The Week Ahead: 15th-19th June 2020

New EU Partnership with the UK; Defending Hong Kong's autonomy; Tackling Covid-19 disinformation; Conference on the Future of Europe; Protecting European Strategic Sectors from foreign takeovers; Establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment; Anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd.

New EU Partnership with the UK

The European Parliament is going to debate and vote on its recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the UK on Wednesday and Thursday. The ECR is quite clear in its support for the ambition of zero-tariffs and zero-quotas and common basic economic and social standards. As for the ongoing negotiations, the ECR calls for pragmatism and a flexible approach on both sides. The ECR group also supports the establishment of a broad, comprehensive and balanced security partnership with our NATO ally.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15.15

Votes: Wednesday @ 20:30 & Thursday @ 10:30

Defending Hong Kong’s autonomy

A resolution on national Security Law and the need for the EU to defend Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy will be debated on Wednesday and voted on Thursday and Friday. In an earlier statement, the ECR had expressed its grave concerns about the unilateral introduction of national security legislation by Beijing as the Group considers it a most serious assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. The integrity of ‘one-country, two-systems’ is increasingly at stake. The resolution is an initiative from the ECR and the Greens.

Debate: Thursday @ 9.15

Votes: Thursday @ 18:30 & Friday @ 9:00

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation

The European Parliament is going to debate tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression. In a recent statement, the ECR Group has warned against curtailing European citizens’ freedom of expression and asks the Institutions to strike the right balance in Brussels’ efforts to counter disinformation. The ECR is of the opinion that it should be safeguarded that it is the citizens themselves who decide which sources of information they consume.

Debate: Thursday @ 9.15

Conference on the Future of Europe

The Conference on the Future of Europe will be debated and voted on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the ECR Group, the European Union is aiming for greater powers at the expense of its Member States whilst becoming ever more remote from their citizens. The ECR believes that the debate should be held among member states instead, not in the EU institutions.

Debate: Wednesday @ 19.00

Votes: Wednesday @ 20:30 & Thursday @ 10:30

Protecting European Strategic Sectors from foreign takeovers

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will hold a debate on the protection of European Strategic Sectors from foreign takeovers. The ECR Group is in favour of strengthening the internal market and creating a buffer to protect this internal market from foreign takeovers, with coordinated actions by EU Institutions, the EIB and ECB.

Debate: Wednesday @ 19.00

Establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on new rules defining sustainable investments, a cornerstone of the Green Deal. The ECR believes the Taxonomy Regulation agreement goes against free-market principles, as it discriminates against and disadvantages proven energy sources on which the EU’s economy still relies. An additional concern is the expanded disclosure obligations, which could hamper the ability to acquire private capital necessary to transform companies currently dependent on solid fossil fuels.

Votes: Thursday @ 10:30

Anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd

From Wednesday to Friday, the European Parliament will debate and vote on a resolution following the death of US citizen George Floyd as a result of police brutality in Minneapolis which has caused an international outcry among peoples throughout North America and Europe, leading to riots and protests. The ECR strongly condemns racism, xenophobia and discrimination in all its forms and underlines that any cases of police brutality must be resolved domestically by the appropriate authorities. The ECR also supports the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest but condemns the practice of Antifa and other radical organisations of hijacking legitimate protests and turning them into violent demonstrations, causing unrest and severe damage to property.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15.15

Vote: Thursday @ 18:30 & Friday @ 9:00