The European Parliament will vote today on recommendations for the trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The Socialists and Democrats are especially pushing for transparent negotiations and enforceable environmental and labor standards.
This morning the president of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Gianni Pittella requested the setting up of a special committee to shed light on the so-called Monsanto Papers linked to the re-authorisation of glyphosate, and more broadly, on the way the EU authorises plant protection products and biocides. He will look for the support of other political groups.
The Party of European Socialists strongly supports the cross-party motion on combating sexual harassment and abuse in the EU which will be voted today in the European Parliament.
On the eve of the European Summit, another low point has been reached in Turkey with the detention of Osman Kavala, a leading figure in building a more tolerant and open Turkey. He was detained as part of a secret investigation and an order was issued for him to be detained for seven days. A cross-party initiative in the European Parliament has been launched to urge the Turkish government to order his immediate release.
The European Parliament’s vote to increase the EU’s budget for 2018 fails to recognise the reality of public finances in the EU and the political fallout from continually demanding more taxpayer money, warned ECR budget spokesman Bernd Koelmel.
