Summary
Next week, the Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather in Brussels for the final week of committee meetings before the summer recess. A number of hearings and debates are scheduled to take place.
On Tuesday, the Committee on International Trade (“INTA”) will have an exchange of views with Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström on recent developments in EU Trade Policy. It is expected this hearing will touch on topics such as the EU challenge under the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement to labor rights practices, and the EU-Vietnam and EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreements, which are yet to be approved by the European Parliament.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, several committees will hold hearings with Finnish ministers on the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Finland has taken up the rotating Presidency as of July 1 and will remain President until the end of 2019. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (“ITRE”), the Committee on Regional Development (“REGI”), the Committee on Development (“DEVE”), and the Committee on Transport and Tourism (“TRANS”) will all question the respective Finnish ministers on their policies and positions. The Finnish government has distributed its programme, titled “Sustainable Europe – Sustainable Future”, that sets out Finland’s four priorities: the strengthening of common values and the rule of law; of the EU’s competitiveness and social inclusivity; of the EU’s position as global leader in climate action; and of the comprehensive security of its citizens. See the Finnish Presidency’s program here.
On Wednesday, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) will have an exchange of views with the Commissioner for the Security Union, Julian King. The hearing comes at a time when the European Commission has received the national risk assessments of the Member States with regard to the presence of foreign telecom companies in Member States’ 5G networks. The Commission will complete its own risk assessment by October 1. It can be anticipated that the MEPs of LIBE will question the Commissioner on the implications of these security concerns on civil rights and data protection.
Meetings and Agenda
Monday, July 22, 2019
Committee on Budgets
15:00 – 18:30
Debates
- Draft amending budget no 1 to the general budget 2019 entering the surplus of the financial year 2018 (BUD) – Consideration of draft report
- Draft amending budget no 2 to the general budget – Reinforcement of key programmes for EU competitiveness: Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ (BUD) – Consideration of draft report
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
15:00 – 17:00
Debates
- Public Hearing with Elke KÖNIG, Chairperson of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) (15.00-16.30)
Committee on Culture and Education
15:00 – 17:00
Votes
- Election of the third Vice-Chair
- Election of the fourth Vice-Chair
- ‘Erasmus’: the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport – vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations
- Establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) – vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations
- Establishing the European Solidarity Corps programme – vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Committee on International Trade
10:30 – 12:30
Debates
- Exchange of views with Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Commissioner for Trade, on recent developments in EU Trade Policy
- General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 – all sections (2019/2028(BUD))
Committee on Budgets
09:00 – 11:30
Debates
- 2019 Budget: Section III – Commission (DEC) – Any other transfer request
- 2019 Budget: Other Sections – Rapporteur: José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT) – Any other transfer request
- Building policy – Any other request
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
17:00 – 18:30
Debates
- Exchange of views with Neven MIMICA, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development – “Delivering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” – The EU’s first joint review of progress at the UN High Level Political Forum of July 2019 and the preparation of the UN Sustainable Development Summit of September 2019
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
09:00 – 18:30
Debates
- Exchange of views with Katri KULMUNIl, Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs (energy, industry, SMEs, research and innovation, space), and Sanna MARIN, Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications (ICT, digital agenda, cybersecurity)
- General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 – all sections (BUD) – Consideration of draft opinion
- Presentation of the activities of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), by its Director Alberto POTOTSCHNIG
- Exchange of views with Juhan LEPASSAAR, Executive Director candidate of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) , selected on 16 July 2019 by its Management Board
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
14:30 – 18:30
Debates
- Election of the third Vice-Chair
- Election of the fourth Vice-Chair
- Exchange of views with Commissioner Phil HOGAN, responsible for agriculture and rural development
Committee on Fisheries
14:30 – 18:30
Debates
- General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 – all sections (BUD)
- Exchange of views with João Aguiar MACHADO, Director-General of DG MARE
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
09:00 – 12:30
Debates
- Exchange of views with Koen VERVAEKE, EEAS Managing Director for Africa, on recent developments in Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan
- Exchange of views with H.E. Maia SANDU, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova
Committee on Development
09:00 – 12:30
Debates
- EU developement policy – Challenges Ahead – Exchange of views with Stefano MANSERVISI, Director General, DG DEVCO, European Commission EU relations with the ACP Group of States: Assessment of the current Cotonou Agreement and opportunities beyond 2020.
- Exchange of views with the European Commission, the EEAS and the ACP Secretariat
- General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 – all sections (2019/2028(BUD))
- Priorities of the Finnish Presidency in Humanitarian Aid. Exchange of views with Ville SKINNARI, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland
Committee on Budgetary Control
09:00 – 18:30
Debates
- Exchange of views on CONT priorities for the 9th legislative term with opening remarks from Ms Inge GRÄSSLE, former CONT Chair
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
09:00 – 12:30
Votes
- Delegation of powers to coordinators (rule 214 §2)
- Proposed calendar of meetings for the remainder 2019
- Approval of the committee linguistic profile
- Validation of coordinators’ recommendations on “unfinished business”
Committee on Transport and Tourism
09:00 – 12:30
Debates
- Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Visit of Sanna MARIN, Finnish Minister for Transport and Communications, and Katri KULMUNI, Finnish Minister for Economic Affairs (responsible for tourism)
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
09:15 – 18:30
Debates
- Exchange of views with Julian KING, Commissioner for the Security Union (15.00-16.30)
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
09:00 – 12:00
Debates
Exchange of views with Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality (09.00-10.30)