EU summit; Pesticides are necessary for reliable agricultural production; Right to Repair; Revision of the Waste Framework Directive; Revision the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE); Implementation of the 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation in the digital single market; EU financial assistance for development cooperation in Palestine; Recovery of European Eel stock; Event: Supply chain challenges and solution on wind energy and alternatives for the EU.

EU summit

On Thursday and Friday, EU heads of state and government will meet in Brussels. For the ECR Group, it is important that a strong signal of determination is sent on the issues of Russia’s war against Ukraine and terror against Israel. The ECR Group fully supports Ukraine against the Russian aggressor and stands firmly by Israel in its defence against the terrorism of Hamas and other Islamist organisations. The ECR Group also believes that the new dimension of Islamist terrorism and the public support it receives in certain circles in Europe must lead to a rethink of current asylum and refugee policies. Borders urgently need to be better protected, the flow of illegal immigrants stopped and dangerous people repatriated.

When: Thursday and Friday

Pesticides are necessary for reliable agricultural production

On Tuesday morning, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will vote on the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products. Plant protection products (PPPs) are pesticides used widely in agriculture to protect plants against pests and diseases, influence the life process of plants and destroy or prevent the growth of undesired plants. The regulation falls under the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, part of the European Green Deal, and aims to introduce a 50 per cent reduction in pesticides by 2030. The ECR Group will not endorse legislation that imposes further heavy burdens on European farmers, hindering their capacity to produce food and feed, thus affecting the overall food supply. The ECR is not opposed to minimising the presence of pesticides in our food supply, but the regulation should find a balance between environmental factors, health concerns, and the harsh economic reality of the agricultural community.

When: Vote Tuesday @ 9:30

Where: ANTALL 4Q2

Right to Repair

On Wednesday, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on the report on the right to repair. According to ECR shadow rapporteur Beata Mazurek, a good text has been achieved which will guarantee a reliable supply of spare parts, open up the market for independent repairers and reduce repair costs in the long term for the targeted range of products. The ECR Group was able to introduce a repair service guarantee and additional safeguards to avoid barriers in the repair service market between Member States. Mrs Mazurek consequently supported many improvements to the text along the lines of reducing administrative burdens and securing more freedom between the customer and the product or service provider.

When: Wednesday @ 9:00

Where: SPINELLI 3G-3

Revision of the Waste Framework Directive

On Tuesday, the Environment Committee will debate the draft report by ECR rapporteur Anna Zalewska on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). Preventing the generation of waste and improving waste management are the most tangible means of protecting our environment. The Commission’s proposal adds specific provisions to reduce food and textile waste, which are well received. The rapporteur’s draft report seeks to make targeted changes to improve the implementation of these provisions, including focusing on the parts of the supply chain with the highest capacity for change and encouraging technologically innovative solutions. In addition, the rapporteur goes beyond the scope of the proposal and introduces a political objective to eliminate illegal landfills in the Union, strengthen environmental inspectorates, introduce rigour in issuing permits, and ensure improvements in municipal waste collection.

When: Tuesday @ 8.45am

Where: ANTALL 4Q2

Revision of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)

Also on Tuesday, the Environment Committee will vote on ECR Rapporteur Anna Zalewska’s report, which revises the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and transposes the Court of Justice ruling in case C-181/20 into the existing WEEE Directive. If adopted, the text will be put to a plenary vote to establish the Parliament’s position with a view to conclude the trilogues during the Spanish Presidency. This would clarify the financial responsibility for the collection of historical WEEE without any unjustified retroactive effect, which will be given particular attention in the forthcoming general revision of the WEEE Directive.

When: Tuesday @ 9:30

Where: ANTALL 4Q2

Implementation of the 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation in the digital single market

On Wednesday, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on ECR Rapporteur Beata Mazurek’s report on the implementation of the 2018 geo-blocking regulation in the digital single market. The text strikes a balance between the objective of removing geo-blocking restrictions on audiovisual content and the needs of the fragile and challenging creative market. It also aims to create an open single market for all products, reduce the costs of cross-border delivery and support the right to passive sales.

When: Wednesday @ 9:00

Where: SPINELLI 3G-3

EU financial assistance for development cooperation in Palestine

On Tuesday, the European Parliament’s committee on development will hold an exchange of views with European Commission representatives to discuss EU financial assistance for development cooperation in Palestine following the despicable terror attacks launched by Hamas against Israel on October 7. The EU has transferred millions of euro to the Palestinian Authority. The ECR Group supports a full review of all EU funding to the Palestinians and the region to ensure nothing ends up in terrorists’ hands. The ECR Group stands unwaveringly by Israel’s people and supports the State of Israel’s right to defend itself.

When: Tuesday @ 16:30

Where: SPINELLI 1G-2

Recovery of European Eel stock

On Tuesday morning, the Parliament’s committee on fisheries is set to vote on ECR MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen’s report, which aims to establish measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel. The decreasing eel population could recover better if EU eel policy takes a different track. Instead of further restricting fisheries, the fish would benefit more from making the fish routes more accessible. For this, the rapporteur recommends so-called fish ladders and fish friendly water pumps. European eels have extensive migration patterns, travelling from the Sargasso Sea off the US coast to European Inland waters and back. Unfortunately, they face challenges in reaching their spawning grounds due to river obstacles such as dams. In his report, Mr Ruissen advocates for the implementation of technological solutions to address these obstacles.

When: Tuesday @ 9:00

Where: SPINELLI 1E-2

Event: Supply chain challenges and solution on wind energy and alternatives for the EU

On Wednesday, ECR MEP Ryszard Czarnecki will host a summit focusing on supply chain issues and solutions in wind energy and alternatives for the EU. Supply chain problems with the Far East during the pandemic, the dramatic increase in energy prices post-pandemic, and the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war have increased the demand for the wind energy sector in the EU region at an unprecedented rate. The summit aims to increase awareness among EU region countries about potential partners’ existing industrial infrastructure, to increase bilateral trade volume, and to direct new investments to neighbouring countries. Keynote speakers on the day include European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson and Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol.

To register for the event, please email: ipek.tekdemir@europarl.europa.eu

When: Wednesday @ 10:00

Where: SPAAK 6B1