The Week ahead

On Wednesday, EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP will take part in the debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the State of the Union. The EPP Group wants Europe to work on concrete results that give people a sense of control and protection in their lives, to show that Europe is delivering. The EPP Group wants to put people at the centre of the political debate about the priorities for the future. Dealing with the impact of inflation and getting back control over migration and our external borders are two key topics the EPP Group will raise.

The EPP Group wants the EU to work with our neighbours, such as Tunisia, to stop illegal migration while addressing root causes. On Tuesday morning, EPP Group MEPs will reiterate the urgent need to address the sharp increase in migrant boats leaving Tunisia, during a plenary debate. "As migratory flows continue to increase in Italy, the cooperation agreement between the EU and Tunisia must show results. Continuous cooperation with Tunisians and our neighbours in North Africa is essential to manage migratory pressure towards Europe in the long-term, while reasserting the need to ensure the rule of law and respect for human rights", says Jeroen Lenaers MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman on Home Affairs.

The EPP Group is calling for a revision of the protection status of wolves and other large carnivores. On Wednesday, Parliament will debate the subject. "Legal change is needed now, as the European Parliament demanded in a Resolution last year", recalls Herbert Dorfmann MEP, the EPP Group Spokesman in the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

The EPP Group wants us all to breathe cleaner air. On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on the so-called Ambient Air Quality Directive, on new rules on how to achieve that. "We all want the lowest possible levels of emissions in the air, even if we don't all agree on how to get there. We do not want to ban cars in city centres or close down day nurseries. We want those who pollute less to be rewarded, not penalised. We want incentives, not bans and prohibitions", stressed Norbert Lins MEP, the EPP Group's Chief Negotiator of the law.

The EPP Group fully supports the nomination of Iliana Ivanova as the new European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. On Tuesday, Parliament will confirm the new composition of the European Commission to include Ivanova. In a parliamentary hearing on 5 September, she proved to be an excellent and well-qualified candidate. She was given the green light by all political groups in the Parliament. This needs to be confirmed by a formal plenary vote. "I am confident that she can effectively execute the responsibilities for the largest public research programme in the world", says Christian Ehler MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman on Research. "She also showed a broad long-term vision in the areas of education, culture, youth and sport", added Tomasz Frankowski MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman on Culture and Education.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, will address the European Parliament on Wednesday. The EPP Group is alarmed that Russia is suffocating Belarus’ identity and calls on the EU to allow representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces to take up the empty seats left by Lukashenko’s regime in the democratic organisations. “The European Parliament has already backed the establishment of people’s embassies of Belarus worldwide to protect its citizens abroad. It is time that the EU and Member States deliver”, says Sandra Kalniete MEP, who, on behalf of the EPP Group, negotiated the Report on the EU’s relation with Belarus, to be debated on Tuesday evening and voted on on Wednesday at midday. "Both Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin should be tried by a special international tribunal and like Putin, Lukashenko and his regime should be under the ICC arrest warrant for the abduction of children", stresses Kalniete.

The EPP Group wants the EU Member States’ armed forces to become stronger and more efficient by creating a new instrument for joint procurement. On Tuesday, the Parliament will vote on the so-called European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). “It will strengthen the European defence industry, help replenish stockpiles, encourage additional procurement of military equipment for Ukraine and Moldova, bring about more standardisation, and benefit small and medium-sized enterprises", says EPP Group MEP Sara Skyttedal. “Facing an historical crisis, EDIRPA is an equally historic answer. However, EDIRPA, with its rather limited budget, can only be a starting point for further initiatives to strengthen European defence”, warns EPP Group MEP Michael Gahler.

The EPP Group wants Europe to secure a better supply of critical raw materials such as copper, cobalt or platinum. In 2021, EPP Group MEP Hildegard Bentele wrote a parliamentary Report on critical raw materials which fuelled the discussions and eventually led to the proposal of the European Critical Raw Materials Act by the European Commission. On Wednesday, MEPs will define their position on the law, which aims to secure the EU’s access to critical raw materials. “In many ways, the supply of critical raw materials has an impact on our climate targets, our competitiveness and jobs in Europe. While all forecasts suggest that our demand will increase exponentially, we are highly dependent on a few supplier countries and companies. We have to act now”, says Bentele, who negotiated the new law for the EPP Group.

A new legal framework for a massive speed up of solar, water, heat pump, biomass or wind energy facilities in Europe will be adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday. The EPP Group's Markus Pieper MEP has led the European Parliament's efforts for the reform of the European Renewable Energies Directive. "This Directive is a massive boost for renewable energies in Europe. We will not only increase the target for the share of renewables, but also substantially fasten authorisation and permit-granting processes for renewable energy facilities. In particular, we need a rapid ramp-up of hydrogen. I count on Member States to step up their efforts and exploit all the potential the new Directive offers", says Pieper.

The EPP Group wants European planes to use the most sustainable fuels to reduce CO2 emissions coming from air transport. On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on a new law which aims to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). It will oblige fuel suppliers to supply an increasing share of SAFs as part of the fuel supplied at EU airports. "Since SAFs can be up to ten times more expensive than jet kerosene now used for planes, we must do everything possible to invest in the development and deployment of SAFs made in Europe and make sure regional connectivity is not affected”, said Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar MEP, the EPP Group negotiator on ReFuelEU Aviation.