Maintaining financial and military support for Ukraine; MEPs debate Mario Draghi’s Report on the Future of European competitiveness; Presentation of Hungary’s six-month Council Presidency; EU must improve returns policy; EU must punish Maduro regime; Strategic dialogue on EU agriculture's future a cause for concern; Release all political prisoners in Belarus!; EU budget for 2025; Return the hostages, end the war in Gaza!; Combatting the rise of anti-Semitism; ECR Group discuss nomination for the Sakharov Prize.

Maintaining financial and military support for Ukraine

On Tuesday, lawmakers will debate the need for continued financial and military support for Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February, 2022, the European Parliament has strongly advocated for military and financial aid to Kyiv. Following the significant increase in attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, the European Union’s continuous support for Ukraine is essential. Ukraine’s victory is the greatest insurance that Russia will never again be able to launch such disastrous wars in Europe. If Ukraine loses, it won’t be long before a battle-hardened and war-hungry Russian army arrives directly to our borders. The ECR Group was the first to call for a military training mission, launched in November 2022, which has since trained over 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The Group expresses its full and unwavering support for Ukraine. A vote on a resolution will take place during Thursday’s voting session.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

MEPs debate Mario Draghi’s Report on the Future of European competitiveness

On Tuesday, Mario Draghi will present his report on European competitiveness and a debate will follow. The ECR Group feels validated by the acknowledgement that, while the Commission and some political forces in the European Parliament publicly champion the importance of competitiveness, the continuous introduction of restrictive regulations and administrative burdens, especially over the last five years, have done nothing but further weigh down industry and hinder our ability to be competitive. The European Union has too much regulation and too little public and especially private investment. A shortage of skilled labour and high energy prices are affecting the EU’s competitiveness. Competitiveness will be achieved by promoting a more dynamic, open, and principled single market, not by more centralised governance structures, as Mr Draghi proposed, with new taxes or interference in Member States’ fiscal affairs. Simply throwing more money at the problem will not solve the systemic issues. The services sector—a cornerstone of the single market with untapped potential that underpins all other industries— should not be left out of this reflection. Services are the backbone of the European economy. Unlocking their potential is crucial for growth, innovation, and competitiveness across the board. Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini will take the floor for the ECR Group.

Presentation: Tuesday @ 13:30

Debate: Tuesday @ 14:00

Presentation of Hungary’s six-month Council Presidency

Wednesday begins with the key debate on the programme for Hungary’s six-month EU Presidency presented by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. During the negotiations on the agenda for the parliamentary session, the ECR Group argued that Mr Orbán should be given the opportunity to present the programme to the plenary, as is customary for an EU Presidency. Parliamentary committees should also not exclude the Presidency from their meetings and close their doors. MEPs should be given the opportunity to ask their questions and make their comments in the forum provided for such purposes. ECR Co-Chairman Joachim Brudziński will speak on behalf of the Group.

Debate: Wednesday @ 9:00

EU must improve returns policy

On Monday evening, Parliament will discuss the need to address illegal migration and improve return policies to prevent attacks like the one in Solingen, Germany. In August, a Syrian asylum seeker who had been denied asylum but not expelled from the EU killed three and injured eight people in Solingen, highlighting serious flaws in the EU’s migration and returns policy. To protect European citizens from similar threats, the ECR Group believes that the EU’s focus should be on preventing abuse of the asylum system and ensuring swift, effective returns for those who do not qualify for legal stay. It is also imperative that EU rules be changed to enable the financing of border infrastructure.

Debate: Monday @ 18:00

EU must punish Maduro regime

On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the situation in Venezuela. If ever there has been a modern case study of how to destroy a country, the Maduro regime could write the manual. Having gone from one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America to one of the poorest, Maduro and his corrupt socialist kleptocrats prefer bleeding Venezuela to the bone to following any of the democratic norms they claim to uphold. After the Venezuelan presidential election was stolen in broad daylight, it is unacceptable for the EU to engage with such a regime. The EU must abandon business as usual with Maduro and instead use all its tools and efforts to support Edmundo González and the opposition to ensure that democracy has a fighting chance at being restored in the country. A vote on a resolution will take place during Thursday’s voting session.

