Further clarification on the non-vote on the resolution on the Russian Federation

To Whom It May Concern:

To avoid further manipulation or misunderstandings regarding our decision not to vote on the final text of the resolution designating the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, we wish to provide further clarifications.

We chose the possibility to refrain from voting because none of the voting options fully corresponded to our positions. We are in no way against the main text of the resolution, nor do we have any reservations about it, as we have always strongly condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine and we strongly support Ukraine’s struggle for its territorial integrity and independence and its efforts to defend against Russian aggression. This is evident from all our actions and personal endeavours to date. We have also demonstrated this by voting in favour of all previous resolutions on Ukraine. We have also endorsed, in the same plenary vote this week (Thursday, 24 November 2022), two actual legislative proposals: on financial assistance to Ukraine and on the non-recognition of Russian travel documents issued in the occupied territory.

Why were we unable to vote in favour of this particular resolution? During the vote on the amendments, we supported the amendments put forward by the Group of the Greens, which in our opinion would have made the final text of the resolution better (also in terms of international law or possible consequences). To summarise: one amendment by the Greens, which was not adopted in the end, would have recognised the Russian Federation as a state which uses means of terrorism. Their second amendment, which was also ultimately not adopted, would have called on the EU and its Member States to take concrete practical steps “in the face of such terrorist acts, using all existing instruments available” and to trigger “further restrictive measures against Russia”, while calling on the EU’s partners to adopt similar measures.

Furthermore, we took exception to the PiS party (Poland, a member party of the ECR Group in the European Parliament) managing to insert into the text of the resolution a part referring to the crash of a Polish plane in 2010 (with part of the then government on board) in the same article or paragraph that otherwise states the facts about the proven downing of a Malaysian plane in 2014.

We are always fighting against autocratic and, above all, violent regimes that kill innocent people, destroy infrastructure, displace populations and put the whole world in danger. This certainly applies to Russia, but also to all other current and past wars.

We would like to reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and our strong support for Ukraine’s struggle for its territorial integrity. The option we have chosen in the vote this time does not change our position in any way.

Below you can find the amendments that we supported and were rejected (the original text on the left and the proposed amendments on the right).

Yours sincerely,

MEPs Irena Joveva and Dr Klemen Grošelj

Amendment 1

Amendment 2

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“Women! Life! Freedom!”

On Tuesday, 22 November 2022, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session in Strasbourg on the European Union’s response to the worsening crackdown on protests in Iran. Borrowing the slogan “Women! Life! Freedom!” she expressed support for protesters and joined their struggle.

Joveva began her speech by saying that Iran could be an idyllic country were it not for the leadership under the government in office and were it not possible for the world to see everything happening in Iran. She referred to the constant repression of the people and the curtailment of fundamental human rights, including use of the death penalty,

It is precisely this kind of repression and the tragic fate of Mahsa Amini and many others, stressed Joveva, that have resulted in the very opposite effect this time, uniting Iranian women and men in a revolution. “They have brought together all classes, the old and the young, ethnic minorities, oil industry workers, top athletes”, said the MEP, recalling that a few days ago, Iran’s national football team boycotted the national anthem at the World Cup in Qatar.

“In doing so, they demonstrated the importance of this revolution on the world stage and manifestly joined the struggle, which has thus far generally been led by Iranian women. This struggle for women’s rights is receiving support from all corners of the world – including from this House. We have broken off relations with Iran, and rightly so.”

You can watch the MEP’s address on this link.

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“Working with and for young people!”

On Thursday, 24 November 2022, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on the legacy of the European Year of Youth 2022, stressing that we must act and work with and for young people.

MEP Joveva started her speech by saying,

“The European Year of Youth is coming to an end. Or, if you prefer: the European Year of Youth is not over yet.”

That is why, in her view, it is difficult to assess its ultimate success and legacy at this point. Instead, she said, we could talk about specific ideas on how to improve the living conditions of young people, as there are many areas that need to be addressed.

Unfortunately, the European Union had not been able to do so this year, although many events had been organised. She supports such events and initiatives, but they alone are not enough and they cannot compensate for all past and future needs.

She concluded her address by saying:

“Unfortunately, young people do not have an umbrella law, directive or act that is dedicated specifically to them. That is why we need to make sure that we always take their issues forward. I do. To work with and for young people is the least we owe them.”

You can watch the MEP’s address on this link.

