Demanding a strong role in Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the EPP Group threatened to veto the EU’s long-term budget plan unless the European Parliament plays a key role in designing the Recovery Fund.

At the latest plenary, the EPP Group also pressed for common EU standards in re-opening Europe’s internal borders and getting travel and tourism back on track.

This includes common guidelines for contact-tracing apps. The Group called for a strong EU and global effort to develop a Coronavirus vaccine and pushed for a Plan B if a non-EU country blocks access to a vaccine.

This could include forced licensing or trade sanctions.