Quote of the week by President Iratxe García Pérez
“The Swedish Presidency looks like it wants to focus only on returning asylum-seekers instead of discussing a sustainable EU asylum and migration policy based on shared responsibility and solidarity. It is clear the Swedish government is being propped up by a far-right party that wants to return to a bygone era. I hope that the European Commission will not follow and will put pressure to live up to EU values.”
Coming up next week
The European Parliament will hold its Plenary session in Brussels on 1 - 2 February.
On Wednesday, the Parliament will be hearing from the Council and Commission on the preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February, in particular the need to develop sustainable solutions in the area of asylum and migration. We will be using this debate to send a clear message to EU leaders that we want to see commitments for a sustainable EU asylum and migration policy based on shared responsibility and solidarity.
On the same day, the plenary is set to confirm the vote from earlier this week in the European Parliament Committee on internal market and consumer protection on transparency and targeting of political ads. Our negotiator on this legislative proposal by the European Commission, Maria Manuel Leitão Marques, has significantly improved the initial text, to make sure it is always clear who is talking in political campaigns.
MEPs will also debate the need for an urgent update of the EU list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing purposes.
The current situation in Afghanistan is also on the Parliament’s agenda.
On Thursday, MEPs will discuss the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit. Our position is clear - we call on the presidents of the Council and Commission to seize this opportunity to underline our Union’s support for Ukraine in all areas: political support, humanitarian assistance, economic and military support, financial and technical assistance. We also welcome the European ambitions of the people of Ukraine, and therefore encourage Ukraine’s political leaders and authorities to seize the momentum and vigorously pursue the EU-related reform agenda; taking into account the priorities indicated by the EU Commission.
The European Parliament will also have its say on a particularly important issue that concerns every European - the future of the European industry. Our MEPs are drafting a resolution, to be voted by the plenary, with ideas on how to keep its competitiveness and ensure quality jobs for our citizens. This will be the EP contribution to a pertinent debate with the Commission and the Member States in the Council.
On the same day, MEPs will vote on the Parliament’s position regarding the landmark EU legislation that aims to improve the social and labour rights of gig earners working for Deliveroo, Helpling, Uber, and similar platforms. At the same time, it aims to protect the genuinely self-employed and good employers. We expect to secure the historic and balanced agreement that was reached last December by the Parliament’s employment committee, and negotiated by our Vice-President Elisabetta Gualmini, despite huge pressure from platforms.
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Parliament work continues outside plenary as well. On Tuesday, the civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee will vote to set up a single online platform for visa applications into the Schengen area. Our MEP Matjaž Nemec has been leading negotiations in the Parliament to ensure that, by going digital; visa procedures in the EU will be safer, simpler and more modern.
On Friday, we will follow the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev, taking place almost exactly on the first anniversary of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine since 24 February 2022. It will be an opportunity to strengthen the EU’s commitment towards Ukraine, and to reaffirm the unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who continue to show extraordinary courage and resilience under the relentless Russian attacks.
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