The Week ahead

On Thursday, the Special Committee on Foreign Interference will debate recent cases of foreign interference in the European Parliament. The EPP Group fully supports the initiative of President Roberta Metsola to reform the rules and introduce further controls to make sure no criminal organisation can infiltrate and influence the work of our Parliament. The current corruption cases are unacceptable. More transparency and accountability are needed to protect the integrity of the Parliament and to repair the damage done by the scandal. The EPP Group will support the lifting of the immunity of the Members in question to facilitate the investigations by the competent authorities.

Next Tuesday, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will vote on its position on the European Chips Act. The Chips Act aims to address the semiconductor shortages and mobilise billions of funding to strengthen research, innovation and production of semiconductors and their ecosystems in the European Union. Parliament's position is very much shaped by the EPP Group’s Eva Maydell MEP, who is leading the work as the European Parliament's Rapporteur for the Chips Act. For the EPP Group, our priorities are to strengthen the EU chips and innovation ecosystem, encourage international cooperation to avoid threats to the supply chain, and encourage investment and funding while avoiding unnecessary market intervention and burden for industry.

On Thursday, Israel's President Herzog will address MEPs at a special plenary meeting for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. For the EPP Group, fighting against antisemitism is more necessary than ever. Moreover, this fight should be carried out with the strongest determination. For EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber, education and dialogue are crucial to carrying on the memory of the darkest pages of our history. For example, all secondary school pupils should visit a concentration camp and learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. We will never forget.

On Wednesday, the Women's Rights and Civil Liberties Committees will vote on the EU-wide ratification of the so-called Istanbul Convention, which is the first legally-binding international treaty and a golden standard to prevent and combat violence against women. Arba Kokalari MEP, Parliament‘s negotiator, insists it’s time for the EU to ratify the Istanbul Convention. "We must do as much as we can to prevent gender-based violence, protect victims and punish perpetrators. The EU must step up, go from words to action and be a world leader in women's rights!", she urged.