Debate: Tuesday @ 15:30

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Strategic dialogue on EU agriculture’s future a cause for concern

On Monday, the first debate of the week in Strasbourg will see MEPs discuss the outcome of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. For the ECR Group, the EU Commission report is overly vague in the areas that really matter. For example, it should be explicit that more adequate income for farmers and less bureaucracy is of vital importance to promote employment in the sector. The report is also vague around non-market measures to safeguard food affordability for lower income consumers, such as with social and fiscal policies. These are causes for concern. The report focuses too much on the organic agricultural sector, which is out of reach for many EU citizens, while references to plant protein are also excessive. For the ECR Group, the Commission’s application of report’s findings to its roadmap should be closely monitored to ensure that those working in the European agriculture sector are properly considered. Farmers are key to food security and are the backbone of rural development. They should be treated as such.

Debate: Monday @ 17:00

Release all political prisoners in Belarus!

On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss the worsening situation of political prisoners in Belarus. As of 31 August, 2024 there were 1,376 individuals recognised as incarcerated on political grounds in Belarus, including 177 women. The repression of dissidents and those who express opposition to the regime in Belarus persists, with the level of criminal prosecution remaining at an alarmingly high rate. The ECR Group strongly calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners in the country. The international community must recognise that after yet another rigged election, the dictator Lukashenka can only remain through repression and submission to Putin. Parliament will vote on a resolution on Thursday.

Debate: Wednesday @ 20:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

EU budget for 2025

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the general budget of the European Union for the financial year of 2025. The increased cost of living over recent years means that food, farming, and agriculture must be central to the upcoming annual budget. With the European agricultural sector under increased pressure due to a higher risk of farm abandonment, income support for young farmers and the promotion of agricultural products are of vital importance. Strengthening the EU’s external borders to increase resilience to hybrid attacks must also be a priority. Funding for the reinforcement of the EU’s external border infrastructure is crucial. The ECR Group is firm in its stance that Frontex must be adequately funded, and that support is needed for Member States to implement EU rules on external border control and coordinate cooperation between EU countries. Other measures supported by the ECR Group include removing the cuts to the Internal Security Fund made in the draft budget, while supporting expenditure for the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Erasmus+, and school food programmes and restoring the draft budget for the InvestEU Fund.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Return the hostages, end the war in Gaza!

On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the current situation of the war in Gaza. After 17 years in power, Hamas and its jihadist allies launched its fifth war against Israel on 7 October, 2023. This is a war of aggression, launched by Hamas and its allies every 3 years. It is not acceptable that we fall back into this pattern every 36 months. For any true prospects for peace, it is essential that Hamas and its overlords in Tehran are never again able to even have the capability to launch a war. For the ECR Group, the dismantling of Hamas, its allies, and their terrorist infrastructure must be achieved if there is to be any hope of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Hamas could end the war today if it returns the hostages and lays down its arms, sparing many lives. Yet it always chooses to reject any offer that is even perceived as a concession towards peace with the Jewish state.

Debate: Tuesday @ 15:30

Combatting the rise of anti-Semitism

On Monday evening, lawmakers will discuss the growing and persistent problem of anti-Semitism in Europe. Recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in incidents and attacks directed towards Jewish community. The ECR Group is deeply concerned about the ongoing problem of anti-Semitism in Europe and urges the EU to take a resolute stance to combat it.

Debate: Monday @ 19:00

ECR Group discuss nomination for the Sakharov Prize

On Tuesday evening, ECR MEPs will meet to decide on their nominee for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Awarded by the European Parliament, the Sakharov Prize recognises individuals, groups, and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the protection of freedom of thought. Each political group in the Parliament can nominate candidates.

When: Tuesday @ 18:00

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