Joveva for Vestnik: “Respect for linguistic diversity is a minimum requirement.”

In the last issue of the Pen supplement of the weekly Vestnik last year, MEP Irena Joveva shared her views on the current situation of the Slovenian language in public use and discussed the possibilities for improvement. Joveva, who was among the first to warn and call for an end to discrimination against the Slovenian language by some streaming content providers on the Slovenian market, emphasized: “Respect for linguistic diversity is truly a minimum requirement that should be self-evident even without legislative coercion, but it is clear that it will not be possible otherwise.”

In this regard, the MEP wrote to the CEOs of Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Netflix in 2022, and warned of linguistic discrimination and violations of Slovenian legislation at one of the plenary sessions of the European Parliament. Although she met with representatives of most companies, Joveva reminded the journalist that none of them had shown motivation to solve the problems related to the non-use of one of the official languages of the European Union, even though they are doing very well on the Union market.

“The statements, which implied, among other things, that it was not financially worthwhile for them, were unacceptable. I myself made it clear to them that I would continue to seek a solution in other ways, as it was more than obvious that the problem would have to be solved through legislative measures.”

When asked about the results of her efforts, the MEP replied that without a legally binding ban on language discrimination in the European Union market, including the digital one, we cannot expect consistent respect for the linguistic diversity of these companies.

Meanwhile, she also pointed out that the conversation with Apple representatives was somewhat more productive, but still insufficient. She therefore announced a new meeting with Apple representatives, where they will review the current situation and discuss further steps.

“Until there is a legally binding ban, instead of respecting languages and non-discrimination at any level, including linguistic, these companies will always say that they simply don’t have to do it, or they will solve the problem slowly.”

The MEP has also been actively involved in resolving issues within her remit in the European Parliament. As one of the parliamentary negotiators on behalf of her Renew Europe political group in the Committee on Culture and Education, she participated in drafting the text of the Digital Services Act, which entered into force in August last year. The legislative provision obliges online giants to take into account the language of the Member State and to employ moderators who can communicate in that country’s language.

The upcoming media freedom act, which is expected to be finally approved in the coming weeks, is also crucial for the MP. The text of the act also includes changes in the area of language discrimination and allows for cooperation between national regulators. This is extremely important for the MP, as streaming content providers often make excuses by stating that they are not based in Slovenia.

“We want to regulate this with two articles on the coordination of national regulators in the European Media Freedom Act, but for successful implementation and systemic resolution of the issue, we will also have to amend the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.”

Although the existing Audiovisual Media Services Directive already requires compliance with the principle of non-discrimination in commercial communications on grounds of sex, ethnicity, religion, age or sexual orientation, Joveva explained that the already enshrined principle of non-discrimination should also be extended to prohibit linguistic discrimination.

In order to achieve these goals, the MEP, in a public appeal to the European Commission, highlighted the importance of including an explicit prohibition of linguistic discrimination in this directive, and discussions on implementing this amendment are already in full swing.

”At a time when the Internet is an increasingly important part of our lives, we must all work together to ensure the equality of all languages in the European Union, as this is essential for their survival and continued existence, including Slovenian. The legislative process in the Union is usually long-lasting, but this does not mean that we can sit idly by and wait forever for multinationals, who will not do much without concrete pressure, especially legislative pressure.”

text by Maja Hajdinjak

Published in Vestnik: 28.12.2023

Photo: Anže Petkovšek

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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

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From comfort zone to the ”Brussels” bubble

My formal education was slowly coming to an end, so I had to think about what and how to continue. Friends often encouraged me to apply for the tenders they sent me, and among them was also the one for an internship with MEP Irena Joveva at the European Parliament in Brussels. I applied.

After the selection process was completed, I received an email saying that I had been selected for one of two two-month internships in Brussels. Honestly, it was completely unexpected and I was very excited about the upcoming experience. Unexpected, especially from the perspective that I have no formal or informal experience in politics, international relations or related fields, as I have a master’s degree in economics and business. Nevertheless, I have always been interested in politics, especially in relation to the European Union. My master’s thesis was also on the topic of copyright regulation in the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia, and this internship gave me direct insight into the very heart of the process of creating certain regulatory frameworks.

On my first working day, I was met in front of the Parliament by my colleague Elma, with whom I shared an office throughout my internship. I can only speak highly of Elma, as she is a master of networking, speaking foreign languages, and an extremely knowledgeable and open person who is always ready to help. The other two members of the Brussels team, Žana and Rok, also made a big impression on me on the first day when they welcomed me so casually and then, over lunch, confidently explained to me about the documents and articles they were currently working on. Of course, I must not forget Irena, who completely breaks the stereotype of the lofty politician. Irena is relaxed, smiling, always ready to talk, and at the same time, she is maximally professional in her work. What impressed me the most is definitely her diligence in her work and how this work affects people.

