The Week ahead

Referring the EU–Mercosur agreement to the EU Court of Justice would bring the ratification process to a standstill, forcing Parliament to halt its work and triggering a lengthy legal review. In practice, this would block any parliamentary decision on the agreement for months. The EPP Group believes that stalling the agreement would undermine Europe's credibility as a global player. Delays risk China taking the lead, while the deal is a key opportunity to strengthen Europe’s partnership with Latin America. At a time of growing geopolitical instability, the Mercosur agreement will help Europe forge a cross-continental alliance of like-minded liberal democracies. "Unlocking a free trade zone of 700 million consumers is exactly what Europe needs to boost its competitiveness in today’s increasingly uncertain global economy. By reducing tariffs and simplifying customs procedures, we will increase trade in goods and services, boost investment, and strengthen supply-chain diversification,” says Jörgen Warborn MEP and EPP Group’s spokesman on International Trade. An EPP Group press conference on the Mercosur agreement will take place on Tuesday at 9am at the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg or via Interactio.

EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP will hold a press conference on the topics of Parliament’s plenary on Tuesday at 8.30am at the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg or via Interactio.

The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark is on the European Parliament’s plenary agenda for Tuesday. The EPP group stands firmly with the people of Greenland and expects everyone to respect the sovereignty of both Greenland and Denmark. "Greenland and the Arctic are the northern border of Europe, and we need to protect them just as well as we protect the southern borders," Danish EPP member Niels Flemming Hansen MEP and the EPP spokesman on Security and Defence Nicolas Pascual de la Parte MEP stressed.

The European Parliament is intensifying its stance on Iran amid ongoing nationwide protests against the Tehran regime. The situation will be debated during the plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday. "We strongly condemn the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown, including mass arrests, internet shutdowns, and death threats against protesters. We express our full solidarity with the courageous people of Iran who are demanding freedom, dignity, and fundamental rights. Their voices must be heard, protected, and defended. The sacrifices of the victims will not be forgotten. Freedom cannot be silenced. As the European Union, we bear a profound responsibility to stand with them and to uphold these principles," said EPP Group spokesman on Iran, Loucas Fourlas MEP.

On Tuesday, at the initiative of the EPP Group, the European Parliament will debate the situation in Venezuela following the extraction of Nicolás Maduro. After years of dictatorship and repression, Venezuela now needs a peaceful democratic transition. The EPP Group has always said that Maduro is not a legitimate, democratically elected president and did not recognise him. The Group continues to recognise Edmundo González and Maria Corina Machado as the only legitimate representatives of the Venezuelan people and the winners of the presidential elections of July 2021. They should lead the democratic transition in the country. “The dictator may be gone, but not the dictatorship. After nearly 13 years in power, Maduro’s capture has not yet changed the structures of power within the regime. While uncertainty prevails, one thing is clear: Venezuela’s future must be decided by the Venezuelans. The results of the 2024 elections leave no doubts about who represents democracy in Venezuela,” says Sebastião Bugalho MEP. “Maduro was a dictator who massacred people, tortured and incarcerated thousands  - it is good that he is gone. But the future of Venezuela is in the hands of the Venezuelans, and the democratic transition of the country must be led by those who won the elections of July 2024. No other solution is legitimate,” adds Gabriel Mato.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will take stock of the latest developments in EU–US political relations by voting on a report on the issue. The EPP Group believes this vote comes at a crunch time for European security and for the EU’s role on the global stage. The dynamically changing relationship with the United States has a direct and long-term impact on Europe’s stability, its defence capabilities, and its political cohesion. "This report is a roadmap for responsible and mature transatlantic relations. We want the best possible cooperation with the United States, but Europe must demonstrate that it can take responsibility for itself. Deeper transatlantic cooperation benefits both sides. Today, more than ever, we need continuous dialogue to jointly respond to global threats,” said Michał Szczerba, MEP, who negotiated Parliament's report. “Peace in Ukraine, we state unequivocally: peace must be just and lasting, based on full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Neither Ukraine nor the European Union can be excluded from discussions about the future security of our continent. At the same time, we call on Europe to ensure a fairer sharing of burdens and to build a credible European defence pillar that is fully coherent with NATO," adds Szczerba. 

He will hold a press conference on the report on Wednesday at 2pm at the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) and via Interactio, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.