefire in Gaza is crucial to avoid the escalation in the West Bank and Lebanon. Netanyahu must know that war is never a solution. The two-state solution, with the creation of the Palestinian State, is the only way to guarantee peace, security and progress in the Middle East.”
On Tuesday, 1 October, around 1,000 cleaners, security guards and food service workers from nine countries across Europe will take to the streets in Brussels to demand better working conditions. These essential workers risked their lives during the Covid crisis to keep us safe and our societies going. The S&Ds stand with them and UNI Europa, the European Services Workers Union, in their demands for changes to EU legislation on making public contracts with private firms to deliver goods and services. Current practices of favouring the lowest price at workers’ expense must give way to fair wages and decent working conditions through collective bargaining. S&D vice-president for social Europe, Gaby Bischoff, and spokesperson on employment, Estelle Ceulemans, will meet with workers and trade unions.
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After the much awaited announcement of the commissioners-designate portfolios, our Group is thoroughly preparing the upcoming hearings. S&D President, Iratxe García, has already started a round of meetings this week with all the candidates to lay out our Group demands and priorities in the different areas. In the following weeks, we will be analysing the candidates’ preparedness for the job they have been assigned, as well as their integrity. Follow us on all our socials for updates on the hearing process.
On Wednesday, 2 October, President Iratxe García will decide on the timetable and the format for the hearings, together with the other group leaders.
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This upcoming Sunday we will be closely monitoring the elections in Austria. Our call to the citizens is, as always, clear – go vote, so that the next leadership of the country best represents your interests and priorities!
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We are also preparing for the upcoming plenary session (October 7-10).