Summary

Next week, there will be a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Several significant debates, votes and committee meetings will take place.

On Tuesday, the plenary session of the European Parliament will debate a report of the Committee of Inquiry into Money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion (“PANA”). The report concerns the inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of EU law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion, as exposed by the “Panama Papers” in 2016. The report encourages better regulation of financial intermediaries, improved protection of whistleblowers, and a uniform definition of tax havens. See the report here.

On the same day, MEPs will vote on a report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (“ECON”) and the Committee on Budgets (“BUDG”) that proposes extending the  European Fund for Strategic Investments (“EFSI”) until 2020. The report also recommends that additional funds to be provided to finance projects with the most promising social and economic returns in the EU. See the report here.

On Wednesday, MEPs will debate and vote on a resolution on the state of play of Brexit negotiations with the UK with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. They will also debate other key issues such as defense, migration or social policies with  EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. These debates will take place ahead of the European Council meeting, scheduled for December 14–15, 2017 in Brussels.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, December 11, 2017

Plenary session

17:00 – 21:00 

Debates

  • Resumption of session and order of business
  • Sustainable management of external fishing fleets
  • Rapporteur: Linnéa ENGSTRÖM (Greens/EFA, SE)
  • EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): continuing current limitations of scope for aviation activities and preparing to implement a global market-based measure from 2021
  • Rapporteur: Julie GIRLING (CP, UK)
  • EU Citizenship Report 2017: Strengthening Citizens’ Rights in a Union of Democratic Change
  • Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA (ALDE, ES)
  • Towards a digital trade strategy
  • Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL)
  • Prospects and challenges for the EU apiculture sector
  • Norbert ERDÕS (EPP, HU)
  • A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility
  • Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL)

Committee on Foreign Affairs

19:30 – 21:00

  • Discussion with the 2017 Sakharov Prize laureates – Democratic Opposition in Venezuela – National Assembly (Julio Borges) and all Political Prisoners as listed by Foro Penal Venezolano

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

19:30 – 21:30

  • Banking reform package – Discussion with the rapporteurs Gunnar HOKMARK (EPP, SV) and Peter SIMON (S&D, DE)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

19:00 – 21:00

  • Security dialogue with Commissioner Julian KING – countering terrorist narratives and progress made towards a Security Union (19.00-20.30)

Voting time (20.30-21.00)

  • Countering money laundering by criminal law (COD) – Vote on draft report and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the composition of the negotiating team
  • Rapporteur: Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Plenary session

Debates

09:00 – 11:50

  • Report on the inquiry into money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion
  • Rapporteurs: Petr JEZEK (ALDE, CZ) and Jeppe KOFOD (S&D, DK)
  • Extension of the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments
  • Rapporteurs: Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE) and José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT)

Votes followed by explanations of votes

12:00 – 14:00

  • Draft recommendation following the inquiry on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion
  • Customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the USA
  • Rapporteur: Jiří MAŠTÁLKA (GUE/NGL, CZ)
  • EU-USA Air Transport Agreement
  • Rapporteur: Theresa GRIFFIN (S&D, UK)

Debates

15:00 – 23:00

  • Iran Nuclear deal
  • Situation in Afghanistan
  • Situation of the Rohingya people
  • Annual report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy
  • Rapporteur: Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE)
  • Annual report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy
  • Rapporteur: David McALLISTER (EPP, DE)
  • Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2016 and the EU policy on the matter
  • Rapporteur: Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL (EPP, DE)

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Plenary session

Key Debate

09:00 – 11:50

  • Preparation of the European Council meeting of 14 and 15 December 2017
  • State of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom

 12:00 – 12:30

Award of the Sakharov Prize

12:30 – 14:30

Votes followed by explanations of votes

  • Hong Kong, 20 years after handover
  • Alyn SMITH (Greens/EFA, UK)

15:00 – 23:00

Debates

  • Composition of the European Parliament
  • Rapporteurs: Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL) and Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D, PT)
  • Implementation of the Social Pillar
  • Implementation of the directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography
  • Rapporteur: Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT (EPP, SE)
  • EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (Consent)
  • Rapporteur: Liisa JAAKONSAARI (S&D, FI)
  • EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (Resolution)
  • Rapporteur: Liisa JAAKONSAARI (S&D, FI)

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Plenary Session

08:30 – 11:50

Debates

  • Implementation of EU macro-regional strategies
  • Rapporteur: Andrea COZZOLINO (S&D, IT)
  • Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions 2016
  • Rapporteur: Notis MARIAS (ECR, GR)

12:00 – 14:00

Votes followed by explanations of votes

 15:00 – 16:00
Debates

Special Committee on terrorism

09:30 – 11:30

  • Discussion with Manuel Navarrete PANIAGUA, Head of European Counter Terrorism Centre (Europol) 

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

10:15 – TBD

  • Composition of the European Parliament – vote on report by Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL) and Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D, PT)

Friday, December 15, 2017

 

  • No meetings of note
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Photo of Sebastian Vos Sebastian Vos

Sebastian Vos is co-chair of the firm’s public policy practice, and heads up its European division. He has extensive experience in the European Union and advises clients as they navigate and manage today’s global regulatory and policy challenges.

Sebastian provides clients with strategic…

Sebastian Vos is co-chair of the firm’s public policy practice, and heads up its European division. He has extensive experience in the European Union and advises clients as they navigate and manage today’s global regulatory and policy challenges.

Sebastian provides clients with strategic public policy, regulatory, and communications advice on a range of competition, trade, transactional and sectoral issues. Sebastian has particular expertise in advising companies in the technology, financial services, energy and transport sectors.

Sebastian was formerly a partner at a leading global public affairs consultancy. Prior to this, he was head of the competition practice at a strategic communications agency. He worked as an attorney at a magic circle firm, specialising in Antitrust, Competition and Trade law, as well as being a member of the Public Policy practice. He has also worked at the European Commission, and was part of its Delegation to the United States in 2000.

Sebastian has written articles on legal and political developments in various publications, including Europe’s World, Bloomberg Business Law Review and European Competition Law Review. He has also been a commentator on broadcast media including CNBC and Bloomberg TV.