The Parliament, as a building, is indeed a huge modern labyrinth, but honestly I didn’t have any major problems with orientation, as our offices were on the third floor, which is the so-called connecting floor, and therefore navigating the Parliament is so much easier.

In the first week already, I was exposed to the dynamics of work in the Parliament, as we were waiting for a “mini-plenary” lasting two days. Unlike the usual plenary week, which takes place in Strasbourg, this one takes place in Brussels. This experience was undoubtedly a welcome shock and an extremely interesting event for me. On the first day of the plenary session, actress Cate Blanchett also addressed the MEPs, which caused a real small chaos in front of the hall. Colleagues in the office even mentioned that they had not experienced such crowds since Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech.

The team made sure that I got to know all aspects of working in the Parliament, which I am very happy about, as I had the opportunity to participate in an extremely important work. I heard from fellow interns in other offices that this is not such a common practice and that interns are largely responsible for answering the phone and answering emails. Elma definitely made sure that my experience would not be similar, as she not only guided me in my daily tasks, but also guided me from one session to another, to political group meetings, events and so on. During the daily walks to the chambers, she always explained to me who the passers-by were and what they were doing, so I am not exaggerating when I say that she is a master of networking, as she knows most of the staff in the Parliament. During the sessions, she provided me with additional information on the topics under discussion and accompanied them with local wisdom, sometimes even with quotes from poems.

Entering the life and work in the Parliament also required some adjustment, as I do not have practical political experience, unlike most employees of this institution. With this in mind, I took a serious approach to reading the news every day, following daily events, so that I could follow all the events that unfolded day after day.

Brussels, the city of the “bubble”

Living in Brussels, unlike working in the Parliament, was a bit less pleasant. During the entire internship, I only saw the sun twice. We also had rain, and later it often snowed, but this kind of weather is supposed to be typical of Brussels in the autumn and winter.

What surprised me the most was the lack of organization of the municipal system in the city. Instead of dumping waste in large garbage cans, they place their garbage bags on the sidewalks and in front of apartments several times a week, which are later picked up by municipal workers. In other words, you are often accompanied by piles of garbage bags when you walk through the city.

However, the Christmas decorations, lights and the Christmas market itself are wonderful and create a magical atmosphere and fun for everyone. The city also impresses with interesting cultural attractions and museum exhibitions, which I enjoyed visiting on weekends. I visited the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, which is huge and offers a lot of different exhibition spaces, and I also attended a few smaller exhibitions, for example the Tim Burton’s Labyrinth exhibition, which presents the director’s work in a very interesting and innovative way. I also took the time to visit the Belgian cities in the area and saw Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. All the cities surprised me very positively, especially Ghent with its charm and a really picturesque city center. I also attended a rock concert in Brussels, so there was no shortage of free time activities during the internship itself and I really made the most of my time in Belgium.

 

 

Christmas Strasbourg

At the end of my internship, I was able to visit Strasbourg at Christmas, where we had a real plenary session. The Parliament in France is much more difficult to navigate, but it has a similar concept of a connecting floor to the Parliament in Brussels. Plenary sessions are a truly special experience, as there is a lot of work to do, as well as a huge number of events and meetings to attend. In my opinion, the hectic nature of such a week gives this job even more charm, although I personally do not understand the point of moving the entire Parliament staff to a completely different country for a week every month. At least because of the environmental impact of such a project, but it is also a huge time drain for everyone involved.

During the plenary session, we also attended a Christmas dinner, where there was enough time for a little more informal socializing and relaxation. The city of Strasbourg is famous for its large Christmas market and the beautiful decoration of the city center itself. The view of the Notre-Dame Cathedral is simply breathtaking.

I have to thank the entire team, Irena, Elma, Žana, Rok, Jasna, Marko and Samanta for all the patience and trust shown during the internship. It was an incredible experience that will serve me well for the rest of my life, as it forced me to step out of my comfort zone and face areas where I was not exactly at home. I gained a lot of new acquaintances and knowledge that I will cherish forever. At the same time, I gained an insight into the functioning of a large international institution, which is invaluable.

– Matevž Mandl

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“Unity, perseverance, freedom.”

Unity, perseverance, freedom. Three words that are not only an echo of the past, but also the outline of our future.

On Independence and Unity Day, we remember the day when the Slovenian people clearly expressed their will for their country in a plebiscite. A turning point more than three decades ago, when we as a nation chose our own path. Our path.

