Plenary Priorities 18-21 May 2026
Strengthening EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems
Renew Europe successfully requested a plenary debate on the need for an urgent EU response to Mythos and other advanced AI systems to safeguard European cybersecurity. Recent developments underline the broader strategic importance of strengthening Europe’s technological capacity and resilience. In this context, the Commission’s forthcoming Tech Sovereignty package on 27 May, including the Cloud and AI Development Act and Chips Act 2, will be an important opportunity to strengthen Europe’s long-term security, resilience and competitiveness.
Renew Europe urges urgent action on AI-driven cyber threats: full NIS2 implementation, a dedicated EU AI cybersecurity strategy, and reduced dependence on non-European cloud, AI and semiconductors. Advanced AI systems mark a turning point for European cybersecurity. Critical infrastructure and sensitive data must remain under European control - while keeping the EU open, innovative and globally competitive.
Debate : Tuesday, 19 May, 09:00
Renew MEPs : Bart Groothuis (VVD, Netherlands) & Christophe Grudler (Modem, France)
High time to deliver on the Single Market
Barriers to trade among EU countries represent around 45 percent tariffs on manufacturing and 110 percent tariffs on services. We need to take them down. So far, the European Commission had proposed to simplify existing EU laws. It is good. But it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Real barriers to the single market are in the Member States.
Renew key demands :
To Member states: come up with a list of national barriers to EU internal trade in their own country and commit to remove them.
To the Commission: ruthlessly take national governments to court if they don’t properly apply EU legislations that remove barriers to trade and propose bold measures to complete the single market where needed the most.
To EU legislators: accelerate the simplification drive of existing EU rules and implementing the Draghi report agenda.
Debate : Wednesday, 20 May, 09:00
Revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive
Every year, 75 million people across the European Union fall victim to crime. Next week, the European Parliament will vote on the revised Victims’ Rights Directive, the most significant reform of EU victim-protection legislation in over a decade.
Throughout the negotiations, Renew Europe played a key role in securing stronger protections for victims across the EU, including better safeguards against intimidation and re-victimisation and stronger protection of victims’ personal data. The reform also strengthens victims’ rights within criminal proceedings, including the possibility to request a review of decisions that affect them directly. Renew Europe fought to secure access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services (SRHR) for victims of sexual violence, including access to free and safe abortion in accordance with national law.
Debate: Wednesday 20 May, 13:00. Vote: Thursday 21 May, 12:00
Renew co-rapporteur: Lucia Yar (Progresívne Slovensko, Slovakia)
Press conference: Wednesday, 20 May at 11:15 at Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room.
Live stream link :
Addressing global steel overcapacity's impact on EU trade
The EU needs a strong, competitive and decarbonised steel sector, vital for the EU’s competitiveness, economic security and strategic autonomy, and for a strengthened European defence industrial base. However, global overcapacity affects both production volumes and price and eats the space for necessary investment in decarbonisation of the European steel sector. The legislative proposal aims to protect the European steel industry. In particular as the current temporary steel safeguards will expire on June 30. Parliament, whose lead negotiator is Renew MEP Karin Karlsbro, and Council reached a provisional agreement on 13 April, endorsed by the INTA Committee on 6 May. The agreement needs to enter into force on 1 July 2026.
The key outcomes are :
Quotas - Tariff-free import quotas are set at 18.3 million tonnes per year, with a 50% duty on volumes above that threshold.
Melt & pour rule - Steel origin is determined by where it is first melted and cast, improving traceability and closing loopholes linked to minimal processing in third countries.
Scope review - The Commission must assess within six months whether additional steel products should be brought under the regulation.
Imports of Russian steel - Parliament, Council and Commission jointly declared their commitment to swiftly phasing out all imports of Russian steel.
Debate : Monday 18 May, 17:00. Vote : Tuesday 19 May, 12:30
Renew MEP : Karin Karlsbro (Liberalerna, Sweden)
European solidarity: key to securing medicine access in a shifting geopolitical era
What happens in Washington and Beijing now shows up in European pharmacies and hospitals. Liberals and Democrats pushed to put this question at the centre of Monday's debate in Strasbourg: will Europe negotiate medicines as one bloc, or absorb the pressure country by country? Our position is clear: Europe must negotiate medicines as one bloc or risk paying the price - in higher costs, delayed access, and lost ground to the US and China. Europe's 450 million consumers give it the negotiating weight to shape its own terms -but only if Member States respond as one. Access to medicines, the freedom to set our own terms, and a thriving European health industry are at risk. Liberals and democrats will fight for accessible medicines, negotiated on democratic terms, European companies with opportunities to innovate and Europe that negotiates as one.
Debate : Monday 18 May, 17:00. Renew MEP: Stine Bosse (Moderaterne, Denmark)
Liberals and Democrats raise alarm on Slovakia's democratic backsliding and EU fund misuse
Next Wednesday 20, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution calling for an EU response to democratic backsliding in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico. Anti-corruption bodies dismantled, judicial independence undermined, fundamental rights eroded - these are the findings of a fact-finding mission to Bratislava in 2025.
Democracy in Slovakia is under threat. We call for the restoration of anti-corruption safeguards, protection of postal voting rights for Slovaks abroad, and full investigations into alleged misuse of EU funds, including through the Agricultural Paying Agency. Where concerns persist, the European Commission should trigger the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism - a process that can result in the suspension of EU funds until democratic standards are restored. Protecting democracy in Slovakia is protecting democracy in Europe where EU funds serve citizens, not undermine their rights.
Vote of the resolution "Rule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia: the need for an EU response" : Wednesday 20 May, 12:00.
Renew MEP: Sophie Wilmès (MR, Belgium)