On the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2021 ceremony in Strasbourg today, the Socialists and Democrats pay tribute to all defenders of human rights in Russia. Like Andrei Sakharov, the eminent nuclear physicist and Soviet dissident, they courageously fight for democracy, truth and political freedom, despite efforts by the Kremlin to silence them.

S&D MEPs welcome the Commission’s proposal to upgrade the out-dated Environmental Crimes Directive, as outlined in a Parliamentary report on environmental liability in May 2021. However, the S&D Group believes the EU should go further in protecting the environment through criminal law than the Commission’s proposals today by recognising ecocide as a crime under EU law. Harsher sanctions on lawbreakers and stronger enforcement are important steps in deterring environmental crimes and protecting the planet.

The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament welcome the measures by the European Commission to decarbonise buildings, support measures in favour of renewables and low carbon gases and to reduce methane emissions. This comes after earlier today, the Commission adopted a set of legislative proposals to decarbonise the EU gas market and to ensure energy security throughout the European Union.

Mohammed Chahim MEP, S&D vice-president responsible for the energy aspects of the Green Deal, said:

While urging for immediate military de-escalation and a return to diplomacy, the Socialists and Democrats called to prepare severe sanctions against Russia, that should already be agreed at the European Summit this Thursday, in efforts to prevent the Kremlin from using force against Ukraine.  At the same time, they insisted that political dialogue remains the sole basis for solving the conflict in eastern Ukraine and that this dialogue must and will always involve Ukraine.

The plenary of the European Parliament will today debate an S&D report on democracy at work, with a vote tomorrow.