Welcome to Better Europe’s weekly update on EU Affairs.
PARLIAMENT STEPS UP ENGAGEMENT ON DEFENCE
Next week’s European Parliament plenary and its Wednesday morning debate on current affairs is firmly sandwiched between two European Summits – the one that happened this week, dubbed by some as the most important meeting since the Cold War, and the one happening in two weeks, originally meant to be the most important one of the year. It gives MEPs a unique opportunity to scrutinise the decisions that have been taken and will be taken, even though it’s the Presidency and the Commission in front of them, and not individual ministers at a time where a lot of the geopolitical decision-making seems to be multilateral rather than European. In line with Parliament President Roberta Metsola’s statement that “we need to put our money where our mouth is, on Ukraine”, Parliament has an opportunity to show it is more federalist than individual Member States, who rejected another round of joint debt at the summit this week. MEPs are also expected to agree on the composition of two subcommittees and two special (temporary) committees, reflecting their political priorities for the coming years. The package includes a prolongation of the very relevant Security and Defence subcommittee, as well as the subcommittee on Public Health. And in what’s clearly a clear package deal, two special committees will look into the European Democracy Shield and into the Housing Crisis in the European Union, a long-standing social-democrat demand.
EU PROCUREMENT OVERHAUL: SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
The EU is overhauling public procurement rules to reduce dependence and increase strategic autonomy. With the war in Ukraine and shifting US alliances, Europe is under increasing pressure to secure its defence and technology sectors. The shift follows recommendations from the Draghi report, which called for stricter conditions for public tenders to keep encryption, cloud security and other critical technologies in European hands. But security isn’t the only game in town. On 5 March, the Socialists and Democrats held a hearing in the European Parliament to push for mandatory social and environmental criteria in procurement. In their view, public money should also be spent in a way that supports fair wages, collective bargaining and a greener economy – key pillars of the Clean Industrial Deal. The Commission’s procurement rules are currently being redrafted ahead of a legislative proposal due next year, with a public consultation closing today. The 2026 reform is expected to move away from the dominant “lowest bidder wins” logic and prioritize quality over price; let’s hope it moves beyond the “buy European” logic to align public spending with the EU’s long-term stability goals.
BRUSSELS SLAMS THE BRAKES ON CAR ELECTRIFICATION
The Commission is putting the brakes on its green transition with the new Automotive Action Plan, which weakens CO₂ standards for cars. While the phase out of the internal combustion engine by 2035 still stands, the new rules now allow manufacturers to spread their emissions targets over three years, making it easier to avoid penalties. After intense industry lobbying, the move has climate advocates worried. The reason? This plan casts serious doubt on the EU’s commitment to reducing transport emissions. Meanwhile, the e-mobility sector sees it as a step in the wrong direction, fearing that Europe will give China an even bigger head start in the EV race. As controversial and legally uncertain as the Omnibus, this reform is more straightforward as it is in essence a binary decision – a simple yes or no to delay, without a shopping list of trade-offs to sweeten the pill for progressive politicians. While Brussels talks about best practice exchanges and social leasing schemes, Beijing continues to flood the market with cheaper electric models. The real question remains: does the EU still want to win the EV race, or is it stuck in the slow lane?