The Energy Transition in the EU – What are the benefits?; ECR candidate Tundu Lissu to be presented for the 2026 Sakharov Prize; Cohesion policy must help cities provide key services, become safer, stronger and more competitive; Cohesion policy must help cities provide key services, become safer, stronger and more competitive; Europe must be better prepared when crises strike; ECR Group Study Days in Prague; ECR security and defence mission to Poland

The Energy Transition in the EU – What are the benefits?

This afternoon, Friday 25 September 2026, ECR Group Co-Chair Patryk Jaki will host a conference on the EU’s energy transition at the historic Piast Castle in Racibórz, Silesia, Poland. The event will bring together Members of the European Parliament, policymakers, experts and representatives from different sectors to discuss the future of Europe’s energy policy, the challenges facing the current transition, and the opportunities it could create for European citizens, industry and Member States. The programme will examine whether the European Commission’s current energy strategy is delivering on its objectives, the extent to which political considerations are shaping the transition, and what decisions are needed to strengthen Europe’s energy security. Speakers will also address the economic costs and wider implications of the transition for industry, workers and Member States, as well as the role of renewable energy and emerging technologies in Europe’s future energy mix.

Link to the event website here.

Watch the livestream here.

When: Friday 25 September @ 13:00

Where: Piast Castle in Racibórz, Silesia, Poland

ECR candidate Tundu Lissu to be presented for the 2026 Sakharov Prize

On Thursday 1 October, the European Parliament will formally present the candidates for the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Development Committee and the Subcommittee on Human Rights. The ECR Group has nominated Tanzanian opposition leader and human-rights defender Tundu Lissu. A lawyer and Chairman of CHADEMA, Lissu has campaigned for free and fair elections, constitutional government, freedom of expression and the rule of law, despite years of political pressure and personal risk. He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and was arrested again in April 2025 following a political rally, when he was charged with treason. For the ECR Group, his nomination is intended to draw attention to the importance of political pluralism, civic freedoms and the right of democratic opposition movements to operate without intimidation, violence or arbitrary detention. Following the presentation of the nominees, the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees will select a three-candidate shortlist on 19 October. The Conference of Presidents will then choose the laureate, with the award ceremony taking place during the December plenary session in Strasbourg.

When: Thursday @ 12:00

Where: SPAAK 5B1

Cohesion policy must help cities provide key services, become safer, stronger and more competitive

On Thursday, the Regional Development Committee will vote on an own-initiative report led by ECR Rapporteur Denis Nesci on how EU cohesion policy can better support Europe’s cities. The focus is on practical challenges that directly affect people’s daily lives: access to healthcare, transport, education and childcare, affordable housing, safer public spaces and better preparedness for crises and emergencies. The report also aims to make it easier for cities, especially small and medium-sized ones, to access EU funding without getting lost in unnecessary bureaucracy, through the creation of a one stop shop platform that provides a single, clear entry point for information and support. It promotes investment in urban regeneration, modern infrastructure, digitalisation and innovation, while recognising the need to help cities attract businesses, skilled workers and young people. Particular attention is also given to cities and regions exposed to hybrid threats or border pressures, where stronger civil protection and better protection of critical infrastructure are increasingly important. For the ECR Group, cohesion policy should give cities the means to solve concrete problems, strengthen competitiveness and resilience, and remain places where people can live, work and build their future, fully delivering the “right to stay” through targeted investments and quality services.

When: Thursday @ 09:00

Where: SPAAK 4B001

Erasmus+: simpler, more effective and closer to the needs of young Europeans

On Tuesday, the Culture and Education Committee will vote on its report on the future Erasmus+ programme for 2028–2034. ECR Shadow Rapporteur Lara Magoni has worked to ensure that key ECR priorities are reflected in the report, including simpler procedures, better access to the programme, stronger vocational education and training, and a greater focus on labour market-related skills. Particular attention is also given to young people from socially, culturally and geographically disadvantaged or peripheral areas, so that they have genuine and equal opportunities to benefit from European mobility programmes. The report also underlines the importance of subsidiarity and respecting the competences of Member States in education, while ensuring that resources deliver tangible results.

When: Tuesday @ 10:00

Where: ANTALL 6Q2

Europe must be better prepared when crises strike

On Thursday, the Environment Committee and the Committee on Public Health will vote jointly on the new Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which also covers EU support for health emergency preparedness and response. The proposal is designed to improve Europe’s ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, health emergencies and other major crises, while strengthening cooperation and coordination between Member States. ECR co-Rapporteur Aurelijus Veryga has focused on ensuring that Europe can respond faster and more effectively when emergencies occur and that Member States receive practical support when national capacities come under pressure. For the ECR Group, civil protection must be about rapid response, better preparedness and effective coordination when disasters strike, while ensuring that people and essential services are protected.

When: Thursday @ 09:00

Where: ANTALL 4Q2

ECR Group Study Days in Prague

From Tuesday 29 September to Friday 2 October, ECR MEPs will meet in Prague, Czechia, for a series of Group and Working Sessions. The meeting will bring together European Conservatives to discuss Europe’s security, competitiveness and economic future, while also exploring the cultural heritage and industrial strengths of the Czech Republic. The programme will open with a special session on Prague as a cultural crossroads, bringing together Czech and European voices to reflect on the city’s historical and cultural significance. Discussions will then turn to some of the key challenges facing Europe today, including the continent’s military build-up in response to Russian aggression, the need to strengthen European competitiveness and the future of Europe’s economy. Link to the event website here.

When: Tuesday–Friday

Where: Prague, Czechia

ECR security and defence mission to Poland

From Wednesday 30 September to Friday 2 October, members of the ECR Policy Working Group on Security and Defence will visit Poland for a fact-finding mission focused on Europe’s defence industrial capacity, innovation and preparedness. ECR MEPs Reinis Pozņaks, Cristian Terheș, Michał Dworczyk and Aurelijus Veryga will meet representatives of the Polish defence industry and visit several companies active in the sector. The mission will give Members first-hand insight into how Europe’s defence industry can be expanded, how production capacity can be strengthened and how technological innovation can support greater defence readiness. The visit will also contribute to the ECR Group’s work on building a strong, competitive and resilient European defence sector.

When: Wednesday–Friday

Where: Poland