From semiconductors and software, through critical natural materials to medicines and active substances, the European Union is inactive heavy dependent on supplies outside the Community. The European Parliament announces that in 2026, 1 of the priorities will be to build real autonomy, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of the EU economy. Euro MPs argue that this means strengthening safety in the face of global crises.
“Parliament should set a way here. It must do much more and faster to increase the competitiveness of the European economy. A lot has been written about this, but erstwhile I talk to Polish companies from many industries, they say: but nothing has actually changed, energy prices are inactive as advanced as they were. Thus, Polish and European companies are not competitive with Asian or American companies, there are inactive akin obligations, regulations and administrative difficulties in EU regulations. – says Newseria Agency Michał Kobosko, associate of the European Parliament from Poland 2050, in the EP in Renew Europe.
One of the key challenges identified by the EU institutions remains the low competitiveness of the European economy compared to the US and Asia, due, inter alia, to advanced energy prices, marketplace fragmentation and extended regulatory obligations. Administrative burdens or regulatory obstacles are reported by more than half of EU SMEs, which account for most jobs in the EU. In consequence to these problems, further deregulation packages were announced, the alleged omnibuses, including digital law, ESG reporting, energy marketplace and selected industrial sectors.
"The European Union has built for decades what we call the regulation empire. Now you gotta make an empire of deregulation – Michał Kobosko convinces. – There are already respective Omnibuses, i.e. subsequent deregulation packages for individual industries. I think there'll be definitely more. We hear from Polish and European companies that these are solutions in the right direction, but not enough, as, for example, the fresh digital Omnibus, besides slow to change our reality.
Deregulation is intended to be 1 of the main instruments for maintaining manufacture in Europe, especially for sectors specified as steel industry, cement manufacture and automotive, which face advanced energy costs, climate force and global competition. The European Parliament underlines the request to keep a balance between climate objectives and the real opportunities of companies operating in the single market.
The second area, which, according to the MEPs, will be of fundamental importance in 2026, is the digital sovereignty of the European Union. authoritative EP analyses, based, inter alia, on a study prepared by erstwhile president of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi, indicate a advanced level of Union dependence on non-European technologies, peculiarly in the area of semiconductors, software and digital infrastructure.
“We are 80% dependent on non-European technological solutions, according to Draghi’s report. 80% dependencies mean 100% dependence in this mathematics, which is present we are full dependent on non-European solutions, which limits the chances of improvement for European start-ups and companies, which are much harder to operate in these conditions – explains Euro MP 2050.
In consequence to these challenges, the European Parliament announces intensive work on a fresh regulatory framework for the digital and telecommunications sector. 1 of the key projects is the Digital Networks Act, referred to as the future "constitution" of the telecommunications marketplace in the EU. The aim of these regulations is to strengthen European operators and make conditions conducive to investment in digital infrastructure, which is considered essential for further economical development.
– Today, European telecom operators stand out in competition with American or Asian companies, and we know that there is no economical improvement in Europe without communications. That is why we are waiting for these regulations and will work very hard on them. We want the European Union to show that it can clearly aid this particular, much-needed economical sector – points to Michał Kobosko.
In addition to economical and digital issues, in 2026 the dominant subject of the European Parliament's work is to stay security, understood in many ways from military, energy and wellness to food.
– 1 word and the same, but it can mean very different areas of action – says Andrzej Halicki, MEP of the Civic Coalition, in the EP in the faction of the European People's Party. – This is, among another things, physical security, due to the fact that we know we have a war at our gates in which Russia is an aggressor. Europe must be its own and start to be a very serious player on the global stage. For this it takes strong leadership, but besides the consent of the leaders and to give a clear common direction. The coalition of countries willing to go even beyond the European Union, and 2026 will be a test for Europe in this respect, and I hope that we will all pass it on positively.
The authoritative papers of the European Parliament stress that, in a context of increasing geopolitical unpredictability and changing transatlantic relations, the European Union's ability to act independently and make common positions in the area of abroad and safety policy is crucial. It besides points to the increasing function of initiatives taken in the coalition expression of the willing states, which are intended to strengthen the EU's efficiency in crisis situations.
"Europe must be stronger, united and very firm. We have economical and energy safety besides connected with this situation. We have cut Russia off, we do not buy energy and strategical resources from Russia, and so we do not supply the army, but so we request to grow markets and partners. – emphasises Euro MP KO.
Another area identified by the European Parliament as a precedence is wellness security, which, following the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a permanent part of the European debate. MEPs are working to strengthen common crisis consequence mechanisms, availability of medicines and resilience of supply chains in the pharmaceutical sector.
– We have forgotten as a Polish delegation not only about a common policy in this area, but besides about a peculiar committee that started operating this year, so we will besides include budget support for these activities. The first very crucial act is simply a paper on critical medicines and cooperation in this field. This is crucial for citizens who have wellness problems, and Europe is liable for ensuring their safety – says Andrzej Halicki.
Food safety is besides an crucial component of the European Parliament's agenda in 2026, peculiarly in the context of Union trade agreements with 3rd countries. In its authoritative positions, the EP stresses the request to defend European production standards, consumer wellness and reciprocity in global trade.
– This is not just a problem for producers and farmers, but alternatively a problem for the standards that we in Europe have at a very different level. I am reasoning about the quality of food, the non-use of chemicals, pesticides, standards that must be protected if these products are to be placed on our market. It's about our wellness and safety – convinces the Euro MP of the Civic Coalition.
