Ending unfair trading practices in the food chain
EU-wide rules will finally tackle unfair trading practices in the food chain and will protect farmers, SMEs and many others against the more powerful players. For many years, the EPP Group has asked for this Directive and the agreement was finally pushed through at the end of last year. Members of the European Parliament will vote for the final approval on Tuesday.
Mairead McGUINNESS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845214 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175214
Twitter: @MaireadMcGMEP
Pete Pakarinen, Tel: +32 470 830 213
EU-Russia Political Relations
On Tuesday, MEPs will assess the state of EU-Russia political relations in the report authored by Sandra Kalniete, Vice-Chair of the EPP Group, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Working Group. At a time when Russia is further trying to increase tensions in relations with the EU and its Member States, the EPP Group insists that the EU should stand ready to consider adopting further sanctions if Russia's violation of international law continues. It also calls for more ambitious financial assistance to Russian civil society. The EPP Group furthermore supports the principle of selective engagement with Russia. On Tuesday, MEPs will also discuss the new EU sanctions targeted against human rights perpetrators, which are in line with the US Magnistsky Act.
Sandra KALNIETE
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845204 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175204
Twitter: @kalniete
Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845550 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 177550
Twitter: @andrikiene
Agata Byczewska, Tel: +32 473 841 093
Girts Salmgriezis, Tel: +32 477 800 343
New rules for sour loans
The new rules for banks to keep a minimum loss coverage for non-performing loans (NPL) will be debated on Wednesday in plenary. The EPP Group wants to require banks to reduce the number of non-performing loans while keeping a realistic approach. This is an important step forward as for the first time, this legislation creates legally-binding provisioning levels for new NPLs in all banks, next to the bank-by-bank requirements set by the Single Supervisory Mechanism. "The corpses must get out of the closet in order to make our banking sector healthier and our financial system more stable“, said the EPP Group's Esther de Lange MEP, Parliament's Co-rapporteur on the new rules.
Esther de LANGE
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845954 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175954
Twitter: @Esther_de_Lange
Daniel Köster, Tel: +32 487 384 784
EPP Group against Turkey's Accession to the EU
The European Parliament will vote on the European Commission's Annual 2018 Report on Turkey on Wednesday. The EPP Group position is firm - no Accession to the EU for Turkey because of human rights violations; rather, a redefined effective partnership is required. We insist that any renewed political engagement between the EU and Turkey should be built on key conditionality provisions based on respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Renate SOMMER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845383 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175383
Vladislav Panayotov Velev, Tel: +32 484 199 498
Gaining citizens' trust in a secure internet
Cybersecurity in the EU must be improved for security reasons and to increase consumer trust in internet-connected products and IT solutions. The agreement reached with the Council gives a new mandate for the EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) to propose an EU cybersecurity certification scheme which will be available on a voluntary basis for the producers of connected appliances. When it comes to critical infrastructure like energy and communication networks for instance, the European Commission will be obliged to assess, on a regular basis, whether there is a need for mandatory certification. The debate on the EU Cybersecurity Act will take place on Monday, plenary vote on Tuesday.
Angelika NIEBLER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845390 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175390
Twitter: @ANiebler
Lars Ole Løcke, Tel: +32 470 474 838
Protecting the EU from Cyber-attacks and Espionage
Recently, it was revealed that Chinese tech giant Huawei - the world’s biggest seller of network telecommunications equipment and one of the pioneers of 5 G technology – has been accused of being a gateway for China to spy on Western nations. The resolution, initiated by the EPP Group, calls on the EU to take measures to protect our citizens from cyber-attacks and espionage.
Luděk NIEDERMAYER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845574 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175574
Twitter: @ludeknie
Kaja Sorg, Tel: +32 476 541 013
EU Criminal Records System
The EU Criminal Records Information System, which allows police, investigators and judges to exchange data on EU citizens who have committed crimes, has become an irreplaceable tool for criminal investigations in the EU since 2012. With the plenary vote on Tuesday, the scope of ECRIS will be extended to all criminals moving around the EU, including third-country nationals. No matter who has been convicted of a crime - or where - all Member States will be informed. More cooperation and data sharing is the answer to the ongoing terrorist threats EU citizens face.
Pál CSÁKY
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845601 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175601
Twitter: @csakypal
Hana Bambasová, Tel: +32 484 278 754
Matthew Bonett, Tel: +32 476 890 558
More funds to handle migration, border management and internal security
On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on three funds for migration, border management and internal security which should be significantly boosted for the upcoming EU financial period after 2020. The money will help Member States handle asylum procedures and irregular migration as well as control their borders. A significant amount of EU finance should also go towards supporting information exchange between EU law enforcement authorities so that crime and terrorism can be better prevented in the EU.
Monika HOHLMEIER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845191 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175191
Twitter: @MHohlmeier
Carlos COELHO
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845551 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175551
Twitter: @CarlosCoelhoPE
Jeroen LENAERS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845560 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 177560
Twitter: @jeroen_lenaers
Hana Bambasová, Tel: +32 484 278 754
Matthew Bonett, Tel: +32 476 890 558
More Opportunities for Youth Volunteering
The European Solidarity Corps Programme provides opportunities for young people to volunteer or work on projects that benefit communities and people in Europe, and have clear EU added value. For NGOs, churches, schools and other institutions, this European Solidarity Corps Programme has, since 2018, helped young people gain experience, skills and competences for their personal, educational, social, civic and professional development. The main innovation of the proposal for 2020-2027 is the integration of the EU Aid Volunteers Programme. This will allow the European Solidarity Corps to provide humanitarian aid volunteering opportunities outside of the EU. The Plenary will vote on Tuesday.
Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845565 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175565
Twitter: @msojdrova
Girts Salmgriezis, Tel: +32 477 800 343
EMF must be Independent and Integrated into EU Law
The European Parliament will adopt its position on Thursday regarding the planned European Monetary Fund (EMF). The EPP Group wants the Fund to be independent and integrated into Union law. The European Stability Mechanism should be turned into a fully-fledged European Monetary Fund, provide for crisis prevention and conditional support for Member States with difficulties in accessing financial markets - and accompany debt-restructuring processes.
Siegfried MUREŞAN
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845154 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175154
Twitter: @SMuresan
Tom VANDENKENDELAERE
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845918 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175918
Twitter: @tomvdkendelaere
Daniel Köster, Tel: +32 487 384 784
Vote on the Political Priorities of Next Year's EU Budget
On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on the guidelines for next year's EU Budget. "The EPP Group was instrumental in shaping and consolidating Parliament’s guidelines so that the next EU Budget prioritises EU programs that strengthen competitiveness and support SMEs and entrepreneurship, so that EU citizens, particularly young people, can have quality jobs. At the same time, the EPP Group stands for a safer Europe," stated José Manuel Fernandes, EPP Group Coordinator in the Committee on Budgets. The EPP Group Rapporteur Monika Hohlmeier is leading the process of preparing the political priorities for next year's EU spending, to be taken into account by the Commission when it presents its draft EU Budget in June.
Monika HOHLMEIER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845191 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175191
Twitter: @MHohlmeier
José Manuel FERNANDES
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845165 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175165
Twitter: @JMFernandesEU
Francisco Correia Da Silva, Tel: +32 470 830 567
Press Conferences (11-15 March)
Tuesday @ 11.10: EPP Group Plenary briefing
Wednesday @ 15.00: Lefteris Christoforou MEP on the “Discussion on the 2018 Commission Progress Report on Turkey”
Pedro López de Pablo, Tel: +32 475 493 352
