Summary

Next week will be a Committee week in the European Parliament.  Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather in Brussels to participate in debates and votes.

On Monday, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (“ECON”) will have its first monetary dialogue with the new President of the European Central Bank (“ECB”), Christine Lagarde.  Lagarde will present the perspectives of the ECB on the economy of the euro area and the ECB’s Monetary Policy Strategy.  In addition, Lagarde will also offer her views on “The Future of Money” and the impact of digitalisation on the monetary system.  This will mainly focus on the private and public  deployment of cryptocurrencies and stable coins.  MEPs will have the opportunity to question her on her policies and views.  On the ECB’s Monetary Policy Strategy, MEPs will likely question Lagarde’s policy considerations regarding the ECB’s role in promoting sustainable finance.  In a hearing with the European Parliament prior to her confirmation, Lagarde pledged that climate change risks and the protection of the environment is at the core of her mission.  Nonetheless, on November 27, 2019, the European NGO Positive Money has published an open letter to Lagarde urging the ECB to proactively pursue a green agenda.  This letter was co-signed by another 250 organizations and academics.  The letter can be read here.

On Tuesday, MEPs of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (“ENVI”) will vote on a Resolution to enable the digital transformation of healthcare in the Digital Single Market.  The resolution identifies three priorities: the need to secure improved access to and sharing of personal data; the need for higher quality health data; and the need for better digital tools.  It suggests that the Commission should promote the eHealth digital infrastructure and develop a shared framework to harmonize the collection of health data.  The resolution can be found here.

On Tuesday, the Members of the ENVI committee will also vote on a resolution on the EU Pollinators Initiative.  The resolution includes a roadmap to tackle the decline of bees and other pollinators in the EU.  It calls on the Commission to prohibit the use of all neonicotinoid-based pesticides and requests more funding for research and bee monitoring.  The resolution can be found here. 

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, December 2, 2019 

Subcommittee on Human Rights

15:00 – 18:30

Debate

In association with the Delegation for Relations with China

  • Exchange of views with Joshua WONG, Secretary-General and co-founder of the Demosisto party, Hong Kong (via video link)

Afternoon

  • Debriefing on the 8th High Level EU-Brazil human rights dialogue of 9 October 2019

Committee on Development

15:00 – 18:30

Debates

  • World Aids Day. Exchange of views with Gunilla Carlsson, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS, Sylvia Mbaturu, CIVICUS, Marijke Wijnroks, Global Fund, and Baby Rivona, Indonesian Positive Women Network.
  • Current and forthcoming challenges in EU humanitarian aid. Exchange of views with Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner-designate for Crisis Management

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

15:00 – 18:30

Debate

  • Exchange of views with Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS) on presentation of the EUMS and MPCC and on the state of play of the CSDP missions

Committee on International Trade

15:00 – 17:30

Debate

  • Exchange of views with the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on the EU–Vietnam Free Trade agreement and EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

  • Monetary Dialogue with Christine LAGARDE, President of the European Central Bank (15.00-17.00)

Committee on Fisheries

15:00 – 18:30

Hearing

  • State of play of the Landing Obligation: challenges and best practices

The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of 2013 foresaw the gradual elimination of the practice of discarding through the introduction an obligation to land all catches. It is one of the main features of the fisheries policy reform and as such requires continued committee attention. The current hearing on is the fourth consecutive event on this crucial subject and summarises the first full year of implementation of the policy.

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

Debates

  • Proceedings from the Conference ‘From Tampere 20 to Tampere 2.0’ held in Helsinki on 24-25 October 2019. (15.00-15.30) Presentations by:
  1. Marie DE SOMER, Head of the Migration and Diversity Programme, European Policy Centre
  2. Philippe DE BRUYCKER, Professor at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Coordinator of the Odysseus Network
  • Global Refugee Forum – internal EU commitments – presentation by the Commission (15.30-16.15)
  • Exchange of views with António VITTORINO, Director-General, International Organisation for Migration (16.15-17.25)

Joint meeting: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs / Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

17:30 – 18:30

Debate

  • “The ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence” – joint exchanges of views by the LIBE and FEMM committees on the EU accession to the Council of Europe Convention (also known as the Istanbul Convention). The aim is to analyse the situation and discuss potential options to move the ratification forward.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Subcommittee on Human Rights

9:00 – 18:30

Debates

9:00 – 11:30

  • Exchange of views with Joan CARLING, indigenous rights defender and specialist on Sustainable Development Goals
  • Exchange of views with Omar SHAKIR, Human Rights Watch Director for Israel and Palestine
  • Debriefing on the AFET/DROI/SEDE delegation to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and to Washington D.C. (USA) (11.00-11.30)

14:30 – 17:00

  • Exchange of views with Agnes CALLAMARD, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

17:00 – 18:30

  • In association with the Delegation for the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly
  • Exchange of views on recent human rights developments in Chile

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

9:30 – 18:30

Debates

  • Public Hearing on Opportunities and challenges of the use of Artificial Intelligence – enabled systems in security and defence (10.30 – 12.30)
  • Implementation of the EU Cyber Defence Framework

Committee on International Trade

9:00 – 18:30

Vote

  • Macro-financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (2019/0192(COD)) – adoption of draft report.
  • Rapporteur Luisa Regimenti (ID, IT) 

Debates

  • State of play of the procedure of temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences for Cambodia under the ‘GSP Regulation’ (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012) 

Joint debates

  • Conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement / Investment Protection Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
  • Rapporteur Jan Zahradil (ECR, CZ)

 Public Hearing

  • Can we save the WTO Appellate Body? With Appellate Body member Prof. dr. Peter L.H. Van den Bossche, Chad P. Bown of the Peterson Institute, and Sabine Weyand, director of DG Trade in Commission.

