Safeguarding Europe’s supply chains against geopolitical pressure; Making the EU’s deforestation regulation workable for European businesses; European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP): Strengthening Europe’s Defence Readiness; Strengthening subsidiarity and the role of National Parliaments; Safeguarding children without opening the door to a digital surveillance state; The ECR wants a lighter digital framework to boost competitiveness and close Europe’s AI gap; EU must strengthen security against hybrid attacks; Military Mobility; Protection of consumers is fundamental; Protection of consumers is fundamental; Protection of consumers is fundamental; Toy Safety; Simplifying rules for SMEs; A stronger EU strategy for the Arctic; Protection of Christian communities and religious minorities; 30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process and the Pact for the Mediterranean; Europe and Migration: The Italian Approach Transcending Ideologies; Lecture by author Mathieu Bock-Côté; ECR Working Group on reforming the Green Deal; Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairmen Nicola Procaccini and Patryk Jaki

Safeguarding Europe’s supply chains against geopolitical pressure

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the EU’s response to China’s tightening restrictions on exports of rare earth elements—materials that are essential for Europe’s advanced manufacturing, clean-tech industries and defence supply chains. From an ECR perspective, the discussion must focus on safeguarding Europe’s strategic resilience: reducing over-dependence on a single supplier, securing diversified access to critical raw materials, and creating a regulatory environment that attracts investment into domestic extraction, processing and recycling. The Group will stress that Europe cannot afford strategic vulnerability in a sector that underpins both its economic competitiveness and its security interests.

Debate: Wednesday @ 9:00

Making the EU’s deforestation regulation workable for European businesses

On Wednesday at noon, Parliament will vote on the Commission’s proposal to amend the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by postponing certain obligations and introducing limited simplifications. The draft foresees a 12-month delay for micro and small enterprises, and a grace period for medium and large operators until June 2026, alongside lighter due-diligence requirements for downstream operators and, in low-risk countries, for primary operators of micro or small size. From an ECR perspective, the proposal moves in the right direction but does not go far enough. The Group will argue for a full 24-month postponement for all operators and traders, and for requiring the Commission to present a dedicated simplification regulation early next year. This would make the EUDR workable in practice, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and avoid placing disproportionate pressure on Europe’s agricultural, forestry and processing sectors. We also welcome the Council’s call for a 12-month postponement for all operators, traders and competent authorities — a direction that aligns well with our approach.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP): Strengthening Europe’s Defence Readiness

On Tuesday morning, MEPs will debate and vote on the trilogue agreement on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). The initiative is intended to ensure that Europe’s defence industry can deliver equipment reliably and at scale, replacing earlier emergency measures used after Russia’s full-scale invasion. It provides €1.5 billion for 2025–2027 and introduces the Fund to Accelerate Supply Chains Transformation (FAST), designed to reinforce critical supply chains, including ammunition production and essential components. The compromise reached, which confirms a budget of €1.5 billion, allows for the participation of allied partners of up to 35% of the components and maintains a derogation for the production of ammunition and missiles until 2033, has significantly improved compared to Parliament’s initial proposal and reflects a more balanced and industrially credible vision of Europe’s defence.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Strengthening subsidiarity and the role of National Parliaments

MEPs will vote on an own-initiative report examining how the EU applies the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and how the role of national parliaments can be reinforced in the EU legislative process. The report highlights gaps in transparency and involvement and calls for stronger consultation between national parliaments and the European Commission. A key proposal — long overdue — is to extend the time available for national parliaments to carry out subsidiarity checks under the “yellow card” and “orange card” procedures from eight to twelve weeks, giving them a more realistic window to assess draft EU legislation. For the ECR Group, the central issue is ensuring that EU decision-making respects national democratic mandates and that legislation is only proposed at EU level when it is genuinely necessary. Strengthening the role of national parliaments is essential to safeguarding subsidiarity and proportionality, and to improving the quality and legitimacy of EU law. While the text could have gone further on scrutiny powers, it represents progress towards a more balanced institutional framework.

