European lawmakers focused on competitiveness, climate policy and support for Ukraine, while pushing housing higher up the EU agenda. A clash over secret ballots marked the climate neutrality vote, and several files moved procedurally as groups sought clarity and speed.

Competitiveness and the clean transition

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued that decarbonisation and growth can reinforce each other, citing the EU carbon market’s track record: emissions down by half, GDP up by 27%, and EUR 250 billion in revenues reinvested in clean technologies and innovation 1. Liberals promoted cutting red tape; Renew’s Valérie Hayer defended a compromise to reduce reporting burdens for most firms 2. Greens warned against letting international offsets drain investment and jobs from Europe 3.

Housing moves up the priority list

With housing costs rising across the bloc, the Commission pledged a concrete plan before Christmas, aiming to combine EU, national and local action on affordability 4.

Transparency row over the climate vote

The vote on the framework for achieving climate neutrality ignited a dispute over repeated requests for secret ballots. Socialists’ leader Iratxe García Pérez said her group will seek a rules change so that “what today is an exception does not become a rule” 5. Renew’s Pascal Canfin accused far‑right groups of pushing secrecy and promised a proposal next week to amend Parliament’s rules 6. The EPP’s Jeroen Lenaers acknowledged the rules allow secret ballots if 144 Members request them, but insisted that citizens have a right to know how their representatives vote 7.

2040 target: opportunity or risk?

Explanations of vote underscored the divide. Supporters from S&D called the 2050 goal and a 2040 target a platform for technology leadership and jobs 8. Opponents from ECR warned of carbon leakage and competitiveness risks, arguing that Europe cannot steer the global climate alone and should prioritise affordable energy and nuclear power over binding interim targets 9.

Corporate reporting file sent back

On corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence, rapporteur Jörgen Warborn moved to refer the file back to the Legal Affairs Committee for interinstitutional negotiations under Rule 60(4) 10.

BEFIT gets a nod in vote explanations

In separate explanations of vote, non‑attached MEP Lukas Sieper backed the EU’s corporate tax reform (BEFIT), arguing it would better align where profits are taxed with where value is created and add coherence to the single market 11.

Overall, MEPs attempted to balance regulatory simplification with climate ambition and social protections. The impending housing plan and debates over rules on transparency suggest further tussles ahead, even as Parliament looks to anchor long‑term investment certainty for Europe’s economy.