The Week ahead

On Wednesday, the European Commission President-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, will present her team and programme to the European Parliament. After that, MEPs will vote on the College of Commissioners. The EPP Group will vote in favour of the new College. "The hearings process was tough, but fair, giving the next College the credibility and legitimacy it needs to deliver for the citizens of Europe", says Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group. "For the next five years, the EPP Group’s priority, and that of a strong team of EPP Commissioners, will be to make sure that Europe is able to deliver in the interests of European citizens. We need to strengthen our economies and our external borders, and better protect citizens in an increasingly unstable world. We will continue to fight for a more democratic Europe and a Europe that is closer to its citizens."

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on its position on fighting climate change for the United Nations Climate Conference, which takes place in Madrid in December. The EPP Group believes we all must and can take care of our environment, whilst protecting European competitiveness, jobs and growth at the same time. The EPP Group agrees to an increase of the emission targets if certain conditions are met. We can be more ambitious if an impact assessment shows positive results, and if joint international efforts are made.

Oleg Sentsov was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on 12 December 2018 in recognition of his peaceful protest against the illegal occupation of his native Crimea and also for his courage, determination and his convictions in support of human dignity, democracy, the rule of law and human rights. For the Members of the EPP Group, who nominated him, Mr Sentsov's call for freedom and justice was also a call to respect the values that we all share in the European Union. The Group is delighted to welcome and honour Mr Sentsov personally in the European Parliament during the plenary session as well as during the EPP Group meeting on Wednesday evening in Strasbourg.

At the Strasbourg plenary session, the European Parliament will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the provisional deal reached with the Council on next year's EU budget. “We have reinforced the budget lines for the climate by half a billion Euros with this proposal. With more money for our priorities - an overall increase of €850 million for the climate, digitalisation and young people - the budget for 2020 is a success for the EPP Group”, said Monika Hohlmeier MEP, the European Parliament’s negotiator for the 2020 EU Budget.

On Monday, MEPs will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by reiterating that any form of violence against women cannot be tolerated. A plenary debate will also highlight the importance of the Istanbul Convention. "The Istanbul Convention is a convention that aims to abolish violence against women. It is simply a human rights convention that ought to be implemented and ratified by all Member States without any delay", said Arba Kokalari MEP, Rapporteur on the Istanbul Convention.

On 2 October 2019, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) authorised the United States to slap tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods (€6.8 billion) in response to illegal subsidies handed out by France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom to Airbus. On Thursday at the Strasbourg plenary, MEPs will vote on a Resolution concerning the measures to address the impact on European agriculture of this ruling. Among other proposals, the EPP Group urges the European Commission, in accordance with WTO rules, to mobilise rapid support for the worst affected sectors.

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on the draft Resolution on the situation in Bolivia, following the departure of the unseated candidate Evo Morales. The EPP Group condemns the attempt of electoral fraud which constitutes a grave crime and calls for the establishment of a dialogue with the aim of the immediate organisation of new, democratic, inclusive, transparent and fair elections.

The 800 free-toll customer service number, used for example in hospitals for family members of patients to call to request information, currently doesn't work cross-border. This makes it impossible for family members to call a hospital in another Member State to ask information about a patient. The EPP Group considers this situation unacceptable in an integrated and functioning Single Market and wants to know how the European Commission plans to solve this problem.​ The debate will take place on Thursday.

Tuesday @ 11.10: EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber - plenary briefing

Wednesday @ 15.30: Sabine Verheyen MEP, Chair of the Culture and Education Committee, and others on the LUX Film Prize