Balance Sheet 2023

12 plenary sessions. 21 plenary speeches. Hours and hours of voting, meetings, debates. Finding compromises. Insisting on things that I knew had to stay or be accepted in the texts. Dozens of amendments and appeals tabled or co-signed. No less important coordination within committees and in the framework of trilogues, which often dragged on late into the night …

…and another calendar year has passed. I hope you had a great time celebrating the start of a new one. I am opening these doors for another year, more experienced, but no less driven. I remain firmly grounded, while remaining true to my principles, to myself, and – to you.

I became Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Health. For the first time in the European Parliament, we really, honestly and loudly spoke about the importance of mental health, and advocated for the elimination of stigma and the promotion of the normalization of help-seeking in our society.

I was appointed as the Parliament’s lead rapporteur for the revision of the legislation on population and housing statistics. As rapporteur for my political group, I also played a significant role in shaping the European Media Freedom Act. In the adopted text, we stipulated for the first time at EU level that Member States should not interfere in editorial policy. The act also ensures sufficient and predictable funding for public media and measures against surveillance of journalists.

I continued – and continue! – to fight against discrimination against the Slovenian language in the digital world. I met with representatives of multinationals, addressed a written question to the European Commission regarding discrimination against the official languages of the Union, initiated negotiations with them on the revision of the relevant European legislation, and participated in the Culture Committee of the National Assembly, where I received unanimous support for my efforts in this area.

With combined efforts of my Renew Europe political group and the challenging search for compromises within the European Parliament, we have voted and adopted important measures for the future of the Union, sometimes with only a narrow majority.

Achievements in the field of the environment include the Nature Restoration Act, which will cover at least 20 percent of land and sea areas, the Renewable Energy Directive, and the establishment of a carbon border adjustment mechanism.

The only predictability of nature is its unpredictability. This summer we experienced the worst natural disaster in the history of Slovenia. With the European Union Solidarity Fund, we provided money for the reconstruction of critical infrastructure.

We have taken steps to reduce the use of plastic. I know that some measures are annoying many people in their daily lives, but in this case, something is better than nothing. Unless we really want seas of plastic instead of animals in them. Truth be told, we are already not that far from that. With the Packaging Regulation, we intend to reduce the amount of packaging and encourage the reuse of materials.

As regards job creation, I was actively involved as one of the parliamentary negotiators in the adoption of the report on job creation for a just transition, which aims to transform existing jobs into green and sustainable jobs. We voted on the Pay Transparency Directive and the Platform Workers Directive, which will – I hope – contribute to creating safer working conditions for many workers.

In the field of culture, I was one of the parliamentary negotiators when it came to the social and professional situation of artists in the cultural sector. We confirmed their position with the legislative framework, as they need to establish (at least) minimum standards for working conditions.

When it comes to consumer rights, we have taken the necessary steps. By introducing the right to repair, repairs will be more affordable compared to buying new goods.

We have actively sought more opportunities for young people. In the report on the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps programme, as one of the negotiators, I called for more engagement when it comes to young people, following the principle of nothing about young people without young people. I advocated for an increase in funding for the programme in question, as well as for the Erasmus+ and Creative Europe programmes.

With the legislative resolution on quality inernships, we have finally (!!!) put an end to unpaid internships for young people. We have called on the Commission to propose a directive on quality internships, which will ensure adequate compensation for interns. I push the boundaries where I can, which is why last year we continued the practice of paid internships in our office, giving five young people a multi-month internship experience that will be very useful when entering the competitive job market.

Meanwhile, technology is advancing at such an incredible speed that it is really difficult for a human – let alone legislation – to keep up. However, the use of artificial intelligence will now be regulated by the historic Artificial Intelligence Act, which is the first comprehensive legislation in this area in the world. With the act, we ensure safety, transparency and environmentally friendly artificial intelligence systems.

Although in the field of expansion we seem to be operating on the principle of two steps forward and one step back, the European Parliament has called on the Union to start accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. The same applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina, provided that this country implements certain reforms. However, I would like to draw attention to double standards once again. At the November meeting between MEPs and members of the Macedonian Parliament, I stressed that North Macedonia in particular, as well as the Western Balkans in general, deserve a better fate. And a fair, honest relationship.

Throughout the year, I spoke about my work and current European issues and opportunities for young people with young people from Domžale, Kranj, Ljubljana, Logatec, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Portorož, Velenje. In the special “MEP Shadowing” programme, I participated in the voluntary work of learning the Slovenian language for participants from Ukraine. Through the story of a young Palestinian man whose house was invaded by the Israeli army, I took to the stage in the play “Without Hope, with Hope”, which was performed in the European Parliament.

Unfortunately, a few months later, this staging turned into an even sadder and more tragic reality on the ground. Sanctions against Israel should have been inevitable, as should the advocacy of a policy of peace. Meanwhile, the War in Ukraine entered its second year. We have been following the rise of illiberal democracies after the elections in Slovakia and the Netherlands. I do not want such a Union, such a world.

As part of my international activities, I visited Poland as part of a parliamentary delegation of the Committee on Culture and Education, where I learned about the state of the country in the field of freedom of the media, culture and education. A closer look revealed that in Poland, law and justice operate exclusively according to government criteria, led by the ironically eponymous party.

I also participated in the Internet Governance Forum meeting held in Kyoto, Japan. As a panelist, I spoke at the discussion on the fight against disinformation and hate speech.

Despite some opposition, we secured an additional, ninth Slovenian seat in the European Parliament, which will increase your representation, the representation of Slovenian citizens in the Union.

None of the above would have been possible without your valuable support. Your advice, praise, and even criticism… you are the driving force behind my efforts. That is why this year, as every year, I will make every effort to ensure that your voice is heard in the European Parliament – for you – for your and our shared, better future.

– Irena

Photo: EP/Alain Rolland