Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Today, the Social and Democratic party group S&D secured mandatory harassment training for all members of the European Parliament in a change to the rules of procedure through the Constitutional Affairs Committee. With MP Gabi Bischoff leading the rule changes, all members of Parliament will follow The European now has mandatory training courses during the first six months in office with a focus on preventing conflicts and harassment in the workplace, in addition to effective office management.
Parliamentary leaders tasked the committee with strengthening the institution's anti-harassment rules in January 2023, but procedural delays championed by the Conservatives and the far right mean a rule change will be among the final votes during this term.
The mandatory training, called for by Parliament in its resolution on “MeToo and harassment” in December 2021, will reduce the risk of harassment in the European Parliament. Failure to comply would give the group's leaders in parliament the ability to hold a public vote on the removal of an elected office holder.
Concretely, this may mean losing the elected member's position as Chair, Vice-Chair, Chair of a Committee or Vice-Chair, or Chair or Vice-Chair of a joint parliamentary delegation. The statement indicated that in this legislative term, 319 members (45 percent) participated in this training.
Gaby Bischof, vice-president of the Socialists and Democrats, who is leading negotiations for mandatory harassment training, told the Constitutional Affairs Committee:
“As a public institution and employer, the European Parliament has a duty to set the gold standard in tackling workplace harassment. Clear rules and strong sanctions must be in place to support a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour. Prevention is key because it enables us to proactively address problems , before they escalate. Mandatory training reinforces our commitment to a workplace where everyone's dignity is respected and protected.
“Despite the clear political mandate from the Parliament Office and the clear consensus reached within the working group, conservative and far-right political groups oppose the mandatory nature of this training. The European People's Party, in particular, has resorted to delaying tactics, prolonging negotiations within the Committee and questioning the need to change the rules of procedure. Why EPP members are so persistently slow on mandatory anti-harassment training in the European Parliament is something they have to explain. According to what was stated in a statement by the Group of Socialist and Democratic Parties in the European Parliament