Summary

Next week, the European Parliament’s agenda includes debates on the Amazon forest fires, plant patents, and EU aid for the 2018 floods.  MEPs will also discuss political upheavals worldwide, with discussions scheduled on Brexit, foreign electoral interference, and the latest developments in Hong Kong.  Tying it all together is the expected finalization of Christine Lagarde’s appointment as ECB President.

On Monday, MEPs will question the European Commission about plant patenting.  Concerns raised by vocal activists, such as Greenpeace, may influence the tone of the debate.  MEPs are likely to call for the EU to ensure that products derived from essentially biological processes cannot be patented.  This debate precedes the October 1st deadline for the submission of statements to the EPO’s final appellate instance concerning the patentability of naturally obtained plants.

After Boris Johnson described himself as “cautiously optimistic” at the prospects of getting a deal, MEPs will get the chance to hear Michel Barnier’s side of the story on Wednesday.  This will be followed by a vote on a resolution which might give an indication of the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit.  On Wednesday and Thursday, MEPs will debate foreign electoral interference in Europe.  They will vote on a resolution calling disinformation a destabilizing threat to European cohesion and democratic processes.

This is also an interesting week for the EU’s monetary affairs, as the 2020 Budget and Lagarde’s recommendation will both be subject to plenary session votes.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, September 16, 2019

Plenary Session

17:00 – 19:00

Debates

  • Resumption of session and order of business
  • One-minute speeches (Rule 172)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

19:00 – 19:30

  • Election of the Chair

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

19:00 – 20:45

 Vote

  • ECR objection to the coordinators’ recommendation regarding the possibility of drafting a legislative own-initiative report on the “Revision of the European Arrest Warrant”. (19.00-19.10)

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship (19.10-20.45)

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Plenary Session

09:00 – 11:50   

Debate

  • (possibly) Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 163)

12:00 – 14:00

Votes followed by explanations of votes

  • Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank.
    • Report: Roberto Gualtieri
  • Launch of automated data exchange with regard to vehicle registration data in Ireland.
    • Report: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
  • Texts on which debate is closed

15:00 – 19:00

  • Debates on foreign affairs issues in the presence of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (to be defined)

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Plenary Session

09:00 – 14:00

Votes followed by explanations of votes

  • Draft amending budget No 1/2019: surplus from 2018.
    • Report: John Howarth
  • Draft amending budget No 2/2019: reinforcement of key programmes for EU competitiveness: Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+
    • Report: John Howarth
  • Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria.
    • Report: Siegfried Mureşan
  • Draft amending budget No 3/2019: proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria.
    • Report: John Howarth
  • Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund – EGF/2019/000 TA 2019 – Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.
    • Report: Bogdan Rzońca

15:00 – 18:00

  • Topical debate (Rule 162)
  • Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget – 2020 financial year

Thursday, September 18, 2019

Plenary Session

09:00 – 11:50   

Debates

  • Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)

12:00 – 14:00

Votes followed by explanations of votes

  • Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)
  • Texts on which debate is closed

15:00 – 16:00

  • Major interpellations (Rule 139)

Committee on Transport and Tourism

9:00 – 9:30

Vote

  • Vote on use of Rule 61 in relation to the three Mobility Package I files

Committee on Legal Affairs

9:00 – 11:00

  • Examination of potential or actual conflict of interests of the Commissioners-designate