Press conference with S&D Group president Gianni Pittella on Tuesday 22 November at 10.10 in room LOW N-1/201.
Watch the action live : www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu
Our priorities
EU-Turkey relations - Tuesday 22
Gianni Pittella
+ 33 3 88 17 5159
gianni.pittella@europarl.europa.eu
The accession talks with Turkey should be temporarily frozen. On our initiative, the European Parliament will vote next week in Strasbourg on a resolution on this turning point in the relationship with Ankara. There is no alternative to these severe steps as long as the Turkish authorities keep neglecting and undermining democracy and rule of law.
The dialogue with Ankara must be, and will be, kept alive but Erdoğan must understand that as a candidate country, rule of law, democracy, freedom of press and minorities’ rights must be untouchable pillars in Turkey. The doors to Turkey and Turkish people remain open; but the one for the accession talks, for the time being, should not.
EU-Turkey relations - Tuesday 22
Kati Piri (EP Rapporteur on Turkey)
+ 33 3 88 17 5138
kati.piri@europarl.europa.eu
While the S&D Group remains committed to keeping Turkey anchored to the EU, we also believe that the EU must draw political consequences from the current situation.
The government in Ankara is shutting the door to the European Union with its actions. While channels for dialogue must remain open, it's not credible at this moment to continue the talks on Turkey's accession to the EU as if nothing happened over the last months. Therefore, the EU must send a strong political signal by freezing the accession talks until the Turkish government returns to the path of respect for the rule of law and human rights.
The Copenhagen criteria are leading for all candidate countries, including Turkey.
EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women - Wednesday 23
Christine Revault d'Allonnes-Bonnefoy
+ 33 3 88 17 5853
christine.revaultdallonnesbonnefoy@europarl.europa.eu
The Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women is the most far reaching international treaty to tackle violence against women as a serious violation of human rights and an extreme form of discrimination. In March 2016, the Commission proposed that the EU joins this Convention. Negotiations in the Council have been very slow since then. In the framework of the international day on combatting violence against women (25/11), the European Parliament will adopt a joint motion for resolution strongly defending a swift EU accession to the Istanbul Convention, but also pushing the 14 member states which haven't done it yet to ratify the Convention themselves.
Beyond that, more will have to be done in order to ensure equal protection for women and girls from violence in Europe. That is why the S&D Group has been pushing to include in the resolution the need for a EU directive, which would guarantee a more efficient transposition and full implementation of the Istanbul Convention within the European Union."
Macro-financial assistance to Jordan - Tuesday 22
Emmanuel Maurel
+ 33 3 88 17 5747
emmanuel.maurel@europarl.europa.eu
The Kingdom of Jordan both needs and deserves substantial financial help from the EU. The chaotic regional context massively impacts Jordan’s economy, social systems and public services, which makes its debt ratio barely sustainable. Meanwhile, its continued commitment in dealing with the refugees’ crisis with dignity (it welcomes around 1.3 million Syrians) ought to be praised.
Thanks to the European Parliament and its strong negotiating position, the Commission will propose, in addition to this year’s €200 million, an extra macro-financial assistance operation of at least the same amount in 2017.
Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy - Tuesday 22
Ioan Mircea Paşcu
+ 33 3 88 17 5813
ioanmircea.pascu@europarl.europa.eu
Security has become a key concern for EU citizens and therefore for the EU institutions, Parliament, Council and Commission. In the report we ask for a thorough and substantial revision of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which can no longer be just a crisis management instrument outside the Union. CSDP has now to ensure a real European common security and defence, bridging the internal-external security nexus, and also to become an EU instrument for the management of international crisis at all stages of the conflict cycle.
The efficient implementation of recent decisions for the development of CSDP, in coordination in particular with NATO, is crucial for protecting the citizens and promote EU values and interests, with full respect for the Treaties, the international law and the human rights.
Finalisation of Basel III - Monday 21
Roberto Gualtieri
+ 33 3 88 17 5523
roberto.gualtieri@europarl.europa.eu
With this resolution the ECON committee defines its priorities in light of the ongoing discussion on the finalisation of Basel III by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which will set up the future regulatory framework for banks at global level. The Basel III revision should aim at fostering the stability in the banking system without creating a negative impact on real economy. Therefore, the overall capital requirements for the whole banking system shouldn't be significantly increased, following the last January recommendations of central banks' and surveillance's authorities.
Moreover the revision should promote the level playing field at the global level by mitigating – rather than exacerbating - the differences between jurisdictions and banking models. At the same time, the resolution recalls the importance of a risk-based approach, following the principle of the same rules being applied to the same risk, while at the same time underlines the need for reducing the scope for regulatory arbitrage and excessive variability in risk weighted assets.
Situation in Syria - Wednesday 23
Victor Boştinaru
+ 33 3 88 17 5832
victor.bostinaru@europarl.europa.eu
The world has been repeatedly appalled by the atrocities against civilians carried out in Syria by ISIS and other terrorist groups, but also by the Assad regime with the support of Iran supported militias and Russia . The European Parliament, at the initiative of our group will adopt a new resolution on Thursday. The S&D condemn in the strongest terms the widespread violations of human rights and international law and the indiscriminate aerial bombardment by the regime and Russia of Aleppo in the last weeks. We call on all the armed actors to allow an immediate cessation of hostilities that could pave the way for the resumption of negotiations and to ensure that humanitarian assistance is reaching all people in need throughout Syria and to immediate allow medical evacuations.
Thus, we are highly concerned about the Russians heavily reinforcing of its military navy in the Eastern Mediterranean and the renewal of large -scale airstrikes. Finally, we shall urge the member states, the EU and the international community to ensure that all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity will be prosecuted by an appropriate impartial criminal justice.
Decision adopted on the European Semester package including Annual Growth Survey 2017 - Tuesday 22
Maria João Rodrigues
+ 33 3 88 17 5863
mariajoao.rodrigues@europarl.europa.eu
The Commission has fortunately avoided a big mistake. Increasing good-quality public investments in Spain, Portugal and other countries that have suffered during the long crisis is in the interests of the whole of Europe.
For several years now, the Socialists and Democrats have been fighting very hard against austerity - i.e. against blind cuts in public spending that have damaged Europe’s economy. Today’s decision not to propose sanctions against Spain and Portugal must be seen as a big victory for our political family. The countries are putting their budgets in order - but they also need enough investment in order to continue in this direction.
Outcome of COP 22 in Marrakech - Wednesday 23
Jo Leinen
+ 33 3 88 17 5842
jo.leinen@europarl.europa.eu
After finding a global agreement on Climate action in Paris, Marrakech was the "COP of action". Countries worldwide restated their commitment to ambitious climate protection. Good progress was made on the implementation of the Paris Accord, outlining the timeframe and work plan until 2018, when national contributions should be assessed and scaled up.
In 2018 the EU must be ready to adapt its own targets and present a long-term low emission strategy. Work must start now if the Europe doesn't want to fall behind. Financial contributions remain a cornerstone in the Paris Agreement and the Commission and member states must be ready to specify the commitments.
