Newsflash - 14 June 2024

EU elections: Results and outcomes

Last week, the European People's Party (EPP) won the European election and is on track to have around 184 lawmakers in Parliament (out of the 720). The centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) have remained stable, while the liberal Renew Europe and the Greens group both lost ground.

As polls predicted, far-right forces made major gains across the bloc, especially amongst parties that were not represented in the European Parliament during the last term (about 100 MEPs are currently not affiliated with one of the existing political groups of the European Parliament). If the right-wing and far-right were to form a single group, it would be the second-largest force in Parliament, only behind the EPP.

Sunday's results also suggest that President Ursula von der Leyen has a good shot at remaining in office as President of the European Commission. EU national leaders will discuss the future of the Presidency of the European Commission during an informal dinner of the European Council on 17 June, and a formal decision is expected during the Council meeting of 27-28 June (during which the future President of the European Council and the High-Representative will also be nominated). If EU leaders put forward her name, she will still need to get the European Parliament to confirm her bid. In 2019, a coalition of the EPP, the S&D and Renew Europe voted for her; the same coalition could, in principle, provide her with another majority (393 MEPs; majority needed: 361).

Finally, supported by increased involvement of civil society and social partners (including through SGI Europe’s Companies For Democracy), the turnout at the EU elections has reached 51,07% across the EU – an increase of 0,5% compared with 2019.

Contact: Maxime Staelens

Third edition of the International Festival of Health and Safety at Work organised by Fondazione Rubes Triva

From 12-14 June 2024, SGI Europe’s member Fondazione Rubes Triva organised the third edition of the International Festival of Occupational Health and Safety in Pesaro, Italy. Drawing inspiration from the principles outlined in the Urbino Charter, the focus of this edition of the festival aims to direct the debate and stimulate reflection on “work” as a sphere of expression, realisation, integration, and inclusion of the person and, equally, on the protection of its dignity.

During the opening day, a dedicated session focused on the EU dimension, including an opening statement by Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights), Xabier Irastorza (EU-OSHA), and William Vandezande (Advisor, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Dermagne, Belgian Presidency of the EU), focusing on the Belgian Presidency's commitment to prevention policies in the field of health and well-being of the person at work.

You can find more information on the festival on the official website: https://www.festivalsalutesicurezzalavoro.it/en/

Contact: Delfina Bucci

Support for Ukraine's recovery is still at the top of the EU agenda

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2024) occurred in Berlin from 11 to 12 June 2024. The fundamental goal was to mobilise continued international support for Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernisation.

In line with the reconstruction process, SGI Europe continues to support Ukraine, alongside its social partner organisations, in its continuous efforts to join the EU eventually. We fully agree with the European Commission's assessment from the Report on EU Enlargement Policy: more efforts are still needed to create an enabling environment for bipartite and tripartite social dialogue and strengthen the capacities of social partners.

However, we call for the EU to further support Ukraine’s social progress in adopting the EU social acquis. SGI Europe is ready to stand by the EU and Ukraine’s side to provide its expertise to authorities and employers’ organisations, for example, regarding social dialogue and capacity-building processes. In this framework, SGI Europe calls for the organisation of an EU-Ukraine social partners’ summit, which was a key takeaway. This idea was supported by the Ukrainian social partners when we visited them in October 2023.

In the meantime, SGI Europe is ready to contribute to the next steps in the discussion with accession countries and the enlargement process. We stand ready to assist the EU institutions in identifying existing issues and challenges for social dialogue in Ukraine and work together on solutions, including capacity-building for social partners.

Contact: Benoit Cassorla

Return on the EU Sustainable Energy Week

Between 11 and 13 June, the EU Sustainable Energy Week conference, ‘Net Zero Energy Solutions for a Competitive Europe,’ took place in Brussels. The event gathered different stakeholders from across the energy sectors, cities and regions, NGOs, and governmental bodies, focusing on the renewable and efficient use of new technologies for the energy transition.

Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), European Sustainable Energy Week consists of a three-day policy conference, the Energy Awards Ceremony, the Energy Fair, and the fifth edition of the European Youth Energy Day.

During the session on ‘Recovery and Resilience Plans Boosting Competitiveness and Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition’ with keynote speakers Deputy Director General Mechthild Wörsdörfer and Deputy Director General Matthew Baldwin (both from the European Commission’s DG ENER) addressed the deployment of investments and reforms for the clean energy transition in Member States through the Recovery and Resilience Facility. They exchanged their impact in the energy sector, the challenges, and the lessons learnt. Conclusions highlighted the need for a holistic approach towards decarbonised and renewable energy technologies to be developed throughout resilience plans for cities and regions and to include more preparedness for climate change. Panellists finally exchanged ideas for enhancing renewable energy power generation, discussing the significance of cross-border energy exchange through resilient and modernised power infrastructure.

The EUSEW takes place every year between May and June in Brussels. Interested parties may apply to host a session between December and February.

Contact: Henriette Gleau