Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the EU's diplomatic link to the rest of the world. And the 🇪🇺Commission plans to diminish its abilities by cutting its already reduced funding. Our MEP Nacho Sanchez Amor explains why this is a very, very bad idea. https://lnkd.in/e7-qxSPk

What are the S&D positions on the key files in next week's #Eplenary session? Read the S&D Times here ⬇️

FEPS took part in the #EPGenderEqualityWeek! FEMM Chair and FEPS VP Lina Gálvez Muñoz hosted the launch event of our new book 'A New Gender Equality Contract for Europe', at the European Parliament. Couldn’t make it? Watch the recording! 📺 https://lnkd.in/ebU_WaEK The book argues why gender equality should become a unifying force (the glue!) towards more egalitarian, solidaristic and caring societies. Featuring gender experts from diverse disciplines, the book connects feminist academic intelligence with hands-on policymaking. Its chapters cover a wide range of topics, including education, reproductive health, labour, care, cultural rights, democracy, climate, and Feminist Foreign Policy. Several of the book’s authors were present to share its key findings and engage policymakers in discussions on how to consolidate positive narratives about feminist issues, including: 🔸 Peto Andrea, Professor in the Department of Gender Studies, Central European University 🔸 Krystyna Dzwonkowska-Godula, Sociologist and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Sociology, University of Łódź, Poland  🔸 Mafalda Dâmaso, Academic and Independent Consultant Specialising in EU Cultural and Media Policy 🔸 Ann Linde, FEPS Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden 🔸 Katarzyna Szkuta (PhD), EU and International Affairs Advisor and Advisor to the State Secretary for Equality, Belgium It is crucial to shift away from the gender backlash and to create a new #GenderEqualityContract for Europe that policymakers can unite around! Read the book now 📕 https://lnkd.in/enEqN2Da 🎙️ Would you like to get a glimpse of the book? Listen to the new episode of FEPS Talks, with one of the authors, Eugenia Caracciolo di Torella, who explores the transformative role of care in advancing gender equality. 🎧 https://lnkd.in/eyx89zHc

The fight for gender equality isn’t over!   This year’s Gender Equality Index from the European Institute for Gender Equality is out. The EU’s average score of 71 out of 100 shows that progress is possible, but gender equality remains far from a reality for everyone in the EU.    The EU managed to increase women's representation in decision-making roles and to narrow the gender gap in employment. However, improvement is needed in areas such as risk of poverty, positions of power, and the division of care and housework tasks.   In the workforce, the employment gap between men and women has decreased slightly, but disparities persist, particularly for mothers and women born outside the EU. Women also face a higher risk of poverty—especially lone mothers and older women—with 33% of lone mothers at risk compared to 24% of lone fathers.   Women’s presence in power has increased, with female ministers now making up 35% of EU governments. However, women remain underrepresented overall, with only 33% of national parliament members being women. This underscores the need for stronger measures to ensure gender balance in politics.   The results are clear: the EU can do better. We advocate for the adoption of the EU Charter of Women’s Rights, initiated by the S&D Group, to set uniform EU-wide standards for women’s rights and promote gender equality across all EU policies.    Additionally, we want to build an ambitious roadmap for a feminist Europe, which integrates best practices to secure equal rights for all women, focusing on work-life balance, sexual and reproductive health, eliminating gender-based violence, closing pay and pension gaps, and ensuring gender equality in decision-making.   These challenges and ambitions are at the heart of this week’s Gender Equality Week, hosted by the European Parliament, providing a platform to address solutions and reaffirm commitments to equality. Together, we can make gender equality a reality for all. 💪 #genderequality #paygap #genderpaygap #pensiongap #womensrights

Here are our priorities for the week ahead. Check out the S&D Times 👇

PEACE IS POSSIBLE! 🇵🇸 🕊️ 🇮🇱 Join us on Tuesday 17 Dec for a roundtable debate in the Parliament in Strasbourg with renowned peace activists from Palestine and Israel- including our 2024 Sakharov Prize finalists. Info & registrations ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eGvxtXc9

Our best answer to the politics of hatred coming from the far right is to offer ever more fraternity and solidarity. Being a socialist means working relentlessly to improve the lives of the many and learn to grow together.   In this week’s episode of our Red at ❤️ series, we talk to French S&D Member and Vice-President Christophe Clergeau

It's a wrap for another #EPlenary in Strasbourg! Check out President Iratxe Garcia's comment on the election of the new 🇪🇺 Commission and an update on upcoming activities.

Meet the progressive team in the new European Commission! Teresa, Roxana, Dan and Glenn are the four strong and highly qualified Commissioners in the next college, with portfolios that reflect our progressive policy priorities. Find out more about them below in our breakdown - plus and minuses. Teresa Ribera - Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition She really is the best woman for this job. With her at the helm, we are confident that the EU will take decisive steps toward a clean, competitive economy that creates jobs and drives green innovation. She will be essential to implementing the Green Deal laws, strengthening a just transition for all, and making EU industry fit for today’s challenges: one that is competitive and delivers high-quality jobs in Europe. + Experience, engagement, effectiveness - we’re sorry we only have one Teresa! Roxana Mînzatu - Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Quality Jobs and Preparedness We know she will be a strong and passionate advocate for social Europe. We pushed for and succeeded in including the reference to quality jobs and social rights in her title, to adequately describe the significance of her role. With right extremism threatening our core values, it is now more important than ever to keep on protecting and strengthening our unique social model. + heart, honesty, hard worker - none whatsoever! Dan Jørgensen - Commissioner for Energy and Housing We are proud that we have managed to secure the first ever European Commissioner for housing, putting the European affordable housing plan in safe, social democratic hands, as well as protecting people and industries from new energy price shocks and stop windfall profits. + bold, balanced, best man for the job - pioneering a new path is never easy, but we’ll stand by him every step of the way Glenn Micallef - Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport With nominating the youngest Commissioner ever for the youth portfolio, we have realised the long standing demand of our group of putting youth issues at the center of EU policies. + mature, mindful, motivated - we dare you to come up with one!

S&D President Iratxe Garcia addresses the press ahead of this week's plenary vote on the new 🇪🇺Commission. Live now!