Summary

Next week will be a committee week and a mini-plenary in the European Parliament, during which some interesting votes will take place.

On Tuesday, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (“ENVI”) is expected to vote on its report on Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions.  The report seeks to set new binding CO2 emission ceilings per EU Member State in various sectors, including transport, agriculture, waste and construction, for the 2020-2030 period.  The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 30% by 2030.  The ENVI report follows the proposal for a Regulation on the same topic, introduced by the Commission in July 2016.  See the Commission proposal here, the draft report here, and amendments tabled here and here.

On the same day, the ENVI Committee will vote on a draft motion for a Resolution on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C.  Among its multiple proposals, the ENVI Committee calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a comprehensive EU policy addressing HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C; reinforce their work with vulnerable communities through multi-sectoral cooperation (including by involving NGOs); facilitate access to innovative treatments and work on tackling the negative image associated with HIV infection; encourage EU Member States to make HIV tests free of charge, particularly for vulnerable groups; and cooperate in establishing cross-border measures to prevent the spread of  Tuberculosis through the conclusion of bilateral agreements and joint actions.  In addition, the ENVI Committee highlights the impact of tackling the antimicrobial resistance crisis by funding research and development programs for new vaccines,  and through innovative and patient-centered approaches, diagnostics and treatment for tuberculosis. See the draft motion for a Resolution here.

Also on Tuesday, the ENVI Committee will vote on its report on Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.  The report recommends introducing amendments to the proposal for a revised Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, introduced by the Commission in January 2017.  The amendments suggested by the ENVI committee include the possibility to adopt additional delegated acts with regard to technically-related measures, and, in particular, calls for the adoption of a legislative proposal that would include a clear methodology which would outline all steps leading to the amendments of the Annexes II, III and IV, which provide the list of restricted substances and possible exemptions.  According to the report, this methodology should also include an opinion of the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”).  See the draft report here, amendments tabled to the report here, and the Commission proposal here 

On Thursday, the plenary will vote on the report, prepared by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (“ECON”), on the Directive amending VAT rates for books (including eBooks), newspapers and periodicals.  The proposal seeks to obtain a lower VAT rate of 5% for eBooks, instead of the standard 15% rate.  The report is in favor of the Commission proposal.  See the Commission proposal here, and the draft report here.

On the same day, the plenary will vote on an own-initiative report, prepared by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (“ITRE”), on Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G.  The report seeks to promote 5G and the enhanced competitiveness it may provide for the EU.  The Parliament calls on EU Member States and the Commission to adopt any initiatives necessary to ensure the successful rollout of 5G, including enhancing network coverage in all EU regions, adopting standards allowing interoperability and greater coordination, cooperating with academia, industry, research institutions and regulators to develop 5G, and providing sufficient funding programs under Horizon 2020 or the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2020-2027 for the successful deployment of 5G.  See the draft report here.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, May 29, 2017

Committee on Budgets

15:00 – 18:30

Votes

  • 2017 Budget: Section III – Commission
  • Rapporteur: Jens Geier (S&D, DE)
  • 2017 Budget: Other Sections
  • Rapporteur: Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA, EE)
  • Building policy
  • Rapporteur: Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE)

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

  • Discussion with experts on the Greek labor market reforms

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

15:00 – 18:30

  • Discussion with the Commission on the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive (COM(2017)0151)
  • Discussion with the Commission on the package leaflet of pharmaceuticals (COM(2017)0135)
  • Discussion with the Commission on Greening the Common Agricultural Policy
  • Discussion with the Commission on the labelling of alcoholic beverages

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

15:00 – 18:30

  • Presentation of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) special report on “EU support for nuclear decommissioning”, discussion with Phil Wynn Owen, Member of the ECA
  • Discussion with Mr Patrick KY, Director of the European Aviation Safety Agency

Committee on Regional Development

15:00 – 18:30

  • Simplification for beneficiaries of the European Structural and Investments Funds – discussion with Siim Kallas, chair of High-Level Group

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

15:00 – 18:30

  • Hearing on “Situation of the EU apicultural sector”

Committee on Budgetary Control

15:00 – 18:30

  • Workshop on ” The future of OLAF”

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

  • High-Level Expert Group on information systems and interoperability – discussion with the following: Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union; Gilles De Kerkhove, EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator; Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the Fundamental Rights Agency and Giovanni Buttarelli, European Data Protection Supervisor