About the European Year of Youth

Every year since 1983, the European Commission has chosen a theme on which to launch an awareness-raising campaign, reinforced by debate and dialogue within the European Union.

In her State of the Union address last year, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the European Year of Youth, stressing how important young Europeans are to building a better future and that they must be placed at the centre of attention in the wake of the pandemic. The year has seen a number of events and one third of the participants in the Conference on the Future of Europe were young people aged 16–25. The closing inter-institutional conference, Claim the Future, co-organised by young people, is taking place in early December. The European Parliament stresses that the circumstances surrounding the European Year of Youth have not all been optimal (delays in funding, late Commission announcements, the increased cost of living).

In this year’s address, the Commission President declared that 2023 will be the European Year of Skills, with a focus on education and training.

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“Continuous efforts are needed to ensure quality and professional journalism”

On Thursday, 17 November 2022, MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj (Renew Europe) organised an event called “The Liberation Front for Media and Democracy” to analyse the state of media freedom and the contemporary challenges of journalism in Slovenia and beyond. Joveva pointed out that ensuring quality and professional journalism requires constant effort, because once the public media serve nothing more than the propaganda of one political party, it is very difficult to get back on an even keel.

In addition to the two MEPs, the event was also attended by journalist and former editor and TV presenter Tone Hočevar, research fellow at the Faculty of Social Sciences and former secretary at the Ministry of Culture Tanja Kerševan Smokvina, and journalist at the newspaper Večer and teaching assistant at the Faculty of Social Sciences Blaž Petkovič.

Stéphane Séjourné, President of Renew Europe, and Sabine Verheyen, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, also welcomed the roundtable participants and live web stream viewers with a video address.

The discussion revolved, among other things, around the European legislation in this area, in particular the European Media Freedom Act. The interlocutors agreed with MEP Joveva’s view that a single legislative proposal will unfortunately not solve all the problems in the media field, but stressed that it was important that things were moving in the right direction. Joveva, who is likely to act as Renew Europe Group’s rapporteur on this file, gave her full commitment to help draft the text in a way that would address as wide a range of issues as possible in the field of the media and, above all, guarantee the media’s autonomy, freedom, professionalism and the best possible working conditions.

Grošelj, meanwhile, expressed his concern about the fact that the issue of media freedom and democratic standards must be dealt with in 21st-century Europe. In his view, one should not overlook that the worsening of the media situation is a deliberate process, which is closely linked to the increasing radicalisation of society and to which Slovenia is not immune either. He also stressed that the media space, which used to be occupied by the public media, will be taken over by capital with its own interests, which will not be identical to the public interest.

Tanja Kerševan Smokvina agreed with this opinion but welcomed the fact that the marketing aspect of media law is moving towards greater protection of democratic standards and human rights: “The scientific research community welcomes the shift from strictly marketing approaches to a more scientific approach in media law. “At the same time, she is pleased with the greater commitment and courage shown by the European Commission, as attempts to change the media landscape have often been diluted by the power of big lobbies and pressure from corporations:

“Often these initially good intentions have been diluted by the interests of Member States and large corporations, which have always lobbied hard. “

Blaž Petkovič spoke about the importance of actively monitoring changes in the media sector and in the legislation governing it: “I think it is important that every time politicians strive to change legislation, we pay close attention. And that we ask ourselves what the purpose might be. What are the changes they are trying to achieve? What is behind it? Who is assisting the endeavours? Who is lobbying? In brief, there have been sufficient attempts in our region where we didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes and for that reason we really need to be on guard and follow the developments in the media policy.”

Tone Hočevar opined that so far no media freedom legislation could be successfully adopted in Slovenia because this is what has often suited the people in charge:

“I am talking, first and foremost, about the public service media, and about RTV in particular. And so far no party has been willing to put a stop on political influence or to step on the gas to see such legislation through.“

The speakers concluded the event by expressing their hope that this time, however, the situation will change for the better through legislative changes to be adopted at the national and European levels. In her final words, MEP Joveva called to remove politics from the governing bodies, to put in place sufficient safeguards at all levels to ensure the sustainable independence of the public service media, to create the conditions for the replication of a culture of professionalism in the public service media, and to ensure not only that the public service media are financially sustainable and independent, but also that viewership and influence of critical reporting in the public service media is maintained given the current technological world and the need to counter misinformation, threats to journalists and the erosion of their credibility.

The debate is accessible on this LINK.

