The forcible deportation of Ukrainian children

On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss a motion for a resolution on Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia or living in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, over 20,000 Ukrainian children have reportedly been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia. Many have been forced to acquire Russian citizenship, while others have been illegally adopted by Russian families. Furthermore, 1.6 million Ukrainian children live in temporarily occupied territories, where they are forced to study exclusively in Russian and are exposed to sustained military indoctrination and Russian state propaganda. The treatment of these children represents a concerted effort by the Russian state to erase Ukrainian identity and undermine the future of Ukraine’s next generations. In its resolution, the ECR Group calls on Russia to immediately cease all unlawful deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children, disclose the whereabouts and identities of all affected children, ensure their safe return to Ukraine, and suspend all adoption and guardianship procedures involving Ukrainian children.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15:00

Vote: Thursday @ 11:00

Cutting off the financial sources sustaining Russia’s war against Ukraine

On Thursday morning, the European Parliament will hold a debate with statements from the Council and Commission on further EU sanctions against Russia in response to its escalating attacks against Ukraine, with a focus on cutting the sources financing the Russian war. The ECR Group maintains that Russia must face clear and sustained consequences for its continued aggression against Ukraine. European sanctions must be effective, properly enforced and focused on restricting the Kremlin’s ability to finance its war machine. This includes tackling sanctions evasion, closing loopholes and addressing the networks and revenues that allow Russia to continue funding its military operations. The ECR Group stresses that pressure on the Russian regime must remain firm and that the EU must continue supporting Ukraine.

Debate: Thursday @ 9:00

Strengthening Europe’s preparedness and response to major crises

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the proposed Regulation establishing a new Union mechanism on civil protection and support for health emergency preparedness and response (UCPM+), as part of the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The proposal broadens the current Union Civil Protection Mechanism to address high-impact, cross-sectoral crises and emerging threats through a more integrated preparedness and response framework. The report seeks to strengthen the mechanism as a practical, all-hazards instrument, helping Member States prepare for and respond to natural disasters, health emergencies and other major crises, particularly when national capacities are under pressure. ECR co-rapporteur Aurelijus Veryga has focused on ensuring faster and more effective responses, alongside practical support for Member States. For the ECR Group, European cooperation must deliver tangible results on the ground, helping Member States protect their citizens and critical infrastructure while fully respecting national responsibilities. A vote will take place on Thursday. In his capacity as co-rapporteur on the file, ECR MEP Aurelijus Veryga will take part in a press conference on Parliament’s position on the UCPM on Thursday at 10:00. Watch the press conference here.

Debate: Wednesday @ 17:00

Vote: Thursday @ 11:00

Europe should promote its farmers, not discriminate between their products

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on an own-initiative report setting out Parliament’s priorities for improving EU agri-food promotion policy and helping European farmers and food producers promote their products in the EU and abroad. Each year, the Commission adopts an EU agri-food promotion work programme, setting priorities, target markets and available funding. Producer organisations, trade associations, cooperatives and other eligible organisations can then apply for EU co-financing for promotion campaigns. However, complex applications, representativeness requirements and the need for co-financing can make participation harder for smaller producers and organisations from some Member States. For the ECR Group, EU agri-food promotion policy should make funding more accessible to small producers, SMEs and cooperatives, while ensuring that farmers and producers from across Europe have a fair opportunity to benefit. The ECR Group also rejects attempts to favour certain food sectors over others, including efforts to exclude meat from promotional support. EU agri-food promotion policy should strengthen competitiveness, support exports and showcase the quality and diversity of European agricultural products.

Vote: Thursday @ 11:00

EU supports fair participation for female MEPs

On Thursday, Parliament will vote to amen the Statute for Members of the European Parliament to introduce the possibility of voting by proxy during pregnancy and maternity, ensuring that female MEPs can continue to exercise their parliamentary voting rights during the period surrounding childbirth. Under the proposed arrangements, a female MEP would be entitled to delegate her voting rights to another Member for up to three months before the expected date of childbirth and six months after childbirth. The delegation would be voluntary, could be revoked and would be limited to one designated proxy Member. The ECR Group supports the introduction of clearly defined proxy voting mechanism for female MEPs during pregnancy and maternity, recognising the importance of enabling elected representatives to fulfil their parliamentary responsibilities without compromising their health or family obligations. The proposal provides a practical solution to an exceptional situation while preserving the continuity of representation.

Vote: Thursday @ 11:00

Strengthening cyber resilience and protecting Europe’s critical infrastructure

On Wednesday, Parliament will hold a debate with statements from the Council and Commission on cyber resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure and essential supply chains. Recent disruptions to digital systems have shown how quickly failures can reach citizens, essential supplies and the wider economy. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the ECR Group stresses that protecting critical infrastructure — energy networks, transport systems, communications and essential services — is part of Europe’s economic and national security, and must be pursued through evidence-based, proportionate measures. For the ECR, this means stronger prevention and preparedness and ensuring that Member States and operators have the tools and resources to respond quickly when an attack occurs. It also means keeping responsibility for protecting national infrastructure with the Member States, who remain best placed to assess the threats they face. EU cooperation and information-sharing should support them in addressing cross-border threats rather than replace national responsibility. Where EU measures affect suppliers or operators, they must rest on specific, substantiated evidence and include due process safeguards; a supplier’s country of origin or ownership should not in itself be a ground for restrictive measures, and prohibition should remain a last resort.

