ECR leads push for faster and more operational asylum procedures; ECR backs final approval of ‘safe third country’ rules; ECR pushes to turn competitiveness debate into concrete action; ECR calls for stronger European defence within NATO framework; Increasing preparedness for extreme weather events; Strengthening cooperation to tackle unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain; The urgent need to address inhumane detention conditions in Iran; MEPs to vote on EU–Mercosur agricultural safeguards; EU Anti-poverty strategy; Revision of EU climate law continues to ignore reality; European Central Bank – annual report 2025; ECR warns of Schengen-wide impact of Spain’s mass regularisation plans; Türkiye: Targeted expulsions and foreign Christians in Türkiye under national security pretexts; Marathon vote in HOUS Committee on affordable housing; Event: Remembering Norma Cossetto and the tragedy of the Foibe; Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini Patryk Jaki

ECR leads push for faster and more operational asylum procedures

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on a file combining the creation of an EU list of safe countries of origin with the earlier application of key procedural tools under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The file in Parliament was led by ECR rapporteur Alessandro Ciriani. The proposal brings together two distinct but complementary instruments aimed at making existing asylum rules work more effectively in practice. First, it allows Member States to apply accelerated or border procedures earlier for applicants from third countries with an EU-wide recognition rate of 20% or lower. These fast-track procedures are already part of the Pact but would otherwise only apply at a later stage; bringing them forward ensures that key tools become operational immediately after the regulation’s entry into force. The choice between accelerated and border procedures depends on the situation of the applicant. Where a person is already on EU territory, accelerated procedures may be applied; where an application is lodged at the external border, including land borders or airports, a border procedure can be used. Second, the proposal establishes an EU list of safe countries of origin. Where applications come from countries that are generally considered safe, Member States may rely on a presumption of safety, while fully maintaining individual assessments in each case. The EU list includes candidate countries for EU membership as well as Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, Tunisia and Kosovo. Crucially, the final agreement reflects a key ECR priority: ensuring flexibility. At the insistence of the ECR Group, Member States will be able to request the European Commission to update and expand the list on the basis of objective criteria, allowing the system to respond to changing migration realities over time. Together, these instruments serve different purposes but reinforce each other: earlier use of accelerated and border procedures linked to recognition rates, and a flexible safe country concept based on a rebuttable presumption. Combined, they provide Member States with practical and fast tools, help reduce abuses of the asylum system while safeguarding fairness and legal certainty.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

ECR backs final approval of ‘safe third country’ rules

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote in plenary on new EU rules governing the application of the “safe third country” concept in asylum procedures. The vote gives final approval to a trilogue agreement amending the Asylum Procedure Regulation, following negotiations between Parliament and the Council. The proposal addresses long-standing inconsistencies in how Member States apply the safe third country concept and aims to provide greater legal clarity and operational flexibility. It is based on the principle that people in need of protection must receive it, but not necessarily in the EU, where effective protection can be provided in a safe third country. Under the agreed rules, Member States will have more flexibility when applying the concept, in particular regarding whether a specific connection between an applicant and a third country is required. The text also reforms appeal procedures by removing the automatic suspensive effect of appeals, while fully preserving the right of applicants to request suspension before a court. For the ECR Group, the agreement represents a targeted and pragmatic improvement of existing EU asylum law. As ECR shadow rapporteur Assita Kanko has underlined, the deal provides long-awaited legal clarity and makes procedures more efficient, while remaining in line with international protection obligations and safeguarding individual assessments in every case. Specific safeguards for unaccompanied minors are maintained. The vote also complements closely related reforms on safe countries of origin, helping to make EU asylum procedures more predictable and workable in practice. The ECR Group expects the plenary vote to give final political clearance to this long-discussed reform and to strengthen Member States’ ability to manage asylum procedures in a fair and credible manner.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

ECR pushes to turn competitiveness debate into concrete action

On Wednesday morning, the European Parliament will hold a key debate on urgent actions to revive EU competitiveness, deepen the Single Market and reduce the cost of living. The debate takes place at a decisive moment, as competitiveness is also set to dominate discussions at the informal EU leaders’ retreat in February and the European Council meeting in March. For the ECR Group, the diagnosis is clear: Europe is losing ground globally, and continuing on the current path is not an option. Restoring competitiveness requires a clear change in mindset away from ideology and towards realism, delivery and growth. Europe must reduce its strategic dependencies, strengthen its industrial base and make better use of its own greatest asset: the Single Market. The ECR Group stresses that supply chain diversification must go hand in hand with greater sovereignty over critical raw materials, innovation and strategic partnerships with like-minded countries. Technological neutrality is essential: Europe should stop picking winners and instead allow all viable technologies to contribute to security of supply, industrial resilience and decarbonisation on their merits. A central focus of the ECR position is the need to remove barriers inside the Single Market itself. Excessive regulation, lengthy permitting procedures and overlapping rules continue to weigh heavily on European businesses, particularly SMEs. The ECR Group argues that reducing regulatory burden, accelerating administrative procedures and enforcing Single Market rules more effectively are among the fastest and most impactful ways to boost growth and competitiveness. At the same time, the ECR Group underlines that sustainability goals must not translate into a permanent competitive disadvantage for European industry compared to global competitors. A serious competitiveness agenda must be reflected in EU policies, investment priorities and the next multiannual budget, with a stronger focus on innovation, breakthrough technologies and private investment. The ECR Group expects the debate to mark a shift from analysis to action, and to feed directly into upcoming leaders’ discussions on a clear agenda and concrete commitments to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, growth potential and economic resilience.

