EPP Group Highlights (25-28 March)

Towards a new era for copyright rules
    
On Tuesday, Plenary will vote on the agreement by the Parliament’s Rapporteur and the Member States. The new rules will allow for fair payment for the work of journalists and creatives published on the Internet so that high-quality media and content is preserved in Europe, and European creators will be better protected in the online world.
Axel VOSS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845302 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175302
Twitter: @AxelVossMdEP
Hana Bambasová, Tel: +32 484 278 754

Protecting the rule of law in the EU
   
On Monday, the Plenary will debate the Resolution on the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the EU, specifically in Malta and Slovakia. The Resolution was drafted by a Working Group which visited both countries. It includes a number of recommendations to be taken by the authorities of both Member States, especially after the murders of investigative journalists Daphne Caruana Galizia and Ján Kuciak respectively.
Roberta METSOLA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845686 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175686
Twitter: @RobertaMetsola
Matthew Bonett, Tel: +32 476 890 558
Atilla Agárdi, Tel: +32 475 750 272


Europe gets collective redress system
    
On Tuesday, the Plenary will vote on new rules which will protect the collective interests of consumers. Through these rules, victims of unfair and illegal commercial practices, such as the false advertising during the Dieselgate scandal or the recent massive cancellation of flights by Ryanair, will be able to act together and see their situations remedied. We also made sure that the new rules prevent abuse by business competitors. Losers of disputes will have to pay legal costs, which will be a safeguard against speculative actions destroying the reputation of firms.
Geoffroy DIDIER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845120 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175120
Twitter: @geoffroydidier
Hana Bambasová, Tel: +32 484 278 754


Banning single-use plastics
    
On Wednesday, the European Parliament will adopt new rules banning items such as plastic forks, knives, spoons, plates, straws and cotton buds from the market, especially when good alternatives exist. The EPP Group is in favour of the agreement reached by the EU Institutions.
Karl-Heinz FLORENZ
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845320 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175320
Marta Osojnik, Tel: +32 473 625 868


CO2 reduction targets for cars and vans
    
The European Parliament will confirm on Wednesday an agreement reached between the EU Institutions limiting CO2 emissions for both cars and vans (15% by 2025 and 37.5% by 2030). The EPP Group is committed to fighting climate change and we want to do it while creating jobs and growth at the same time. We insist on reaching the reductions in a technologically neutral way and finding a way to promote Europe as a standard-maker for the rest of the world.
Jens GIESEKE
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845556 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175556
Marta Osojnik, Tel: +32 473 625 868


Seasonal time chang    

The introduction of the seasonal time change did not lead to the expected benefits such as energy saving. Instead, there are serious warnings from doctors about health hazards. On Tuesday, the plenary will vote on the Transport and Tourism Committee’s proposal to abolish the biannual clock-change in 2021. For the EPP Group, it is clear that a solution that fits all Member States must be found.
Pavel SVOBODA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845303 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175303
Twitter: @1PavelSvoboda
Hanna Vauchelle, Tel: +32 489 391 366


TAX3 demands the abolition of the Golden Visa    

The Plenary will vote on the Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance's (TAX3) final Report on Tuesday. The Report will call for the abolition of the Golden Visa and other national schemes providing tax privileges: "Unfair tax advantages for the wealthy and the Golden Visa for investors are economically risky and erode trust between EU Member States. Sustainable economic policy looks different", say Dariusz Rosati MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in the Committee, and Luděk Niedermayer MEP, Co-rapporteur of the Report.
Dariusz ROSATI
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845482 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175482
Twitter: @DariuszRosati
Luděk NIEDERMAYER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845574 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175574
Twitter: @ludeknie
Daniel Köster, Tel: +32 487 384 784


