Businesses need stability, not constant new bureaucracy; ECR Group calls for review of ETS to protect European competitiveness; Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa to address the European Parliament; Closer EU–Canada defence cooperation moves forward; Stronger safeguards for strategic foreign investments in Europe; “Stop Destroying Videogames” initiative to be debated in Parliament; EU’s strategic response to the current crisis in the Middle East; Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity and preparedness; Europe must secure affordable fertilisers for farmers; More reliable rail transport and better cross-border coordination in Europe; The need to reduce work-related fatalities; Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba; A balanced approach to sustainable biofuels; Critical Raw Materials: Can Europe Turn Targets into Projects?; Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini Patryk Jaki; ECR Group at the European Parliament Open Days in Strasbourg

Businesses need stability, not constant new bureaucracy

On Wednesday morning, the European Parliament will hold a key debate on the Single Market, competitiveness and the need to provide greater certainty and predictability for businesses and quality jobs across Europe. For the ECR Group, European businesses are not asking for constant new targets and endless reporting obligations. They are asking for something much simpler: stable rules, affordable energy and the ability to plan ahead. The ECR Group warns that if companies constantly have to expect yet another layer of bureaucracy and regulation, many will simply stop investing in Europe altogether — putting jobs, industry and Europe’s competitiveness increasingly at risk. What Europe does not need is more fancy PR operations from the Commission. What it needs is delivery on the foundation of European integration — the Single Market.

Key Debate: Wednesday @ 9:00


ECR Group calls for review of ETS to protect European competitiveness

On Wednesday afternoon, the European Parliament will hold a topical debate proposed by the ECR Group on reviewing the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and its impact on Europe’s competitiveness, industry and energy prices. The ECR Group argues that rising energy and production costs are placing growing pressure on European industry, weakening competitiveness and increasing costs for citizens and businesses alike. The debate will focus in particular on the impact of ETS and the planned introduction of ETS2 on households, transport and industrial production. For the ECR Group, Europe needs a more pragmatic and balanced approach to climate and energy policy. The ECR is calling for a review of the ETS system, a halt to ETS2 and a stronger focus on affordable energy, technological neutrality and industrial competitiveness in order to prevent further deindustrialisation and rising living costs across Europe.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00


Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa to address the European Parliament

On Wednesday morning, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa will address the European Parliament as part of the “This is Europe” debate series. The discussion is expected to focus on Europe’s security situation, continued support for Ukraine, competitiveness and the future direction of the European Union. For the ECR Group, the debate will be an important opportunity to stress that the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should focus more strongly on results, the efficient use of EU funds and the strategic importance of the EU’s Eastern border regions in light of today’s security challenges. The debate will also underline that Europe must remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine and defending the interests of Member States in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.

Key Debate: Wednesday @ 10:30


Closer EU–Canada defence cooperation moves forward

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on the EU–Canada agreement enabling Canadian companies to participate in procurement projects under the SAFE instrument, the EU’s programme to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and security preparedness.
Supported by the ECR Group, the agreement deepens cooperation with one of Europe’s closest democratic allies at a time of growing geopolitical instability and increasing pressure on the transatlantic security architecture. For the ECR Group, closer cooperation with trusted partners such as Canada will help strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities, reinforce industrial resilience and improve long-term security preparedness across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00


Stronger safeguards for strategic foreign investments in Europe

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on the final agreement updating the EU’s framework for screening foreign direct investments in strategic sectors.
The new rules aim to strengthen coordination between Member States when reviewing investments linked to sensitive areas such as critical infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, transport and dual-use technologies, while improving transparency and information-sharing across the EU. For the ECR Group, the agreement strikes an important balance between strengthening Europe’s economic security and preserving Member States’ authority over national security decisions. Under the compromise, final decisions on whether to approve or block foreign investments remain firmly in the hands of national governments.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30


