The Week Ahead: 6th-10th July

Presentation of the programme of activities of the German Council Presidency; Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17-18 July; Mini-Summit; The 2019 Human Rights Annual Report; Stability and Security in the Mediterranean and the negative role of Turkey; Mobility Package; and Revision of the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure

Presentation of the programme of activities of the German Council Presidency

On Wednesday afternoon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will present the programme of the German Council Presidency to the European Parliament. The ECR acknowledges that Germany is taking over the presidency of the European council in what is the most difficult period for the European continent since the end of the Second World War. The negotiations on the Recovery Fund and the long-term EU budget (MFF) will not be easy, but a failure would represent a negative, and perhaps a failure of the European project as we have come to know it so far.

Debate: Wednesday @ 14:15

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17-18 July

During a joint debate on the conclusions of the Council meeting in June and the preparations of the Council meeting in July on Wednesday, MEPs are going to address the ongoing negotiations between Member States on the EU Recovery Plan. Until now, the EU response to this pandemic crisis has been weak, limited and strongly characterised by disputes. For the ECR Group, new economic, social and geopolitical challenges are arising for the European Union that deserve real and concrete responses, and not ideological programmes. Recovery and revitalisation of the economic, productive and social system, digitalization and the circular economy, consolidation of the internal market are the priorities to which the German Presidency should provide effective answers.

Debate: Wednesday @ 14:15

Mini-Summit

European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen also called a mini-summit for next week with her counterparts at the Council, Parliament and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to work towards a deal on the EU recovery package. The ECR Group will be closely following it.

When: Wednesday

The 2019 Human Rights Annual Report

On Thursday, MEPs are going to discuss the Council’s annual human rights report. For ECR MEPs it is a completely wrong signal that the European Commission has not renewed the mandate of the Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:15

Stability and Security in the Mediterranean and the negative role of Turkey

On Thursday morning, MEPs are going to debate Turkish aggression in the Mediterranean and attempts to destabilise the EU border. The ECR Group supported an initiative from the EPP to hold a debate, because the issue needs attention and action urgently. The ECR is of the opinion that the European Union should stand shoulder to shoulder with Greece and Cyprus.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:15

Mobility Package

MEPs are going to vote on several files of the long-awaited mobility package. The ECR Group is of the opinion that forcing truck drivers to return regularly to their home countries after eight weeks, as suggested, would increase CO2 emissions and damage the single market.

Votes: from Wednesday to Friday

Revision of the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure

The Parliament is going to vote on a revision of the Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) Regulation on Thursday and Friday. The text identifies priority corridors and thematic areas of trans-European energy infrastructure and provides guidelines for the selection of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs). Whilst the ECR in principle does not oppose the revision of the TEN-E regulation in order to update its provisions to technological developments, we fear that it could be used as a pretext to exclude natural gas projects that we consider a “bridge technology” towards cleaner energy sources from its scope. The ECR has tabled an alternative motion for resolution on this topic.

Vote: Thursday and Friday