The Week ahead

Next week, EU and UK negotiators will start a series of new rounds to discuss the future partnership between the EU and the UK. These rounds are due to last throughout July and August. The EPP Group wants close cooperation with the UK and a comprehensive agreement on the future relationship. But we also have clear red lines and conditions to approve such an agreement. We will not vote for a deal at any cost.

Covid-19 has demonstrated that we must put health much more at the core of European politics. In our efforts to contribute, the EPP Group plans to adopt a Position Paper calling for the rapid set-up of the European Union for Health. Supported by the European Commission's €9.4 billion meant to go to a new standalone health programme (EU4Health), the EPP Group wants to place health policy at the centre of its priorities.

On Thursday, Peter Liese MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman for Health, and Nathalie Colin-Oesterle MEP, responsible for the topic for the EPP Group, are organising a Webinar on how to address the problem of medicines shortages in the EU. For the EPP Group, it is imperative that Europe gains 'medical sovereignty'. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that Europe is far too dependent on third countries such as India and China when producing medicines.

On Monday, the Civil Liberties Committee will hold a hearing with the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. The EPP Group continues to call for an EU-wide mechanism that is fair and non-discriminatory in monitoring the state of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in every Member State.