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Slovenian MEPs performing the best in health legislation

“ENVI. In the Brussels bubble, we all know what this stands for, but of course, before coming here, I didn’t. If someone had mentioned ENVI to me then, I would probably first think that they meant ‘envy’.  But no, it has nothing to do with envy.

Mind you …  Perhaps our colleagues from other countries could indeed be a little envious, at least because of the news I am about to share with you.

To start: ENVI stands for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Slovenian members of this committee include Milan Brglez, Ljudmila Novak and myself.

And in this committee, Slovenian MEPs – proportionally to the delegation’s size – are among the best performing when it comes to health-related legislative activities!

I often hear phrases like “Slovenia is not really achieving much in the EU” or “what can you do, we’re simply too small” … Which is why I was really pleased to hear about the analysis by EU Matrix, a Brussels-based think-tank that focuses on EU policy research. I am proud that our work is being noticed.

This does not mean, of course, that we have done enough. There is still a lot of work to be done. To focus on the priorities, this includes the proposal to regulate the European Health Data Space, which is first and foremost about supporting people to take control of their own health data, but also about enabling the EU to fully exploit the potential offered by the secure exchange, use and re-use of health data. Another key issue will be, for example, the European Medicines Strategy, which could have a very significant impact on the further development of medicines in Europe and on their accessibility, which is very important in tackling diseases, especially rare diseases or their new, yet unexplored forms.

This committee is responsible for a number of topical policy areas next to public health, including climate change, biodiversity protection, the circular economy, the use of chemicals and pesticides … It is the largest committee in the European Parliament.

I also worked on health in the Special Committee on Beating Cancer, which concluded its work by adopting a European strategy for the fight against this insidious disease. I am now a member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic. I am also actively involved in various intergroups focusing on improving public health, such as the intergroups on cancer, on people with disabilities, on climate change, on biodiversity and on sustainable development, all of which I believe help to find opportunities to improve the current situation and to take action in the interests of all the Union’s citizens.”

Details of the analysis can be found here: https://eumatrix.eu/…/mep-influence-index-2022-top-5…

– Irena

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“I am only more convinced that, at the moment, Hungary cannot be considered a democracy”

As a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education delegation, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a working visit to Budapest, where they were briefed on the current situation in the fields of culture, education and media. Following the mission, Joveva remarked, among other things, that media freedom and academic freedom should be a given in any society. She said that after the visit she was only more convinced that under the current government Hungary cannot be considered a democracy in the full sense of the word.

The Culture and Education Committee will be responsible for the upcoming European Media Freedom Act ­— to which Ms Joveva will contribute as a rapporteur on behalf of her political group Renew Europe —, therefore the mission revolved around the discussions on media freedom, media concentration, pluralism and the workings of propaganda. And of course, there was no avoiding discussions on developments in the field of education, particularly in the light of the teachers’ strikes in Hungary.

During the three intensive mission days, MEPs held conversations with all key stakeholders in these areas. They met, among others, Budapest Deputy Mayor, Anett Bősz, Members of the Hungarian Parliament, the Minister of Culture and Innovation, János Csák, the Minister of Regional Development, Tibor Navracsics, representatives from Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority, representatives from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the Hungarian Academy of Science and the Central European University, and figures from the media and civil society, including NGOs dealing with refugees, with whom they discussed in particular the situation of school-age children and young people.

Below you will find a press release by MEP Irena Joveva with a more detailed statement on the current findings of the visit to Budapest, which will be followed by a more detailed analysis and the delegation’s official conclusions in the coming weeks.

Press statement by Irena Joveva MEP after the mission to Hungary (only available in Slovene)

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“So long, ECT!” – a response to Slovenia’s announced withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty

Investing in modern technologies for a green transition. It sounds logical to aim for that, doesn’t it? But let me tell you something: at the moment, energy companies investing in fossil fuels can sue our country because our strategic orientations are harming their profits. It defies logic, does it not?

Let’s start at the beginning. ECT is the acronym for the Energy Charter Treaty. It sounds great because we are stronger together and we like to work with others on the international stage. Energy is something we all need – both in our private lives and for our economy. Everything would be ‘fine’ if this treaty did not allow foreign companies’ investments in the fossil fuel industry to be protected against loss of profits. Not only are current investments insured … any hypothetical loss of profits for several years in advance, some for as long as two decades, are also insured. Profits that have not yet been made and might never be made. Profits that are themselves a result of robbing nature. Profits that will not encourage a greener direction.