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Safeguarding children without opening the door to a digital surveillance state

MEPs will debate and vote on an own-initiative report on the online protection of minors. The draft calls for stronger EU-level action to ensure a safer digital environment for children, including changes to platform design, age-appropriate services and enhanced oversight mechanisms. While the report seeks to address genuine concerns about harmful content and online risks, it also proposes approaches that would give the EU a more central role in an area where Member States, parents and educators traditionally hold primary responsibility. The text endorses an EU-wide minimum social-media age, overlooking that the Union lacks the competence for such a measure and that it would run counter to the principle of subsidiarity. For the ECR Group, protecting minors online must go hand in hand with safeguarding privacy, encryption or the right to anonymous expression. The Group remains concerned that overly centralised internet gate, one-size-fits-all solutions would impose uniform standards across very different societies and weaken the role of parents, who are closest to their children and best placed to assess what is appropriate. The ECR argues for a framework that respects Member State competencies, empowers parents through effective and interoperable parental-control tools, and avoids intrusive verification systems that would affect all users rather than minors alone.

Debate: Tuesday @ 15:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

The ECR wants a lighter digital framework to boost competitiveness and close Europe’s AI gap

On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the Commission’s Digital Omnibus proposal, which is a package of technical adjustments intended to streamline parts of the EU’s digital regulatory framework. While the proposal removes certain inconsistencies and introduces limited simplifications, its scope is narrow and it does not address the structural hurdles that continue to impede Europe’s digital innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence. From an ECR perspective, genuine simplification must entail reducing the regulatory layers weighing on European firms and holding back the development and deployment of new technologies. The current draft makes some incremental improvements, but it falls short of what is needed to help Europe keep pace with global competitors. The ECR is therefore calling for a far more ambitious and coherent approach, including transitional measures where necessary, fewer overlapping obligations and a clearer focus on enabling innovation rather than managing it. Simplification must become a driver of competitiveness, not merely a technical tidy-up.

Debate: Tuesday @ 16:00

EU must strengthen security against hybrid attacks

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the ongoing threats to EU airspace and critical infrastructure posed by Russia and Belarus. The debate follows incidents such as Lithuania closing border crossings after detecting smuggling balloons drifting into its airspace from Belarus, as well an act of sabotage in Poland resulting in a blast on a railway line used for carrying aid deliveries for Ukraine, also frequented by passenger trains. These events form part of Russia’s broader hybrid warfare strategy, aimed at destabilising Europe and undermining NATO amid its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Russia is employing increasingly sophisticated methods to pressure the West, and Europe must move from reactive defence to proactive security. The ECR strongly condemns these actions and calls on the EU to take concrete steps to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats, safeguard citizens and borders, and uphold freedom and security across the continent.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15:00

Military Mobility

On Monday evening, the Security and Defence (SEDE) and Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committees will hold a joint meeting to vote on the Military Mobility report. This own-initiative report identifies the key obstacles currently hindering military mobility and proposes immediate and short-term solutions to ensure the more efficient movement of military assets across the European Union. Military mobility refers to the ability of armed forces to move troops, equipment, supplies, and other assets quickly and seamlessly within Member States, across the EU, and beyond. Today, administrative and legislative barriers significantly impede progress toward EU defence readiness and preparedness. Co-Rapporteur and ECR MEP Roberts Zīle, stresses that the EU’s strategic shortcomings must be addressed without delay, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. On funding, the report notes that military mobility resources were drastically reduced in the current MFF and therefore calls for substantially higher funding in the next financial framework. Following the vote, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, will present the Military Mobility Package during the meeting.

When: Monday @ 20:00–21:30

Where: CHURCHILL 200

Protection of consumers is fundamental

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on a Motion for Resolution, on protecting EU consumers from the practices of certain e-commerce platforms — specifically concerning child-like sex dolls, weapons, and other illegal products. The issue was debated during the mini-plenary in Brussels on 12 November, following an initiative by the ECR Group. Earlier this month, French authorities initiated legal proceedings against Shein after discovering that illegal products — including sex dolls resembling children and weapons — were offered on its website. This case highlights the ongoing challenges of regulating global marketplaces and underscores the need for a clear European framework to tackle new forms of child exploitation and sexualisation. The ECR Group calls on the Commission to act immediately, ensuring that e-commerce platforms implement effective preventive controls to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

