Quote of the week by S&D president, Iratxe García, on the MFF negotiations

“The European Parliament made a very reasonable proposal to finance the agenda for the Europe we need. The four largest political groups in the Parliament stand united and will reject any budget proposal that undermines the policies that citizens need. We will not accept that there are winners and losers in this negotiation. Together we must make an effort to find the solution that balances all these needs and that leaves no person and no region behind. We all have to make an effort to deliver for European citizens, and I have already told president Charles Michel that we expect a change in attitude from the leaders in the Council”
 

Coming up

S&D Group leader, Iratxe García, will be on mission in Mexico and Cuba next week, together with MEP Kati Piri, who is the S&D vice-president responsible for foreign policy, and MEP Javi López, co-chair of the EU-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (EUROLAT) and member of the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee. More details about both missions can be found here.

Next week, European Affairs Ministers meet on Tuesday when they are expected to adopt the final mandate for negotiations on a new partnership with the UK. What to expect next? See what S&D MEPs have to say here. We want a fair deal for citizens on both sides which avoids any harmful race-to-the-bottom.

Trade committee chair Bernd Lange and S&D MEP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri will be in Washington from the February 24 to 27 with five other members to discuss trade relations with US counterparts. Since Donald Trump took office, trade relations have been rocky with the US imposing illegal import duties on aluminium and steel, threatening illegal tariffs on European cars and blocking the reappointment of judges for the WTO's trade dispute court. S&Ds have been leading calls that the EU must not cave in to bullying. The aim of this trip is to sound out if there is now a renewed willingness on the US side to work towards common solutions in a spirit of partnership.

And don’t forget to follow all our latest updates and reactions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Contatto/i stampa S&D