The Week ahead

The EPP Group urges Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans to withdraw the disputed nature restoration law. Ahead of the crucial vote on the draft bill in Parliament's Environment Committee on 15 June, the controversy continues. On Wednesday, the EPP Group withdrew from the negotiations with other political Groups, because our concerns were not accommodated. "The nature restoration law in its current form will lead to less food production in Europe, pushing food prices even higher, risks undermining food security in Africa even more and blocking infrastructure projects that are crucial for our climate transition", said EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP. On Wednesday 7 June, Christine Schneider MEP, EPP Group Chief Negotiator on nature restoration, and Esther De Lange MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chairwoman in charge of environment, will hold a press conference on the topic. For more information, contact our press officer.

The EPP Group will travel to the Vatican next week for a private audience with Pope Francis and to discuss the future of Europe and the role of Christianity. On Thursday 8 June, the Order of Malta will host Group Members for a debate on Christianity and Europe’s responsibility in the world with leading Church representatives. On Friday morning, we will discuss Christian Democracy in modern politics with academics. Later on the same day, the Group will be honoured to have a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

The EPP Group wants a democratic transformation of Russia. To facilitate this transformation, the Group will host a two-day roundtable event, starting on Monday, with leaders and activists of the Russian democratic forces."Democracy in Russia is key to sustainable peace on the European continent. Therefore, we need a regular and structured dialogue with the Russian democratic forces so that the EU can have a long-term strategy to support democracy in Russia. Consequently, we will also be more effective in defending Ukraine against Putin's war", says Andrius Kubilius MEP, Parliament’s Spokesman on Russia and co-organiser of the event. More than 250 representatives of the Russian opposition and media are expected to attend the event in Brussels. Among the speakers are Boris Akunin, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Evgenia Kara-Murza, Sergey Davidis, Natalia Arno, historian Orlando Figes, Garry Kasparov, Zhanna Nemtsova, Dmitry Gudkov, Leonid Gozman, Roman Liberov, Vladimir Milov, Boris Zimin, and many other activists. A press conference will take place on Tuesday 6 June at 16.30 hrs in room 'Spinelli 3E2' in the European Parliament. See the full programme here.

The EPP Group expects Home Affairs Ministers to agree their position on the Migration and Asylum Pact when they meet on Thursday. "We want a common European response to migration. The current system is not working. The European Parliament has a strong mandate to start negotiations on the Pact. We now expect the EU Member States to move forward without delay for a deal on the Migration Pact to be reached before the European elections in 2024”, says Jeroen Lenaers MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesman on Home Affairs.

The Commission must resist demands to cut the 2024 EU Budget, the EPP Group said ahead of draft proposals due on Wednesday. Instead, the Union's budgetary power should be reinforced to effectively respond to citizens’ needs. "EU funds are needed now more than ever, in Member States and to support Ukraine. We are determined to provide an EU budget that helps farmers and businesses, encourages innovation for a more digital, greener economy, and provides aid to those in need", said Siegfried Mureșan MEP.

The EPP Group wants to step up the fight against organised crime in the EU. On Wednesday afternoon, leading experts on fighting organised crime will meet at an EPP Group hearing. Also participating will be Gunnar Strömmer, the Swedish Justice Minister, and Annelies Verlinden, the Belgian Interior Minister. "Organised crime is increasingly digital and cross-border. Cooperation at EU level has never been more critical to combat organised crime and make Europe safer”, says Tomas Tobé MEP. You can read the EPP Group's proposals on fighting organised crime here.