Brussels, my love? Bumper Strasbourg session brings term to an end
Summary
TLDRIn this week's episode of Brussels My Love, hosted by Ma McMahan, the show discusses the final plenary session of the current European Parliament session held in Strasbourg. The session marked the end of five eventful years for MEPs, who voted on 90 different topics ranging from air quality to EU fiscal rules. The program reviews significant achievements, including the migration pact and the regulation of artificial intelligence. However, it also addresses the challenges faced, such as the global pandemic, inflation, the Ukraine crisis, and the Green Deal's current status. As the term wraps up, attention turns to the upcoming elections, with less than 50 days for aspiring MEPs to win voters' trust. The show features insights from Robert Biedroń, a Polish MEP from the Socialist group, Deirdre Clon, an Irish MEP from the European People's Party, and Jamie Duke, the spokesperson for the European Parliament. They discuss the Parliament's response to crises, the importance of the Green Deal, and the need for transparency and ethical conduct in light of recent corruption scandals. The episode also highlights the importance of voter participation in shaping the future of Europe amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine and the global fight for democracy.
Takeaways
- 📜 The European Parliament concluded its current session with a final plenary in Strasburg, marking the end of five eventful years for MEPs.
- 🗳️ Upcoming European Parliament elections are less than 50 days away, with new MEPs to be determined by voters across the continent.
- 🌍 The Parliament addressed a wide range of topics, from air quality improvements to changes in EU fiscal rules, with 90 different issues voted on during the final session.
- 🏗️ Major legislative achievements include the migration package, the first-ever regulation of artificial intelligence, and the establishment of targets for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.
- 📉 Despite progress, challenges such as the global pandemic, inflation, and the Ukraine crisis have cast a shadow over the term, with some legislation like the Green Deal facing opposition.
- 🤝 A consensus-driven approach in the Parliament means that often compromises are necessary, leading to outcomes that satisfy no single group entirely.
- 💼 The business community and SMEs have expressed mixed feelings about the legislative term, with some feeling left out and others recognizing the need for balance between regulation and economic viability.
- 🌱 Climate activists are urging for more ambitious action on the Green Deal, expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of progress on climate change legislation.
- 👥 The Parliament has seen an increase in women MEPs, with calls for more gender balance and women in leadership positions to better represent the diversity of the European population.
- 📊 Recent polls suggest a higher level of engagement from European citizens with regards to the upcoming elections, indicating a potential increase in voter turnout.
- ⏰ The final vote on the first-ever EU rules to prevent gender-based violence and protect victims of domestic violence was a significant milestone, with a majority of MEPs voting in favor.
Q & A
What was the significance of the last plenary session of the current session of MEPs?
-The last plenary session marked the end of a five-year term for the current MEPs and included voting on 90 different topics, signifying the conclusion of their legislative work before the upcoming elections.
What are some of the major legislative achievements of the European Parliament in the past five years?
-Some major achievements include the passage of a migration package, the regulation of artificial intelligence, and the establishment of targets for climate neutrality by 2050 as part of the Green Deal.
How has the European Parliament responded to the corruption scandal involving some of its members?
-The Parliament responded by adopting 14 points aimed at modifying and strengthening its rules, increasing transparency, and ensuring better oversight of its members' activities.
What are the key issues that European citizens are reportedly engaging with and planning to vote on in the upcoming elections?
-Fresh data suggests that Europeans are engaging with the elections and planning to vote, with issues such as climate change, social inclusion, education, and the economy being of particular concern.
What was the outcome of the vote on the first-ever EU rules to prevent gender-based violence and protect victims from domestic violence?
-The vote resulted in 522 MEPs voting in favor, 27 against, and 72 abstaining, with EU countries now having three years to implement these rules.
What are the concerns of the European Women's Lobby regarding the new directive on gender-based violence?
-While applauding the step, the European Women's Lobby believes the final law is not perfect and emphasizes the need for more women in leadership positions, parity in democracy, and a stronger focus on women's rights.
How has the European Parliament demonstrated flexibility in addressing various crises over the past five years?
-The Parliament has shown flexibility by quickly responding to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis, while also adopting over 500 pieces of legislation on various fundamental issues.
What is the importance of the upcoming European Parliament elections, and why should citizens participate?