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 

Joint meeting: Committee on Culture and Education and Committee on Foreign Affairs

09:00 – 09:30

  • Towards an international strategy for international cultural relations (INI) – vote on draft resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Elmar Brok (EPP, DE) and Silvia Costa (S&D, IT)

Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion

15:00 – 18:30

  • Hearing with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
  • Hearing with Fernando Rocha Andrade, Secretary of State of Tax Affairs of the Portuguese Republic

Joint meeting: Committee on Budgets and Committee on Budgetary Control

9:15 – 11:00

  • Financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (COD) – vote on a draft regulation and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations
    • Co-rapporteurs: Richard Ashworth (ECR, UK) and Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP, DE)

Committee on Budgets

11:00 – 12:30 

  • Presentation of the Commission’s Draft Budget 2018

Joint meeting: Committee on Budgetary Control and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

9:00 – 9:15 

  • Fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law – discussion on a draft recommendation for second reading
    • Co-rapporteurs: Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP, DE) and Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES)

Committee on Budgetary Control

11:00 – 12:30

  • Workshop on “Council discharge – Finding solutions” (15.00-17.00)

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

9:15 – 12:30

  • Working conditions and precarious employment – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE/NGL, CY)
  • Joint Discussion on the Country Specific Recommendations with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs with Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President and Commissioner for the Euro & Social Dialogue, Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs
  • Hearing of the European Training Foundation (ETF) Director-nominee

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

9:00 – 12:30

Votes

  • Glyphosate and authorization procedures – Adoption of question for oral answer
    • Co-rapporteurs: Angélique Delahaye (EPP, FR), Miriam Dalli (S&D, MT), Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, NL), Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, CZ), Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, BE), Piernicola Pedicini (EFDD, IT), Jean-François Jalkh (ENF, FR)
  • Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Adina-Ioana Vălean (EPP, RO)
  • Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 for a resilient Energy Union and to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, NL)
  • HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Françoise Grossetête (EPP, FR), Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu (S&D, RO), Urszula Krupa (ECR, PL), Frédérique Ries (ALDE, BE), Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, CZ), Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, DE), Piernicola Pedicini (EFDD, IT), Mireille D’ornano (ENF, FR)

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

9:00 – 12:30

  • Participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States – Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
    • Rapporteur: Sofia Sakorafa (GUE/NGL, EL)
  • Measures to safeguard the security of gas supply – Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
    • Rapporteur: Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL)
  • Assessment of Horizon 2020 implementation in view of its interim evaluation and the Framework Programme 9 proposal – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Soledad Cabezón Ruiz (S&D, ES)
  • Discussion with Mr Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, as part of the Structured Dialogue

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

15:00 – 18:30

  • European standards – implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Marlene Mizzi (S&D, MT)
  • A longer lifetime for products: benefits for consumers and companies – Adoption of draft report
    • Rapporteur: Pascal Durand (Greens/EFA, FR)

Committee on Regional Development

15:00 – 18:30

  • Promoting cohesion and development in the Outermost Regions of the EU: the implementation of Article 349 TFEU (INI) – vote on a draft resolution
    • Rapporteur: Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, FR)

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

9:00 – 12:30

  • Commission Delegated Regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 as regards the control measures relating to the cultivation of hemp, certain provisions on the greening payment, the payment for young farmers in control of a legal person, the calculation of the per unit amount in the framework of voluntary coupled support, the fractions of payment entitlements and certain notification requirements relating to the single area payment scheme and the voluntary coupled support, and amending Annex X to Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council – vote on a motion of resolution
    • Rapporteur: Adam Siekierski (EPP, PL)
  • “The Future of Food and Agriculture” – discussion with Jose Graziano Da Silva,  Director-General of the FAO

Committee on Fisheries

15:00 – 18:30

  • The role of fisheries-related tourism in the diversification of fisheries (INI) – vote on a draft resolution
    • Rapporteur: Renata Briano (S&D, IT)
  • International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans in the context of the 2030 SDGs (INI) – vote on a draft resolution
    • Rapporteur: Jarosław Wałęsa (EPP, PL)

Committee on Culture and Education

9:45 – 12:30

  • European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 – vote on provisional agreement
    • Rapporteur: Santiago Fisas Ayxelà (EPP, ES)

