The Week ahead

On Thursday and Friday, EU leaders will gather in Brussels to debate Ukraine, the revision of the EU's long-term budget for 2021-2027, economy, migration, and foreign policy issues. "In times of uncertainty and a terrorist threat, European leaders must give a clear message to the European people: Europe stands united. We will not let our enemies divide us. We stand with brutally attacked Israel, which has the right to defend itself in line with international law," pointed out the EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP ahead of the Summit. "Europe’s support of Israel is clear, the same as we expect leaders to reconfirm our continued commitment to Ukraine. Ukraine fights for our values, for our freedom, for the European way of life."

The EPP Group will not support laws that hinder farmers' ability to produce food or reduce overall food production. On Tuesday, the Parliament's Environment Committee will vote on whether to reduce the use of pesticides in Europe by 50% by 2030. 'We all want fewer plant protection products on our plates. However, reducing pesticides without suitable low-risk alternatives must not make food more expensive, reduce food production in Europe, or lead to farmers quitting their businesses. We must not increase the bureaucratic burden on farmers but ensure food security. The EPP Group supports the responsible use of pesticides, instead of an outright ban,' said Alexander Bernhuber, MEP, the EPP Group's negotiator of the law. On Monday at 14:00, the EPP Group will hold a press conference on the topic. More details will follow here.

The EPP Group emphasises the pivotal role of the European Care Strategy in advancing gender equality across Europe. Next week, the European Parliament will hold its fourth European Gender Equality Week. "Ensuring an equal balance of care responsibilities will have to be the new wave of gender equality and women's empowerment," points out the EPP Group Vice-Chairwoman, Frances Fitzgerald MEP.

The EPP Group will assess the use of EU cohesion funding across seven EU countries struck by various disasters. From October 2023 to April 2024, MEPs will meet leading political figures in Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Poland and Bulgaria. "EU investments in transport infrastructure, energy, SMEs, skills, innovation, agriculture, reforms and more are what builds the EU in times of peace and rebuilds the EU in times of crises", said Andrey Novakov MEP, Chair of the EPP Cohesion Monitoring Group. The EPP Group will first be hosted in Croatia and Slovenia on 26-27 October by Sunčana Glavak MEP and Franc Bogovič MEP as they examine EU support in the wake of recent natural disasters.

The EPP Group welcomes the Trade Agreement with New Zealand that will be voted on in the International Trade Committee on Tuesday. “This groundbreaking agreement creates new opportunities for businesses on both sides, sets standards for all future trade agreements, and contributes to rule-based global trade”, said Daniel Caspary MEP, Chief Negotiator for the European Parliament on the New Zealand Agreement. “In this ever faster-changing world, we need closer trade relations with partners worldwide. The New Zealand Agreement is an important step in the right direction”, said Jörgen Warborn, the EPP Group Spokesman on International Trade.

The EPP Group wants cleaner trucks and lorries but urges taking full advantage of new European technology. On Tuesday, the European Parliament's Environment Committee will vote on rules that will ultimately ban traditional combustion engines in trucks and lorries. "To successfully shape the transport transition, we need all technologies at our disposal and a fair competition between the best innovations. The Greens, Social Democrats and Liberals in the Environment Committee do not want such fair competition. If they succeed, we will not be able to use CO2-neutral fuels such as synthetic fuels in lorries. That is a missed opportunity. There must be no political limitation of technological openness. Therefore, the EPP will stand up for realistic targets, such as the plan to reduce emissions of -90% for heavy-duty vehicles by 2040, and an opening for CO2 neutral fuels," explains Jens Gieseke MEP, the EPP Group lead negotiator of the new rules.