Summary

Next week is a constituency week for Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”).  MEPs will go back to their home countries to handle national issues, or convene in their parliamentary delegations to work on matters related to non-EU Member States.

This past week was important however, as many significant initiatives were adopted by the Parliament.

On Tuesday, MEPs approved a draft report by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (“IMCO”) on geo-blocking.  The new rules ban unjustified geo-blocking and allow online consumers wider cross-border access to products, hotel bookings, concert tickets or car rentals.  Vendors will be compelled to treat online EU customers in the same manner as local customers.  However, the report does not compel e-commerce vendors to deliver their products to all EU countries.  See the report here.

Also on Tuesday, MEPs approved the mandate of a new Special Committee on Pesticides, which was established following a risk assessment of the herbicide glyphosate, whose license was renewed for five years in November 2017.

On Wednesday, MEPs voted in favor of a draft report by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (“AFCO”) on the composition of the European Parliament.  The report provides that the number of MEPs should decrease from 751 to 705 once the UK leaves the EU.  However, MEPs rejected the idea of “transnational” electoral lists throughout the EU.  See the report here.

Meetings and Agenda

No official meetings in the European Parliament are planned before February 19, 2017.

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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.