European Parliament’s Busy Wednesday: Democracy, Cyberbullying, and Maternity Leave on the Menu
The European Parliament kicked off Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM with what might be the political equivalent of a triple espresso: a debate on the Middle East crisis, complete with sky-high energy prices and fertilizer costs that would make any farmer weep. Cyprus’s Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tag-teamed the discussion, followed by an afternoon session on southern Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis.
But wait, there’s more! In a move that proves even European politics can occasionally enter the 21st century, MEPs voted at noon to let new and expectant mothers delegate their votes while taking up to three months before and six months after childbirth. Revolutionary? Maybe. Overdue? Absolutely.
Around 2:00 PM, the Parliament turned its attention to something we’ve all experienced or witnessed: cyberbullying. Commissioner Glen Micallef faced the music as MEPs grilled him on the Commission’s action plan. A resolution demanding criminal provisions and platform accountability is expected Thursday—because apparently, we still need to remind tech companies that being terrible to people online is, in fact, bad.
The afternoon got heavier with a 3:00 PM discussion on combating antisemitism, prompted by recent attacks in the Netherlands and Belgium. MEPs also squeezed in debates about not normalizing relations with Russia (featuring sports and cultural events), Sudan’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and urgent human rights violations in Haiti, China, and Venezuela.
In a delightfully meta moment, the Patriots for Europe group requested a “topical debate” at 1:00 PM about “Commission interference in democratic process and elections.” Nothing says democracy like debating whether you’re doing democracy right.
The noon voting marathon covered everything from budget discharge approvals to €2 million in support for Belgian workers laid off after Liberty Steel’s closure. MEPs also tackled emissions trading systems, dodgy non-EU e-commerce flooding the market with substandard products, and fundamental rights reports.
Just another Wednesday in Strasbourg, where saving democracy, protecting mothers, and fighting cyberbullies all happen before lunch.