The Week Ahead 19th - 23rd October 2020

The Future of Digital Services in Europe; Common Agricultural Policy; Commission Work Programme 2021; Future Relations with the UK; Announcement of the 2020 Sakharov Prize.

The Future of Digital Services in Europe

On Monday, the European Parliament will debate on three legislative own-initiative reports concerning the Digital Services Act (DSA). The reports, to be voted on Monday and Tuesday, outline the European Parliament’s main priorities for a new digital services and online platforms framework. They were produced by three committees: the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). Covering all online services, including social media, search engines, marketplaces and specific platforms, the reports aim to update the e-Commerce directive adopted 20 years ago. Working together, ECR MEPs have outlined areas of particular significance: ECR IMCO Shadow rapporteur Eugen Jurzyca has called for a greater promotion of consumer welfare, ECR JURI shadow rapporteur Angel Dzhambazki believes notice and action mechanisms will allow better legal clarity for platforms and consumers, while ECR LIBE shadow rapporteur Patryk Jaki has called for a more human-centric, controlled approach to artificial intelligence.

Debate: Monday @ 5 pm

Votes: Monday + Tuesday

Common Agricultural Policy

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will debate the new Common Agricultural Policy 2023- 2027. Members will vote on well over 650 new amendments on the three CAP files between Wednesday and Friday. The ECR Group stresses that farmers must be at the heart of farm policy to ensure the viability of farming in Europe. The EU should not undermine its own crucial food production. The ECR also believes that the EU needs to cut red-tape and to reward efforts rather than heaping on new obligations if it wants its farmers to survive and thrive.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9 am

Votes: Wednesday – Friday

Commission Work Programme 2021

On Tuesday, the European Commission will present its 2021 work programme. The focus is expected to lie on the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the green economy and digitalisation. The ECR Group believes that it is more important than ever that the European Union takes a business-friendly approach to help businesses recover, to relaunch economic growth and to regenerate jobs. We Conservatives ask for tools to ensure business do not face new bureaucratic burdens in a very difficult economic climate.

Debate: Tuesday @ 3 pm

Future Relations with the UK

On Wednesday, European Council President Charles Michel will address MEPs to discuss the outcome of the 15-16 October EU summit. The ECR is of the opinion that both the UK and the EU must work together to agree an ambitious trade agreement. By respecting the Withdrawal Agreement as the foundation of progress, it is possible to build a new political relationship and achieve prosperous trade.

Debate: Wednesday @ 9.15 am

Announcement of the 2020 Sakharov Prize

Parliament’s President and political group leaders will decide on the 2020 Sakharov prize for freedom of thought on Thursday. The ECR Group has joined the EPP, S&D and Renew Group in supporting the nomination of the democratic opposition in Belarus.

When: Thursday @ 12 am