-The upcoming elections are crucial for shaping the future of the European continent, not just for the next five years but potentially for a decade or more. Citizens' participation is key to ensuring their voices are heard and their interests are represented.
What are the challenges faced by the European Parliament in balancing the needs of different stakeholders, such as businesses, consumers, and workers?
-The Parliament must balance the interests of various stakeholders while creating legislation, ensuring that the needs of businesses for a competitive environment, consumers for protection, and workers for fair conditions are all considered.
How has the European Parliament addressed the issue of platform workers' rights?
-The Parliament passed legislation aimed at protecting an estimated 30 million platform workers in Europe, ensuring they have the same rights both offline and online.
What is the significance of the vote on the common charger directive for the European Union?
-The vote on the common charger directive is significant as it not only simplifies the use of electronic devices for consumers by reducing the need for multiple chargers but also contributes to environmental protection by reducing electronic waste.
Outlines
🌍 Final Session of the European Parliament
The video script introduces the final plenary session of the current European Parliament session in Strasbourg. It highlights the session's significance as the last one for the current MEPs after five years, and discusses the variety of topics voted on, including air quality and fiscal rules. The session's outcomes are evaluated, the focus shifts to upcoming elections, and the engagement of European citizens with these elections is explored. The discussion also touches on the migration package, the regulation of artificial intelligence, and the challenges faced during the term such as the global pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.
🗳️ Reactions to the European Parliament's Term
This paragraph delves into the reactions and discussions among MEPs regarding their performance over the past five years. It covers the adoption of over 500 pieces of legislation, the challenges posed by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The narrative also addresses the corruption scandal that impacted the Parliament's reputation. There's an emphasis on the need for consensus and compromise within the Parliament, and the importance of having a unified position on various issues, including environmental laws and public health.
💼 Business and Climate Activism Perspectives
The focus here is on the perspectives of the business community and climate activists on the European Parliament's actions. It discusses the legislation passed on the Green Deal and the concerns of activists that not enough has been done to address the climate crisis. There's mention of the various groups monitoring the Parliament's actions, including SME representatives and business interests. The narrative also touches on the importance of balancing the needs of different stakeholders, including workers, businesses, and the environment.
👥 Public Opinion and Priorities
This section explores public opinion and priorities, emphasizing the importance of social inclusion, education, and the environment. It includes insights from individuals in Brussels about what they would prioritize if they were MEPs. The discussion highlights the results of a poll indicating that rising prices and social inequalities are significant concerns for the public. The narrative underscores the need for the European Union to address these issues and the importance of engaging with citizens beyond the political sphere.
📊 Voter Engagement and the Upcoming Election
The script addresses the importance of voter engagement in the upcoming European Parliament elections. It presents statistics indicating a potential increase in voter turnout and emphasizes the role of citizens in shaping the future of Europe. The discussion includes the president of the European Parliament's call to action for voters to participate in the elections and the potential impact of a shift to the right in the Parliament. The narrative also considers the influence of the European elections on the global stage and the importance of a unified European response to current challenges.
🏛️ Achievements and the Road Ahead
The final paragraph reflects on the achievements of the European Parliament and the road ahead. It discusses the new directive to prevent gender-based violence and protect victims of domestic violence, which was passed with a majority vote. The European Women's Lobby is highlighted for its advocacy on this issue. The narrative also touches on the need for more women in leadership positions and the progress made towards gender equality within the Parliament. The discussion concludes with a look forward to the new MEPs and the future direction of the European Union.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡European Parliament
💡MEPs
💡Strasbourg
💡
💡Green Deal
💡Migration Pack
💡Artificial Intelligence Act
💡Platform Workers Directive
💡Gender-based Violence
💡Corruption Scandal
💡Elections
💡Business Environment
Highlights
The European Parliament held its final plenary session in Strasburg, marking the end of the current session with MEPs voting on 90 different topics.
Over the past five years, the Parliament has addressed significant issues such as migration, artificial intelligence regulation, and the green deal amidst global challenges like the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis.
MEPs discussed the importance of the upcoming European elections, with less than 50 days for aspiring MEPs to convince voters of their suitability as ambassadors for the next five-year term.
Recent data suggests that Europeans are engaging with the elections, with a majority planning to vote, indicating a potential increase in voter turnout.
The Parliament has made strides in legislation, including a migration pack, green deal targets for 2030 and 2050, and a directive for platform workers' rights.
