The Week ahead

Thanks to the efforts of the EPP Group, the European Commission will present on Tuesday an automotive package that will revise the CO2 standards for cars, reversing the disastrous ban on internal combustion engines.“The ban on internal combustion engines is history. Good news for the automotive industry and millions of employees. We are delivering on our election promise: technological neutrality: combining climate protection with economic success”, said EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber. 

Ahead of the European leaders’ summit, the European Parliament will reaffirm its unwavering support for Ukraine’s victory. It will also reassess the EU’s strategic relationship with the United States. "The world as we know is at the crossroads, and we are living in pre-war times. Either we dare to take the unprecedented decisions and deliver on our engagement to stand on our own feet when it comes to defence and to support Ukraine, whatever it takes for its victory now, or we risk losing our free world", says Andrzej Halicki MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chair in charge of Foreign Affairs. The EPP Group reiterates that strengthening Europe's own capabilities is now more urgent than ever. It also insists that Russia’s frozen assets should be used to rebuild Ukraine, as Russia must be held fully accountable and made to pay for its aggression and crimes. 

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.

On Tuesday, Members will vote on strengthening the safeguard measures in the EU–Mercosur trade deal. “Thanks to the bilateral safeguard that the EPP Group pushed for, farmers will be shielded from unfair competition, market distortions, and sudden import surges. The EPP Group will continue to defend these improvements in talks with Member States, as they are not only effective but also fair and necessary for a credible final outcome,” said Gabriel Mato MEP, who negotiates the safeguards for the European Parliament. Jörgen Warborn MEP, EPP Group’s Spokesman on International Trade, adds: "Adopting the safeguards without delay is essential to provide predictability and support for European farmers. The European Parliament has secured a strong position - one that both addresses the sensitivities of the agricultural sector, minimising any timing issues that could create uncertainty for them, whilst also securing a significant step towards ratification of the trade deal itself."

Europe needs stronger growth and more jobs to secure prosperity for next generations. In an increasingly unstable global environment, boosting the EU’s competitiveness is more crucial than ever. This means, among other essential measures, taking decisive action to cut regulatory and administrative burdens for companies. “In negotiations with the Member States, we have delivered on the ambitious timeline set out in the stop-the-clock decision earlier this year. This agreement also brings historic cost reductions for European businesses - unmatched by any previous legislation in this area,” said Jörgen Warborn MEP, the Parliament’s lead negotiator of the so-called Sustainability Omnibus. The Parliament will vote on the provisional agreement to reduce sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies in plenary on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on the agreement to simplify the European Deforestation Regulation. “We have reached a sensible compromise together with the Member States, which ensures that illegal deforestation is stopped, and forest protection is maintained. The simplification for small and medium-sized enterprises from low-risk countries, as well as the additional year for companies to prepare for the implementation of the regulation ensures the EU will have an effective approach to combat deforestation. We now look forward to the final vote in plenary and call on the "Platform" political groups to support the fight against deforestation whilst cutting red tape and concentrating on the main drivers of illegal deforestation,” says Christine Schneider MEP, Parliament's lead negotiator on the European Deforestation Regulation.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will endorse the agreed plans to phase out Russian LNG and pipeline gas, and to prepare for the phase-out of Russian oil and petroleum products. “This agreement sends a clear message: Europe will never again be dependent on Russian gas. This is a historic turning point in our energy policy”, said Inese Vaidere MEP, European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the International Trade committee. The deal introduces an exemption from prior authorisation for trustworthy gas imports, tighter monitoring, including on shadow fleets, and harmonised maximum penalties. All new Russian energy contracts will be banned from 2026, and the existing ones will be stopped through 2026 and 2027. "After 30 September 2027, there shall not be a molecule of Russian gas in the EU, " Vaidere adds. "Phasing out Russian gas is a matter of security and shared values. Europe is ending this dependency while keeping energy affordable and tightening checks to prevent circumvention,” said Andrea Wechsler MEP, EPP Group negotiator for the Industry, Research and Energy committee.

This year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will go to Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, who were nominated by the EPP Group. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday at noon in Strasbourg. The prize recognises their bravery in defending free journalism and democratic values under very difficult conditions. It also sends a strong message of support to political prisoners in Belarus and to the people of Georgia who are standing up for freedom.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will debate and vote on its proposals to increase Military Mobility within the EU. The EPP Group negotiators Wouter Beke MEP in the Security and Defence Committee and Dariusz Joński MEP in the Transport Committee underline the need for harmonised rules and strong infrastructure to facilitate military movements around Europe. "We must urgently strengthen European transport, energy, and communications infrastructure across the Union to guarantee swift military movement and resilience against drone strikes, cyberattacks, or any other means of hostilities."