State of the Union; Ukraine; EU trade relations; Public procurement; Food and textile waste; Moldova; European Universities Alliances; Colombia; Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairmen Nicola Procaccini and Patryk Jaki

State of the Union

On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will make her annual State of the Union address. The ECR Group welcomes the Commission’s belated approach to simplifying regulation, especially burdensome and economically damaging Green Deal legislation. We want to see a more comprehensive effort to make Europe more competitive globally and strengthen the operating framework for businesses, especially SMEs. Work to enhance Europe’s defence and security capabilities in the long term is welcome, but Member States must remain at the forefront, and such measures should not compete with or undermine NATO. The security aspect of EU policy was brought to the fore by events in Beijing at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, and we have grave concerns about Russia and China openly signalling their intent to reshape the global order through force. In our dialogue with the Commission prior to President von der Leyen’s address, we voiced opposition to the proposed package of new EU own resources under the MFF as an additional burden on competitiveness. On migration, we stressed the need to distinguish clearly between legal and illegal migration, halt smuggling and trafficking, and establish a list of safe third countries to enable returns under the new migration pact. We also called for the appointment of an EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, a position that has been vacant since this Commission took office.

State of the Union address and debate: Wednesday @ 9:00

Ukraine

The ECR Group remains as strong as ever in its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and security. We condemn the ongoing invasion and war of aggression perpetrated by Russia; all war crimes must be investigated and punished. Any peace deal that ends Russia’s war of aggression must also include adequate and enforceable security guarantees for Ukraine. The Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on Ukraine, which will be discussed on Tuesday morning, highlight concerns about the extent of corruption in Ukraine: tackling this problem will provide one of the clearest indications as to Ukraine’s willingness to move forward on its path towards EU membership. We welcome the recent decision to reinstate the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption structures.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

EU trade relations

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss the implementation of the EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements. The ECR Group accepts that the EU-US agreement is not perfect, but it should ensure a degree of stability and predictability that our exporters are looking for. It is vital to preserve the integrity of the EU-US alliance in the face of challenges posed by other powers — challenges that were literally on full display during the recent military parade in Beijing during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. On Mercosur, the ECR is in principle in favour of a trade agreement. We believe it would give momentum to enhancing the EU’s trade relationships worldwide, solidify alliances between the EU and Latin American countries and give the EU access to critical raw materials. However, the agri-food component of any such deal needs to be subject to adequate safeguarding clauses, based on a level playing field that respects the standards to which EU farmers and producers must adhere.

Council and Commission statements and debate: Wednesday @ 13:30

Public procurement

Public procurement accounts for 14% of the EU’s GDP. Piotr Müller, ECR MEP, is the rapporteur for an own-initiative report that aims to contribute to the broader reform of public procurement rules within the EU single market. Mr Müller sought to ensure Parliament’s approach was balanced and forward-looking. He focused on providing taxpayers with value for money, promoting competition, facilitating the participation of SMEs in public procurement processes, promoting innovation and simplifying and digitising procedures. However, the rapporteur also sought to counter efforts by left-wing and centre-left groups to introduce mandatory green transition criteria and impose specific technologies in certain economic sectors, as this would increase costs and restrict competition.

Presentation of report: Monday @ 19:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:00

Food and textile waste

ECR MEP Anna Zalewska is the rapporteur for a revised directive that aims to reduce the amount of food waste and textiles waste — which collectively represent an important share of mixed municipal waste. The rapporteur is satisfied that overall, the provisions to be implemented by the Member States as set out in the report will be realistic and proportionate. The ECR wants to ensure that measures taken by the Member States around food waste will not be detrimental to farmers, and that the extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles will not impose excessive bureaucracy. The ECR has also pressed for sufficient flexibility for Member States by extending the deadlines applicable to transposition and the set-up of an extended producer responsibility scheme. The rapporteur is confident that the revised directive as it stands after trilogue is a good compromise between the need to limit waste and the need to limit bureaucracy.

Vote: Tuesday 9 September from 12.00

Moldova

The ECR supports the independence and territorial integrity of Moldova and recognises the democratically expressed desire of its people to integrate the country into the EU and NATO. We welcome efforts undertaken to reform the country in this direction, and we support strengthening the country’s resilience against Russian hybrid threats and malign interference.

Formal sitting with President Maia Sandu of Moldova: Tuesday @ 12:00

Debate on hybrid threats: Tuesday @ 17:00

European Universities Alliances

The ECR Group broadly supports the concept of European Universities Alliances. We believe they will strengthen the European Education Area by fostering academic cooperation, excellence and innovation. We have insisted that the concept safeguards academic freedom, preserves national competences in education and ensures flexibility in governance models. We are satisfied that the concept as set out in this report will be grounded in EU values without imposing a rigid or ideological framework.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Colombia

The assassination in Colombia of leading conservative opposition candidate Miguel Uribe is emblematic of the country’s descent into political violence, for which leftwing President Gustavo Petro must bear full responsibility. Colombia’s security crisis risks spiralling out of control, and Parliament will debate a recent wave of deadly terrorist attacks that have further demonstrated the government’s inability to protect ordinary citizens and address a climate of fear. The ECR Group stands firmly alongside all Colombians who reject violence and demand a future free from corruption and criminal collusion.

Debate: Tuesday @ 19:00

Vote on Motion for Resolution: Thursday @ 12:00

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, 9 September, 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. The livestream can be followed by clicking on this link.

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

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