Tonight the European Parliament will debate on the deep crisis in Venezuela. Again, the Socialists and Democrats will call for the liberation of political prisoners and free elections that will reinstall the rule of law and people’s sovereignty.

S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui, who co-chairs the EU-Latin America Assembly (Eurolat), said:

In relation to today’s discussion in the European Parliament on the situation in North Korea and particularly on the persistence of provocations by Kim Jong-un, Victor Boştinaru S&D Group vice-president said:

“The latest tests by North Korea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile over Japan and a hydrogen bomb equivalent to several times those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are absolutely unacceptable and in blatant violation of all UN Security Council resolutions.

The European Parliament today backed a scheme to bring WiFi connectivity to public spaces such as parks, squares and public buildings across Europe. The agreement, dubbed WiFi4EU, will bring high-quality internet to 6000-8000 communities across Europe.

S&D vice-president responsible for the Digital Union, Josef Weidenholzer MEP said:

Sergei Stanishev, the president of the Party of European Socialists, wrote today to Jean-Claude Juncker to ask him finally to deliver on his promised ‘social triple A’ for Europe.

Mr Stanishev’s letter calls for the EU’s social pillar to matched by a concrete social action plan to be laid out in the State of the Union address tomorrow.

Mr Stanishev said:

According to Compass Lexecon experts, the security of electricity supply in Poland in the long run can only be guaranteed by implementation of the capacity mechanism (CM). This solution would be the most efficient form of intervention and the most beneficial one for both electricity producers and for the end consumers.