Trading of goods and digital content made easier
    
MEPs are set to approve new rules that will make it easy and safe to buy and sell both goods and digital content EU-wide. Consumers are better protected with the legislative framework that guarantees a clear set of remedies in cases of faulty goods bought online and offline as well as digital content. The trader's liability will be at least 2 years and consumers will also be protected when they provide personal data in exchange for digital services. Businesses will gain from a level playing field, legal certainty and less paperwork to engage in cross-border sales.​ The vote will take place on Tuesday.
Pascal ARIMONT
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845778 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175778
Twitter: @pascal_arimont
Eva MAYDELL
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845771 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175771
Twitter: @EvaMaydell
Axel VOSS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845302 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175302
Twitter: @AxelVossMdEP
Kaja Sorg, Tel: +32 476 541 013
Hana Bambasová, Tel: +32 484 278 754


Addressing the emergency situation in Venezuela
    
On Thursday, Members will again reiterate their deep concern over the political and social crisis in Venezuela by voting on the Resolution on the emergency situation in the country. The EPP Group confirms its recognition of Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela, condemns the fierce repression and violence, resulting in killings and casualties, denounces the abuse of law enforcement and the brutal repression of security bodies by restraining the entry of humanitarian aid and calls for additional sanctions on illegitimate state authorities’ assets abroad and those individuals responsible for human rights breaches and repression. On the initiative of the EPP Group, the European Parliament held an urgent debate about the situation in the country during last Plenary session.
José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845307 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175307
Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845372 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175372
Twitter: @gonzalezpons
Agata Byczewska, Tel: +32 473 841 093
Javier Jimenez Arbelo, Tel: +32 475 48 04 46


More competition and lower electricity prices    

The EPP Group pioneered the creation of an Energy Union in the EU which will give European households and citizens an affordable, secure and clean supply of energy. An important cornerstone of the Energy Union is the modernisation of the rules on the internal electricity market in the European Union. The new rules will lead to more competition and choice to the benefit of the consumers as we - amongst other things - will have a real European electricity market where 70 per cent of all electricity can cross EU borders freely. Suppliers of electricity will be able to set prices freely. This will boost competition and lead to lower prices for consumers. The joint debate on the internal market for electricity will take place on Monday.
Jerzy BUZEK
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845631 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175631
Twitter: @JerzyBuzek
Lars Ole Løcke, Tel: +32 470 474 838


Safe and cheap water for all    

The European Parliament will confirm the changes to the Drinking Water Directive to improve the quality of drinking water and access to it. The new rules are the result of the first-ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative, called Right2Water which gathered over 1.8 million signatures. The vote will take place on Thursday.
Michel DANTIN
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845533 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175533
Twitter: @MichelDANTIN
Marta Osojnik, Tel: +32 473 625 868


EPP Group wants to triple funding for Erasmus+    

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on the Report on the Erasmus+ Programme authored by Milan Zver MEP. Erasmus+ is one of the most popular EU programmes as it reinforces the sense of European identity, increases employability and supports the personal and professional development of young and older Europeans. "Young people who have grown up in a united Europe should be as enthusiastic as possible about Europe. Nearly everyone who has done an Erasmus says that their experience has encouraged them to be more open-minded and confident in their newly-acquired skills", says Milan Zver. Zver proposes increasing the budget to around €45 billion for the future period (2021-2027) and will thus enable participation in the programme to be three times bigger, that is to say around 12 million Europeans.
Milan ZVER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845315 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175315
Twitter: @MilanZver
Girts Salmgriezis, Tel: +32 477 800 343


2017 Discharge: how was EU money spent?
    
The approval process on how EU taxpayers’ money was spent during the year 2017 comes to plenary on Tuesday. 53 Discharge Reports will be first debated and then voted on. They include reports on the EU agencies drafted by EPP Group Member Petri Sarvamaa and the important Commission Discharge Report where the responsibility of the EPP Group line was carried by the Chair of the Budgetary Control Committee, Inge Gräßle MEP. The debate and the votes will take place on Tuesday.
Petri SARVAMAA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845647 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175647
Twitter: @petrisarvamaa
Ingeborg GRÄSSLE
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845868 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175868
Twitter: @inge_graessle
Pete Pakarinen, Tel: +32 470 830 213