The Parliament also focused on public health, establishing a strengthened European Centre for Disease Control and European Medicines Agency post-COVID-19.
Despite progress, challenges remain, including the largest corruption scandal in the Parliament's history, which is still under investigation.
The Parliament has shown flexibility and quick response to crises, such as adopting legislation to protect 30 million platform workers in Europe.
A common charger for all devices was agreed upon, aiming to simplify consumer experience and protect the environment.
The Parliament's role in consensus-building and addressing various files, such as the Plastics directive, was emphasized, despite mixed reactions from different groups.
The importance of addressing climate change was underscored by activists, who criticized the Parliament's pace in tackling the climate crisis.
Business representatives expressed concerns about feeling left out and the need for better understanding of the business environment in regulatory decisions.
The Parliament is urged to balance the needs of consumers, climate action, and business to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future.
The European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, called on citizens to participate in the upcoming elections to shape the future of Europe.
The Parliament voted on the first-ever EU rules to prevent gender-based violence and protect victims of domestic violence, with 522 MEPs voting in favor.
The European Women's Lobby called for more women in leadership positions, emphasizing gender balance as crucial for true democracy.
The Parliament's focus on gender equality and women's rights was highlighted, with calls for continued improvement and increased female participation in politics.
Transcripts
[Music]
hello there and welcome to Brussels my
love Ur news's weekly talk show coming
to you this week from Strasburg I'm ma
McMahan thank you so much for tuning in
coming up this week time's up after five
eventful years this week marked the very
last plary of the current session MEPS
flocked to Strasburg to vote on no fewer
than 90 different topics we take a
closer look at what matters and what's
less important and ask if these 705
lawmakers got the job done and with
final business wrapped up here in
Strasburg all eyes are now on upcoming
elections aspiring MPS have under 50
days to convince voters why they should
be their ambassadors for the next five
years fresh data suggests that Europeans
are for the most part engaging with
these elections and planning to vote we
check if that is true with our guests
this weekend H Robert beadon polish MEP
from the Socialist group hello dear de
Clon European People's Party MEP from
Ireland and jam Duke the spokesperson
for the European Parliament the main man
responsible for communicating this
institution so lovely to have you all H
with us but as usual before we get your
views let's just tell our viewers in
fact what was done and dusted this week
here in
Strasburg 90 the number of issues voted
on this week in this chamber from
improving air quality to changing the EU
fiscal rules that limit government
spending it was a full house in
Strasburg this 5-year term has seen some
big wins lawmakers sealed a deal on a
migration pack after a decade of
wrangling and Europe became the first
continent in the world to regulate
artificial
[Music]
intelligence but overshadowing the term
a global pandemic rocketing inflation
Bloodshed in Ukraine and a controversial
set of environmental laws the green deal
that now seem to be on life support not
to mention the largest corruption
scandal in the history of the
parliament as a MPS pack up their
belongings to check out we ask them if
they think they got the job done and
what is still unfinished
[Music]
business so that's the question are you
ready to check out have you got the job
done do you feel that you've done what
you promised your voters that you would
do oh one thing is sure it was not a
boring term of European Parliament when
we delivered so much in very difficult
times there is this saying may you live
in interesting times and I think that
that was for sure an interesting time
for we've been saying that on repeat I
believe over the last couple of years
we've just seen in that report how many
hurdles had to be jumped and of course
in that context that we've been in De
will you go back home now to Ireland
feeling satisfied that you've done what
you promised to do well I think you can
point to the green deal and what was
done done there we've addressed climate
change a lot and we need to we need to
put structures in place to make sure it
happens and that's what we did by
establishing targets for 2030 not yet
240 but 2050 as well that Europe will be
CL climate neutral I think that was
important and if you see lots of the
legislation we put through was measures
and how how to implement that we
couldn't have predicted Co I didn't
predict it in the last election or the
war in Ukraine um and the energy crisis
that come from that I mean this is this
is the thing about Europe that you can't
predict really and that responds to
crisis sometimes well sometimes not so
well but I think from Co we can see
we've got a renewed a focus not renewed
but a focus now on public health we've a
strengthened European Center for Disease
Control European medicines agency more
vigilance uh to ensure that such a a
crisis or pandemic won't happen again
never and just on the climate crisis we
come back to that later because there
was actually a group of activists here
uh in Strasburg this week very vocal but
Jamie Duke from your position what have
been the highs and the lows for you over
the past five years well obviously it