No one said it would be easy, but along the way we’ve never lost our identity, culture, or language. Patriots excluded, of course.

Otherwise, it was the pride, identity, culture and language that strengthened the Slovenian nation throughout the history and gave it perseverance, which is what has kept this nation standing and surviving all these years.

The independence and freedom that we won three decades ago should by no means be something that we can take for granted today, when we have our own country.

Today is a day, that carries a broader meaning than just remembering the beginnings of our country. It is also an opportunity to look to the future and reflect on the kind of society we want to live in and the country we want to help create.

It is up to all of us, to not give up on the path to an even more inclusive, successful and united Slovenia.

Good luck, dear Slovenia!

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“Historic white smoke! We did it!”

Historic white smoke! We did it!

“‘There’s no way you’re going to get this done in this term.'” We’ve been hearing that for over a year. I’ve thought about it myself many times. I admit it.

There were attempts to demolish it from all sides. There were rebellions. There were disputes about who was responsible for what. There was drama. A lot of drama. But… reason won. Remember the Renew Europe team in this photo, who did everything and more so that after a whole day of final interinstitutional negotiations I can write to you: we have reached a political agreement on the final text of the European Media Freedom Act!

Democracy cannot function without free, critical and professional journalism. I really can’t describe my current feelings. I’m so pleased that with this legislation we are also recognizing this role of the media at the European Union level.

We know from experience that the media are constantly under pressure from political subordination, private (or business) interests or state restrictions on their activities. In the European Union, specifically the competent European Commission, they could only be “concerned” when serious violations occurred. There was no legal basis for concrete measures. Now, with this legislation, there will be.

The media has been given a special place on the market, a special place on the Internet, and journalists have been given special protection against espionage, against interference with editorial freedom, against attempts at political takeover. The content of the law is very good. Of course, also because I managed to include many of my proposals in it.

The final official confirmation will follow in the first half of next year. Thanks in particular to Rok and Joanna for their patience, determination and persistence in the endlessly long technical meetings, and of course also to my colleague from the Civil Liberties Committee (who had a say in part of the text) Ramona and her colleague Gabriel. Together we made it.

And to all you who read and follow me, greetings from Brussels!

– Irena

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“How many of you have ever made a joke about young people who still live with their parents?”

On Wednesday, December 13th, 2023, MEP Irena Joveva discussed the European Union’s strategy to help young people coping with the housing and cost of living crisis at the plenary session in Strasbourg. How many of you here have ever made a joke about young people, for example 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds, who still live with their parents? Or heard those “jokes” about the mama hotel, Joveva asked her colleagues present at the outset.

“I guess many of you. I find such remarks sad. The circumstances that the younger generations face today can only be funny in satire, which is not the case in reality.”

As the MP pointed out, young people find themselves in an unfavourable economic environment, which is reflected in the lack of affordable real estate, record high inflation and high interest rates on loans on the one hand, and in the lack of quality, stable and adequately paid jobs on the other. According to her, all of the above puts young people in an even more unenviable position, which “not only threatens their independence, but also their mental health”.

“Initiatives to create quality jobs at the European Union level exist and aim to regulate the labor market in a youth-friendly way, but what we lack is initiatives for affordable housing.”

The MP continued with proposals for measures that the European Union could introduce in this area: encouraging the construction of new housing, introducing subsidies for young people when purchasing housing, enabling favourable credit conditions, etc.

She concluded her speech with a call for measures to improve the situation of young people, implemented through strategies, to be realized

You can watch the full speech here.

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“I can’t change the world, but I change what I can for the better.”

On Friday, 8 December 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke with her Slovenian colleagues about the achievements and challenges of her outgoing mandate at a debate in Studio Evropa. ”When I accepted the fact that I cannot change the world, even though it needs to be changed for the better, I focused on the part that I can change. For the better,” she said, among other things.

When asked by a journalist about the fact that she is the youngest Slovenian MEP, Joveva emphasized that there has always been a patronizing attitude towards younger people, but that this is not an obstacle for her in any way.

“Experience is important, just as new energy is important, which – given the current composition of the European Parliament – has also been recognized by voters, as many of us represent the younger generation.”

Although her five-year parliamentary term is slowly coming to an end, the MEP is far from finished with her work, quite the opposite. As she explained, as the parliamentary rapporteur-general and rapporteur on behalf of her political group Renew Europe, she is currently focusing on two important pieces of legislation, hoping they will be passed during this term: statistics and freedom of the media.

