The ECR Group were delighted to welcome Mr Bert-Jan Ruissen, Member of the European Parliament, to our group meeting on 28 January in the context of the European Committee of the Regions' February plenary session. Mr Ruissen was invited to discuss the main political developments in the European Union from the perspective of the ECR Group in the European Parliament such as the new EU budget, relations with the United Kingdom, the Conference on the Future of Europe and EU relations with Israel.

On the EU budget, Mr Ruissen described the agreement as a "historic mistake" with months of negotiations only serving to produce an even greater "EU superstate". For him, the EU should be more "modest and support and facilitate EU Member States".

The MEP expressed relief at the Brexit agreement but fears that the good intentions of preserving a good relationship with the UK sound promising in theory but wondered how it will work in reality. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating", he offered and continued to say that only time will tell "whether it's a good deal or not". One thing that could already be done to help ease the "extra administrative burdens placed on businesses as a result of Brexit" is the "digitalisation of all the paperwork".

Mr Ruissen's reflections also referred to the Conference on the Future of Europe during which he explained just how active the ECR Group in the Parliament is. They have already started their own events with a tour currently being organised throughout the various Member States. For him, the future of Europe is "sovereign states working together on limited topics" and enhancing "cross-border cooperation".

As Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with Israel, Mr Ruissen concluded his intervention by expressing disappointment at the lack of contact on behalf of the EU with Israel. As "the only democratic country in the Middle East", Israel is a very strategic partner for the EU and a stronger relationship should be further developed. As front-runner in the vaccine campaign, Mr Ruissen described Israel as "at the cutting edge of research and development".