Committee on Legal Affairs

9:00 – 12:30

  • Joint meeting with the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (09.00-10.00) (COD), disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches – vote on draft report and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations
    • Co-rapporteurs: Hugues Bayet (S&D, BE) and Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT)
  • Common minimum standards of civil procedures (INL) – vote on draft report
    • Rapporteur: Emil Radev (EPP, BG)
  • Limitation periods for traffic accidents (INL) – vote on a draft report
    • Rapporteur: Pavel Svoboda (EPP, CZ)
  • Hearing on the legal consequences of Brexit

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

9:00 – 19:00

  • Eurodac system for the comparison of fingerprints of applicants for international protection and for identifying illegally staying third-country nationals or stateless persons; requests for the comparison with Eurodac data. Recast – vote on draft report and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the composition of the negotiating team
    • Rapporteur: Monica Macovei (ECR, RO)
  • Hearing on current challenges of fighting terrorism and serious crime (14.00-17.30)

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

15:00 – 18:30

  • Hearing on gender equality and taxation policies in the EU (16.00-17.30)
  • Child marriages (RSP) – vote on question for oral answer (to be confirmed)
  • Gender Pension Gap – the need for an EU strategy to end and prevent the Gender Pension Gap (INI) – discussion on the Study commissioned by the Policy Department C addressing issues related to the strategy to minimize the gender gap in pensions
    • Rapporteur: Constance le grip (EPP, FR)

Committee on Petitions

15:00 – 18:30

  • Fact-finding mission to Sweden (21.02.2017) – vote on draft report
  • European Ombudsman 2016 annual report – discussion with Emily O’Reilly, European Ombudsman 

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Plenary

15:00 – 00:00

Debates

  • Decision adopted on Mobility package
  • The new European Consensus on Development – our world, our dignity, our future
  • Rapporteur: Linda Mcavan (S&D, UK)
  • Committee: DEVE
  • Resilience as a strategic priority of the EU external action
    • Rapporteur: Linda Mcavan (S&D, UK)
    • Committee: DEVE
  • Combating anti-Semitism
  • Introduction of temporary autonomous trade measures for Ukraine
    • Rapporteur: Jarosław Wałęsa (EPP, PL)
    • Committee: INTA
  • Sri Lanka GSP+
  • Multiannual Framework for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022
    • Rapporteur: Angelika Mlinar (ALDE, AT)
    • Committee: LIBE
  • High-level UN Conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (UN Ocean Conference)
    • Rapporteur: Linnéa Engström (Greens/EFA, SE)
    • Committee: PECH
  • Digitizing European industry
    • Rapporteur: Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, DE)
    • Committee: ITRE
  • Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G
    • Rapporteur: Michał Boni (EPP, PL)
    • Committee: ITRE

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Plenary

8:30 – 11:20

Debates

  • Risk of political abuse of media in the Czech Republic
  • Uniform format for visas
    • Rapporteur: Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (S&D, DE)
    • Committee: LIBE
  • Protection of vulnerable adults
    • Rapporteur: Joëlle Bergeron (EFD, FR)
    • Committee: JURI

Votes

  • Rates of value added tax applied to books, newspapers and periodicals
    • Rapporteur: Tom Vandenkendelaere (EPP, BE)
    • Committee: ECON
  • Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G
    • Rapporteur: Michał Boni (EPP, PL)
    • Committee: ITRE
  • Protection of vulnerable adults
  • Rapporteur: Joëlle Bergeron (EFD, FR)
    • Committee: JURI
  • Introduction of temporary autonomous trade measures for Ukraine
    • Rapporteur: Jarosław Wałęsa (EPP, PL)
    • Committee: INTA
  • Uniform format for visas
  • Rapporteur: Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (S&D, DE)
    • Committee: LIBE
  • Multiannual Framework for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022
    • Rapporteur: Angelika Mlinar (ALDE, AT)
    • Committee: LIBE
  • Digitizing European industry
    • Rapporteur: Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, DE)
    • Committee: ITRE
  • The new European Consensus on Development – our world, our dignity, our future
    • Rapporteur: Linda Mcavan (S&D, UK)
    • Committee: DEVE
  • Combating anti-Semitism
  • Resilience as a strategic priority of the EU external action
    • Rapporteur: Linda Mcavan (S&D, UK)
    • Committee: DEVE
  • High-level UN Conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (UN Ocean Conference)
    • Rapporteur: Linnéa Engström (Greens/EFA, SE)
    • Committee: PECH