has been quite a challenging legislature
because of brexit at the beginning and
then Co and then of course the war in
Ukraine and now uh Middle East and many
other things but it has also been very
positive and very constructive and
successful I mean during these five last
years more than 500 pieces of
legislation have been adopted and some
of them are really fundamental I mean
everything linked to the green deal the
migration pack the artificial
intelligence ACT first in the world uh
the laws try also being there to protect
media Freedom many many things have been
done I would say in parallel to uh this
extra work which was coping with covid
working one and a half years in very
difficult
circumstances creating Unity around
Ukraine and of course negotiating brexit
in a quite positive way for for the
continent for Europeans well you could
see the interest was here there was
about 900 journalists I believe
reporting from the European Parliament
in Strasburg this week we could hardly
get a place to sit at the Press Room was
so busy but we saw as well there was
votes this week on the platform a
workers directive that we've reported on
extensively here at Euro News also the
corporate due diligence sustainable
directive but also when these votes
finally happen nobody ever seems very
happy so that something as you guys as
MPS you need to accept that well nobody
seems happy I think you know there's a
certain relief I mean when the due
diligence went through today there was a
a round of applause uh the violence
against women directive there was a
strong Round of Applause but that's a
round of applause inside the chamber I'm
talking about voices outside theber it's
important to finally get something
because you know nobody has an overall
no group has an overall majority in this
Parliament well you obviously have to
budge a lot on your values or on your
belief sometimes and then the last thing
we all want I want to see the last thing
is that you Parliament doesn't have a
position on the file because that would
be catastrophe so that's I think that's
what drives most MEPS we want to have a
a position the European parli to have a
position nobody it's compromise it's
consensus you're not going to get
everything you want I think the the
position of the parliament and the
flexibility that what we proved in this
term is that European Parliament became
flexible to respond quickly on the knes
like uh the platform workers 30 million
workers in Europe be protected and will
have same rights offline and online
which is very important for for them and
the other example of pra practicality is
this charger now we we will have one
common charger for all devices isn't it
something practical not only because you
have a single charger but also to
protect environment what what a great
thing we have and this is this is what
European union and European Parliament
is for to solve this simple things for
people to to work for common and as I
said earlier we're talking about 90
different votes that took place this
week which is of course a lot of content
to get through but Jamie I'm looking at
you now because of course what slightly
tarnished um this perhaps um mandate was
also that horrific corruption Scandal
and money laundering Scandal last winter
that saw a number of members of this
house allegedly under the influence of
certain governments now the the
investigation is still very much under
under way but how do you deal with a
situation like that because of course
that's what grabs the headlines it's not
the single charger or the platform
directive it's these big scandals linked
to some of your members yeah I would say
the first days of course uh were were
difficult because we didn't know exactly
uh whether this was a real corruption
case how many members how deep it would
be and still we don't know because it's
under investigation but now we see that
this is not something or this was not
something system mix this was a couple
of people inside and outside European
Parliament but um how do you confront
this kind of situation I would say in
this case it was quite easy in reality
not the first days but after one week
why because there was a reaction there
was there was a positive reaction of
this house starting by President metsola
immediately the discussion about the
rules to be modified to be adopted to be
added to the way this house is being uh
is is working uh was the real debate and
all these rules have been adopted the 14
points and we'll have to see in the next
term if these rules have teeth just
briefly was that something though that
voters back home in Poland and Ireland
were angry with you about this case well
they were angry and surprised of course
of the lack of transparency and the
rules but the uh prompt application of
the rules set an example for the member
states I come from Poland and we were
struggling for years on corruption lack
of transparency lack of rule of law uh
demolition of all these fundaments of
democratic state so uh European union
and European Parliament said a model how
you should deal with this crisis
management uh issue and I think we we
made it quite well for European
Parliament and European citizens so
another good achievement yeah and then
we have like in Ireland we do have
transparency requirements where you have
to register everybody you meet but that
didn't apply to MEPS and and but now we
have situation place where all your
meetings you have and and your are your
staff as well have to be registered in a
public register you can only meet people
who are on the transparency register or
individuals or groupings and I think you
know that is important uh to give
confidence to the citizens of Europe
