#DiscoverEU pilot project launch: 15,000 free Interrail passes available for 18 year-old Europeans this year
On Thursday 3 May, Manfred Weber, the EPP Group Chairman, will be one of the speakers at the launch of the #DiscoverEU pilot project organised by the European Commission. The pilot project, which the EPP Group has been pushing for a year and a half, will enable 15,000 18 year-old Europeans to receive a free Interrail pass to travel throughout Europe, discover the beauty of our continent and make friends all around Europe. Manfred Weber has been fighting for the idea of an 18th birthday free Interrail pass for all Europeans since September 2016. With the support of a large majority of the European Parliament, the EPP Group successfully managed to push for a pilot project to be implemented by the European Union already in 2018. But this is only the first step. The next goal is to make the 18th birthday free Interrail pass a reality for all European citizens. You can follow Manfred Weber's speech at the #DiscoverEU conference on the EPP Group's Facebook page. On Thursday evening, Manfred Weber will participate in a live Facebook session on the launch of the #DiscoverEU project. More information available on our campaign website.
Commission presents the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027
The European Commission will present the European Parliament with its proposal for the EU's next long-term budget. “The European Parliament is united and our position is clear. We expect that the Commission’s proposal doesn’t merely reflect the usual divisions within the Council”, stated the EPP Group Spokesman in the Budgets Committee José Manuel Fernandes MEP.
Future of Europe debate with Belgian Prime Minister
On Thursday morning, Members will debate the Future of Europe with the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel during the plenary session in Brussels. Chairman Manfred Weber will take the floor on behalf of the EPP Group.
Stalking crimes and protecting victims in the EU
In the EU, 9 million women and girls above the age of 15 have been stalked or harassed. Yet, Member States have not agreed on a common definition of stalking. Moreover, some of them do not even criminalise the behaviour that changes the lives of stalking victims forever. Lara Comi, herself a victim of stalking, will raise this serious topic on behalf of the EPP Group during a plenary debate with the Council and the Commission at the plenary in Brussels on Wednesday.
Conference: Ukraine in times of independence
The EPP Group’s Working Group on Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue is organising a high-level conference entitled ‘Ukraine in times of independence: the Orthodox Kyiv Patriarchate and the challenges of a changing society’ on Wednesday 2 May from 16.30 to 18.00 hrs in Room JAN 6Q1 in the European Parliament in Brussels. The keynote speeches will be given by H.H. Patriarch Philaret, and among the speakers are Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Andrey Kovatchev MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, and Dariusz Rosati MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate - Autocephalous is an administratively independent Orthodox Church which operates on the territory of Ukraine and in the countries of the Ukrainian settlement of migrants. These include more than 40 parishes in Western Europe as well as parishes in America and Australia. Because of Moscow's position, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate is still not officially recognised by other Orthodox Churches as autocephalous.
Open Days in the European Parliament
To celebrate Europe Day, the EU Institutions will open their doors to the public on 5 May in Brussels and 10 June in Strasbourg. The EPP Group welcomes you to the European Parliament. Come and see us and let’s talk about Europe! Follow us at #wearefamily #believeinpeople #EUOpenday.
Chairman's Agenda
Wednesday
- speech in the plenary debate on the Commission decision on the MFF post-2020 package, Brussels
- traditional Bavarian event in the Bavarian Representation, Brussels
Thursday
- meeting with the Bavarian government, Brussels
- speech in the plenary debate on the future of Europe with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Brussels
- Keynote speech at Interrail kickoff event organised by Commissioner Navracsics, Centre Borschette, Brussels
- meeting with ARD broadcasting Chairman Ulrich Wilhelm, Brussels
- meeting with representatives of the "Europaregion Donau-Moldau", Brussels
- Facebook live on Interrail
Friday
- meeting with the Governor of Lower Bavaria, Rainer Haselbeck, Landshut (Bavaria)
- meeting with Jürgen Böhm, Deputy Chairman of the German Civil Servants’ Association, Arnstorf, Bavaria
- school visit, Arnstorf, Bavaria
Sunday
- Europe Summit, Fürstenstein Castle, Bavaria