“Stop Destroying Videogames” initiative to be debated in Parliament

On Thursday, the European Parliament will debate the European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Destroying Videogames”, which calls for stronger consumer protections against publishers remotely disabling videogames after purchase. The initiative responds to growing concerns over games that require permanent online connections to function and become unplayable once publishers end support. Supporters argue that consumers should not lose access to products they have legally purchased and that videogames, as cultural and creative works, should not simply disappear. For the ECR Group, the debate raises important questions about consumer rights, legal certainty and ownership in the digital age. The ECR believes consumers should be protected from unfair practices and that companies should not be able to render legally purchased products unusable without providing reasonable alternatives.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:00


EU’s strategic response to the current crisis in the Middle East

On Tuesday, MEPs will hold a debate on the EU’s response to the current crises in the Middle East, amid growing concerns over regional instability, energy security and geopolitical escalation. The discussion is also expected to focus on the role Europe intends to play on the global stage in an increasingly unstable international environment. For the ECR Group, the current situation once again exposes Europe’s structural vulnerabilities and dependencies in the fields of energy and security. The ECR Group believes that, particularly in the area of defence and security, greater engagement by Member States will be necessary in the years ahead in order to preserve Europe’s security. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard free navigation is vital for global energy security, stable trade flows, and the economic stability of nations that rely on this strategic waterway. The ECR Group also underlines that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a key security interest for both the region and Europe. We have serious concerns about the ongoing repression and execution of protesters, dissidents, political prisoners and religious minorities by the Iranian regime. A free society for the people of Iran is essential for dignity, human rights, and a stable future built on the will of its own citizens.

Debate: Tuesday @ 16:00


Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity and preparedness

On Tuesday morning, the European Parliament will hold a debate on EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of increasingly advanced artificial intelligence systems. For the ECR Group, the rapid development of AI technologies is creating new security and societal risks including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and deepfakes. The ECR Group warns that technological developments are advancing faster than existing safeguards and enforcement mechanisms. As AI systems become more powerful and more widely available, the EU must ensure that cybersecurity frameworks, critical infrastructure protection and law enforcement capabilities are able to keep pace. The debate will therefore be an important opportunity to call for stronger cybersecurity preparedness, more effective enforcement of the AI Act and a more robust European response to malicious AI-enabled manipulation and cyber threats.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9:00


Europe must secure affordable fertilisers for farmers

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will hold a debate on the European Commission’s Fertilisers Action Plan against the backdrop of rising fertiliser prices, supply disruptions and growing pressure on Europe’s agricultural sector. For the ECR Group, the debate will be an important opportunity to underline that Europe’s farmers need reliable access to affordable fertilisers in order to maintain food production, competitiveness and strategic resilience. The current crisis has once again exposed Europe’s dependencies in critical sectors and the vulnerability of agricultural production to geopolitical shocks. The ECR Group supports efforts to strengthen domestic production, diversify supply chains, enhance bio-based and circular solutions and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens for farmers, while ensuring that Europe’s climate and industrial policies do not further increase costs for the agricultural sector.

Debate: Tuesday @ 15:00


More reliable rail transport and better cross-border coordination in Europe

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on new EU rules aimed at improving the management of railway infrastructure capacity across Europe. The agreement seeks to make rail transport more reliable, improve punctuality and strengthen coordination between Member States, while making better use of existing railway infrastructure. Supported by the ECR Group, the compromise also introduces stronger cooperation between infrastructure managers and railway companies, as well as new measures to reduce delays and last-minute cancellations in both passenger and freight transport. For the ECR Group, the agreement represents a balanced step towards a more efficient and interoperable European railway network, while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

The need to reduce work-related fatalities

On Wednesday afternoon, Parliament will debate a motion for a resolution on reducing work-related fatalities, with a vote scheduled for Thursday. On 6 May, under the leadership of ECR rapporteur Chiara Gemma, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee backed a resolution calling for stronger workplace safety standards across Europe, including improved prevention measures, stronger enforcement of labour protections, and the establishment of an annual European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers on 8 August. The proposed remembrance day commemorates the 1956 Marcinelle mining disaster at the Bois du Cazier mine in Belgium, where 262 miners from Italy, Belgium, Poland, France, Germany and Greece lost their lives. The tragedy remains one of the defining moments in Europe’s collective awareness of the need for stronger workplace safety standards. For the ECR Group, every worker who leaves home in the morning deserves to return safely to their family in the evening. The issue is about prevention, responsibility and respect for the people who keep our societies functioning every day.