that we are be behaving or we're acting
in an ethical fashion we do our business
clearly um independent of of any
influence even though not every MEP here
is doing their business correctly and
this week we saw the Scandal as well
about one German the head of the the far
right group afd whose assistant was
actually arrested in his hometown of
Tren for allegedly spying on behalf of
the Chinese um government but we will
keep an eye on that investigation and go
back now to the topic that you mentioned
earlier which was of course the
legislation passed on the green deal
because I remember in 2019 the climate
crisis was definitely one of the biggest
topics of the elections but now it seems
to have slipped off the radar a little
bit and that's something that the
climate activists that were here this
week from all across Europe really want
to change uh many of them took the train
to Strasburg to remind MEPS that they
are not going anywhere and I had the
chance to ask them if they think MEPS
got the job
done no I would not say they have gotten
the job done and I don't think that's my
opinion that's the opinion of everyone
who's aware of the climate crisis right
now the last time I was here was in 2019
during the rise of the climate strike
movement and since then really very
little has changed we've had a new
European Parliament but we haven't
gotten that much further if you imagine
the climate crisis to Mount Everest we
may be at base camp but we're nowhere
near where we need to get and uh we see
that uh time is running out and we see
now more and more parliamentarians
coming up with excuses and uh
greenwashing initiatives instead of real
solutions um and real demands for clim
justice and that's just not good enough
so well-known activist there calling on
people to elect politicians that put s
science climate science and facts H
first they worry that the climate
emergency is being ignored and deor cl
and they mentioned your political party
the European people's party and blamed
your political party for watering down a
number of these files on the green deal
well I I don't think that's actually
true if you look at the figures and what
my party would have voted for would
accepted the targets to 2030 and 2050
but how we get there we had a a
different approach in fact I suppose my
Irish grouping as well we we wouldn't
have had supported the group in many
ways but I agree with you the BPP had a
different approach but did not deny that
we needed to meet those targets of 203
2050 and ultimately you know you can you
have to get a consensus in this
Parliament 705 MEPS uh and that's what
that's what we have a consensus uh I
believe it will deliver um it's easy as
it's easy to to to put Targets in place
and say reduce your emissions by 55%
2030 but how you do that how you get
that in a balanced way that you don't uh
you're conscious of Industries conscious
of jobs conscious of farmers as well you
have to bring everybody with you
otherwise you're going nowhere well
we've seen the farmers protesting many
times outside the the parliament here um
and those climate activists believe that
they were prioritized the farmers um as
opposed to actual the science here one
one thing is sure in this discussion
there is no Planet B and if we don't
protect the burning already the planet
we won't have any discussion in the
future because it will be done so what
we should remember is about the PRI what
we prioritize and what we should
prioritize of course uh to save the
planet and I think the the voice of
these young people is very important
they are really ringing the bell and I'm
really surprised that so many
politicians don't don't hear this uh uh
this sound and uh with the green deals
it's like with this old series TV show
where you have a lot of turns with of
action and a lot of plots and so on and
so but the end of the day at the end of
the day it's about making our continent
safe uh with this climate catastrophe
this is what we need to deliver and jam
you're of course AP political you're the
spokesperson of the European Parliament
but you have to keep an eye of course on
all this political squabbling and
communicate to the public what's at
stake here and these very complicated
files that often you know you need to
read the nitty-gritty the the small
print which many people probably do not
do how are you managing to communicate
on all these various files well I mean
you need to be very factual you need
tojust to communicate the facts what the
parliament has been deciding and then in
some way you are preparing the ground
for the political parties for the
political groups for the members to
explain their political uh decisions and
their positions so first of all the
journalists and sometimes I would say
even the Citizens need to understand
what's at stake and what are the
possible solutions and what are the
complexities of the topic and then it's
for the politicians it's for the real
representatives of citizens to come with
their own recipes and with their own i s
and this week there was that big vote on
the Plastics uh directive but many NOS
regretting that it wasn't as ambitious
as they wanted it to be but another
group that of course was keeping an eye
as as well here on the Last 5 Years of
the European Parliament mandate were
people who work for smmes and represent
business um if you're focused on
business uh in Europe there's a lot at
stake for you right now of course with
the cost of living crisis we want to
check in uh with the business community
and hear how they feel about this term
and see if they feel the me's got the
job job done so we asked the president
of Euros shamp Vladimir
DUI maybe the M MEPS they did achieve
their goals but I don't know whether
