On 24 December 2020, the UK and EU agreed a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement to govern the future trading and security relationship now that the UK has left the EU. President Ursula von der Leyen spoke about the “long and winding road ” that led to an agreement. However, it is also clear that there is much…
Economy
Libya’s future depends on the economic situation
Libyan politicians are confident that after the economy recovery, the country will be able to achieve reconciliation and stability. Many Libyan politicians, including the vice president of the Government of National Accord, Ahmed Maiteeq, are more than sure that Libya needs to solve the economic issue, and only then move on to the issue of…
EU Pillar of Social Rights
The European Parliament is calling on European leaders to make social rights legally enforceable and reach concrete social objectives by 2030. The Socialists and Democrats had pushed for the 2017 adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights in Gothenburg and are now leading the drive for a Porto Agenda, to be signed by EU…
Economic Impact of COVID
The early measures taken by the EU and its Member States to counter the economic impact of COVID-19 have helped save jobs and businesses, according to the European Court of Auditors (ECA). However, the auditors also see the risk that the pandemic’s uneven impact on Member States and their differing capacities to support their economies…
New Industrial Strategy
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the new Industrial Strategy. It calls for the new industrial strategy – planned for publication in March next year – to be in line with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and to create the conditions for an innovative, inclusive, resilient, digitalised society. In the context…
European Tax Observatory
There will be a European Tax Observatory headed by the renowned progressive tax economist Gabriel Zucman. This will implement an idea of the European Greens, which they launched in October 2019 together with Social Democrats and Liberals in the European Parliament. German Greens MEP Sven Giegold told this website,”That is great news. Because just like…
Stumbling to Another Crisis?
The EU is urged to avoid another crisis in the wake of the pandemic Markus Ferber MEP said, “We have to be very careful that the current frenzy of Corona spending does not lead us directly into the next debt crisis.” “Therefore, the European Commission urgently needs to establish when and under what conditions the application…
Making the Single Market Sustainable
The Socialists and Democrats in parliament have tabled a position paper on the Sustainable Single Market for Consumers and Businesses. In the paper, they call on the Commission to present ambitious legislative proposals necessary to adapt the Single Market to the challenges of climate and degradation of the environment, and describe why it is a social question to…
Getting People Into Jobs
The European Parliament has prolonged the successful cooperation programme Network of European public Employment Services (PES) for another seven years. The Socialists and Democrats support the platform, which enables the exchange of best practices, setting benchmarks and mutual learning with the goal of becoming more effective and efficient. Manuel Pizarro, S&D MEP and author of…
CPMR Calls For Inclusion in NGEU
The Conference of Peripheral Maritime (CPMR) says it welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the EU Council on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The deal marks a decisive step towards providing the regions with adequate and timely means to deliver the recovery in this uncertain moment. The agreement foresees to reinforce…