Key Debate: Wednesday @ 09:00

ECR calls for stronger European defence within NATO framework

On Tuesday morning, the European Parliament will hold a plenary debate on building a stronger European defence in light of an increasingly volatile international environment. The discussion takes place against the backdrop of growing security challenges in Europe’s neighbourhood and beyond, as well as renewed expectations for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security. For the ECR Group, strengthening European defence must go hand in hand with reinforcing NATO. European defence initiatives should remain fully complementary to NATO, strengthen its capacity for collective deterrence and defence, focus on fulfilling existing commitments, and avoid duplication of structures, capabilities and command arrangements. The ECR Group stresses that credibility in defence is built on concrete capabilities rather than declarations. This includes increased and more efficient defence spending, improved military mobility across Europe, and stronger resilience of critical infrastructure, all of which are essential for deterrence and rapid response in a crisis. From an industrial perspective, the ECR stresses the importance of a competitive and innovative European defence ecosystem, reflecting the diversity of the industry in the Union and the specificities of Member States’ industrial base, while remaining open to transatlantic cooperation and broader partnerships with like-minded countries beyond Europe. Alongside major defence companies, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises should play a stronger role, particularly in areas such as cyber, space and dual-use technologies that link defence, industry and economic growth. At the same time, the ECR Group cautions against excessive centralisation at EU level. A stronger European defence requires coordination and interoperability but must remain grounded in Member States’ responsibilities and operational realities. A realistic, 360-degree approach is needed, integrating defence, industry, infrastructure and transatlantic cooperation into a coherent and sustainable strategic framework.

Debate: Tuesday @ 10:00

Increasing preparedness for extreme weather events

On Tuesday morning, the European Parliament will debate the need to strengthen EU readiness, preparedness, and solidarity mechanisms following recent extreme weather events in southern Europe. The ECR Group expresses solidarity with citizens and communities affected by storms in Portugal, Greece, southern Italy, and Malta, as well as by the severe recent events in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria. The ECR Group has called for this debate, reflecting the scale and urgency of the impacts across these regions. The ECR Group stresses the need for rapid, efficient support for affected areas, including the prompt activation of EU financial instruments such as the EU Solidarity Fund once Member States submit their requests. This demonstrates the EU’s added value not only in coordination, but also in delivering concrete financial assistance when disasters strike. At the same time, the ECR Group reiterates the importance of complementary roles: disaster prevention and immediate response remain primarily the responsibility of national authorities, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, while the EU should provide support, expertise, coordination, and targeted funding where it can add value. EU funding must be efficient, accountable, and focused on supporting local authorities and communities, strengthening preparedness, and reducing vulnerability to future extreme weather events. Long-term strategic planning — particularly in infrastructure resilience, risk prevention, and knowledge sharing — is essential to better protect lives, property, and economic activity across the European Union.

Debate: Tuesday @ 9:00

Strengthening cooperation to tackle unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain

On Thursday, MEPs will debate and vote on a regulation aimed at strengthening action against unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agri-food supply chain. Such practices include late payments, unilateral contract changes, and last-minute cancellations. These practices are already addressed under Directive (EU) 2019/633. However, its enforcement is largely national, and the absence of a structured framework for cooperation between enforcement authorities in different Member States has limited its effectiveness in tackling cross-border infringements. The new regulation addresses this gap by introducing a framework for cooperation between national enforcement authorities, enabling effective cross-border enforcement while fully safeguarding national competences in the areas of sanctions, enforcement, and substantive national contract law. The ECR Group welcomes the voluntary nature of this cooperation framework, which avoids any risk of regulatory spill-over. The regulation strengthens protection for farmers and suppliers by improving tools for cross-border information-sharing and investigations — at the same time securing rights of the Members States to refuse cooperation in duly justified cases. This balanced and flexible approach enhances EU-level cooperation and protection for farmers, while fully respecting national sensitivities.

