On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, during the Strasbourg plenary session, MEP Irena Joveva contributed to the topical debate Keeping people healthy, water drinkable and soil liveable: getting rid of forever pollutants and strengthening EU chemical legislation now. She said that there has been enough delay in the overhaul of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. Should an immediate proposal remain outstanding, the European Commission’s empty promises will remain just that – empty, she stressed.

Joveva began by summarising the essence of the plenary debate: the fact that basic goods such as clean water, safe food, unpolluted soil and clean air should be a given. The Union is right to pay a great deal of attention to these areas, but at the same time it shies away from regulating chemicals, where, as Joveva pointed out, there have been no serious amendments since 2006, when the still applicable Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (commonly known as REACH) was adopted.

”The (European) Commission has been seemingly promising its revision for three years now. It appears that the proposal will only be presented in the final quarter of this year, just a few months before the elections. Which means that these empty promises will remain just that. Empty.”

As Joveva elaborated, in the meantime, humans and other organisms will continue to be exposed to harmful chemicals, the negative effects of which will last for decades.

But given that all measures that have been or are being taken in the EU to protect the environment and health succeed or fail depending on closely interconnected areas that remain unregulated, Joveva concluded her speech with determination:

”Enough stalling. We need a revised REACH proposal now. While we still have time to adopt it.”

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here (in slovenian).

BACKGROUND

Chemicals are part of our everyday lives and are present in the products we use and in the high-tech materials needed for a circular and climate-neutral economy. The 2006 Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (commonly known as REACH) is the cornerstone of the European Union’s chemicals legislation. This Regulation aims to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment. A targeted revision of the Regulation is currently planned for the fourth quarter of 2023.

On 14 October 2020, the European Commission adopted the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Strategy is part of the European Union’s zero pollution ambition – a key commitment of the European Green Deal. Through the strategy, the European Commission aims to better protect citizens and the environment from harmful chemicals and to stimulate innovation by promoting the use of safer and more sustainable chemicals. However, given that this is only a strategy, it is not legally binding on Member States.

On Wednesday, 29 March 2023, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session in Brussels on the current developments at the national broadcaster RTV Slovenija. She said that its current management are not taking responsibility and refuse to admit that they are a disgrace to and unworthy of their positions: “They are only capable of making journalistic work impossible, of mobbing employees and of destroying the public service.”

The MEP began by saying that every decent person takes responsibility for his or her actions, even more so, if they are unlawful.

“And what are the management of RTV Slovenija doing? The Director General Andrej Grah Whatmough has been unlawfully appointed – as has been proven in court! He does not intend to resign. The former director of TV Slovenia, Natalija Gorščak, has been unlawfully removed from office – as has been proven in court! Her successor, Uroš Urbanija, does not intend to resign.”

Joveva recalled that there have already been numerous strikes by RTV Slovenija employees. In her opinion, the next one, which has been announced for 4 April 2023, is justified, considering that the situation at the public service broadcaster has not improved. Rather the contrary is the case, given that the management – as mentioned above – does not want to assume responsibility.

“Because they don’t want to end this agony, because they don’t want to admit that they are a disgrace to and unworthy of their positions. They are only capable of making journalistic work impossible, of mobbing employees and of destroying the public service.”

To conclude, she summarised her thoughts by borrowing the words of Val202 radio station journalist Nataša Štefe, who said that they do not need compassion, but rather that everything be done in accordance with the law and standards.

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here.

BACKGROUND

The Programme Council of Radiotelevizija Slovenia appointed Andrej Grah Whatmough as Director General of RTV Slovenija at its meeting of 25 January 2021, as the term of office of the then Director Igor Kadunc expired in April of that year. Applications for the post were submitted by Andrej Grah Whatmough, Igor Kadunc and Nataša Gorčak, the then Director of TV Slovenia. On 17 March 2022, following an initiative by Grah Whatmough, the Programme Council, in a new composition, reappointed Grah Whatmough as Director General, whereby the new vacancy notice no longer required from the applicants three years of managerial experience.

Kadunc challenged the appointment of Grah Whatmough, arguing that the managerial experience criterion had not been taken into account in the procedure. The Court of First Instance dismissed Kadunc’s complaint, following which Kadunc appealed to the Higher Court. The latter ruled that the decision of the Programme Council of January 2021 was unlawful and should be repealed, and that the appointment of Grah Whatmough was therefore unlawful.

