The Socialists and Democrats today backed a parliamentary resolution calling for stronger EU action to cope with the social and economic consequences of the war on Ukraine.

S&D MEPs successfully pushed for important measures to be included in this resolution, such as a chapter on a Social Resilience Package with concrete initiatives for Member States. These initiatives should provide targeted support to the most vulnerable parts of its population by summer 2022.

These measures aim at strengthening social welfare and social protection systems in the EU, including the continuation and refinancing of SURE and a social rescue facility with increased public support to existing instruments.

The resolution also calls for the full embargo on oil and gas from Russia as the only way for the sanctions to be effective; for an extension of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact; for strengthening investment in social climate measures and for the Member States to consider temporary suspension of national rent indexation schemes, as well as for the creation of new financial instruments because the ones available (MFF, NGEU or SURE) are not enough to face the consequences of the war.

S&D president Iratxe García said:

“We in the S&D Group were disappointed after the plenary debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, because mainly the foreign dimension and the security aspects of the war were addressed, neglecting the impact on European citizens’ lives. This is why we called for a plenary debate and pushed for this resolution.

“After the pandemic, now energy prices and general price inflation is hitting both citizens and businesses. We need to reinforce our public policies and strengthen the safety network for those in need.

“Social Resilience should be introduced as a priority, with measures to strengthen social welfare and social protection systems in the EU, including the continuation and refinancing of SURE and a social rescue facility.

“What the Commission is proposing is not enough. I welcome that the Parliament has voted for additional funding for the European Child Guarantee, to support also Ukrainian children, and to help with the reception and labour integration of refugees. We are talking about fresh money, not reallocation of existing funds.

“To discuss all this, the European Parliament is also calling for a Social Summit. Following the Summit in Porto in May last year, we must update our strategy to adapt it to the extraordinary situation we are facing with the increasing inflation and its social consequences.”