What is most absurd about this treaty is that any dispute between companies and the state under this treaty is settled by bypassing the courts – both Slovenian and international – through private arbitration tribunals. Out of sight. Ignoring the Constitution. Ignoring the protection of citizens’ interests.

To give you an example: the British company Ascent Resources is suing Slovenia, claiming that Slovenia’s legislative changes have harmed their investment in an estimated amount of half a billion euros. Half a billion. Five hundred million. The dispute began when the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) requested an environmental impact assessment for gas extraction in Petišovci, and the company estimated that this would probably harm their profits. Probably. It beggars belief!

I therefore warmly welcome the announcement by the Minister of Infrastructure, Bojan Kumer, that Slovenia intends to withdraw from the Treaty. The ECT is an obstacle to the green transition and runs contrary to both the strategic commitments of the Paris Agreement and the EU’s climate policy. It has long ceased to serve its purpose and is  only being used by huge companies that feel that they ‘are being wronged’. Is it wrong that, in the long term, we want to move towards non-polluting technology? Is it wrong that we want to encourage development and financial investment in the green transition? In both cases, the answer is, of course, negative.

There have also been attempts to fundamentally change the treaty. European countries have tried in vain to introduce sensible changes to the treaty and make it fit for the for climate-change-related insights. Well, it seems that others are not aware of the consequences resulting from treaties such as this one. We have pointed them out and tried to change things for the better. It all fell on deaf ears – and so we withdraw. Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, France have done it before us, and Belgium is steering in this direction as well. Now it is Slovenia’s turn.

Businesses need to start recognising that their only objective should not be to generate pure profit, but also to work for the well-being of people, society, the environment and the planet. Profit does not translate only into money. It also translates into one’s legacy – technological, economic and environmental. It is the latter that we keep forgetting.

Just as the disputes under this treaty have been resolved behind our backs, it is now time for us to turn our back on this treaty.

So long, ECT!

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“Accountability derives from transparency”

On Tuesday, 25 October 2022, MEP Irena Joveva and co-signatories sent a letter to Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, calling for amendments to the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure in the articles relating to the voting procedure. She wrote, among other things, that first and foremost, accountability derives from transparency, which is only partially enabled under the current voting system.

In her letter, the MEP pointed out that the current voting method, which usually involves a show of hands, is disorganised, which is particularly problematic in plenary sessions. She stressed that the biggest issue is the lack of transparency, therefore all votes should be taken by roll call.

She noted that amending the Rules of Procedure was not uncommon, and that the Rules had previously been adapted in the interest of transparency. She and the co-signatories called for an amendment to Rule 187(1), which states that “As a general rule, Parliament shall vote by show of hands”. She pointed out that this approach permits MEPs as elected representatives to hide their votes and avoid their positions being known to the public, which Joveva strongly opposes.

She added that the current voting method through a show of hands is time-consuming and that, despite the excellence of interpreters, there are delays in interpreting. Furthermore, the vice-president chairing the voting session is often unable correctly to assess the majority, which can lead to mistakes, even wrong voting results.

The MEP also pointed out that during the pandemic, all votes were taken by roll call, which she believed had proven to be very efficient. She added that for democracy to function, it is necessary to strive to ensure transparent operation and accountability to the citizens of the European Union.

As the main point of the letter, the MEP emphasised: “In our work, we represent all EU citizens, which means we must actualize the legitimacy of our work by being accountable to them. As we know, accountability derives from transparency.”

Letter on amending the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament to increase transparency (English version)

Letter on amending the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament to increase transparency (Slovenian version)

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“Culture builds bridges”

On Wednesday, 26 October 2022, MEP Irena Joveva (GS/RE) was invited by her colleague Valter Flego to address the participants of the LABINA: connecting Europe through art and tolerance event, where they talked about how culture serves European integration. Joveva pointed out that culture builds bridges – be it between people of different ages, religions or languages, or between countries themselves. Culture, she said, provides us with knowledge, tolerance, empathy, admiration and beauty.

With this in mind, the MEP would like to see more similar events taking place throughout the Balkans, as it is only through getting to know different cultures and cultural heritage that we can truly grow.

“Together we can improve lives and transform them for the better.”

To watch the recording of the address, click here.

