Quote of the week by President Iratxe García:
Violence against women does not distinguish between social classes or geographical origin. It occurs in all segments of society, in all countries of the world, and also in Europe, although some try to deny it. One in three women in Europe will suffer some type of violence during their lives, and in the worst case, they will lose their lives.
Now, we have a historic opportunity to give a voice to all women and survivors that gender-based violence is trying to silence. We finally have on the table a proposal for a first ever EU law devoted to combatting violence against women. However, we cannot have a European directive against gender-based violence that does not include rape, because this is one of the most extreme forms of violence against women. Only yes means yes. Sex without consent is rape.
Events
On Wednesday, 29 November, we will be hosting an event on Gender-Based Violence, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Saturday, 25 November). President Iratxe García will be joined by commissioner Helena Dalli, MEPs Evin Incir and Gaby Bischoff, as well as by Kirstine Holst, journalist and rape survivor, to discuss the impact of the directive on gender-based violence in the EU.
Two days before this, on Monday, we will be opening the exhibition What Were You Wearing. The event is organised together with Amnesty International and it will display clothing worn by rape victims. Events will be streamed live on our site.
This Saturday, 25 November, we will be in Nantes together with MEPs Isabel Carvalhais and Christophe Clergeau for the debate on Transforming agriculture and food policies: a social and environmental emergency. From 09:00 to 17:00, the event will be streamed live on our site and YouTube channel.
Join us on Thursday, 7 December, for the conference: Shaping Europe's digital model: building alliances for a progressive European vision, organised together with our partners at FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies).
We will be discussing the steps the EU has made in establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework to face the digital age, but also the many challenges that remain ahead: the rapid rise of opaque machine learning applications in the workplace and digital surveillance; the dependence on big tech platforms that abuse their market power and operate at odds with the values of democracy and solidarity, as well as questions around fundamental rights and data sovereignty.
Upcoming activities
Next week, S&D MEPs are voting on new rules relating to health data in the EU – the European Health Data Space. The legislation negotiated by S&D MEPs Sara Cerdas and Petar Vitanov will facilitate cross border healthcare, research and innovation in the field of health through the use of electronic health data, while ensuring strict rules on how electronic health data can be used and guarantees that individuals have control over them. The vote will take place on Tuesday, 28 November, during a joint meeting of the environment and public health committee and the civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee.
Next Tuesday, 28 November, is the day when members of the committee on culture and education will cast their votes on the report on cultural diversity and the conditions for authors in the European music streaming market – drafted by MEP Iban García del Blanco. Digital transformation has changed the music market beyond recognition with lots of new opportunities for artists and the public, but also with many new challenges. One of the main risks remains the decreased diversity of music styles as well as the bad practices of pitiful royalties paid to creators and performers by streaming services. But there are also many more. It was high time the European Parliament dealt with the new reality in the music sector and we are proud of the work done by leading negotiator Iban García del Blanco. The S&D Group is optimistic about the vote next Tuesday in the EP committee on culture and education and, if everything goes according to plan, the report will go for adoption to the next plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (11-14 December 2023).
On Tuesday evening, the European Parliament, Council and Commission are scheduled to finalise an agreement on the revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). The goal is to provide strong environmental and human health protection by preventing or minimising emissions into air, water and soil from diverse industrial sources. This directive encompasses a broad spectrum of heavily polluting industries, including large combustion plants, waste incineration and cement factories. Our negotiator, S&D vice-president Mohammed Chahim, representing our Group, has ensured a balanced approach that considers both high environmental and climate standards and the practical feasibility for industrial sectors, with a particular focus on livestock.
Next Wednesday, the environment committee of the European Parliament is set to finalise its position on the Nature Restoration Law – the first continent-wide law of its kind. Europe's nature is in alarming decline, with more than 80% of habitats in poor condition. This law aims to restore at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. Despite opposition from the conservative European People's Party in the first reading, our negotiator, César Luena, managed to build a progressive majority in support of the law. For the S&Ds, this key pillar of the Green Deal is crucial to reversing biodiversity loss, fighting against climate change, ensuring sustainable food production and improving general well-being. Restoring biodiversity is an essential part of the Green Deal, which the S&D Group put at the heart of the Commission programme at the beginning of this legislature and is now delivering on.
On 3 December, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We call for a swift adoption of the new EU legislation to create cards to facilitate free movement of persons with disabilities in the EU. These cards will serve as proof of disability status and grant cardholders equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment anywhere in the EU. The special conditions apply when using public transport, attending cultural events and visiting museums, leisure and sport centres, amusement parks and more. They can take the form of – among others – free entry, reduced tariffs, priority access, personal assistance and mobility aid.
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