When asked what stage the European Media Freedom Act is currently in, Joveva replied that the negotiators still have at least one more round of political negotiations ahead of them, and she is optimistic that they will succeed in reaching a compromise on the final text.

“In preparing the media freedom act, it remains crucial that this legislation prevents any pressure on journalists, prohibits any interference in editorial decisions, and ensures the public publication of data.”

The MP concluded her part of the discussion by saying that she would be happy to continue her work as a European Member of Parliament with even greater energy and enthusiasm, if the voters decide so.

In addition to MP Irena Joveva, MPs Klemen Grošelj, Milan Brglez, Matjaž Nemec, Franc Bogovič and Milan Zver, as well as MPs Ljudmila Novak and Romana Tomc participated in the discussion. The discussion was moderated by journalist and editor-in-chief of Večer Matija Stepišnik.

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“We actively break down prejudices.”

On 1 December 2023, World AIDS Day, MEP Irena Joveva, in collaboration with the youth and the Freedom Movement parliamentary group, raised awareness among passers-by about the dangers of HIV on Prešeren Square in Ljubljana. Among other things, the MEP, who is the Vice-Chair of the Public Health Committee, presented the European Parliament’s commitment to actively breaking down prejudices about this disease, as well as calls for further awareness-raising and preventive action.

Aids still marks our world, as it still affects millions of people around the world, said Joveva. She finds it especially important to raise awareness among young people about the importance of safe sex and the dangers of HIV infection: ”Today we are doing exactly that. We are raising awareness about the dangers of this disease and trying to present it to them in a slightly more innovative way.”

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“You have to be as honest, accessible and simple as possible with young people.”

On Thursday, November 30, 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke on the Izluščeno program on Radio Si about young people in connection with the upcoming European elections and their fears that they are not interested in European politics. In her opinion, the apathy of young people does not only apply to the European elections, but also to politics as such. The MEP said that it is therefore crucial that politics be approached to young people in a way that they understand, emphasizing that it is necessary to be honest, accessible and as simple as possible towards all people, especially young people.

As the MP said, she doesn’t want to relativize politics, which is a complex and demanding job, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be brought closer to people with better communication:

“But if we communicate with young people using acronyms or from the so-called Brussels bubble, as we like to say here, it doesn’t tell them anything, and it doesn’t help them even less.”

When asked what to do when young voters show interest but need to be addressed, Joveva replied:

“The key thing is the patronizing attitude, which is still very much there. I know very well what it’s like when older people behave patronizingly towards you, and that’s exactly what, unfortunately, most of the older generation, or old political cats, if you like, still do. Not necessarily intentionally, but that’s what repels young people the most in their attitude towards politics.”

Regarding the importance of addressing young people when it comes to the importance of the European Union, the MP explained that it’s necessary to take time for young people because they need it. Young people are a group of people who cannot simply remember what it was like in the past, as they were not even part of that world, so the European Union is taken for granted for them.

”I was also a child when we entered the European Union. If I generalize a bit, because of course the domestic and foreign political situation is different now, but I still remember that you couldn’t cross the border so easily. Or, for example, during your studies… recognizing study programs has never been as easy as it is now, within the European Union. Such things are not self-evident, it simply needs to be repeated to young people.”

In addition to the MP, Andrej Miholič from the European Parliament office in Slovenia was also a guest on the radio show.

Photo: Anže Petkovšek

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“It’s November 29th.”

It’s November 29th.

No, I won’t write about the holiday of the former commonwealth, which some of you may have thought of now.

I will write about today’s international day, which is marked by uncertainty, worry, pain, death, injustice, but also by tenacious determination and hope for a better tomorrow.

Today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Already marked in the past by violent unilateral actions by Israel, which have led to forced evictions, demolitions of Palestinian homes, restrictions on movement and deadly attacks. Already marked in the past by a longing for an end to the occupation. Segregation. With the hope that the international community will finally take action.

Today is also the day when – unless otherwise agreed at the negotiations in Qatar – the six-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel expires, and the related exchange of hostages and prisoners.

But what will happen tomorrow? What will the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People be like next year? What kind of solidarity is that?

Today is marked by the United Nations. If, under the cloak of patronizing solidarity and fine slogans, there are real efforts for justice and peace, the same United Nations should at least consistently respect its adopted resolutions. Especially the one that envisages the establishment of two separate states in the area of the former British mandate.

The only guarantee for the safety of all civilians and lasting peace in the Middle East lies in a permanent ceasefire, a sincere return of the State of Israel to the peace process, and the formulation of a peace plan that will lead to the final establishment and international recognition of yet another state that has the right to exist: the State of Palestine.

– Irena

Photo: – EP Alexis Haulot/EP

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