The future of European competitiveness; MEPs meet to assess ECB monetary policy; Constitutive meetings of European Parliament delegations; Preparations for the October I plenary session; ECR contests ITRE coordinators undemocratic decision

The future of European competitiveness

On Monday afternoon, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection will hold an exchange of views on the recently published report on EU competitiveness by economist and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. The report served in part to validate the ECR Group’s long-held concerns regarding the EU’s lagging competitiveness. While the Commission and some European Parliament officials talk up competitiveness, actions tell a different story. Over the last years, the introduction of numerous restrictive regulations has increased, weighing down European industry and hindering the EU’s ability to compete effectively with other global actors. The EU has too much regulation and too little public and especially private investment. Where the ECR Group diverges from Draghi’s line is on the solution to Europe’s competitiveness ills. More centralised governance structures, new taxes or interference in Member States’ fiscal affairs, as Mr Draghi proposed, are inappropriate, while simply throwing more money at the problem will not solve the systemic issues. The EU needs to cut regulation, facilitate investment in innovation, maintain technological neutrality, and put more faith in its single market.

When: Monday @ 15:00

Where: ANTALL 6Q2

MEPs meet to assess ECB monetary policy

On Monday, the committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will meet with European Central Bank (ECB) President, Christine Lagarde for the first time in this legislature to talk about the ECB’s recent monetary policy. This meeting follows the ECB’s September 12, 2024, decision to cut interest rates by 0.25 per cent, continuing the policy easing that began in June. The ECR Group believes that price stability must remain the ECB’s primary objective.

When: Monday @ 15:00

Where: ANTALL 4Q1

Constitutive meetings of European Parliament delegations

On Monday 30 September and Thursday 3 October, the European Parliament’s Delegations will hold their constitutive meetings. During these meetings, MEPs will vote to elect one Chair and two Vice-Chairs per delegation, for the first two and a half years of their mandate. A complete breakdown of the timings for each delegation meeting can be found here.

When: Monday & Thursday

Preparations for the October I plenary session

MEPs are preparing for the October I plenary part-session, which will take place in Strasbourg from 7 to 10 October. The key debate on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency, which was postponed from the September part-session, is scheduled for Wednesday 9 October. On Tuesday this week, the ECR Group will hold a preparatory group meeting.

ECR contests ITRE coordinators undemocratic decision

On Monday, the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy will hold a vote on the ECR Group’s challenge to the recent allocation of key positions within the ITRE committee. This challenge follows the September 12, 2024, decision by the European People’s Party, Socialists & Democrats, and Renew groups to assign these roles exclusively among themselves. Traditionally, ITRE has used the d’Hondt method to distribute roles proportionally, often rotating positions to allow smaller groups fair representation. However, in this case, three groups decided to apply a “majority method,” effectively excluding two large groups, such as PfE and ECR, as well as smaller parties from roles on important bodies like the STOA panel, the European Critical Raw Materials Board, and the European Semiconductor Board, among others. The ECR has officially objected to this decision. The Group believes that this approach is undemocratic, as it undermines the committee’s history of proportionality and inclusiveness.

When: Monday @ 15:00 [committee start at 15:00, but the vote is on 16:00]

Where: ANTALL 2Q2