Commissioners-designate hearings; Window of opportunity for EU-US relations; Delay the deforestation regulation; COP29; Presentation of Niinistö report on how to enhance Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness; Event: Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum for a Free Cuba; ECR Panels on the Poznań Economic Congress 2024 14 - 15 November

Commissioners-designate hearings

On Tuesday, MEPs will interview the five nominated Executive Vice-Presidents and the nominee for High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission to assess their suitability both as members of the College of Commissioners and for their designated responsibilities. The candidates are: Kaja Kallas for the Position of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Teresa Ribera Rodríguez for Executive Vice-President for the portfolio of Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Henna Virkkunen for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Stéphane Séjourné for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Roxana Mînzatu for People, Skills and Preparedness, and Raffaele Fitto for Cohesion and Reforms. Mr Fitto was co-chair of the ECR Group from 2019 to 2022. Since leaving the European Parliament in 2022, Mr Fitto has served in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government as the Italian minister for European affairs, Southern Italy, cohesion policy and the national recovery and resilience plan. His knowledge of the EU’s institutions and considerable experience in various official roles highly qualify him for the portfolio of Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms. After the hearings, the Conference of Presidents is scheduled to carry out the final assessment on 21 November. The vote by MEPs on the complete College of Commissioners, requiring a majority of votes cast through a roll-call, is planned for the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.

When: Tue @ 9:00 to 21:30

Window of opportunity for EU-US relations

Following the solid victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential elections, the European Parliament will debate the state of EU-US relations on Wednesday afternoon. Having already congratulated President-elect Trump and the Republican party, a global partner of the ECR Party, on their success, the ECR Group looks forward to fostering strong cooperation and strengthening ties across the Atlantic in the coming years. Now is the time for building pragmatic solutions together. This new chapter offers a unique chance to reinforce political bridges, advance shared goals, and promote a future of mutual prosperity.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15:00

Delay the deforestation regulation

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on delaying the application date of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The ECR Group shares the concerns raised by a clear majority of national governments in the Council regarding the lack of comprehensive technical guidelines, which pose significant challenges for proper implementation. It is vital to emphasise the varying degrees of readiness among European companies and the concerns of global partners, particularly regarding the difficulty of tracing products linked to deforestation.

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

COP29

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate a resolution aimed at shaping EU priorities on climate finance and policy for the Baku Climate Change Conference (COP29), which takes place from 11 to 22 November. While some ECR amendments - such as the recognition of nuclear energy and the need for a level playing field in agriculture - have been included, the Group believes the resolution overlooks current economic challenges in the EU, including high energy prices and global competitiveness concerns. The ECR Group believes that further revisions are needed, in particular on car legislation and the functioning of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The vote will take place on Thursday.

Debate: Wednesday @ 17:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Presentation of Niinistö report on how to enhance Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness.

On Thursday morning, former President of the Republic of Finland and Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission, Sauli Niinistö will present his report, Safer Together: Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness. The report emphasises a shift for the EU from reactive crisis management to proactive, resilient strategies. The ECR Group accepts that the EU should focus on enhancing civilian and defence capacities across Europe but maintains concerned at any initiatives that appear to increase centralised EU control over defence matters.

When: Thursday @ 9:00

Event: Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum for a Free Cuba

On Tuesday, the third session of the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum for a Free Cuba will be held in Europe for the first time. The event will be co-hosted by ECR MEPs Carlo Fidanza and Marius Kamiński. As the humanitarian and human rights crisis imposed by the Cuban regime on the Island worsens, dictators strengthen their alliance with Europe’s enemies, posing a growing threat not only to stability in the Americas but also contributing to the aggression in Ukraine. The gathered parliamentarians will send an unequivocal message of solidarity with the Cuban people and a call to European authorities to take decisive action to end the Union’s support for a dictatorship that endangers security and shared values. Link to the event website here.

When: Tuesday @ 14:00 - 17:00

Where: SPINELLI 1H1

ECR Panels on the Poznań Economic Congress 2024 14 - 15 November

The Poznań Economic Congress 2024 will take place on Thursday and Friday. The event brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to discuss pressing economic issues. The ECR Group will host two panels on Friday morning:

1) The future of European steel industry: can regulatory policies reconcile climate action and competitiveness?

2) Crisis of Competitiveness of the European Economy – Can We Reverse Negative Trends?

More information on the panels and the Congress can be found here.

When: Friday @ 10:30