On 20 August 2021, the then Director General of RTV, Andrej Grah Whatmough, dismissed Natalia Gorščak from her post as Director of TV Slovenija. A panel of the Ljubljana Higher Labour and Social Court ruled that the dismissal in August 2021 was unlawful, as had previously been found by the Court of First Instance, against which the RTV management appealed.

On Wednesday, 15 March 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke at the Strasbourg plenary session in the debate on cross-border adoptions of children from third countries. She pointed out that the price of the lack of a single legislative framework or mechanism for cross-border adoptions will be paid by the children, which none of us should wish for: “Enough with the excuses about who is competent for the matter and who is not. Let’s take responsibility, all of us, and let’s act.”

Children are our future. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s as simple as that”, began Joveva, stressing that at the same time, as the most vulnerable part of society, “these children are at the mercy of our decisions to take measures to ensure their safety”. In her view appropriate conditions must be created for cross-border adoptions, as otherwise we leave the door open for illegality, the violation of numerous human rights and serious crimes that have devastating consequences in the lives of the victims.

In her address, Joveva focused in particular on the lack of a single legislative framework or mechanism which would serve to prevent potential human trafficking under the guise of cross-border adoptions. She pointed out that there have certainly been many such cases, which unfortunately have gone unnoticed:

“Meanwhile, for years the (European) Commission has been passing on the issue of the lack of regulation to the Member States. Enough with the excuses about who is competent for the matter and who is not. Let’s take responsibility, all of us, and let’s act. Or else … it won’t be us who pays the price. It will be our children. Our future. Does this still sound like a cliché? It’s as simple as that.”

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here.

BACKGROUND:

All Member States have national provisions governing adoption, but legal procedures vary considerably across the EU, as substantive family law is a national competence. The European Parliament has been trying to regulate this family law topic with cross-border implications since 2009, when it adopted a Resolution on international adoption in the European Union, which called for consideration to be given to coordinating strategies at European level and facilitating the mutual recognition of the documents necessary for adoption.

In 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with recommendations to the Commission on cross-border aspects of adoptions. At the time, the Directorate for Impact Assessment and European Added Value (EAVA) estimated that, in addition to the social, health and fundamental rights implications for individuals, the cost of the lack of EU rules on automatic recognition of adoption decisions amounted to around €1.65 million per year. Legislation at EU level would reduce administrative and legal costs and better protect the interests of the child and the fundamental rights of adoptive parents.

 

On Wednesday, 15 March 2023, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the plenary session in Strasbourg on the topical debate More Europe, more jobs. The MEP highlighted that new jobs will need to be matched with new skills, for which additional and effective education is key.

Joveva said that she advocates a faster development of the economy which will be even more competitive, and the creation of new professions that will be empowered by proper education. Given that all these aspects are closely intertwined, proper education and training is key, since without it, the Union will not be up to the task and the challenges ahead.

The MEP also referred to this year’s European Year of Skills, which follows last year’s European Year of Youth. In her view, the need for additional and effective training for individuals in order to develop the much needed skills required by the new professions must be taken into account when formulating economic strategies and creating new jobs.

”Through targeted economic development strategies, the Union can encourage businesses to continue to develop, while at the same time calling on them to take into account the need to upskill and reskill their workforce. This is crucial for our future.”

You can watch MEP Joveva’s speech here.

BACKGROUND

“More Europe, more jobs – we are building the competitive economy of tomorrow for the benefit of all” was one of the topical debates during the March European Parliament plenary session. Topical debates can be requested by a political group under Rule 162 of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. This topic was proposed by the Renew Europe political group and is particularly relevant in the light of the series of crises and challenges that the European Union has faced and is still facing. The debate aimed to highlight the importance of securing jobs in Europe, the need to reskill part of the workforce and the value of lifelong learning.

On Tuesday, 14 February 2023, MEP Irena Joveva spoke at the Strasbourg plenary session on the need for an independent EU ethics body. “I think it is now clear to everyone that there is no other way”, she said, stressing that without integrity, transparency, accountability and zero tolerance of corruption, there will be no trust in the work of MEPs.

