Summary

Next week, the Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will return to Brussels from recess to hold Committee Meetings.  Several interesting debates and votes are set to take place.

On Tuesday, the Committee on International Trade (“INTA”) will have an exchange of views with the Director General for Trade, Sabine Weyand. She has been Director General since July 1, 2019, and this will be her first appearance in the European Parliament and before the International Trade Committee.

On Wednesday, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (“ECON”) will have an exchange with Christine Lagarde, candidate for the Presidency of the European Central Bank.  They will grill her on her credentials as chief of the International Monetary Fund and as lawyer.  A point of discussion will be the fact that she, in stark contrast to the previous Presidents of the ECB, doesn’t hold a PhD in economics or has had any formal economic training.  MEPs will also inquire into her plans and ambitions for the Eurozone.  Analysts expect her to resume the legacy of the incumbent ECB President, Mario Draghi, by cutting interest rates and continuing the bond-buying program – called quantitative easing.  She will, however, support the incorporation of environmental considerations in the ECB’s portfolio. ECON will subsequently vote on her appoint.  Their vote is a nonbinding recommendation, but a necessary step in her formal appoint by the European Council, consisting of the European heads of government or state.

Throughout the week, several committees will continue to 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 the President until the end of 2019.  Their priorities can be found, here.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, September 2, 2019 

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

15:00 – 18:30

Debates

  • Draft Presentation of the Council Presidency’s programme with Ms. Katri Kulmuni, Finnish Minister Minister of Economic Affairs and Mr. Timo Harakka, Finnish Minister of Employment

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 

Committee on International Trade

15.00 – 18.30

Debates

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
  • State of play of International Trade Negotiations : Exchange of views with Sabine Weyand, Director General for Trade, Commission
  • State of play on the implementation of Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Committee on Foreign Affairs

15.30 – 18.30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and Pacific, EEAS, on the situation in Kashmir
  • Exchange of views with Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, on the priorities of the Finnish Presidency
  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Tuesday, September 3, 2019 

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

09:00 – 12:30 and 14.30 – 18.30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Director General Eric Paquet on the strategic planning process of Horizon Europe
  • Presentation of Policy Development Study: In-depth analysis of 5G deployment
  • Presentation of Policy Development Study: Europe – the global centre for excellent research
  • Exchange of views with Mr Juhan Lepassaar, Executive Director candidate of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)
  • Presentation by the Commission by Ms Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General in DG Energy, on the State of the Energy Union and the state of play as regards the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) for 2021-2030

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Committee on International Trade

09.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 – 17.00 and 17.00 – 18.30

Debates

  • Presentation by Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, representing the President-in-Office of the Council, on the priorities of the Finnish Presidency in the area of International Trade Policy
  • Presentation of the Trade and Investment Barriers report for the year 2018
  • Presentation by the Commission of the outcome of the trade related aspects of the G20 Summit in Osaka, 28 – 29 June 2019
  • Recent developments in the EU investment policy
  • The Union’s Trade Dispute Settlement
  • Presentation of the joint communication “European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean: joining forces for a common future” – trade related aspects
  • Presentation on “EU preferential rules of origin”
  • Presentation of the report on the implementation of macro-financial assistance (MFA) to third countries in 2018

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Committee on Foreign Affairs

09.00 – 12.30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Johann Sattler, newly appointed Head of EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina (in compliance with the Declaration on Political Accountability of the HR/VP)
  • Exchange of views with Hans Grundberg, newly appointed Head of EU Delegation to Yemen (in compliance with the Declaration on Political Accountability of the HR/VP)
  • Exchange of views with Ignacio Ybáñez Rubio, newly appointed Head of EU Delegation to Brazil (in compliance with the Declaration on Political Accountability of the HR/VP)
  • Exchange of views with Meglena Kuneva, Head of the EU Delegation to the Council of Europe
  • Debriefing on the Parliamentary elections in Ukraine of 22 July 2019
  • Exchange of views with Matti Maasikas, newly appointed Head of EU Delegation to Ukraine (in compliance with the Declaration on Political Accountability of the HR/VP)
  • Exchange of views with Aude Maio-Coliche, Head of the EU Delegation to Argentina

