Renew Europe

Ahead of today’s #EUCO meeting, our Group President Valérie Hayer gathered liberal, centrist, and democrat leaders from our political family to push forward bold proposals for Europe’s security: ✔ A European preference in defence procurement. ✔ Joint defence purchases ✔ Mobilising the European Investment Bank for defence projects. ✔ Exploring European defence bonds ✔ A single defence market to strengthen our industrial base. Europe cannot afford to wait. It is time to invest, innovate and defend.

President of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer, has welcomed the European Commission’s White Paper on the Future of European Defence as a small step in the right direction but stressed that greater ambition and urgency are needed to match the security challenges Europe faces. While the paper contains positive elements, it falls short of an overarching approach for a credible EU deterrence strategy. "As Donald Trump’s actions make clear, the United States' commitment to European security can no longer be taken for granted. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues its courageous fight, and Europe must do more to support it while strengthening its own ability to defend itself. This White Paper is a useful starting point, but also a missed opportunity; we must go further and faster," Valérie Hayer stated. Renew Europe calls on EUCO leaders to agree on concrete and far-reaching steps at tomorrow's meeting, ensuring that Europe can meet its security responsibilities in the years ahead. Read full PR 👉 https://lnkd.in/dnY-pTNT

Ahead of the European Oceans Pact, we've set out our priorities for the ocean: In these challenging geopolitical times, Europe must invest in maritime security, strengthen international ocean governance, improve the protection of our critical infrastructures and increase surveillance of key trade routes. As a source of prosperity and driver of economic growth and competitiveness in sectors including transport, energy, tourism, food production, as well as research, innovation and international trade, Europe must invest in the blue economy. A healthy ocean is as vital to a thriving economy as it is to life itself. As the primary climate stabiliser, the ocean is fundamental to sustain our standards of living in Europe. The Ocean Pact must be an actionable guide for the EU and its Member states to achieve tangible results towards environmental sustainability. More in our policy paper 👉 https://lnkd.in/gkKd5VgG With MEPs Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Ana Vasconcelos and Oihane Agirregoitia Martinez

Renew Europe is deeply concerned about President Trump’s decision to hollow out US-funded media operations, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This move threatens independent journalism across Europe and beyond. For decades, RFE/RL has provided unbiased news in regions where press freedom is under attack. The loss of US funding risks creating a void that authoritarian regimes could exploit. We call upon the European Union to take immediate action to support RFE/RL and similar organisations. This support could involve direct funding, facilitating partnerships, or integrating these entities into existing EU frameworks dedicated to promoting media pluralism and freedom. 💬 MEP Irena Joveva (Gibanje Svoboda, Slovenia), member of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, said: “Support for free media is the best investment against corrupt, authoritarian regimes. Democratic forces across the world depend on access to unbiased, critical information. The EU should step up and fill the gap to support RFE/RL before the shadow of authoritarianism darkens Europe as well.”

Security is priority #1! Only when we keep Europe safe can we ensure its prosperity, stability, and resilience. This is what the European Parliament called for in this week's resolution on EU defence 👇 🔵 Increase EU defence spending 🔵 Buy European first 🔵 Seize frozen Russian assets 🔵 Support Ukrainian defence 🔵 Keep Europe safe

Today, Renew Europe MEPs wrote to the President of the Commission and took the lead in addressing the widespread political consensus on the need for regulatory simplification. The group has established a task force, bringing together Renew Europe members from 16 parliamentary committees, to put forward concrete proposals for simplifying EU legislation. Renew Europe has outlined 15 guiding principles to ensure that simplification efforts maintain the EU’s policy objectives while eliminating unnecessary complexity. The European Commission has already introduced several ‘omnibus’ packages to streamline legislation, particularly in the field of sustainability. However, while some misuse the term simplification to undermine previously agreed policies, Renew Europe stresses that simplification is a much broader concept. It involves rationalising rules, eliminating overlaps, and making compliance easier—without necessarily leading to deregulation. 💬 Morten Løkkegaard (Venstre, Denmark), Vice President of Renew Europe and leader of the initiative, explains: “Everybody agrees on simplification, just not where. When asked, the response is often: ‘not in my legislative backyard’. That is why Renew Europe MEPs took a hard look at the legislation within their respective committees. The result is a list of 50 concrete measures to make life easier for people and businesses across the EU. These include alleviating reporting obligations for farmers, creating a single digital platform for the maritime sector, consolidating EU corporate rules into a single rulebook, eliminating overlaps in tech regulation, and simplifying access to EU funds.” Read full PR: https://lnkd.in/dVX29H8c Read letter and 15 Guiding Principles for Simplification, Enforcement and Burden Reduction below 👇

Ahead of the expected publication, next week, of the European Commission’s White Paper on the Future of European Defence, the European Parliament today adopted a resolution outlining its position, shaped strongly by the Renew Europe Group. MEP Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Renew Europe Group’s coordinator in SEDE Committee, who negotiated the resolution on behalf of Renew, stated: “The recent statements and decisions of Donald Trump and his administration clearly demonstrate an abandonment of Ukraine. As Moscow and Washington are becoming closer, there is urgent need for European autonomy in security and defence matters. There is not a minute to lose, and while I welcome the plan proposed by the President of the Commission, I must warn us all: what Ursula Von Der Leyen is putting on the table is little and late.'' Read full PR: https://lnkd.in/dwJcZRi5

Yesterday, we had the honour of welcoming Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, to our group meeting in Strasbourg. Our discussion focused on how the EU can continue to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable while providing meaningful support to Belarusian civil society. Renew Europe stands firmly with the people of Belarus in their pursuit of freedom, human rights, and a democratic future!

Speaking in a European Parliament debate on European security, President of the Renew Europe Group, Valérie Hayer this morning issued a stark warning about shifting global alliances, urging Europe to take control of its own defense and security. Valérie Hayer declared that Europe can no longer rely on traditional alliances for its security: “Our world is becoming increasingly hostile, and we must draw two conclusions: we must be able to defend ourselves, and we must protect our democratic model,” Hayer stated. “That means investing in European defense, working towards a common loan for military spending, and ensuring our armies can operate together. Without European preference, there is no strategic autonomy—and no sovereignty.” She also reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine, calling for increased military aid and the potential deployment of European troops for future peacekeeping operations. “The security of Ukrainians is our security,” Valérie Hayer emphasised. “Trump’s decision to stop arms deliveries only reminds us of one thing: we must take our destiny into our own hands.” 👉 Read full PR: https://lnkd.in/dFcQpb3g

It was high time for Europe to take charge of its own security. 🔵 To protect our freedom 🔵 To protect our peace and prosperity 🔵 To help protect Ukraine EU leaders: keep up the pace to keep Europe safe!