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Employment policy guidelines: fit for purpose and specific

Last week, in plenary, we voted in favour of the Report on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States. To a varied degree, the Union’s employment policy has existed since 1997, and the updated guidelines we have adopted this time form part of the European Semester package. This means that the guidelines are set depending on the actual needs that emerge in a given calendar year. From the outset of this term, we have stressed the importance of social policies, whether in relation to the green transition or in the context of ensuring adequate standards for all citizens of the Union. The focus on social policies has brought us from the very successful 2021 Porto Social Summit to the adoption of a new Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

This time, we are setting new, significantly revised guidelines for Member States’ employment policies for 2022, as the successful functioning of the semester cycle is more important than ever.  As expected, we are updating the guidelines in response to the changed environment left behind by COVID-19, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, finally, the continuing drive to achieve a just green transition, also in the light of the current energy crisis, so that Member States can respond successfully to all challenges. The report adds four new guidelines to those previously set out (Guidelines 5-8):

 

Guideline 5: Boosting the demand for labour

The main objective of this guideline is to encourage Member States to move towards a sustainable social market economy, while supporting investment in the creation of quality jobs by reducing barriers to employment, fostering responsible entrepreneurship and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. Another important aspect is the promotion of the social economy and the strengthening of business models which create job opportunities in the circular economy. We also particularly stress the importance of reducing working hours and supporting employment restructuring mechanisms along the lines of the model used actively during the pandemic. At that time, we discovered that considerable benefits and potential could be derived by departing from the existing working time schemes, and now it is time to apply the knowledge and take the necessary step further.

 

Guideline 6: Enhancing labour supply and improving access to employment, skills and competences

This guideline focuses in particular on achieving the objectives of the digital and green transition, tackling demographic change and the war in Ukraine. In the light of life-long skills acquisition, Member States should promote sustainability, productivity, employability and human capital in their employment policies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has designated 2023 as the Year of Skills, a point which is particularly emphasised in this guideline. We believe that the key to tackling employment policies lies in increased investment in education and training systems – vocational education and training, access to digital learning and language training will be the measures to ensure that the workforce can adequately and appropriately adapt to current and future labour market needs. The whole process must be geared towards harnessing the potential of individuals, supporting access to education for all and increasing the attractiveness of vocational education. We also need to ensure a smooth transition to the labour market, through work-based learning and paid apprenticeships or traineeships. The measures to reduce youth unemployment continue to be advocated as an important objective.

 

Guideline 7: Enhancing the functioning of labour markets and the effectiveness of social dialogue

This guideline calls on Member States to reduce and prevent labour market segmentation as well as to fight undeclared work and bogus self-employment effectively. Employment policy must strive for modernisation, which is why we need to regulate the field in such a way as to allow flexible work arrangements for employees, such as teleworking, but considering workers’ working hours, appropriate working conditions and work-life balance. With increasing digitalisation, new forms of employment and employment relationships are being created, and Member States must strive to tackle atypical contracts, which are the most frequently exploited and lead to precarious working conditions.

 

Guideline 8: Promoting equal opportunities for all, fostering social inclusion and fighting poverty

Countries must promote inclusive labour markets by putting in place effective measures to fight all forms of discrimination. As in most Members States social protection systems are outdated and not adapted to the current situation, they should be modernised in order to provide adequate, effective and sustainable social protection throughout all stages of life. Adequate measures must be in place to eradicate poverty and social exclusion — including in-work poverty and child poverty. The universal provision of basic services and basic income can be an important measure that will do just that. In setting the targets, we have not forgotten about a clean and fair energy transition, where we particularly stress that Member States must take special care of socially disadvantaged populations. I am extremely pleased that the report also mentions the provision of adequate and sustainable pension schemes for employees. We have been talking for years about a solution for adequate long-term care provision in Slovenia, and every time it gets stuck at the funding — the inclusion of adequate employee pension schemes is the measure that will help to make it happen.

In addition to setting out the main objectives, the Report on the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States also underlines the importance of using the resources of the Next Generation EU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which, together with the implementation of the national plans and the planned reforms, will be an important instrument for the implementation of the defined guidelines.

I believe that an important step towards tackling financial issues can be taken by setting up a temporary European social resilience package proposed in the report, which aims to coordinate a set of measures and means to strengthen social welfare and social protection systems.

I am pleased with the adopted report, the guidelines are fit for purpose and the objectives are specific. If properly implemented, all citizens of the Union will live better lives.

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