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

09.00 – 11.00 and 11.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 16.00

Debates

  • Election of the second Vice-Chair
  • Election of the third Vice-Chair
  • Election of the fourth Vice-Chair
  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
  • Presentation of the programme of the Finnish EU Council Presidency by Ms Tytti Tuppurainen, President of the Council of the European Union, Minister for European Affairs

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
  • Commission Delegated Regulation replacing Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European citizens’ initiative

Committee on Regional Development

10.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 – 18.30

Debates

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
  • Commission Delegated Regulation amending the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
  • Introduction to the work of Policy Department B and presentation of a study “The agenda for cohesion policy in 2019-2024: Key issues for the REGI committee”
  • Exchange of views with Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), European Commission

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

09.00 – 12.30 and 15.30 – 19.30

Debates

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
  • Employment and social policies of the euro area
  • Exchange of views with Joost Korte (Director General of DG EMPL)
  • Presentation of study “EU and ILO: Shaping the Future of Work”
  • Exchange of views with Marianne Thyssen (Commissioner) on the state of play regarding the revision of the EU rules on the coordination of social security systems

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

09.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 15.30 and 15.30 -18.30

Debates

  • Presentation of the priorities of the Finnish Council Presidency
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of Europol by Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director
  • Presentation of the JHA Agencies network
  • Presentation of the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) 2019
  • Council implementing decision on the launch of automated data exchange with regard to vehicle registration data in Ireland
  • Discharge 2017: European Asylum Support Office (EASO) – Hearing with Nina Gregori, Executive Director of EASO
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of Eurojust by Ladislav Hamran, President
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of the EMCDDA by Alexis Goosdeel, Director
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of CEPOL by Detlef Schröder, Executive Director
  • Implementing decision approving the conclusion by Eurojust of the Agreement on Cooperation between Eurojust and Serbia
  • Election of the third Vice-Chair

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

09.00 – 18.30

Debates

  • Public Hearing with Andrea ENRIA, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB
  • Appointment of the President of the European Central Bank – Exchange of views with the candidate for the position.
    • Rapporteur: GUALTIERI (S&D, IT)
  • Economic dialogue and exchange of views with Mika LINTILÄ, ECOFIN Chair and Minister for Finance of Finland
  • Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank – Exchange of views with the candidate for the position
    • Rapporteur: GUALTIERI (S&D, IT)

Votes (18:00 – 18:30)

  • Appointment of the President of the European Central Bank (NLE) – Vote on a draft report
  • Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (NLE) – Vote on a draft report
  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020 – all sections (BUD) – Vote on a draft opinion and budgetary amendments 

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

09.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 18.30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the latest developments concerning CORSIA
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the findings of the Fitness Check of the most relevant chemicals legislation (excluding REACH) and identified challenges, gaps and weaknesses
  • Exchange of views with the European Court of Auditors on “EU actions for cross-border healthcare: significant ambitions but improved management required”
  • Exchange of views with Karmenu Vella (Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

09.00 – 12.45  and 15.00 – 18.30

Debates

  • Strengthening the rule of law within the Union – A blueprint for action
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of European Asylum Support Office (EASO) by Nina Gregori, Executive Director
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of eu-LISA by Krum Garkov, Executive Director
  • Hearing of the candidate selected for the post of Deputy Executive Director of Europol, Mr Jürgen Ebner
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of the FRA by Michael O’Flaherty, Executive Director
  • Presentation of the tasks and activities of the EDPS
  • Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record data

Votes

  • General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

09.00 – 12.30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the Communication on “Stepping up EU action to protect and restore the world’s forests”
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on climate change (recent developments in decarburization and adaptation policies)
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the Environmental Implementation Review 2019 : A Europe that protects its citizens and enhances their quality of life