The Week ahead

On Monday, MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee, the German Council Presidency, the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and representatives of the Polish and Hungarian Governments will debate the ongoing Article 7 procedures regarding rule of law problems in Hungary and Poland. The Article 7 disciplinary proceedings have been inconclusive for almost three years against the Polish Government and more than two against the Hungarian Government, since EU Member States have been unable to reach agreement.

Amidst continuing news about Czech public contracts and subsidies going to Agrofert, of which Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is a beneficial owner, the Budgetary Control Committee Members will demand answers from the European Commission on Monday when the final audit of Babiš’ conflict of interest is published and how many projects for EU funding have been unlawfully approved by the Czech authorities for Agrofert.

While the negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK are still ongoing, the EPP Group reiterates the key importance of reaching a deal as soon as possible. The European Parliament needs time to properly scrutinise the texts. We continue to trust in Michel Barnier's ability to find the best agreement possible.

The negotiations on the planned new law allowing the deletion of terrorist propaganda from the Internet within one hour are scheduled for Thursday. Radical Islamists and other terrorists use online propaganda to radicalise, recruit and incite violent attacks. Ahead of Wednesday's meeting of Justice Ministers, who will discuss the terrorist attacks in France and Austria, the EPP Group reiterates its call to EU Member States as well as to the Socialists in the European Parliament to make sure the new law can be adopted as quickly as possible.

On Tuesday, Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Sub-committee on Human Rights and the Delegation for relations with Belarus will debate the international efforts to investigate human rights abuses by the Lukashenka regime. The discussion will take place in the presence of Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Wolfgang Benedek, Rapporteur of the OSCE's Report under the Moscow Mechanism on Alleged Human Rights Violations related to the Presidential Elections of 9 August, and Eugenia Andreyuk, human rights lawyer, expert of the International Committee on Investigation of Torture and expert of the Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial. The EPP Group wants Lukashenka and his henchmen to be brought to international justice.

On Wednesday, the joint committees on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age and on Health will debate how digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence can revolutionise health. The EPP Group wants innovation and free movement of digital health services to make sure EU citizens can access their health records across the Union and that researchers can pool valuable resources.