Debate: Wednesday @ 16:00
Vote: Thursday @ 12:00


Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba

On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba, amid continued concerns over human rights violations, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the deteriorating living conditions faced by the Cuban people. The debate comes against the backdrop of ongoing reports of arbitrary detentions, repression of political opponents and restrictions on freedom of expression and civil society. The humanitarian situation on the island has also worsened in recent years, with shortages of food, medicine and energy contributing to growing social and economic hardship. The ECR Group has consistently called for a firmer EU approach towards the Cuban regime, including stronger support for democratic opposition voices and closer scrutiny of the EU–Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. Earlier this year, ECR MEPs called on the European External Action Service to suspend the agreement, arguing that the Cuban authorities continue to violate human rights and democratic principles while benefiting from EU cooperation and financial support. A vote will take place in June.

Debate: Tuesday @ 17:00

A balanced approach to sustainable biofuels

On Thursday, the European Parliament will debate the need for an adaption of the EU legal framework on sustainable biofuels, including the potential restriction of soy-based biofuels in the EU. The discussion follows concerns from the European Commission that certain crop-based biofuels may contribute to indirect land-use change and deforestation, potentially conflicting with the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives.
At the same time, agricultural stakeholders warn that restricting soy-based biofuels could negatively affect Europe’s feed supply chain. In addition to fuel, biofuel production generates protein-rich co-products used in animal feed, meaning lower production could increase reliance on imports and place additional pressure on European farmers and livestock producers. Furthermore, biofuels represent an existing, reliable energy source that can substantially contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. In this context, existing legislation, such as the Fuel Quality Directive, could be adapted to better recognise the contribution of sustainable biofuels to the EU’s emissions reduction targets. For the ECR Group, the discussion should promote a balanced approach that safeguards environmental ambitions without undermining Europe’s energy security, food production, and agricultural competitiveness.

Debate: Thursday @ 11:00

Critical Raw Materials: Can Europe Turn Targets into Projects?

On Wednesday, the ECR Working Group on Competitiveness, hosted by ECR MEPs Beatrice Timgren and Ondřej Krutílek, will hold a meeting on critical raw materials, focusing on permitting, dependency risks, and Europe’s industrial competitiveness. Critical raw materials are increasingly central to Europe’s competitiveness, strategic autonomy and industrial resilience. While the EU has set ambitious targets, important questions remain about whether projects can be delivered on time and at the necessary scale. This discussion will focus on permitting delays, investment conditions, processing capacity and dependency risks, including Europe’s continued reliance on third-country supply chains. The event will hear from speakers including Mariateresa Vivaldini MEP, ECR shadow rapporteur on the proposed amendment to the Critical Raw Materials Act. Link to the event website here.

When: Wednesday @ 14:30
Where: WEISS N3.2, European Parliament, Strasbourg

Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini Patryk Jaki

The ECR Group will hold a press briefing with Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini (IT) and Patryk Jaki (PL) on Tuesday, 19 May, at 10:20 in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press room in Strasbourg. The briefing will provide an opportunity to discuss the key priorities and positions of the ECR Group.

When: Tuesday @ 10:20
Where: Daphne Caruana Galizia press room, Strasbourg, N -1/201

Journalists can join via interactio: https://ep.interactio.eu/link/pressconfp1254698545582


ECR Group at the European Parliament Open Days in Strasbourg

On Sunday, 17 May, the European Parliament in Strasbourg will once again open its doors to the public as part of the 2026 Open Days. Citizens will have the opportunity to discover the work of the European institutions, meet Members and staff, and experience the Parliament from the inside. The ECR Group will be present throughout the day to engage with the public and present its vision of a Europe rooted in cooperation between sovereign nations, democratic accountability and respect for national identities. Visit the ECR Group stand to learn more about our political work and current priorities.

When: Sunday, 17 May, 10:00–18:00
Where: European Parliament, Strasbourg