The Week Ahead - 9th-13th March 2020

Climate Law, Coronavirus, Address by the President of Ghana, Africa Strategy, Greek-Turkish-Border

After new infection clusters of coronavirus COVID-19 had been confirmed in a number of regions across the European Union, Parliament President David Sassoli decided that next week’s part-session will exceptionally be held in Brussels for reasons of force majeure.

Supported by the other political groups, the ECR had expressed its strong opposition to a session in Strasbourg, including during an earlier overruling of the votes in the Conference of Presidents which had shown serious concerns and demanded that the session be moved to Brussels.

Commission Statement on Climate Law

The session will start on Monday with the Commission Statement on Climate Law.

The ECR believes that any proposal to increase the EU’s emission reduction targets must be based on an impactassessment to evaluate the associated socio-economic risks, and be aligned with the Paris Agreement’s cycle of planning, implementing, and reviewing progress on Parties’ NDCs. Furthermore, we consider it is essential that the EU acts in a unified and consensus-based manner when striving to achieve its climate objectives, fully accounting for the concerns of all Member States. Nevertheless, we have some serious reservations about the Commission’s proposal to revise all post-2030 climate targets via delegated acts.

Debate: Monday @ 17:00

Council and Commission Statements on the outbreak of the Coronavirus

We support the resolution on the Coronavirus outbreak that aims to set out key needs, priorities, and recommendations, based in part on the advice of the Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). We are also asking for appropriate plans to be put in place so as to ensure equal access to medicines and protection measures for everyone.

Debate: Tuesday @ 10:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Formal Address by Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

We are particularly pleased that the Parliament is going to welcome the President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo. On the 4^th March, the ECR Group had organised a high-level event, the ECR Africa Summit, with participants arriving from across Africa, including the President as our key note speaker. Unfortunately, the summit had to be postponed to July after the European Parliament announced it was closing its doors to visitors.

Address: Tuesday @ 12:00

Commission Statement - Strategy with Africa

The ECR is also very much looking forward to the adoption of the EU-Africa Strategy in the Commission early next week.

We are convinced that Europe and Africa require a new understanding between the two parties, one based on trust and mutual respect; it is now for the EU and its Member States to provide African countries with a long-term partnership which does not signify the one-sided investment currently offered by states such as China. We will always believe that engagement through well-targeted investment, training and trade are a much better and longer-lasting benefit to developing countries than self-perpetuating programmes of International Aid and Big Charity.

Debate: Tuesday @ 16:00

Council and Commission Statement - Migration situation at the Greek-Turkish border and the EU’s common response to it

We would like to send a message of support for the actions taken by the Greek and Bulgarian authorities and offer them our unwavering support in protecting the Union’s borders.

Debate: Wednesday @ 10:00