The EU’s reaction to the US Inflation Reduction Act; New Euro 7 standards; Allegations of corruption and foreign interference; Commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day; Event: High-speed rail in Europe

The EU’s reaction to the US Inflation Reduction Act

On Monday, the International Trade Committee will grill Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on EU trade policy. For the ECR Group, after a legitimate defensive agenda to strengthen the assertiveness of EU trade policy, it is high time to do more to set an offensive trade agenda, including new bilateral trade and investment agreements, diversification of supply chains, and a WTO reform. Regarding the EU’s response to the US Anti-Inflation Reduction Act, the ECR calls for a level playing field.

When: Monday @ 15:00

New Euro 7 standards

At Tuesday’s Environment Committee meeting, the Commission will present its proposal on the Euro 7 standards type-approval of motor vehicles and engines, and of systems, components and separate technical units. Euro 7 replaces and simplifies previously separate emission rules for cars and vans (Euro 6) and lorries and buses (Euro VI). The European Parliament’s Rapporteur is ECR MEP Alexandr Vondra.

When: Tuesday @ 9:00

Allegations of corruption and foreign interference

On Thursday, the Special Committee on Foreign Interference (INGE2), the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula and the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries will hold a joint meeting to discuss recent cases of foreign interference in the European Parliament. The ECR Group finds the bribery being exposed in the so called Qatargate scandal shocking. Is it absolutely clear that the European Parliament cannot go on without a meaningful intervention. In this regard, the ECR fully supports Parliament President Metsola who presented a first set of proposals as well as her plan and the chosen procedure in which all groups are involved to strengthen the integrity, independence and accountability of the institution.

When: Thursday @ 14:00

Commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

On Thursday, the special mini plenary session will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, will address the plenary and, together with the President of the European Parliament, inaugurate the Holocaust Memorial in front of the chamber.

When: Thursday @ 10:30

Event: High-speed rail in Europe

On Thursday, ECR MEP Dorien Rookmaker will host a discussion on the potential and socioeconomic benefits of a High-Speed Rail (HSR) network connecting all EU capitals. The speakers, who include Carlo Borghini, Executive Director Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking; Dr Francesca Pagliara, Associate Professor in Transport Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, and Chair of the International Workshop on High Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts; and Rogier Vergouwen, Chair of the High-speed Rail Netherlands Foundation, will tackle the matter from political, academic, civil society, and economic perspectives. HSR has more to offer than just being green.

When: Thursday @ 15:00

Where: PHS 7C50

The event will be live streamed from MEP Rookmaker’s YouTube channel.