„Today, the Swiss people have voted against the "No to a Switzerland of 10 million" initiative. The outcome of this democratic vote must be respected. The European Union and Switzerland remain close partners, linked by deep economic ties, shared interests and strong people-to-people contacts. I welcome the continued commitment to maintaining and developing this close relationship. I am confident that both sides will continue to engage constructively and pragmatically in order to preserve and further develop this important partnership”, says @ReinholdLopatka.

Today, we remember and honour the victims of Soviet deportations that took place 85 years ago. Stalin’s crime devastated the lives of thousands of families. 🕯️ "Today marks 85 years since the crimes against humanity committed by the Soviet Union against tens of thousands of people from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Sadly, such crimes do not belong merely to history. They are being committed here and now against the people of Ukraine, especially children. The name of the Russian state and its leaders may change, but its actions do not. Today is not only about remembering the victims of the past. It is a call to all of Europe. The value of human life and freedom must never be taken for granted. We must stand up and defend these values to ensure that the crimes of the past are never repeated," said @RihoTerras MEP, Head of the Estonian delegation in the EPP Group. "I’m glad that the symbolic reading of names is becoming a tradition. The lessons of history are a crucial foundation for European solidarity. The war in Ukraine has shown that past crimes, when not properly acknowledged, can resurface. It is essential not to repeat such mistakes now, when war crimes have once again become a present reality," emphasised @RJukneviciene MEP, Head of the Lithuanian delegation in the EPP Group. “Russia has deported tens of thousands of Ukrainians, including children, from the occupied territories and is making every effort to erase their identity and sense of belonging to the Ukrainian nation. Of the more than 20,000 children illegally taken away, only 2,500 have been returned. The names of those responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children are known, and these individuals must be included on international sanctions list,” insisted @Kalniete MEP, Head of the Latvian delegation in the EPP Group. #RememberTheirNames

Today, we remember and honour the victims of Soviet deportations that took place 85 years ago. Stalin’s crime devastated the lives of thousands of families. 🕯️ “They tried to erase their names, their homes, their language, their faith, their whole way of life, but they did not succeed. So here together, we honour these people. We take back their memory, and we bring it into the light,” said @EP_President Roberta Metsola. #RememberTheirNames @RJukneviciene @Kalniete

🚨 71 days and counting. How many more days will European children remain unprotected online? Behind every “legal gap” lies a real-world consequence. This is what we are missing: ◼️38 reports every minute ◼️54,795 reports every day ◼️20 million reports every year The EU must restore legal clarity to detect and report Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online. Protect children, not predators ‼️ *Data source: ncmec.org (2024)

The transatlantic partnership is one of the most important relationships in the world, and it remains central to the EU’s future. At the @EPPGroup Study Days, we discussed how our shared history continues to underpin this bond. A bond that has been built over generations. When it mattered, we stood together. Today, the EU and the US have the world’s largest economic partnership, generating €1.6 trillion in economic activity and supporting five million jobs. But this partnership is bigger than trade. It is about democracy, security and supporting Ukraine in the face of aggression. A relationship built on shared values and a shared responsibility to defend them.

Everyone has their own team to support, and that's what makes the World Cup so special! We're cheering for all the EU countries taking part, but above all, we're united by one message: Sport should unite, not divide. Sport has the power to bring people together. It should be a force for peace rather than division, a platform for dialogue between cultures, and a source of respect, solidarity, and mutual understanding. No matter which colours you wear or which team you support, let's celebrate the passion, respect, and friendship that sport brings across borders. Enjoy the tournament, support your team, and let's make this championship a celebration of unity, fair play, and togetherness! 🇪🇺❤️ #WorldCup #UnitedThroughSport #FairPlay #EU #Football #TogetherWePlay

‼️ Close the legal gap. ‼️ Protect children, not predators. Since 3 April, there has been a major legal gap in protecting children from online sexual abuse. This is what we are missing: ◼️38 reports every minute ◼️54,795 reports every day ◼️20 million reports every year We cannot accept this legal vacuum. Because when child protection mechanisms stop, predators don’t. Let’s protect children online! *Data source: ncmec.org (2024)

✈️ EPP GROUP PROTECTS KEY AIR PASSENGER RIGHTS Today, EU countries backed a compromise on air passenger rights that keeps the current three-hour delay threshold and compensation levels intact, while adding new protections for travellers. "The European Parliament promised passengers that their rights would not move backwards, and we didn't give up. Today’s decision by EU member states confirms it. The 3-hour threshold is preserved. Compensation is preserved. New rights are added beyond the status quo. A final vote remains in EP on Monday," said Andrey Novakov MEP, the European Parliament's chief negotiator on air passenger rights. The European Parliament’s negotiation team will hold the final vote on Monday, with the EPP Group voting to confirm the agreement and ensure the new rights become a reality for passengers as quickly as possible. @AndreyNovakov eppgroup.eu/newsroom/epp-gro…

