Last week at the plenary session in Strasbourg, we debated and voted on a number of topics. Here you can see how my colleagues and I voted on the EU budget for next year — including the LIFE financial instrument, the introduction of a tax on extreme wealth and the financing of affordable housing from the EU budget, and on the resolution on Serbia and the protection of Europe's forests.
1. Affordable and affordable housing financed from the EU budget can go a long way towards solving the housing crisis affecting the whole of the European Union. This form of financing allows the construction or renovation of housing that is affordable for people with lower and middle incomes, thus reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion. EU funding provides stability and reduces dependence on national budgets, thereby increasing the accessibility and quality of life for European citizens. Unfortunately, there is a lack of political will to make this policy a reality.
.jpeg)
2. A tax on extreme wealth, or the so-called Zucman's tax, represents a 2% tax on wealth above 100 million euros. This tax would target super-rich individuals and families, with the aim of reducing growing inequality and creating new sources of income for the EU. The revenues from this tax could be used to finance the European Union's own resources, reducing its dependence on national contributions and providing more stable financial resources for key initiatives such as the green transition and social policies, whose financial framework will be significantly reduced in the new EU budget unless changes occur.
.jpeg)
3. LIFE Financial Instrument is a European Union programme supporting environmental and climate action projects. It aims to fund initiatives that promote sustainable development, nature conservation, the fight against climate change and environmental innovation. The programme provides funding to Member States, local authorities, civil society organisations and businesses for concrete projects that contribute to a green and sustainable Europe. In Croatia, LIFE financial support can be received by government institutions, NGOs, local authorities, research institutions and private companies implementing projects in the field of environmental protection, biodiversity and climate change. Some of the key beneficiaries include the Ministry of Environment, WWF Adria, and institutions such as the Ruđer Bošković Institute. Progressive political groups strongly support LIFE funds, while the radical right, with the help of the center-right, insists on reducing these funds, often claiming that LIFE promotes a “green agenda” that threatens traditional industries and ways of life, which is misinterpreted and populist. This particular amendment was ultimately defeated, showing that a large majority in the European Parliament supports sustainable development and the fight against climate change.
.jpeg)
4. Proposal for a European Forest Monitoring Law presented by the European Commission, aimed to establish a common system for monitoring the state of forests in all EU Member States, including data on fires, droughts, pests and logging, combining satellite observations, field measurements and national inventories through the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE). The aim was to provide unique, comparable and up-to-date data to improve forest management and environmental protection. But the proposal met with strong resistance from the radical right, and was rejected by the European Parliament with 370 votes against. This is another example in which the centre-right, that is, the European People's Party, is willing to join forces with the radical right to challenge certain regulations and policies, ultimately preventing the proposal of a new law on European forests.
.jpeg)
5. Resolution of the European Parliament warns of a serious deterioration in the state of democracy, the rule of law and freedom of the media in Serbia. It calls for an urgent investigation into violence against protesters and abuse of power, and clear steps towards fair elections and the protection of civil rights. The EU says Serbia's progress towards membership depends on real reforms, not just words. It is symbolic that all Croatian MPs present voted united, but it should be emphasized here that progressive political parties place emphasis on criticism of Vucic's autocratic regime and the pro-European future of Serbia, while the radical right and centre-right focus on blocking Serbia's European path, often with nationalist connotations.
.jpeg)
.png)