Debate: Wednesday @ 19:00

The Commission’s 2027 Work Programme: Competitiveness must take precedence over further regulation.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will debate the Commission’s work programme 2027 which was presented on 4 November. The ECR Group welcomes the greater emphasis on simplification and the withdrawal of several onerous proposals, including the Green Claims Directive and the BEFIT corporate taxation framework. For the Group, abandoning these initiatives recognises that economic competitiveness and national competences must be respected. However, genuine simplification must mean reducing existing burdens. The ECR focused on complex design and detailed parameters in the ongoing review of the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), calling for measures to address excessive carbon prices, lower electricity costs, and protect European industry while respecting Member States’ different energy mixes. The Group also insists on technological neutrality, and a realistic approach that will preserve R&D and high-quality jobs in Europe particularly in the automotive sector while negotiating the Automotive package. On agriculture, the ECR welcomes the focus on tackling unfair trading practices in the food supply chain and strengthening rural communities. The proposed “right to stay” strategy is particularly relevant to regions facing depopulation and land abandonment. For the Group, people should have a genuine opportunity to live, work and build their future in their home regions. This requires viable farming businesses, fair economic opportunities and thriving rural communities, rather than further regulatory burdens. The ECR remains concerned about the Commission’s planned initiatives concerning questions of gender identity and family policy. The Group stresses that sensitive questions concerning children and families must primarily remain within the competence of Member States, that parents must retain a central role in decisions affecting their children and that young people should be protected from one-sided and age-inappropriate messaging on gender identity and medical transition. For the ECR, the work programme must ultimately be judged on its ability to reduce costs, strengthen European businesses and respect the responsibilities of Member States.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15:30

MEPs to host parliamentarians from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific

From Monday to Friday next week, the second plenary session of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States–European Union (OACPS–EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly will take place under the Samoa Agreement, bringing together parliamentarians to discuss global challenges. Discussions will focus on global security, geopolitical challenges, ocean governance, development financing, critical raw materials, and Global Gateway investments. The ECR Group is ambitious about turning political dialogue into concrete cooperation that strengthens economic resilience, security and prosperity for our citizens. From the ECR perspective, these partnerships must be based on mutual respect, shared strategic interests and tangible economic benefits. Our priorities should include strengthening security cooperation, diversifying supply chains, promoting trade and private investment, and ensuring that development funding delivers tangible results rather than creating additional bureaucracy. We should also build on synergies between EU instruments, such as Global Gateway, and national initiatives, such as Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. Investments in transport corridors, energy, digital connectivity and industrial infrastructure can drive economic growth across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, while strengthening Europe’s supply chains, expanding market access and fostering mutually beneficial economic partnerships. The first Pacific–EU Parliamentary Assembly, chaired by ECR MEP Gheorghe Piperea and held ahead of the joint plenary, will focus on climate resilience, practical infrastructure investment and growing geopolitical competition in the Pacific.

When: Monday–Friday

Where: European Parliament, Brussels

Tackling child poverty in developing countries

On Tuesday, ECR rapporteur Małgorzata Gosiewska will present her draft own-initiative report on the role of EU development cooperation in tackling child poverty in developing countries to the Committee on Development (DEVE). The text aims to ensure that EU development aid actually reaches the most disadvantaged children, particularly in remote and deprived communities. Ms Gosiewska’s text calls for easier access to funding for smaller, credible local organisations that provide essential services such as education, healthcare and social support. Rather than simply increasing development budgets, the Conservative MEP advocates a more effective use of existing resources and the exchange of best practices, including measures to improve access to healthcare. The report also emphasises the importance of supporting parents and families as the primary environment for children’s development and well-being. For the ECR Group, protecting children from poverty should be a priority shared across political divides, with development cooperation focused on practical improvements to their lives.

When: Tuesday @ 10.45

Where: SPAAK 4B1

The Protection and Resilience of Democratic Institutions in Poland

On Thursday, the Polish delegation of the ECR Group will host a conference examining the constitutional and legal implications of recent events surrounding Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal. On 30 October, the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk used police forces to facilitate the unlawful takeover of the Constitutional Tribunal by individuals whose legal status as judges is disputed, while preventing lawfully elected judges from exercising their constitutional duties. The ECR Group considers these actions a serious attack on judicial independence and the rule of law. The conference will provide an opportunity to examine the developments, discuss their constitutional implications and address the wider challenges facing the independence of democratic institutions in Poland.

When: Thursday @ 13:15

Where: SCHOLL 08U107