those goals were always our goals and
whether those goals and the achievements
were positive or negative for the
business environment in Europe do
understand well how difficult conditions
for some businesses in Europe are do
understand well that we have been
lacking behind over past 50 years do
come closer to the everyday reality
speak to the businesses and understand
the regulation and be ready even to
tackle what I'm calling the holy Grails
like climate change policies and other
things so Vladimir DUI there from Euros
shamb saying that businesses have felt a
little bit left out H dear clean would
you agree with that do you feel that
you've had your ear to the ground here
in the last couple of years are you
mindful of their challenges well I think
yeah certainly i' we've listened to to
the business and they're con concerned
about to the business Community your sh
have a very strong presence here U they
make their comments their feelings known
and their opinions on various files that
go through here but I think there's a
balance always between um consumers and
and as you mentioned climate and
business as well but I certainly would
be somebody who wants to encourage a
business environment because without
jobs there is no future going around in
circles I
feel if I could say the next term like
the focus on competitiveness uh the with
the report you've had from Eno let this
week on the single Market I think that
those changes need to be looked at
seriously and implemented because single
Market it's not working for services
it's not working you know if you're an
architect an engineer if you're selling
a software engineer living in Ireland
where I'm from you it's it's difficult
to sell your product and your services
across Europe it's extremely fragmented
and that's we had a whole show about it
in fact um last that's the challenge for
us to get that services and the digital
bit right and then I feel we can um
really make
I would agree that we need to find the
balance but you must remember that
without workers there won't be any
business because employees they are the
core of every business and during this
all of these crisises covid pandemic war
in Ukraine in high inflation in member
states and European Union so many people
are left behind uh that we also should
remember how to take care also of them
because they are usually paying the
highest price and European Union should
also remember about those uh people who
are left behind and that's why for us
it's always so important as well to go
beyond the bubble and speak to people
and we caught up with some um people in
Brussels to hear what they would do what
they would prioritize if they in fact
were here as
MEPS I think I'm the worst person to be
having this conversation with well I
guess it's Mobility
immigration and the climate investment
in technology also migration policies
and and uh ecology but being responsible
at the same time don't have any um
interest in it so I think I will
prioritize uh social inclusion of people
yeah and of course uh the environment
and the climate change defend the right
uh for uh immigration for uh labors I
think uh mainly education for everybody
to me that's one of the most important
things so very interesting there that a
lot of people don't even know exactly
what an MEP H does I mean you brought
your charger there but as well we saw H
social inclusion of people education big
priority for people and according to
your news poll as well that we did
recently Rising prices and the reduction
of social inequalities were the big
issues of course like what you mentioned
and there we have the platform workers
this week uh working time last time with
the work life balance directive uh
minimum pay uh you know there's been a
lot as well in this term and recognizing
that
as as Robert says unless you have
workers uh you don't have any business
so jam are you satisfied yeah well I
mean priorities of course are not the
same country by country because the
situations are not the same you have
looked to the last spring uh EUR
barometer you see that in some countries
it's about um social policies it's about
access to jobs uh it's about uh fighting
against poverty in other places is still
mostly about Environ and fighting
against climate change but there is also
a trend which is now let's say growing
in most of the member states which is
about defending peace and defending
democracy and on that conclusion uh that
brings this conversation to an end uh
but stay with us because after the break
we'll be telling you about the big
European Parliament election campaign
that kicks off as of next Monday see you
soon here on EUR news
[Music]
welcome back to Brussels my love with me
mave McMahan coming to you this week
from Strasburg now as you heard this
week was the last plenary session of the
Mandate and from the 6th to the 9th of
June Europeans will have the chance to
vote for the 10th time to set the scene
the European Parliament quizzed the
continent to see if people were planning
to go to the polls and according to the
26,000 people interviewed 71% are eager
133% are not and only two % do not know
Jamie this must be music to your ears no
to see this outcome well of course it's
music to my ears but I'm also realistic
and I know that in surveys people tend
to vote more than in reality but what
it's important is that the 71% of people
means 10 more points than in
2019 uh so this means that that right
now there are at least 10 more points
people who are prepared to vote so in
reality yeah we could be quite positive
or optimistic about turnout during the
next European elections and we could see
quite a spike in participation something
that I'm sure you're really trying to
