The Week ahead

The planned "Omnibus" legislative package aims to cut excessive bureaucracy to boost growth, jobs, and innovation. The EPP Group is committed to cutting red tape. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on the first part of the Omnibus legislation, the urgent "Stop-the-clock" proposal. This proposal would pause the enforcement of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in their current form, while the Parliament and the Member States work on simplifying them. "Europe needs less bureaucracy and more growth. The EPP Group is ready to deliver, starting by giving companies much-needed clarity and breathing room," says Tomas Tobé MEP, the EPP Group Spokesman for the Omnibus simplification package. The EPP Group is committed to giving businesses certainty as quickly as possible.

In response to US President Trump’s tariff announcement, the EPP Group spokesman on international trade Jörgen Warborn MEP calls for cool heads to prevail. "It is crucial to maintain unity, ensuring that tariffs are proportional and balanced, so that all EU Member States and sectors share the impact fairly. Our response should match the US tariffs, while remaining compatible with WTO rules to uphold global trade standards. The EU must take the lead in ensuring that the WTO continues to function effectively. This situation is also an opportunity to advance and ratify new trade agreements. Our greatest strength is the EU’s internal market of 450 million consumers—our key bargaining chip in maintaining a strong global position. To succeed, we must act together with all Member States," says Warborn.

The EPP Group advocates for a strong European response to rising security challenges. This includes the new European Internal Security Strategy, which will be presented to the European Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. ”We expect an ambitious strategy that moves beyond business as usual. It must address threats both from outside the EU, especially from hostile actors, such as Russia, as well as internal threats, including organised crime and domestic terrorism. We need a 'whole of society' approach, meaning it involves not just law enforcement but also a wide range of actors—such as Big Tech, port operators, community leaders, and civil society—helping to raise awareness and strengthen collective resilience," says  Lena Düpont MEP, the EPP Group Spokeswoman on Home Affairs.

The EPP Group urges swift action to integrate European financial markets - a vital step for funding the green and digital transitions. “We have been treading water for the past decade. Now is the time to act. Private investment must drive this transformation, requiring robust European capital markets,” says Markus Ferber MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesperson in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, ahead of the plenary debate on the Savings and Investment Union taking place in the European Parliament on Monday. "Every year, €300 billion of European savings flow to the US for investment. We should harness the potential and invest it in innovation and growth in Europe," Ferber emphasises.

The EPP Group welcomes the Commission's Steel and Metal Action Plan - recognising it as key to safeguarding the EU's economic security and social stability. "This plan is a promising signal that improving the competitiveness of these industries remains high on the Commission's agenda. The announced measures will help safeguard a level playing field, and thereby European high-quality jobs, in a market characterised by global over-capacities," says Christian Ehler MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman for Industry. "This isn’t just about competitiveness — it’s about people. Thousands of jobs are at stake. I know this personally because I come from Avilés, where the sector has been forced to decrease production due to low demand and unfair competition. A stronger European steel and metal industry is essential to Europe’s future — we need to act now," says Susana Solís Pérez MEP, ahead of the plenary debate on Wednesday.