Quote of the week
“Trump is frightening the whole of the civilized world. Unfortunately, the statements and actions of President Trump seem to be just as worrying as those of candidate Trump. In just a week as president, he has been able to put at stake the core democratic values, respect for human rights, the rule of law and the solidarity-based approach of the international community. In just a week, he has put transatlantic relations in danger, damaged political and social dialogue with the Muslim world, Mexico and Latin American communities, by widely spreading the virus of xenophobia and hate."
- Gianni Pittella

Past activities
This past week our members have had their hands full with a mini plenary session in Brussels. Not to mention we have finished appointing our committee chairs. Check out our site for more information on these changes.

Our Group president, Gianni Pittella is currently in Malta, where he will be discussing relevant issues with the leaders of sister parties from across Europe. Follow @TheProgressives and @giannipittella to see live updates from the summit. You can also check out his latest press release here.

Also, this week our MEPs will be preparing the upcoming Plenary session in Strasbourg. Follow us online and on social media to see what our agenda will be.

Activities
Next week we are getting ready for three important events in our Group. We’ve been preparing for the Youth for Gender Equality Forum since last year, and on the 8 and 9 February we will see the results. We're looking forward to a range of interesting speakers and, most importantly, enthusiastic young guests.

Our Group is also organising the GPF discussion: Meet & Greet LGBTIQA and Asylum-seeking. And an interesting working group debate on the threats of the populist right wing radicals in 2017.

Upcoming activities
Next week’s most prominent event in our Group will be the Youth for Gender Equality Forum. Since the future of the next generations is key concern for us, we do all that is in our power to involve young people in finding solutions to the difficulties Europe is currently facing. Step it up for Gender Equality is an interactive and inspiring initiative to promote dialogue, exchange, learning and networking for people engaged in promoting gender equality in their daily lives. It will take place inside the European Parliament, on 8-9 February.

Our partners in organising the event are PES Women, Young European Socialists, Rainbow Rose and the Global Progressive Forum.

Supporting refugees in their quest for a safer, better life is one of our concerns in these troubled times. What most people do not realise, though, is that discrimination, not only based on their country of origin, is a real issue for the people fleeing to Europe. This is why, on the 9th of February, the Global Progressive Forum is organising a Meet&Greet on LGBTIQUA and asylum-seeking. The guest speaker will be Moud Goba, a Zimbabwean lesbian and refugee residing in the UK. She is an LGBTI- and human-rights activist with more than 12 years’ experience in working with BME (black and minority ethnic)  LGBTI grassroots community groups and one of the founding members of UK Black Pride. The event will take place from 18:30 to 20:30 at Horloge du Sud - Rue du Trône 141, 1050 Brussels.

Also next Wednesday, 8 February, we will be organising a working group on extremism, populism, nationalism and xenophobia. Our MEPs will be joined by experts in a discussion on the Populist Radical Right in 2017.

Should you wish to attend our event, you can register via email, on s-d.Conf-Integration@ep.europa.eu

Alongside our sister organisations, we also getting ready for our next #EuropeTogether event. It is scheduled to take place in Rome, on 24 March, just one day before we celebrate 60 years since the signing of the Treaties of Rome. Follow our site for upcoming details!

S&D press contact