EU Parliament’s Action-Packed Week

The European Parliament is set to have a bustling week, starting with a last-minute press briefing at 16:30 today, where the Parliament’s spokesperson and the Press Service will discuss the agenda for this week’s plenary session. The briefing will be available for live viewing, with journalists encouraged to participate and pose questions through the Interactio platform.

Key discussions scheduled for the week include a debate on the “28th regime” — a set of proposed harmonized rules aimed at supporting innovation and competitiveness for SMEs, startups, and scaleups across the EU. Spearheaded by MEPs and Commissioner Michael McGrath, the initiative seeks to introduce the Unified European Company, allowing digital registration within 48 hours in any EU country. A vote on this proposal is expected tomorrow, which will influence a forthcoming Commission proposal in the spring.

Additionally, the Parliament will address critical issues such as the EU’s dependency on third countries for essential medicines. From 18:30, MEPs together with Commissioner Costas Kadis will deliberate on a draft regulation intended to bolster the pharmaceutical sector’s competitiveness and reduce reliance on imports for critical drugs. This discussion is crucial, considering the increasing need for antibiotics, insulin, and chronic disease medications within the Union.

In other significant developments, a motion of censure against the European Commission will be debated from 20:00. The discussion will feature a speaker supporting the motion, followed by Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and representatives from various political groups. The outcome of this motion, requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, is set for a vote on Thursday.

For those interested in following these discussions in real-time, live coverage will be available on the Parliament’s webstreaming site and EbS+. Further details and updates can be accessed through the European Parliament’s dedicated newsletter.