work on and improve H well just on that
note earlier this week I sat down with
the president of the European Parliament
in the hemicycle Roberta metsola who is
really begging people to get out there
and vote this June take a listen look at
the chair uh they're empty but in a few
minutes they will be filled uh with uh
705 today 720 uh in just over A month's
time where those 720 are going to be
taking decisions for you now you have a
choice you either decide who you want to
sit in these chairs or you let others
decide for you uh those people sitting
there from your country are going to be
your country's ambassadors they're going
to be taking decisions that affect your
everyday life this is something you can
affect with your vote every 5 years
don't miss out on that opportunity how
would your voters back home in Poland
feel about that message would they be
like yes okay we go vote or they don't
care
I think many people feel that these
elections will be fundamental for the
future not only Europe but also the
world because what happens in Europe
doesn't stay in Europe Europe is not Las
Vegas in this matter uh it influences
the world and we must also understand
that in this year in
2024 uh there will be 50 Nations casting
their votes uh uh and uh they will shape
the future of the world we have Russia
done which is undemocratic the India is
voting now us will vote and European
Union will vote so the the signal we
will send in which direction European
union and Europe will go will go will be
crucial for many parts of the world and
in also uh having the context of the
attempts of Russian Federation of Putin
to interference the elections is very
important and that we remember that we
it's it's it's really important that we
stick together we don't split and we
don't
allowt convinced to hijack European
Union but the reality I mean over in
Ireland uh dear CL we by the way you'll
get one more MEP uh this year from 13 to
14 but according to Euro barometers to
go back to this research Irish voters
will be thinking about immigration and
also about public health and housing
when they go to vote issues that are not
really well apart from migration
competences of the European Union so you
could just see a massive protest vote
and see your party probably lose seats
well you could see a protest vote but I
think the point that the president made
there is important if you don't elect
people you electing people to make
decisions for you and if you don't
participate in that decision-making
process you you won't get the
representatives you want uh but yeah you
well our our elections are in
combination with the local elections
which is our elections to our Council so
that's probably why housing is is is is
it's a real issue uh but migration is
certainly coming up and the migration
pact uh has been is being adopted in by
Ireland it's it's important to protect
those that are coming from uh War torn
areas or seeking genuinely seeking
Refuge so that that's that that is
important and we need to get that
message out that'll be a challenge to
explain and to explain and to explain
what it's about and you're kept up I'm
sure at night these days trying to um
communicate about these elections what
is the strategy first of all uh to
communicate to Citizens that these
elections are completely different from
the previous ones this is not about
roaming or about internal Market of
course these things are important but
now it's about the future of the
continent not just the European Union
the continent there are two words in
this moment in this continent one is the
Russian war against Ukraine it's a
territorial uh it's an aggression but
there is also this disinformation war
and this uh War which has been also
launched by Russia against us against
Europeans against our way of living our
way of creating uh democracy and
respecting freedom and values and this
is also a real war and this war is
happening now and European elections
will be in the middle of this war so
yeah Citizens need to know that this
time it's about how we are going to
shape our future not just for the five
next years maybe even 10 or more
depending on the result of the European
elections and I agree in reality this is
going to depend on the combined effect
of the European election
and the American elections but we cannot
vote in the American elections we can
only vote in the European ones so go and
vote and POS are showing now that we
could see a shift to the right here in
the parliament um Robert what would that
mean when it comes to all these various
legislative files that we discussed well
I come from Poland I can tell you a lot
what the populist an Democratic shift
means it would mean that a lot of
progress we made in this term will be
not implemented and will be stopped and
I think this push back against uh
democracy rule of law uh human rights uh
will be not visible only in Hungary or
in the like it was uh in the past in
Poland but will be visible in more and
more States because they will be
encouraged by the strength of this
institution which is European Parliament
to unfortunately to demolish more and
more of the fundaments of our democracy
very dangerous very dangerous and D
you're on the way out you're packing up
and leaving uh politics but what kind of
a parliament and EU are your voters have
they been asking you of my voters I
think that they they followed the
parliament for the because a lots of our
a lot of our votes made made headlines
like nature restoration law the green
deal the migration pact recently so I
they're looking to I mean I think an
like they don't see that anything we do
here has an immediate effect on them but
they do understand that Europe is