Protecting Citizens’ Right to use cash

On Wednesday evening, MEPs will hold an ECR-requested debate on how to safeguard the right of citizens to make cash payments and how to guarantee financial inclusion as digital payments become increasingly dominant. Across the EU, access to cash has been declining due to branch closures, the withdrawal of ATMs and the growing push towards fully digital payment systems. While digital tools offer convenience, many citizens — including older people, those in rural areas, vulnerable groups and small businesses — still rely on cash for everyday transactions. The debate will also address concerns that a rapid move away from cash could limit individual autonomy, reduce payment choice and ultimately leave parts of society excluded from essential economic life. For the ECR Group, financial inclusion requires preserving cash as a real, practical option for citizens and ensuring that digitalisation does not result in new forms of exclusion. The Group argues that the transition to digital payments must remain voluntary, that access to cash services must be guaranteed across all Member States, and that citizens should not be pushed towards systems that require identification or constant connectivity. Protecting the right to use cash is also a safeguard for privacy, personal freedom and economic participation.

Debate: Wednesday @ 21:00

Combatting migrant smuggling and human trafficking

On Monday, MEPs will debate a regulation which aims to reinforce Europol’s role in the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking by enhancing police cooperation and inter-agency coordination. A central element of the proposal is the creation of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling, a specialised unit within the EU focused on tackling these issues. Additionally, the regulation aims to foster closer inter-agency cooperation by ensuring that Member States’ liaison officers, as well as Eurojust and Frontex officials, work more closely with Europol. The ECR Group fully supports the core objectives of the proposal, particularly the need to improve information sharing and strengthen cross-border operations to fight these crimes more effectively. While the Group fully support a stronger and more effective EU response to migrant smuggling, this must be pursued in full respect of Member States’ competences and national legal frameworks, ensuring that EU action reinforces cooperation rather than undermines national prerogatives. A vote will take place on Tuesday.

Debate: Monday @ 18:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Toy Safety

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on new toy safety rules aimed at improving the protection of children’s health and development. The Regulation replaces and strengthens the existing 2009 directive by fully harmonising toy safety rules across the Single Market and addressing new challenges in the sector, including more effective enforcement against unfair actors, particularly from countries like China. The Regulation sets out clear obligations for toy manufacturers and importers of regarding conformity assessment and compliance with essential safety requirements, such as physical and mechanical properties, flammability and chemical content. Thanks to the ECR Group’s active engagement in the negotiations, several obligations were rationalised and industry secured more time to adapt. The European toy sector is largely built on SMEs that already comply with the highest EU standards. For the ECR, it was essential to ensure that the new rules remain workable in practice and do not penalise responsible economic operators.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Simplifying rules for SMEs

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on a report from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee prepared in the context of the work on the Omnibus, the EU’s simplification package aimed at reducing administrative burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the broader Savings and Investment Union initiative, which seeks to unlock private capital and support businesses. The report calls for reducing EU bureaucracy, stimulating private financing, abandoning excessive requirements introduced under the Green Deal, and strengthening cooperation between the Commission and Member States in line with the principle of subsidiarity. The ECR supports this overall direction, especially the emphasis on reducing burdens for SMEs—particularly obligations linked to sustainability reporting—and upholding the principle of subsidiarity.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00

A stronger EU strategy for the Arctic

On Tuesday, Parliament will debate a report on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic. The text highlights the rapidly evolving security and environmental situation in the region, shaped by Russia’s military escalation and China’s growing economic and technological footprint. In response, the report calls for a more robust, security-focused EU approach grounded in international law and developed in close cooperation with NATO partners. The report reaffirms the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal basis for Arctic governance and stresses the need to counter unilateral territorial claims. Thanks to the active involvement of the ECR Group, many of its priorities, particularly regarding Russia, security, and broader geopolitical considerations, were successfully integrated into the final compromise text, reinforcing our determination to contain Russia’s destabilising actions.