She said that, while certain rules already exist, the different codes of conduct that the European institutions have put in place make standards uneven, investigative powers insufficient, and sanctions deficient and often unconvincing.

”It is true that in the end, it all depends on the integrity of every individual, but it is nevertheless right that we establish a European ethics body, with unified, clear rules of conduct within all institutions. And I hope these will be the strictest rules possible.”

She went on to point out that a majority in the European Parliament had called for the creation of the body two years ago, but unfortunately to no avail. At the same time, she expressed her hope that, especially given all the recent corruption scandals, the European Commission will finally follow through on its commitment made on that occasion and act on the European Parliament’s renewed request.

”I think it’s now clear to everyone that there is no other way. It certainly is to those of us who have no problem with rules and ethics.”

Background

On 15 December 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on suspected corruption by Qatar and the wider need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions. On 16 September 2021, MEPs had already called on the Commission to come forward with a proposal to improve transparency and integrity in decision-making at the EU level. In today’s debate with the Council of the EU and the European Commission, MEPs reiterated their call for the establishment of an independent EU ethics body.

Its purpose would be to ensure that public decisions are taken for the common good and help regain citizens’ trust in the EU institutions. It would be set up by an interinstitutional agreement between the Parliament and the Commission and would be open to all EU institutions, agencies and bodies with powers of investigation or advice, depending on the matter under discussion. Before her election, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to set up such a body and entrusted the task to Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova.

On Wednesday, 15 February 2023, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, MEP Irena Joveva discussed the erosion of the rule of law in Greece in relation to the wiretapping scandal and media freedom. She stressed that those who blackmail and spy on others must be exposed and stopped before anyone else dies. She was referring to the extreme cases of murders of journalists, and focused primarily on what is happening in Greece.

The MEP began her intervention by saying that, unfortunately, threats, attempts at surveillance, silencing and subjugation are a constant feature of journalism, and have even intensified in recent years with the rise of new surveillance and tracking technologies.

“There are many methods, but we need to look at them holistically. This is happening in Europe, too. It is not ‘just’ threats, ‘just’ attempts, ‘just’ surveillance. It’s also evinced in the murders that we have been seeing.”

Joveva recalled the murder of Greek investigative journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, adding that two years on, the investigation is not even over. The journalist investigated the links between the police, politicians and organised crime in Greece, for which he paid with his life. The MEP also mentioned that in a separate scandal, the use of spyware (Pegasus) had been uncovered, which was conducted directly from the office of the Greek prime minister, and which was used to spy both on the opposition and journalists.

BACKGROUND

The European public was shocked by the so-called Greek Watergate, a wiretapping scandal in which the Greek secret services tapped the phones of several Greek politicians, businessmen and journalists. Giorgos Karaivaz, a seasoned journalist who covered Greek crime and the police, was shot and killed in broad daylight outside his home on 9 April 2021 by two men on a motorbike. After the murder, the Greek police said that the “professional” style of the hit pointed to the involvement of organised crime groups, which had carried out a number of targeted killings in recent years and were known to have been investigated by Karaivaz.

The latest victims of the wiretapping scandal include Greek MEP Giorgos Kyrtsos (Renew Europe) and investigative journalist Tasos Teloglou.

In the World Press Freedom Index report, issued by Reporters Without Borders, ranking the countries of the world in terms of press freedom, Greece dropped from 70th place in 2021 to 108th in 2022, which is the poorest showing among all EU Member States and which calls into question the rule of law in Greece.

On Wednesday, 18 January 2023, MEP Irena Joveva (Renew Europe/Gibanje Svoboda) addressed the European Parliament during the plenary debate on the situation of journalists in Morocco. She highlighted the state of affairs regarding journalism in Morocco, where the Moroccan government is clamping down on journalists and silencing voices that report on government corruption. “If there are no reports on government corruption, it doesn’t exist, right?”, she said sharply.

According to the MEP, the Moroccan government only pays lip service to media pluralism, while the situation pertaining to journalism in the country is quite different. She stressed that, despite the fact that the right to information and the right to freedom of expression are enshrined in the Constitution, they are not respected.

Journalists are extremely restricted in their activities, forced to self-censorship, and the right to report on corruption, the status of the monarchy and the status of Western Sahara is – to put it mildly – extremely curtailed.”

