The Week ahead

China’s latest rare earth export restrictions expose Europe's dangerous strategic dependencies. The EPP Group welcomes China’s decision to lift restrictions on nine minerals and introduce a fast-track licensing system for European companies - but more is needed. At Wednesday’s parliamentary debate, the EPP Group calls for a rules-based dialogue with China to defend Europe’s interests, ensure Beijing upholds WTO commitments, and stop trade being weaponised. “At the same time, we call for a firm, coordinated action against coercive trade measures and a smarter use of existing tools. Europe must diversify, work with trusted partners,  and secure sustainable access to critical raw materials through initiatives like ResourceEU. Our goal is not decoupling, but cutting risky dependencies so Europe can act and compete freely," says Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez MEP, EPP Group responsible for trade relations with China. 

The Parliament will also vote on protecting EU consumers from illegal and dangerous products sold on platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. “I urge the Commission to enforce EU rules fully and to pursue the cases against Shein and similar platforms with determination and transparency. The European market must remain open - but it must never become lawless. This is not about competition; it is about dignity, safety, and responsibility. The EPP wants illegal and harmful products, especially those that exploit or endanger children, to be permanently removed from digital marketplaces," says Andres Schwab MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on the Internal Market and negotiator of this file.

In a fast-track procedure, the European Parliament will vote on the European Deforestation Regulation on Wednesday in Strasbourg. “In September, the European Commission itself proposed postponing the regulation. Now, the EU member states have taken the same position. The EPP agrees that this is a necessary step. We want a more nuanced approach that keeps the fight against deforestation effective while avoiding unnecessary burdens on small and micro-enterprises, especially in countries with negligible deforestation risk,” says Christine Schneider MEP, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the European Deforestation Regulation.

The European Parliament will give final green light to the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) on Tuesday. This long-term initiative is aimed at boosting European cooperation in the defence sector and strengthening Europe’s industrial and strategic capabilities. Parliament's rapporteur from the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, Francois-Xavier Bellamy MEP, emphasises that the programme will ensure European countries invest in defence capabilities that provide full autonomy of action. MEP Michael Gahler, EPP Group rapporteur from the Security and Defence Committee, reminds us that the new programme will also significantly deepen cooperation with Ukraine, allowing us to benefit from Ukraine’s impressive defence innovation. EPP Group sees this programme as a vital foundation for European defence preparedness by 2030.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will debate, at the initiative of the EPP Group, the situation of Christian communities and religious minorities in Nigeria and the Middle East. François-Xavier Bellamy MEP, Vice-Chair of the EPP Group, said: “As Christian communities are increasingly targeted, particularly in Nigeria where deadly attacks continue to strike worshippers amid near-international indifference, our debate will rigorously examine the role that the EU and its Member States can play in guaranteeing freedom of conscience and ensuring real and effective protection for religious minorities in these regions.” Željana Zovko MEP, Vice-Chair of the EPP Group and Co-Chair of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue, stated: “Christians are increasingly targeted worldwide. I call on the European Commission and the European External Action Service to urgently appoint a Special Representative for the promotion of freedom of religion and step up its commitment to the protection of persecuted Christians from Nigeria to the Middle East. While 1 in 7 Christians is persecuted worldwide, it is time to turn words into actions.”

The EPP has long led efforts to protect children and create a safer digital environment. On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote to propose measures that significantly strengthen online child protection. The aim is clear: to ensure Europe’s children grow up in a digital world that supports, not harms, their development. “Parents - not algorithms - should be in charge of raising our kids. That’s why we proposed access to social media for minors under 16 with parental consent only. While parental responsibility is key, we cannot place all the responsibility on parents alone. Otherwise, it’s a struggle of David versus Goliath. All stakeholders - from parents to schools to tech companies - have to play their role in protecting children online," says Dóra Dávid MEP, EPP Group negotiator on this file.

On Wednesday afternoon, the European Parliament will debate the EU’s response to ongoing airspace violations and sabotage of critical infrastructure by Russia and Belarus. The EPP Group calls for a decisive and united action as well as stronger EU defence. “The attempted derailment of a train on Poland’s Warsaw–Lublin route could have cost lives. Europe must wake up: only a prepared and united EU defence can deter Russia,” says Andrzej Halicki MEP , Vice-Chair of the EPP Group. Rasa Juknevičienė MEP highlights Belarus’s hybrid attacks: “Smuggling balloons and unmanned incursions are not accidents - they are provocations and acts of destabilisation. They show how easily our societies can be targeted with cheap tools".