Debate: Tuesday @ 20:00

Protection of Christian communities and religious minorities

On Wednesday, Parliament will hold a debate on the situation of Christian communities and other religious minorities in Nigeria and the wider Middle East. Across these regions, targeted violence, discrimination, and systematic attacks by terrorist and extremist groups continue. The EU has a responsibility to firmly condemn such persecution and to support local and regional efforts that defend fundamental freedoms. For the ECR Group, the protection of Christians and other vulnerable religious communities remains a core priority. This effort would be strengthened if the European Commission immediately reappoints the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU—a position that has remained vacant since December 2024—so that the EU can once again speak with authority and consistency on these issues. Every day without a Special Envoy is a missed opportunity to defend those suffering for their faith. Europe must show that it takes its promises seriously – words are not enough.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process and the Pact for the Mediterranean

MEPs will hold a debate to mark thirty years of the Barcelona Process and to discuss the recently announced Pact for the Mediterranean. The Barcelona Process, launched in 1995, created a structured framework for cooperation between the EU and Southern Mediterranean countries, focusing on political dialogue, economic development and cultural exchange. The new Pact aims to update this approach by strengthening cooperation on energy, economic partnerships, security, and migration management, and by mobilising a broader set of EU instruments and investment tools. It also references the Mattei Plan, which promotes pragmatic partnerships with Mediterranean and Gulf countries based on infrastructure, technological cooperation and sustainable development. From the ECR perspective, stability in the Mediterranean is essential for Europe’s security and prosperity. The Group welcomes the Pact’s more realistic focus on migration, energy cooperation and security, as these areas reflect long-standing ECR priorities. The ECR also values the role of the Barcelona Process as a bridge between the EU and non-EU Mediterranean partners and supports deepening structured dialogue and practical cooperation across the region.

Debate: Monday @ 19:00

Europe and Migration: The Italian Approach Transcending Ideologies

Migration continues to shape Europe’s political, social, and security landscape. As Member States seek effective and responsible solutions, the Italian approach offers valuable lessons that transcend traditional ideological boundaries. Organised by MEP Alessandro Ciriani, with the cooperation of MEP Charlie Weimers, Co-President of the ECR Migration Policy Group, this meeting will explore these key developments. The ECR Migration Policy Group is pleased to welcome Ms Sara Kelany, Member of the Italian Parliament and Head of the Immigration Department of Fratelli d’Italia, as the keynote speaker of the event.

When: Wednesday @ 16:30–18:00

Where: WEISS N1.23, European Parliament, Strasbourg

Lecture by author Mathieu Bock-Côté

On Thursday morning, ECR MEP Marion Maréchal will host a lecture by Mathieu Bock-Côté on the theme: “The Atlantic Fault or the West Divided Against Itself: Understanding the Trumpist Counter-Revolution.” Originally from Quebec, Mathieu Bock-Côté is a sociologist, essayist, and regular columnist for Le Figaro and CNews. Through his publications and media presence, he has become one of the most influential voices of the conservative right in both Canada and France. In his latest essay, Les Deux Occidents (The Two Wests), published in October, he analyses the widening gap between the United States—described as a “Trumpist America”, both populist and conservative—and Europe, which he argues continues to defend a “progressive” vision of the world. In this context, he describes Europe as “neo-Soviet”, pointing to heavy bureaucracy, the juridification of social life, ideological imposition, and restrictions on freedoms in the name of the rule of law.

When: Thursday @ 10:00–11:00

Where: WEISS N3.2, European Parliament, Strasbourg.

ECR Working Group on reforming the Green Deal

On Wednesday, ECR MEP Anna Zalewska, will host the next meeting of the ECR Working Group on reforming the Green Deal. The Working Group provides a platform for ECR MEPs to coordinate their political response to the most burdensome and ideological elements of the Green Deal, and to outline a more realistic, innovation-driven and economically responsible direction for EU climate policy. Interpretation will be provided in English, French, Italian, Swedish, Polish and Romanian.

When: Wednesday @ 15:00–16:00

Where: WEISS N1.3, European Parliament, Strasbourg

Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairmen Nicola Procaccini and Patryk Jaki

The ECR Group will hold a press briefing with Co-Chairmen Nicola Procaccini (IT) and Patryk Jaki (PL) on Tuesday, 25 November, 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. Follow the livestream here.

Where: Daphne Caruana Galizia press room, Strasbourg, N -1/201

Journalists can join via interactio: https://ep.interactio.eu/yf7z-hlge-a9kk

ENDs