As Joveva added, there remains only one independent media outlet in Morocco, and its journalists are regularly harassed, persecuted, unjustly arrested or even imprisoned on false charges of illegal termination of pregnancy or sexual assault.

All this and more, what the Moroccan government is doing, is outrageous. It is time for the EU not only to clearly condemn such practices, but to take even stronger action. Let this resolution be just a start. To the gentlemen who are defending such moves by the Moroccan government, I say again at this point: no, the resolution is not based on manipulated data, and no, we will not stand idly by and watch what you are doing.”

 

BACKGROUND

The plenary debate highlighted in particular the case of Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist who has reported on government corruption. He has been detained since 29 July 2020 and sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was upheld by the court of appeal. According to the organisation dealing with human rights, the proceedings against Omar Radi involved serious violations of international fair trial standards.

You can watch the MEP’s full plenary speech in slovenian HERE.

 

 

 

On Tuesday, 17 January 2023, MEP Irena Joveva addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the corruption scandal that has recently rocked the European institutions to the core. In her speech, she said that it is not the rules that will be able to prevent corruption, but the integrity of her colleagues in the European Parliament.

Shock, dismay and shame are just three of the many words that could be used to describe the incomprehensible corruption scandal that has struck the European Parliament, the MEP said to open her speech.

She stressed that interference by third countries in the decision-making processes of the EU institutions is unacceptable and must certainly be stopped, but that this will not be enough.

”We need to tighten the rules in all areas, at all levels, in all institutions. But no matter how tough and clear the rules, in the end it all comes down to … Not money. Not for me. It all comes down to us as human beings,” Joveva was straightforward in her appraisal.

She added that politicians owe it to citizens, and ultimately to the dignity of the European Parliament, to practice what they preach.

“And if a third party resorts to bribery, it is not the rules that will prevent it. It is only our integrity, colleagues, that can successfully put a stop to it”, concluded the MEP.

You can watch MEP Joveva’s full speech in Slovenian here.

On Wednesday, 14 December 2022, MEP Irena Joveva addressed colleagues and the public at the plenary session in Strasbourg on the situation of journalists and the implications for the rule of law. She believes that it is high time we also set standards for determining the quality of the practice of the journalistic profession.

In her address, Joveva emphasised that not everyone can be a journalist just because, for example, they want to appear on television, let alone because they want to fulfil the goals and wishes of a particular political faction. She therefore stressed that it is essential to set standards for determining the quality of the practice of the journalistic profession. In her view, the forthcoming Media Freedom Act could be a good opportunity to do so.

She also spoke about ensuring the safety of journalists:

Ensuring the safety of journalists is a prerequisite for effective media freedom, which is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law.”

Joveva also touched on the quality of reporting by journalists:

We often mention the quality of reporting, which affects the credibility of the information provided. And with the rise of disinformation, interference in editorial policy and (self)censorship this quality is steadily declining.”

You can find MEP Joveva’s full address HERE.

At the December plenary session in Strasbourg, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob addressed the European Parliament in the latest “This is Europe” debate. He called on the EU institutions to take more decisive action on energy, a sentiment echoed by MEP Irena Joveva in her speech.

Plenary hall during the address by Prime Minister Golob.

Among other things, the MEP emphasised the need for institutional reforms by opening up the basic treaties, abolishing unanimity, democratising processes and creating a genuine European public discourse.

She added that, despite the efforts and achievements made, she would welcome a higher level of ambition at the European Union level:

”I would also like to see unity in our common responses to mitigate this crisis and in setting up a common framework for the necessary investments for a green Europe that is energy-independent from all authoritarian states.”

According to Joveva, the European Union is losing much-needed credibility, both because of Member States taking advantage of the veto in the Council, which leads to unacceptable compromises, and because of blatant systemic corruption in the Member States, and above all at the level of individuals, including in the European Parliament, which she condemns in the strongest terms.

She concluded by saying that substantive debates with leaders, such as this one, are genuinely important for the future of Europeans.

MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on the occasion of his address to the European Parliament.

About This is Europe debates:

This is Europe is a series of plenary debates with the heads of state and government of the European Union Member States during the plenary sessions of the European Parliament. During these debates, EU leaders share their views on the current state of the EU and solutions to the challenges facing Europe.

You can watch the full speech by clicking here.