Czech Presidency; Digital Services Act; Digital Markets Act; Taxonomy; Cooperation between EU and ICPO-INTERPOL; Indo-Pacific strategy in the area of trade and investment; EU-India future trade and investment cooperation; Food security in developing countries; Banking Union annual report for 2021

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Czech Presidency

On Wednesday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will present his programme for the upcoming Czech EU Council Presidency. Firstly, the ECR Group welcomes the fact that Prime Minister Fiala believes that the EU needs to rethink the meaning and direction of the European integration process. The ECR Group was founded to take the European Union and its institutions in a new direction, based on a sounder respect for the diversity of Europe’s national democracies. Secondly, the Czech programme acknowledges the need to rebuild the European economy in the aftermath of the pandemic. For the ECR Group, diversifying the EU’s supply chains and enhancing their resilience is a timely necessity, requiring further engagement with World Trade Organisation countries and other trading partners on new technologies, digital issues and critical raw materials. In this sense, the ECR Group welcomes the Czech Presidency’s ambitions of building towards a stronger European economy. Thirdly, Fiala’s plan calls on the EU to repower in view of the current energy crisis and related economic consequences. In terms of concrete measures, the ECR Group believes that curtailing the EU’s dependence on Russian coal, oil and gas and diversifying energy resources need to be given precedence. Similarly, the energy security and transition goals – such as those set out in the Fit for 55 package – should be adjusted to reflect today’s geopolitical reality and its severe economic repercussions. The ECR Group also finds encouraging the Czech Presidency’s level of determination in managing the refugee crisis and assisting Ukraine with its post-war recovery.

Presentation: Wednesday @ 9:00

Digital Services Act

On Monday, MEPs will debate the Digital Services Act (DSA), followed by a vote on Tuesday. The DSA is a revision of the E-Commerce Directive and provides the most up-to-date baseline for online marketplace operations. The horizontal nature of the regulation addresses issues and regulatory gaps that have arisen over the last two decades. The new set of rules for digital spaces, including social media, online marketplaces and other online players offering services in the European Union, creates a new framework to counter the proliferation of illegal content online and gives individual users the power to challenge platforms’ arbitrary decisions.

Throughout the legislative process, ECR shadow Adam Bielan has remained focused on upholding users’ freedoms. The ECR Group succeeded in maintaining a provision that allows for the building of national frameworks to restore lawful content that has been erroneously removed, which balances out the original Commission text. Moreover, it was possible to avoid the push from some Member States to introduce general monitoring and ‘stay down’ obligations.

Debate: Monday @ 17:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Digital Markets Act

Also on Monday, MEPs will debate the Digital Markets Act. This report concerns the establishment of a list of ‘gatekeeper’ service providers, encompassing the largest digital players in sectors such as online retail, operating systems, advertising network, mobile ecosystems and cloud computing provision. The ECR Group believes that the report will improve the digital competitive landscape, in particular by requiring greater respect for personal data, fairer conditions of access for businesses and more effective interoperability between services and add-on products. This will provide more opportunities for smaller EU businesses to engage with and scale in the digital sector. The vote will be held on Tuesday.

Debate: Monday @ 17:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Taxonomy

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will debate a controversial resolution that calls for a rejection of the Delegated Act that provides that gas and nuclear energy can play an important role in securing Europe’s energy supply. The ECR Group strongly opposes the objection. Nuclear power, for example, can provide a stable and affordable energy supply and reduce emissions rapidly if it is given adequate access to the necessary capital. The outcome of the taxonomy procedure will send a very strong signal to the financial markets. The vote will be held on Wednesday.

When: Tuesday @ 16:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

Cooperation agreement between the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL)

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on ECR MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska’s initiative report on a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organisation. The report calls for controlled access to Interpol’s databases by EU Member States and agencies.
It also recalls an adequate level of personal data protection must be respected by third countries and international organisations receiving personal information. Interpol should adopt firm and immediate measures to end the Russian Federation’s access to its systems. The vote will be held on Tuesday.

Presentation: Monday @ 21:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Indo-Pacific strategy in the area of trade and investment

On Monday, ECR MEP Zahradil will present his initiative report on the Indo-Pacific strategy in the area of trade and investment, followed by a vote on Tuesday. This report focuses on commercial and investment opportunities in the Asia-Pacific. The geopolitical reality has dramatically changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Rapporteur Zahradil, enhanced engagement with Indo-Pacific partners is of ever-increasing importance in order to diversify EU trade relations, to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, digital issues and raw materials, to strengthen supply chain resilience, and to help tackle global challenges such as the energy and food crises.

Presentation: Monday @ 21:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

EU-India future trade and investment cooperation

On Monday, ECR MEP Geert Bourgeois will present his initiative report on EU-India future trade and investment cooperation, followed by a vote on Tuesday. The report sends a positive signal in support of the relaunch of negotiations with India on a balanced, ambitious and comprehensive agreement. The ECR Group welcomes the more offensive agenda in the area of trade and investment that will allow EU businesses to diversify supply chains and gain market access to an area of growing geostrategic importance.

Presentation: Monday @ 21:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Food security in developing countries

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will debate ECR MEP Beata Kempa’s initiative report on food security in developing countries, followed by a vote on Wednesday. The report focuses on two pillars: improving the nutritional adequacy of food; and crisis prevention and resilience. In the context of the current war in Ukraine and the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, the existing food insecurity situation will likely be further exacerbated. Therefore, ECR rapporteur Kempa makes recommendations on how the EU can support developing countries in absorbing conflict-induced shocks and remaining resilient by supporting locally adapted, multi-sectoral approaches with local ownership, investing in smallholder farmers, and improving employment in rural areas as efficient ways of fighting poverty and underpinning the resilience of those communities.

Debate: Tuesday @ 21:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

Banking Union annual report for 2021

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on ECR MEP Bogdan Rzońca’s own initiative report on the European Banking Union (BU), which presents the Parliament’s position on the current state of the BU, as well as the threats, opportunities and challenges facing the entire European banking system.

Mr Rzońca stresses the importance of diversifying and differentiating the European banking system and calls for guarantees and safeguards for host countries in the context of cross-border integration of the banking sector. He also calls for clarification of the public interest criteria, enabling the application of the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) in a more consistent and predictable manner, as well as for a review of the state aid framework to fit it into the SRM and to allow for quick and effective interventions.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00