Debate: Thursday @ 10:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

The urgent need to address inhumane detention conditions in Iran

On Wednesday evening, ECR MEPs will take part in a debate on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, focusing in particular on the systemic oppression, inhumane detention conditions and arbitrary arrests carried out by the Iranian regime. Since late December 2025, Iran has been shaken by widespread protests driven by economic hardship, high inflation, unemployment and broader social grievances. According to independent monitoring organisations, tens of thousands of people — including protesters, bystanders and children — have been killed, while many others have been detained, tortured or persecuted. Following the European Parliament’s resolution of 22 January 2026 condemning the brutal repression of protesters, this urgency debate will focus specifically on the regime’s use of arbitrary detention and inhumane prison conditions. Particular attention will be given to the continued detention of dual and foreign nationals as part of Iran’s hostage diplomacy. Former political prisoners report systematic abuses, including beatings, sexual violence, sleep deprivation, denial of medical care, overcrowding and prolonged solitary confinement. Confessions are frequently extracted under torture, threats or psychological pressure, in clear violation of legal safeguards. The ECR Group stands firmly with the Iranian people in their demand for freedom, justice and fundamental rights. The Group also welcomes the long-overdue decision taken by EU Foreign Ministers on 29 January to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and to impose additional sanctions on the Iranian regime.

Debate: Wednesday @ 20:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

MEPs to vote on EU–Mercosur agricultural safeguards

On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the implementation of the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement and the EU–Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products. The regulation agreed by the European Parliament and the Council on 9 January sets out how the EU can apply safeguard measures if agricultural imports from Mercosur negatively affect EU producers. It establishes procedures allowing the Commission to temporarily suspend tariff preferences where there is evidence of market disruption, including significant increases in imports or downward pressure on prices. The regulation also defines investigation timelines and assessment criteria, such as impacts on production, employment and incomes in affected sectors. The ECR Group continues to underline that European farmers are facing multiple challenges, including rising production costs, regulatory pressures and increased international competition. Ensuring fair conditions, market stability and long-term viability for the agricultural sector remains a priority.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

EU Anti-poverty strategy

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will debate an own-initiative report on developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy, ahead of the European Commission’s first-ever proposal, expected in the second quarter of 2026. The ECR Group has tabled an alternative resolution setting out a pragmatic and growth-oriented approach to tackling poverty. Drafted by ECR shadow rapporteur Georgiana Teodorescu, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, the text focuses on realistic solutions aimed at empowering the most vulnerable. It prioritises job creation, skills development and digital literacy, with a particular emphasis on revitalising rural areas and improving access to economic opportunities. The ECR alternative motion was submitted following inconclusive negotiations with other political groups on the left-led draft report, which would impose additional bureaucracy and public spending obligations on Member States without addressing the root causes of poverty. The ECR Group calls on the European Commission to recognise poverty as a significant barrier to economic opportunity and the effective enjoyment of rights, and to place empowerment of individuals and communities at the centre of any future strategy. The ECR Group stresses that a credible EU anti-poverty strategy must deliver tangible results and help lift people out of poverty, rather than impose unrealistic objectives and new constraints that risk producing counterproductive effects and deepening scarcity.

Debate: Wednesday, @ 15:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Revision of EU climate law continues to ignore reality

On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on the revision of the EU Climate Law, which sets out the framework for achieving climate neutrality. The revised regulation enshrines a legally binding EU-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, as confirmed in the final trilogue agreement reached in December 2025. While presented as a milestone on Europe’s path to climate neutrality, the agreement raises serious concerns about economic realism, industrial competitiveness, and social fairness. The introduction of a new binding target risks accelerating de-industrialisation, increasing energy costs, and weakening Europe’s strategic autonomy and defence capacity at a time of heightened geopolitical pressure. Existing 2030 targets are already proving costly and difficult to implement for industry and Member States, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. The agreement allows Member States, from 2036, to compensate up to 5 per cent of EU emissions through international carbon credits, with a possible extension of this flexibility after 2030. However, the lack of a clear regulatory framework for these credits raises concerns about effectiveness, transparency, and the risk of diverting significant financial resources outside the EU instead of investing in Europe’s own energy transition. The ECR Group opposes the final agreement, consistent with its long-standing position against new binding emissions-reduction targets that are detached from economic and technological realities. The Group warns that the 2040 target places additional burdens on citizens and businesses, fuels higher carbon prices, and threatens Europe’s competitiveness without guaranteeing corresponding technological progress. The ECR Group continues to advocate for a realistic and pragmatic climate policy that protects the environment while safeguarding industry, energy affordability, and people’s livelihoods.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

European Central Bank – annual report 2025

On Monday evening, MEPs will discuss the European Central Bank’s 2025 annual report in the presence of ECB President Christine Lagarde. The own-initiative report, drafted by ECR rapporteur Johan Van Overtveldt, examines the ECB’s monetary policy framework, governance arrangements and accountability mechanisms. The report recalls price stability as the ECB’s primary objective and notes the importance of central bank independence, alongside appropriate accountability to the European Parliament. It also takes stock of recent inflation developments and reviews the use of unconventional monetary policy instruments, including considerations related to their proportionality and broader market effects. Overall, the report offers an assessment of the ECB’s role as set out in the EU Treaties, outlining key observations on transparency, policy implementation and institutional responsibilities.

