The Week ahead

The EPP Group is committed to European unity and unwavering support for Ukraine, condemns Russia’s aggression and labels Putin a war criminal. The Group calls for a stronger EU defence, closer cooperation with NATO, and deeper ties with allies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Strengthening economic competitiveness and military defence go hand in hand. “We are living in critical times. Security is Europe's new priority. The EPP Group is the advocate for security. Europe needs more national defence capabilities and a new quality of responsibility, cooperation, and ambition. We need national defence capabilities, a European Defence Pillar in NATO, a true single market, and joint EU military projects,” says Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group. The Parliament’s plenary debates on the future of European defence and the outcome of the ongoing EU leaders' summit will take place on Tuesday morning. The details of the EPP Group's vision for the future of the European defence can be found in this position paper:  A Europe that protects and that stands for true peace: building a European Defence Union.

An effective return policy is essential for Europe's security. Migrants who do not have the right to stay in Europe must leave the EU. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will examine the European Commission's new legal proposal for speeding up the return processes. "The EPP Group expects the new rules to be ambitious, strong and effective. Europe needs to take back control of who is in Europe. If you do not have the right to be in Europe, you should not be in Europe," says Tomas Tobé MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chair for Legal and Home Affairs.

On Thursday, the European Parliament will debate on what kind of agriculture Europe wants to have in the future. The EPP Group has consistently advocated for a farmer-focused EU agricultural policy that strengthens their role in the supply chain, improves food security, and reduces unnecessary bureaucracy. With its recently presented Vision for Agriculture and Food, the European Commission has finally listened to these concerns. “For us, it is clear: we do not want any new burdens, but flexibility and solid income for farmers through a strong Common Agricultural Policy,” stresses Herbert Dorfmann MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on Agriculture and Rural Development.

On Wednesday morning, the European Parliament will debate the Commission’s Action Plan for the automotive industry, published on 5 March. The EPP Group welcomes the Action Plan and sees it as an important step, but insists that more is needed. “The Commission missed the opportunity to provide clarity on the issue of the internal combustion engine ban and other urgent matters like the CO2 reduction targets for trucks and trailers,” says Jens Gieseke MEP, the EPP Group’s Lead Negotiator on the automotive industry.