The Week ahead

Next Wednesday, the European Commission will present, in plenary, its proposal for the EU recovery package, which consists of the next long-term EU budget and the so-called Recovery Instrument. The EPP Group demands that the Commission puts forward an ambitious recovery and reconstruction package financed by an increase of the long-term EU budget that includes new own resources. The EPP Group will reject the long-term EU budget if the Recovery Fund has no democratic oversight and parliamentary control. Deciding on how the money is spent, for what, and for whom are key political decisions and the Parliament must have a say in them.

On Wednesday, MEPs from the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will debate how to tackle medicines shortages in Europe. These have increased by 20-fold, between 2000 and 2018, putting patients at risk and undermining health services in the Member States. "It is imperative we gain 'Medical Sovereignty' in Europe. The Covid-19 pandemic showed that we are far too dependent on third countries such as India and China when producing medicines", said Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé, who is responsible for this topic, for the EPP Group. The EPP Group is also in favour of establishing a 'European emergency pharmacy', which would provide a European reserve of drugs for treating cancer and infectious diseases.

The European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on Tuesday, will debate the situation of cross-border workers with EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, and the Croatian Minister for Labour, Josip Aladrović. The partial sealing-off of borders within the EU has become a problem for employees travelling to their place of work across borders. Many cross-border workers have been affected by serious delays over the last weeks. The EPP Group insists on bringing down all barriers for cross-border employment as soon as possible.

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will debate the so-called Climate Law proposal, next Thursday. The EPP Group supports the move towards Europe's climate neutrality by 2050, while making sure that other continents make similar efforts. For the EPP Group, it is important to resist the Commission's bypassing of the Parliament and Member States when tightening emission targets every 5 years between 2030 and 2050, by using a so-called delegated act, a legal instrument that takes power away from legislators and gives it to the Commission's expert groups.

On Monday, Members of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade will discuss the recommendations made by the European Parliament for the negotiations of a new partnership with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The text will be voted in plenary by the European Parliament in June. The EPP Group wants a broad agreement with the UK covering a wide range of sectors.

Members of the Committee on Fisheries will vote on Monday their view on the fisheries provisions of the future agreement with the UK, drafted by François-Xavier Bellamy. For the EPP Group, no comprehensive agreement can be concluded between the EU and the UK, unless it includes a comprehensive, balanced and long-term fisheries agreement, allowing continued access to waters and resources and maintaining stringent common rules for the protection of species.

"Following a series of natural disasters last year, we are committed to help Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria. With an urgent financial aid of 279 million Euros, we aim to rebuild infrastructures and boost the economy of the most affected regions", stated José Manuel Fernandes MEP, who is responsible for EU Solidarity Fund assistance - the file to be voted in the Committee on Budgets, next Wednesday. "This is an expression of European solidarity. Having transferred more than 5 billion Euros to Member States since 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund is today more important than ever", he explained.