Introducing a more efficient screening regulation; Criminal records information system; Return border procedure; Unbalanced proposal on migration crises situations; Eurodac gets more effective; No need for a Union resettlement framework; Reforming the Qualification Directive; Reception standards for asylum seekers could still be improved; Powering up the European electricity market for the benefit of consumers; Faster processing of lorries at border crossings; Putin's presidential elections remain undemocratic; European Health Data Space (EHDS); Event: Youth and Sports in the EU – big promises meet reality.

Introducing a more efficient screening regulation

During the mini-plenary in Brussels, which starts on Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will debate and vote on new legislation to update the EU’s asylum and migration rules. One of the proposals is a regulation introducing the screening of third-country nationals at external borders. The provisional agreement would allow Member States to screen apprehended illegal migrants from third countries, both at the external border and within their territory. The screening process would include health checks, identity checks, security checks, the collection of biometric data and would conclude with the appropriate referral of third-country nationals to either asylum procedures or return protocols, as deemed applicable. The ECR Group emphasises that an effective and streamlined screening regulation will enable Member States to quickly identify individuals who are unlikely to qualify for international protection, thus facilitating the rapid return of third-country nationals refused entry.

Debate: Wednesday @13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Criminal records information system

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will also vote on the Criminal Records Information System, which aims to amend the Regulation establishing a centralised system for the identification of Member States holding conviction information on third-country nationals and stateless persons (ECRIS-TCN). The amendment consists in granting competent authorities the right of access to the ECRIS-TCN system in the context of the proposed screening Regulation and in specifying the conditions for the use of the ECRIS-TCN system for screening purposes.

Debate: Wednesday @13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Return border procedure

MEPs will also debate and vote on a file aimed at streamlining and harmonising Member States’ procedural rules by establishing a return border procedure. The ECR Group is critical of this: It is important to note that for this regulation to be effective, apart from the mandatory nature of the border procedure, it is necessary to improve the return policy.

Debate: Wednesday @13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Unbalanced proposal on migration crises situations

The European Parliament will also debate and vote on the management crises situations in the field of migration. It changes standard asylum procedures and management, allowing for longer deadlines and wider use of border procedures. However, the regulation also changes solidarity mechanisms, potentially forcing other member states to increase their relocation schemes beyond their fair share. While recognising some benefits, the ECR Group also remains concerned about the lack of clear rules on returns.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Eurodac gets more effective

On Wednesday, the European Parliament, with ECR MEP Jorge Buxadé Villalba as the rapporteur, will debate an agreement to update the EU database for managing data on individuals illegally staying in the EU, including fingerprints, facial images, and travel documents, which will ultimately streamline return procedures. This enhanced database will also cover asylum seekers and international protection beneficiaries to deter secondary movements. The ECR Group recognises significant improvements over the current system such as the inclusion of individual data, security alerts, and lowering the age for data collection from 14-years to 6-years, which will allow authorities to locate children more easily. The vote will take place on Wednesday evening.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

No need for a Union resettlement framework

On Wednesday, lawmakers will then also debate and vote on a regulation establishing a voluntary framework for EU Member States to admit third-country nationals or stateless persons for protection or humanitarian status. The Regulation outlines admission/refusal criteria and provides financial incentives for participating states. However, for the ECR Group, national resettlement schemes should be enough to provide protection to persons in need.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Reforming the Qualification Directive

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will debate and vote on the reform of the qualification directive. The provisional agreement stipulates that recognised refugees should get a minimum 3-year renewable residence permit, while beneficiaries of subsidiary protection should have the right to a 1-year permit, renewable for at least 2 years. The definition of family members expands to include dependent adult children and families formed before arriving in the EU, not just those from the country of origin. Member States can also choose to include siblings. If a beneficiary of international protection has family members who do not qualify individually, the country that granted protection will issue them a residence permit. However, broadening the definition of family members can lead to abuses of the procedure and constitute a pull factor. In addition, the directive does not lay out any clear mandatory conditionality with regard to social assistance and participation in integration measures, which the ECR Group believes is necessary to give incentives to asylum seekers to integrate with host communities.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Reception standards for asylum seekers could still be improved

