EPP Group Highlights (6-12 October 2025)

Secure Europe’s skies

Ukrainian Military Trains With Large Attack Drone

On Wednesday, the Parliament will hold a key debate on protecting the European skies after the recent airspace violations. "Europe’s skies are under attack. Securing them is urgent to protect our internal security", says Tomas Tobé MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group. "Europe’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles capability needs a swiftly implemented plan of action backed by serious EU financing", underlines Andrey Novakov MEP, who, together with Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz MEP, is responsible for negotiating the resolution on behalf of the EPP group.

Press officers:

Pete PAKARINEN

Press Officer for Defence, Human Rights and for Finland

Agata BYCZEWSKA

Press Officer for Foreign Affairs, Development and for Poland

With EU digital rules, Europe protects its sovereignty and leads globally

App icons of online platforms Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, Apple Store, and TikTok are being displayed on a smartphone with the EU Digital Market Act (DMA) in this photo illustration

The EPP Group calls for the swift adoption of a strong digital Omnibus package. It should cut red tape, eliminate overlaps, and simplify rules. The goal: a more competitive and thriving EU digital market - for citizens and businesses alike. The European Parliament will debate promoting EU digital rules and protecting European sovereignty on Wednesday afternoon. Andreas Schwab MEP, EPP Group spokesman on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, stresses that “protecting European sovereignty means setting our own digital rules and ensuring they are respected. By promoting European digital rules, we are not only defending our sovereignty, but we are also setting global standards. On Tuesday, the European Commission will unveil its AI package, including the Apply AI Strategy and the European Strategy for AI in science. Arba Kokalari MEP, who negotiated the Digital Services Act (DSA) on behalf of the EPP Group, underlines that “Europe needs to focus on enabling innovation and more AI in our businesses and society - including through simplification. Our digital policies will be key to strengthening our competitiveness”.

Press officers:

Sebastiano CHIALASTRI

Press Officer for Internal Market, Industry, Research, Energy and for Italy

Beatriz VALENTE

Press Officer for Employment, Internal Market and for Portugal

EPP Group will not allow sidelining farmers

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on simplifying the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The EPP Group welcomes steps towards simplification, but will not allow attempts to sideline the CAP in the proposed long-term EU Budget. “Farmers need support, flexibility, and legal certainty - we urge the Commission to stop sending mixed signals. With one hand, it promises to cut red tape, while with the other, it pulls the rug out from under CAP in the EU’s long-term budget. Good intentions will lead nowhere if CAP disappears,” says Dan-Ştefan Motreanu MEP, EPP Group’s lead negotiator on this file.

Press officers:

Marta OSOJNIK

Press Officer for Budget, Structural Policies and for Slovenia

Jean-Luc FEIXA

Press Officer for Budget, Structural Policies and for France

The single market is Europe’s key to growth and future prosperity

On the EPP Group's initiative, the European Parliament will debate the EU's single market next Tuesday morning. It is absolutely vital that we deepen and complete the EU's single market. "The Single Market is Europe’s greatest economic achievement – but only if it is truly complete. Removing remaining barriers will not only boost growth and competitiveness, but it will also give our businesses and citizens the prosperity they deserve in a global economy marked by uncertainty. We will need concrete actions, in particular the acceleration of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications or the creation of a single portal for uploading documents, such as the e-declaration for the posting of workers or the A1 declaration on social security, hence facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers", says Andreas Schwab MEP, the EPP Group spokesman on the single market.

Press officers:

Sebastiano CHIALASTRI

Press Officer for Internal Market, Industry, Research, Energy and for Italy

Beatriz VALENTE

Press Officer for Employment, Internal Market and for Portugal

Czech Republic must remain an active and responsible member of the EU

Election in Czech Republic. Man hand putting his vote into ballot box and Czech Republic flag on background

An active and responsible country in the heart of Europe – this is how the EPP Group sees the Czech Republic, where parliamentary elections will take place on Friday and Saturday, 3–4 October. “I firmly believe that Czech citizens will turn out in high numbers and support the parties of the current governing coalition. The Czechs have shown that they can play an important role in the EU – whether through the excellently managed Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, or through their active contribution to strengthening the EU’s defence capabilities and helping Ukraine,” said Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group. “We are being tested by Russian President Putin. If we want to build peace, we must be strong and united. For that, we need responsible governments across Europe that are able to stand up to populism and extremism,” Weber added.

Press officers:

Jan OSUCH

Press Officer for Legal and Home Affairs, Civil Liberties and for Czech Republic

No free travel for those who threaten EU security

Europe needs to defend the integrity of the Schengen area and act with speed against hybrid threats, state-backed manipulation of migration, and regimes that exploit our openness. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on a reform of the Visa Suspension Mechanism to allow for visa-free travel to be suspended in more cases. In addition to irregular migration and security risks, new reasons to refuse a Schengen visa now include, for example, hybrid threats or risks linked to investor citizenship schemes. “With this reform, Europe now has a sharper instrument to defend the integrity of Schengen and act with speed against hybrid threats, state-backed manipulation of migration, and regimes that exploit our openness,” says Ana Miguel Pedro MEP, EPP Group’s negotiator of the reform. The reform allows for a proportionate and targeted impact by also focusing on officials, diplomats, and decision-makers, rather than the general population of the third country concerned.

Press officers:

Jan OSUCH

Press Officer for Legal and Home Affairs, Civil Liberties and for Czech Republic

Tuesday 8.30: EPP Group chair Weber press conference

EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP will hold a press conference on the topics of Parliament’s plenary on Tuesday, 8:30 in Strasbourg, European Parliament, Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) and via Interactio.

Press officers:

Daniel KÖSTER

Head of European Press Unit

Thomas Sebastian KIESCHNICK

Deputy spokesperson to the Chairman

Who we are

How we work

What we stand for

What we do

Foreign affairs

Budget, agriculture & regional funding

Legal & home affairs

Economy, jobs & the environment

The Week ahead

Secure Europe’s skies

With EU digital rules, Europe protects its sovereignty and leads globally

EPP Group will not allow sidelining farmers

The single market is Europe’s key to growth and future prosperity

Czech Republic must remain an active and responsible member of the EU

No free travel for those who threaten EU security

Tuesday 8.30: EPP Group chair Weber press conference