important and that it matters do they do
they have a positive perception as well
of Co you can see that the ratings are
the the POS there was a very positive
reception to Europe in Ireland because
we realized as a small country that's
where our future is in Europe and and
and and post brexit we we're looking
across at our neighbors uh in the UK and
we see the difference there to compared
to what we have in Ireland in the south
of Ireland you know because we're
members of the European Union and we
have all the benefits in that so I think
in in in Ireland certainly the voters
maybe not on individual Ence but
certainly they have a broad picture or a
broad sense of how important Europe is
well that wraps uh this discussion about
the campaign Trail which kicks off on
Monday thank you so much to Robert beon
de Clon and J M duuk for being with us
and thank you so much for watching see
you
[Music]
soon welcome back to Brussels my love
I'm ma McMahan and along with Robert
beon dear Clon and Jamie Duke we're just
taking a look back at the big headlines
this week here in Strasburg where MEPS
met for their final voting session of
the whole mandate and one issue that
grabbed our attention was the final vote
on the first ever EU rules to prevent
gender-based violence and protect
victims from domestic violence 522 MEPS
voted in favor 27 against and 72
abstained and EU countries will now have
three years to implement these rules now
the European women's Lobby in Brussels
has applauded this step even though the
final law they believe is not perfect
Arena was ales told us what is exactly
at stake it's uh terrible that we are
still uh having like almost uh 50 women
being killed every week across the EU um
and uh one in three are victims of
violence against women since the age of
15 one in 20 are victims of rape and
what is more uh outstanding is the level
of impunity that exists it's also super
fundamental to ensure that there is a
commissioner working for women's rights
it is essential to have feminist leaders
so we need parity democracy because it's
a matter of democracy without the word
parity there is no real democracy so we
need uh women to be in leadership
positions and to be elected in the
parliament Arena Rosal is there from the
European women's Lobby calling for more
women in power H Robert beon you're
actually the chair of the women's
committee here in the European
Parliament what is your reaction to that
clip and also how hard has it been to
get this new directive in place I fully
agree we need more women but we also
need men to understand that is our
common fight and they should be the
Allies in solidarity with with women but
about the legislation I'm sure Simon V
who established the women's rights and
gender equality Committee in 1979 the
very female president of this house she
would be proud of us because this
legislation finally establishes uh the
fundaments to protect every girl and
every woman in European Union imagine we
are in 2024 and since this time women
were not protected in European Union
against violence crucial to get it done
now because there was a concern that if
it wasn't done now it would have just
perhaps disappeared H dear Clon as we
said you're leaving politics but would
you recommend to other women to get into
politics because it's still really a
men's World it's not not here in this
Parliament I wouldn't think um well it's
about 30 38% 39% I'm not quite sure the
figures but I would recommend women to
get involved women have something to say
and something different to say not not
necessarily better but their voices
should be included and you can see in
the the violence against women director
colleague of mine Francis vur LED for
that on behalf of the th committee and
she is a long history of working uh with
the national women's Network in Ireland
so if you can get women who want to
improve things uh well that's that's
great and I think they should be
encouraged because they can really you
can really make a difference here and
jam you've been walking the Carters of
this European Parliament for decades you
know them like the back of your hand
have you seen a behavioral change
because we've seen as well this week a
vote on a rules to prevent conflict and
harassment to make this a safe place for
both women and men there has been a huge
Improvement and in some way this
Parliament is becoming also a model
again to many national parliaments and
to and to many public institutions in
many member states and this is also
maybe linked to the fact that this is a
parliament where gender balance is
becoming better and better this time 40%
of MPS are women let's hope maybe next
time we'll be 50 or why not 55% this is
in the hands of first of all the
political parties but also in the hands
of Voters uh but don't forget the
president of the parliament is a woman
the president of the commission is a
woman right now and who knows maybe
after the elections two three four of
the top jobs in Brussels are in the
hands of women not well we'll be kept
busy over the next couple of weeks and
months reporting on who of course gets
those big top jobs but that indeed
concludes this discussion thank you so
much J my duke for being with us thank
you de Clon and thanks as well to Robert
beon thank you and thanks as well to the
staff here the technical crew at the
European Parliament for putting us on
air we'll be back of course in Strasburg
in July to get to know all the new MEPS
but in the meantime if you have any
comments for us H do reach out our email
address is Brussels myy love
euronews.com we're also on social media
Instagram Tik Tok and also Twitter and
Linkedin see you soon take care here
[Music]
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