Left Group Aims to Safeguard Workers' Rights in European Parliament

The Left Group in the European Parliament has prioritized securing the chairmanship of the labour affairs committee to protect environmental and workers' rights during the upcoming five-year mandate. In an interview with Euractiv, the newly appointed leftist chair, Finnish MEP Andersson, expressed concerns that the social dimension of EU policy may diminish following the recent European elections. She emphasized the need to keep social issues at the forefront of the parliamentary agenda, linking them to key EU objectives such as competitiveness and the green and digital transitions. Andersson highlighted the importance of collaboration among progressive political parties to reinforce the EU's social model, especially in light of a shift to the right in European politics. She called for unity among various political groups that prioritize social issues to form coalitions and push for necessary legislative changes. Notable achievements from the previous mandate include the platform work directive, which enhances conditions for gig economy workers, and the minimum wage directive aimed at increasing collective bargaining coverage across member states. Additionally, Andersson supported European Commission President von der Leyen's proposal for a commissioner dedicated to addressing the housing crisis, while stressing the need for actionable proposals in this area. Meanwhile, former Italian Prime Minister Draghi's upcoming report is expected to address the balance between deregulation and the protection of Europe's welfare model, advocating for a streamlined regulatory framework while maintaining high social protection standards.