The joint debate and votes on the migration and asylum package end with the new standards for the reception of asylum seekers. As it stands, some of the proposals in the text could be problematic, such as the rule not to detain minors, which also means that their parents cannot be detained. Moreover, the possibility of leaving the territory of the Member State where the applicant resides in order to carry out specific work tasks in another Member State would entail a high risk of abuse of the asylum procedure. The ECR Group believes that more flexibility is needed for Member States, as reception capacities vary from one Member State to another and too much harmonisation in this respect would not be feasible.

Debate: Wednesday @ 13:00

Vote: Wednesday @ 17:00

Powering up the European electricity market for the benefit of consumers

On Thursday morning, Parliament will debate on a new electric market design. The ECR Group fully supports the proposal: It gives consumers the right to choose a fixed-price, fixed-term electricity contract if they so wish. It also introduces the right to have more than one supplier for a single premise, allowing consumers to better match different offers to their individual needs. It prohibits suppliers from unilaterally changing the terms of a contract or terminating it before its expiry. It also requires Member States to introduce a system of supplier of last resort to ensure that no household customer is left without an electricity supply if their current supplier fails. Apart from having regulated electricity prices for energy-poor and vulnerable households, as a transitional measure, Member States may introduce regulated prices for households and micro-enterprises. In the event of a declared energy crisis, Member States may also apply regulated prices to SMEs and, in the event of exceptionally high price increases, to support the additional electricity costs of industrial consumers. The vote will take place at midday.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Faster processing of lorries at border crossings

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution from the Petitions Committee on the problem of slow processing of heavy goods vehicles at EU border crossings. The text, which is supported by thousands of lorry drivers, rightly points out that the long waiting times caused by checks and controls on lorries have a negative impact on the functioning of the EU’s internal market. The petition therefore calls for the establishment of a Europe-wide standard of an average of one minute for the processing of heavy goods vehicles at border crossing points. The ECR strongly supports the petition, as the Group is determined to strengthen the heavy vehicle industry together with good conditions for truck drivers and to remove all obstacles on their way to improvement and a sustainable business model.

Vote: Wednesday @ 17.00

Putin’s presidential elections remain undemocratic

On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss on the outcome of Russia’s recent undemocratic presidential elections. The elections took place on 15-17 March and without any meaningful opposition, Vladimir Putin claimed victory to serve a fifth term as Russia’s leader. Twenty-five years ago, Putin ascended to power with the aim of revitalising the former Soviet Union. Historical precedent suggests that the downfall of such dictators does not occur through the electoral process. The ECR Group believes that the entrenched system behind Muscovite imperialism persists relentlessly and will only cease with decisive defeat.

Debate: Wednesday @ 16:00

European Health Data Space (EHDS)

On Tuesday, the Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) will vote on the provisional agreement on the European Health Data Space (EHDS). The ECR Group is satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, as the compromise reached ensures that patients have the possibility to restrict the access to their data, including the opt-out mechanisms, managed at the national level, from the use of their personal, anonymised or pseudonymised data. Member States may also put in place stricter measures on access to certain kinds of sensitive data, such as genomic data. The ECR also advocated for more realistic (extended) implementation deadlines for specific chapters - which was ensured as well.

When: Tuesday @ 9:15

Where: ANTALL 2Q2

Event: Youth and Sports in the EU – big promises meet reality

On Wednesday, ECR MEPs Andrey Slabakov and Pietro Fiocchi will host a panel discussion centered on the pivotal role of youth and sports in the EU. There are numerous challenges that sports must overcome in order to involve more children and young people in a healthy, active lifestyle and in competition. Olympic and World championship competitors and medallists from many fields will be involved in the discussion, speaking about their personal experiences, including Bulgarian former professional footballer and Ballon d’Or winner, Hristo Stoichkov. A keynote speech will be delivered by Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

Link to the events website here.

When: Wednesday @ 15:00

Where: SPAAK 1A2