Brussels, my love? Bumper Strasbourg session brings term to an end

Summary

In 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

00:00

🌍 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.

05:01

🗳️ 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.

10:03

💼 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.

15:06

👥 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.

20:07

📊 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.

25:07

🏛️ 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.

Keywords

💡European Parliament

The European Parliament is the legislative branch of the European Union and represents the interests of all EU citizens. It plays a crucial role in passing legislation and making decisions that affect the daily lives of people across Europe. In the video, the Parliament is discussing the end of its current session and reflecting on its achievements over the past five years.

💡MEPs

MEPs, or Members of the European Parliament, are elected officials who serve as representatives of the citizens of their respective EU member states in the European Parliament. They are involved in voting on various issues and legislation. The script mentions the final plenary session of the current session of MEPs and their role in voting on 90 different topics.

💡Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a city in France and serves as one of the official seats of the European Parliament, where MEPs convene for monthly plenary sessions to debate and vote on legislation. The video is set in Strasbourg during the final voting session of the current mandate of the European Parliament.

💡

💡Green Deal

The Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission aimed at addressing climate change and achieving carbon neutrality in the EU by 2050. It is mentioned in the script as one of the significant legislative efforts during the past five years, with targets established for 2030 and 2050.

💡Migration Pack

The Migration Pack refers to a set of policies and agreements that the European Parliament has been working on to manage migration within the EU. It is highlighted in the script as a major accomplishment after a decade of discussions, showing the Parliament's ability to address complex and long-standing issues.

💡Artificial Intelligence Act

The Artificial Intelligence Act is a piece of legislation that the European Parliament has worked on to regulate artificial intelligence within the EU. It is noted in the script as the first of its kind in the world, indicating the EU's leadership in setting standards for AI governance.

💡Platform Workers Directive

The Platform Workers Directive is a legislative proposal aimed at improving the working conditions and rights of workers in the gig economy, particularly those working for online platforms. It is mentioned in the script as one of the votes that took place during the week, reflecting the Parliament's focus on modern employment practices.

💡Gender-based Violence

Gender-based violence refers to harm inflicted on individuals because of their gender. The video discusses a new directive passed by the European Parliament to prevent such violence and protect victims, which is a significant step towards ensuring gender equality and safety for all EU citizens.

💡Corruption Scandal

The Corruption Scandal mentioned in the script refers to allegations of bribery and money laundering involving some members of the European Parliament. This scandal has led to increased calls for transparency and stronger ethical standards within the institution.

💡Elections

The upcoming European Parliament elections are a key focus of the video. They are crucial for determining the future direction of the EU's policies and legislation. The script discusses the importance of voter participation and the potential impact of election outcomes on various issues, including the Green Deal and migration policies.

💡Business Environment

The business environment in the context of the video refers to the economic and regulatory context in which businesses operate within the EU. It is discussed in relation to the impact of the Parliament's decisions on SMEs and the broader economy, with a call for understanding the challenges faced by businesses and balancing regulation with growth.

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]