Summary

Next week will be a mixed week in the European Parliament.  Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will meet in Brussels for political group meetings, several committee meetings, and a plenary session on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, during this plenary session, Executive (First) Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans will present his ambitions for the much-publicized “European Green Deal”.  In the election speech of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the European Parliament, she stressed that Europe’s most pressing challenge and opportunity is to keep the planet healthy.  Her ambition is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050.  To achieve this, she tasked Commissioner Timmermans with drafting a European Green Deal in the first 100 days that will become the signature initiative of this Commission.

The presentation of Timmermans was leaked on December 6 and indicates that the European Green Deal will compromise many aspects of EU policy.  Key objectives are climate neutrality, zero pollution, transitioning to a circular economy, preserving Europe’s natural capital, and ensuring clean reliable and affordable energy.  A central effort to achieve these goals is a European Climate Law that will include revisions of all legislative measures, in particular the Energy Taxation Directive.  He will also propose a carbon adjustment mechanism for selected sectors, and a new EU Strategy on Adaption to Climate Change that is due in the last quarter of 2020.  For the transport sector, he envisions to reduce the free allowances under the EU’s Emissions Trading System of the aviation sector by 2021 and to extend the System to the maritime sector.

To safeguard support for these measures and make sure that the financial burden is distributed evenly across the EU, the European Green Deal will establish a Just Transition Mechanism.  For example, regions that are most exposed to the decarbonisation challenge can be eligible for compensation.  The leaked presentation also seems to suggest that large companies could conditionally be compensated for a green conversion.

Furthermore, the European Green Deal has a strong global dimension.  The EU will strive to lead international climate negotiations and strengthen the EU’s Climate and Energy Diplomacy.  For instance, ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement will be an essential element to every future EU trade agreement.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, December 9, 2019 

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

15:00 – 18:00

Debate

  • European Data Protection Board (EDPB) – presentation of the tasks and activities by Andrea JELINEK, Chair of the EDPB (15.00-15.45)

Joint debate

  • Conditions for accessing the other EU information systems
  • Conditions for accessing other EU information systems for ETIAS purposes
  • Structured dialogue with Ylva JOHANSSON, Commissioner for Home Affairs – exchange of views

Votes

  • Conclusion of a new protocol between EU, Iceland and Norway to an agreement on asylum applications and Eurodac. (NLE), adoption of amendments
    • Rapporteur: Jadwiga WIŚNIEWSKA (ECR, PL)
  • European Border and Coast Guard: false and authentic documents online (FADO) system – vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
    • Rapporteur: Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT)
  • Community statistics on migration and international protection – vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
    • Rapporteur: Jan-Christoph OETJEN (Renew, DE)

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

18:00 – 20:00

Vote

  • Conference on the Future of Europe – consideration and adoption of a draft opinion

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 

  • No meetings of notes

Wednesday December 11 2019

Plenary Session

14:00 – 16:00

Debates

  • Resumption of session and order of business
  • Commission statement – The European Green Deal

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Committee on Budgets

9:00 – 12:30

  • Conclusion of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024) Adoption of draft opinion.
    • Rapporteur: Margarida Marques (S&D)
  • 2019 Budget: Section III – Commission
    • Rapporteur: John Howarth (S&D)
  • 2019 Budget: Other Sections
    • Rapporteur: José Manuel Fernandes (PPE)
  • Building policy
    • Rapporteur: Fabienne Keller (RE)
  • Building policy

– Exchange of views on EEAS: EU Delegation offices in Beijing, China

– Any other information received

  • Exchange of views on the follow-up to Parliament’s resolutions and on progress in the Council on the MFF 2021-2027 and the Own Resources

Committee on Budgetary Control

9:00 – 12:30

  • B.C.

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

9:00 – 12:30

  • Public Hearing with Andrea ENRIA, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB (09.00-09.30)

Vote

  • Institutions and bodies in the Economic and Monetary Union: Preventing post-public employment conflicts of interest (RSP) – Vote on a motion for a resolution

 Friday, December 13, 2019

  • No meetings of notes