The Week ahead

The EPP Group wants faster and more effective returns for migrants whose asylum claims have been legally rejected. Next week, the European Parliament and Member States will meet to finalise the new Return Regulation, the last pillar of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. "With this new law on returns, we are revolutionising the game. Until now, so-called voluntary departure has been the rule, and it has not worked. From now on, forced departure will become the rule. It will be possible to expel a person as soon as their irregular presence has been established. Expulsion decisions may also be mutually recognised across countries," says François-Xavier Bellamy MEP, vice-chairman of the EPP Group.

The EPP Group calls for a swift and balanced EU-US tariff agreement to restore stability, predictability and legal certainty for businesses. It calls on negotiators and political groups to work constructively towards a balanced compromise in Tuesday’s negotiations. "Protecting European industries remains essential, particularly in sensitive sectors such as steel and aluminium. At the same time, the suspension mechanism and related measures must be designed in a proportionate manner. We need pragmatic solutions that effectively address the concerns of our industries while avoiding unnecessary protectionism or overly rigid mechanisms that could delay the agreement," says Željana Zovko MEP, the EPP Group’s lead MEP on trade relations with the US.

The EPP Group calls for strict control over the use of EU funds. Payments to Member States must remain linked to their compliance with the rule of law. This objective will guide the EPP Group on Wednesday, when the European Parliament will vote on a resolution concerning the rule of law in Slovakia. "EU funds must not end up in opaque structures or be misused. Unfortunately, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his oligarchs are sacrificing Slovakia’s European future to serve Vladimir Putin’s interests. Those who will suffer the most are honest applicants who may lose funding due to government inaction," says Tomáš Zdechovský MEP, the EPP Group’s spokesman on budgetary control. The EPP Group will hold a press conference on the topic on Wednesday at 9.30am.

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

The EPP Group calls for a deeper and more comprehensive European Single Market to strengthen Europe’s growth, competitiveness and high-quality jobs. This objective will guide Group MEPs during Wednesday’s debate in Parliament. Europe’s economic growth depends on a successful Single Market covering goods, services, energy, telecommunications and financial services. "The real driver of European growth and competitiveness is a single market that is free from internal barriers, a market where the law is not an obstacle, but a guarantee. Where regulation is not a burden but a solution. It is time to release the brake and press the accelerator by removing barriers between Member States, so that young talent and SMEs can find in the European Single Market their greatest opportunity for growth," says Pablo Arias Echeverria MEP, EPP Group spokesman on internal market. 

The EPP Group calls for action to ease pressure on farmers, boost competitiveness through innovation, and safeguard Europe’s food security. On Tuesday, the European Commission will present its Fertiliser Action Plan aimed at addressing growing vulnerabilities in Europe’s agricultural supply chain. "Since the pandemic, European farmers have been severely affected by soaring fertiliser costs. Recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven prices even higher, exposing Europe’s dependence on external suppliers and putting our food security at risk. Europe must urgently reduce this dependency by strengthening domestic fertiliser production and diversifying import sources. Without decisive action, agricultural output will decline, food prices will rise, and supply chains will face serious pressure," says Herbert Dorfmann MEP, EPP Group spokesman for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The EPP Group calls for less bureaucracy and faster procedures to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and improve its defence readiness. This objective will guide the Group's MEPs during negotiations between the Parliament and EU Member States on a new defence-related law on Monday and Tuesday. The legislative proposals aim to ease administrative burdens and facilitate defence investment, procurement and permit-granting procedures. "It is time to build a Europe where the defence industry can operate with less bureaucracy, faster procedures, and a greater capacity to deliver for the security of our citizens," says Pekka Toveri MEP, Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence negotiator on the simplification of security and defence procurement.