EP promised passengers that their rights would not move backwards and we didn't give up. Today’s COREPER decision confirms it. The 3-hour threshold is preserved. Compensation is preserved. New rights are added, beyond the status quo. A final vote remains in EP on Monday. ✈️

What an incredible few days in Ireland during the @EPPGroup Study Days! It was a fantastic time filled with important discussions on Europe’s future, strong exchanges of ideas, and real engagement on the challenges and opportunities ahead for our Union. A huge thank you to our Irish hosts for their outstanding hospitality, warmth and rich culture. You made this visit truly special. Leaving Ireland inspired, energised and more convinced than ever of the strength of European cooperation. 🇪🇺🤝

NEW EU MIGRATION RULES START TODAY The Migration Pact enters into force with one of the most modern border management systems in the world. Its goals: 🔵 Stronger external borders 🔵 Faster asylum procedures 🔵 More cooperation with third countries 🔵 More effective return policies for those with no right to stay in the EU 🔵 Fair treatment for those in need of protection while preventing abuse of the system Ultimately, EU countries - not migrant smugglers - must decide who enters Europe. But the Migration Pact is not the finish line. It’s the foundation for a policy where the EU takes back control of migration.

📆 The EPP Group's priorities for the week ahead: 🔵 Enlarge the EU and strengthen Europe 🔵 Restore control of migration through effective returns 🔵 Ukraine moves closer to its rightful place in the EU 🔵 Make trade predictable again 🔵 Free at last: the man Lukashenko could not break 🔵 Protect children from risks of social media 🔵Simplify AI rules, strengthen safeguards 🔗 Read more: epp.group/77ysgqi8

🚨 TODAY – Migration Pact enters into force. MEP @tomastobe explains five key things you should know about it. Listen here!

🚨69 days! Since 3 April, there has been a major legal gap in protecting children from sexual abuse online. Every day, we are missing 54,795 reports. 8 in 10 online child abuse investigations started because a platform detected it. Now they can't. ‼️ Close the legal gap. ‼️ Protect children, not predators. *Data source: ncmec.org (2024)

The transatlantic partnership remains essential to security, democracy, and growth. The EU must take more responsibility for its own defence—it will make the alliance more credible, balanced, and resilient. We must champion fair trade, competitiveness, and reduce dependencies.

Galway is a moment to reflect on one of the most important strategic questions: the future of the transatlantic relationship. In a time of uncertainty, competition and war, Europe needs strong, constructive transatlantic ties built on clarity, respect, and shared responsibility.

We reject the Council’s proposal, which is simply not fit for today’s realities. It does not reflect the needs of Europe’s people nor the position of the European Parliament, as the Union’s democratic and budgetary institution. The Council's proposal sends entirely the wrong signal. By cutting the Commission's proposal overall by 2%, it effectively suggests that Europe's challenges require less action, not more. This is particularly concerning given that the Commission had already reduced Heading 1, which finances farmers and cohesion, from around 60% to 45% of the MFF. Cutting it further sends a message to farmers, regions, and citizens that food security, cohesion, border management, and support for local communities matter less than the challenges they are meant to address. At the same time, when it comes to security, defence and competitivness, we cannot make Europe safer or more competitive, nor play a stronger role at the global level, with 4% cuts in Headings 2 and 3, which finance exactly these priorities. That is precisely why Europe needs a stronger budget, not a weaker one, such as the one put forward by the negotiation box. It is wrong to focus only on how much the EU budget costs. The correct approach is also to consider how much more a weaker EU budget will cost us. Rather than putting forward a toothless budget, we should engage in an open-minded discussion about a new package of genuine EU own resources. Europe cannot continue asking farmers, workers, and taxpayers to shoulder a greater burden while billionaires such as Elon Musk and the world’s largest digital companies continue to profit enormously from the Single Market without making a fair contribution in return. We can correct this with new own resources, such as a digital levy. We reiterate our call for a moderate 10% increase in the budget in order to adequately finance both traditional and new priorities. Most importantly, we count on the upcoming Irish Council Presidency to make up for the delays that have accumulated in the Council over the past months. Following the European Parliament’s adoption of its position on the next long-term EU budget, the Council needs to reach a common position as soon as possible so that we can start the much-needed dialogue between the Parliament and the Council and reach an agreement before the end of this year. @Europarl_EN @EU_Commission @CY2026EU

A visit to Pearse Stadium with the Gaelic Athletic Association was a powerful reminder of how deeply sport is woven into Irish identity and the European way of life. The @EPPGroup spirit is also one of teamwork, unity and shared purpose - values that sport reflects every day across our continent. Sport is one of the most powerful forces bringing people together. It must remain a tool for peace, not division, promoting dialogue between cultures and strengthening mutual respect and solidarity across societies. The EPP Group believes in the European Sport Model: inclusive, community-driven and deeply rooted in our societies. #EPPStudyDays