Debate: Monday @ 19:00

Vote: Tuesday @ 12:30

ECR warns of Schengen-wide impact of Spain’s mass regularisation plans

On Tuesday afternoon, the European Parliament will hold a debate on Spain’s planned large-scale regularisation of irregular migrants and its impact on the Schengen Area and EU migration policy. The debate was supported by the ECR Group in the Conference of Presidents, reflecting the clear European dimension of the issue. According to public announcements, the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez intends to proceed with a mass regularisation affecting up to half a million people. For the ECR Group, a measure of this scale cannot be treated as a purely domestic matter in a Schengen area without internal borders. The ECR Group warns that repeated large-scale regularisations risk weakening deterrence, creating strong pull factors and undermining trust between Member States on effective border management and returns. Such decisions inevitably have spill-over effects on secondary movements, the credibility of EU return policy and the Union’s leverage in cooperation with third countries. In a letter, the ECR Group has formally called on the European Commission to assess the Schengen-wide consequences of Spain’s plans and to clarify how such a measure aligns with EU law and common migration objectives. The Group stresses that safeguarding the credibility of Schengen requires coherent, predictable and enforceable policies — not unilateral decisions with Europe-wide consequences.

Debate: Tuesday @ 17:00

Türkiye: Targeted expulsions and foreign Christians in Türkiye under national security pretexts

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the recent cases of expulsions of foreign journalists covering various demonstrations in Türkiye as well as the use of national security as a pretext for deportation of Christian leaders. Since 2020, Türkiye has expelled over 200 foreign Christian workers and their families—about 350 people in total—many of whom had lived in the country for decades. In the last two years these cases have become ever more commons with new additional penal codes issued against foreign Christians. These measures have left numerous protestant congregations without their pastoral leadership and have encroached the religious freedom of Christians in Türkiye. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament has established itself as a prominent advocate for religious freedom, frequently highlighting the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities worldwide. The group is heavily involved in the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience and ECR MEPs have consistently insisted that the European Commission needs to act against the rise in religious persecution, including by appointing an EU Special Envoy for freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience. A vote will take place on Thursday.

Debate: Wednesday @ 21:00

Vote: Thursday @ 12:00

Marathon vote in HOUS Committee on affordable housing

On Monday evening, the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union (HOUS) will hold an extraordinary meeting for a marathon vote on an own-initiative report proposing solutions to ensure decent, sustainable and affordable housing. Around 1,500 amendments have been tabled by MEPs, resulting in a voting session expected to last approximately two hours. The ECR Group stresses that Europe’s housing crisis cannot be addressed without tackling the cumulative regulatory burden that continues to drive up construction, ownership and rental costs. The Group calls for a comprehensive housing omnibus, reviewing and streamlining existing EU legislation that directly or indirectly increases costs for homeowners, landlords and tenants. According to the ECR Group, excessive regulatory zeal that disregards the economic reality faced by average European households is a key contributor to the crisis. Environmental and social objectives must be pursued in a balanced and realistic manner, without policies that risk pricing citizens out of their homes.

When: Monday @ 19:00

Where: WEISS N1.3

Event: Remembering Norma Cossetto and the tragedy of the Foibe

On Wednesday, ECR MEPs Stefano Cavedagna and Alessandro Ciriani will host a conference and film screening entitled “Norma Cossetto – The Foibe and the Exodus of Istrians, Giuliani, Fiumani and Dalmati”. The event aims to promote a serious and respectful reflection on one of the most painful and often overlooked chapters of European history. This conference aims to contribute to a serious and respectful reflection on one of the most painful and often overlooked chapters of European history. Despite the approval of Law 92/2004, which established February 10 as the Giorno del Ricordo (Day of Remembrance) in Italy, the awareness of the the tragedy of the Foibe and the exodus of Istrians, Giuliani, Fiumani and Dalmati remains fragmented and difficult to disseminate at European level. Supported by the ECR Group and organised in cooperation with cultural and historical associations actively engaged in preserving this memory, the event offers an important opportunity to strengthen a shared European remembrance, rooted in historical truth, dignity for the victims, and the defence of democratic values. Link to the event website here.

When: Wednesday @ 14:30

Where: WEISS N1.3

Press briefing with ECR Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini Patryk Jaki

The ECR Group will hold a press briefing with Co-Chairs Nicola Procaccini (IT) and Patryk Jaki (PL) on Tuesday, 10 February, 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.

When: Tuesday @ 10:20

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

Journalists can join via interactio: https://ep.interactio.eu/link/pressconfp1254698545582