Speeches

This debate revolved around the current deadlock in the Council on the agreement for the Platform Workers Directive. The main objective of this directive – which has been defended by socialists for years – is to protect all workers in an increasingly changing and digitalised market. Also, combat unfair competition within the single market. The proposal aims to determine the real employment status of workers, as well as the use that companies make of algorithms and artificial intelligence, in order to monitor and evaluate their employees. If launched, this directive would prevent digital platforms from treating their workers as bogus self-employed, in the event that there really is an employment relationship as an employee. It would also ensure the improvement of occupational health and safety conditions in the sector. The S&D Group will continue to defend the need to respect the European social model, and the fight against job insecurity and abuses. We hope that in March, an agreement can be reached at EPSCO, to resume the approval of a regulatory proposal, necessary for a just and truly sustainable digital transition.

Madam President, Mrs Kallas, why is there such a rush to close this summit with India when there are no wickers for a trade agreement that is balanced? Haven't we had enough with the photo of Scotland between Trump and Ursula von der Leyen? Why force an agreement at any price? We're not signing a blank check with India. We freely defend trade agreements, we defend multilateralism; But we defend them based on goodwill and reciprocity. At the moment, this has nothing of reciprocity, nor of equilibrium, nor of even approaching a proportional system of equivalences. Of course, there is no evidence to suggest an approach to meeting our standards in human rights, in the Paris Agreement or in equality between men and women. Are you in a position to tell us that the Indian Government has committed itself to making some effort? The answer is no, so why force clearly what is opposed to a will to exchange goods and services, but quite the opposite? India is not mature, Mrs. Kallas, in no case is it mature. Then why force it? The Commission knows this, it knows that it is very forced. We cannot let ourselves be twisted by India or anyone else. It's all right now. The European Union must be courageous and exercise soft power, truly exercise it, and export our values. Do not retract them when someone imposes on us a way of understanding the world that is light years away from our way of seeing it. Therefore, courage and forcefulness: Yes, trade agreements, but not unbalanced.