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

9:00 – 18:30

Debate

  • Appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank – Exchange of views with the candidate, Fabio PANETTA (09.00-10.00)
  • Appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (NLE) – Exchange of views with the candidate, Isabel SCHNABEL (10.15-11.15)
  • Public Hearing with Elke KÖNIG, Chairperson of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) (14.30-16.00)

Votes

  • Appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (NLE) – Vote on a report
  • Appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (NLE) – Vote on a report
  • Requirements for payment service providers (CNS) – Vote on a report by Lídia PEREIRA (EPP, PT)
  • Measures to strengthen administrative cooperation in order to combat VAT fraud (CNS) – Vote on a report by Lídia PEREIRA (EPP, PT)
  • Fair Taxation in a digitalised and globalised economy. BEPS 2.0 – (RSP) – Vote on an oral question and motion for resolution

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

9:30 – 18:30

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Dr Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, on the transformation of part of the bank into a Climate Bank
  • European Year of Greener Cities 2021 – Consideration of motion for a resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP, FI), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DA), Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SV), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Jadwiga WIŚNIEWSKA (ECR, PL), Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ (GUE/NGL, ES)
  • Amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism – Presentation by the Commission (to be confirmed)
    • Rapporteur: Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL)
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the evaluation of the Union legislation on blood, tissues and cells
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on Food safety risks related to imports of horse meat from Uruguay and Argentina 

Votes

  • Objection pursuant to Rule 111(3): Delegated act on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures – titanium dioxide- dioxyde de titane – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Rapporteur: Anna ZALEWSKA (ECR, PL)
  • Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Imports of petfood from Saudi-Arabia – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Rapporteur: Joëlle MÉLIN (ID, FR)
  • Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Imposing special conditions governing the import of feed and food originating in or consigned from Japan following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station (D063901) – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Rapporteur: Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR)
  • Objection pursuant to Rule 112: the extension of the approval periods of the active substances benfluralin, dimoxystrobin, fluazinam, flutolanil, mancozeb, mecoprop-P, mepiquat, metiram, oxamyl and pyraclostrobin (D064213-01) – Adoption of motion for a resolution
  • Co-rapporteures: Tilly METZ (Greens/EFA, LU), Anja HAZEKAMP (GUE/NGL, NL), Eleonora EVI (NI, IT)
  • Strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment- Adoption of questions for oral answer
    • Co-rapporteurs: Cristian-Silviu BUȘOI (EPP, RO), Günther SIDL (S&D, AT), Jan HUITEMA (Renew, NL), Simona BALDASSARRE (ID, IT), Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (GUE/NGL, CZ)
  • COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Kunming (2020) – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Agnès EVREN (EPP, FR), César Luena (S&D, ES), María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS (Renew, ES), Ville NIINISTÖ (Greens/EFA, FI), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, CZ), Silvia MODIG (GUE/NGL, FI)
  • EU Pollinators Initiative – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Mairead McGUINNESS (EPP, IE), István UJHELYI (S&D, HU), Frédérique Ries (Renew, BE), Martin HÄUSLING (Greens/EFA, DE), Luisa Regimenti (ID, IT), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, IT), Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, CZ)
  • Enabling the digital transformation of health and care in the Digital Single Market; empowering citizens and building a healthier society – Adoption of motion for a resolution
    • Co-rapporteurs: Bartosz ARŁUKOWICZ (EPP, PL), Sara CERDAS (S&D, PT), Frédérique RIES (Renew, BE), Margrete AUKEN (Greens/EFA, DA), Luisa REGIMENTI (ID, IT), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (GUE/NGL, CZ)

Committee on Transport and Tourism

9:00 – 18:30

Votes

  • Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on certain aspects of air service (NLE) – adoption of draft recommendation (consent) by Tomasz Piotr Poręba (ECR, PL)
  • Exchange of views with Maja Markovčić Kostelac, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency

Committee on Fisheries

9:00 – 12:30

Votes

  • Conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (NLE) – adoption of draft opinion by Pietro Bartolo (S&D, IT)
    • Rapporteur: Jan Zahradil (ECR, CZ)
  • Conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (NLE) – adoption of draft opinion by Pietro Bartolo (S&D, IT)
    • Rapporteur: Jan Zahradil (ECR, CZ)
  • 2018 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) (DEC) – adoption of draft opinion by Nicolás González Casares (S&D, ES)
    • Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, PL)

Committee on Legal Affairs

9:00 – 16:30

Hearing

  • Cross-border restitution claims of works of art and cultural goods looted in armed conflicts and wars. This hearing is organised as a follow-up to the EP resolution of 17 January 2019.
  • Leading international experts will discuss various aspects of restitution of cultural property with the aim to look for ways to ensure fair and just solutions for the return of looted art. Invited speakers will exchange views on future actions to ensure standard processes for making and pursuing claims, the interpretation of ‘due diligence’, and shared definitions of what constitutes loss both between and within countries.

The hearing will be followed by a press point.

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

9:00 – 18:30

Debates

  • Entry-Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – discussion on state of play on implementation (09.45-10.45)
  • Implementation of the new European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) Regulation – presentation by Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of EBCG (10.45-11.45)

Hearing

  • Towards a common EU strategy to fight corruption and organised crime – strengthening instruments and enhancing cooperation between relevant sectors.

Committee on Petitions

9:00 – 18:30

Hearing

  • Hearing of the candidates for the post of European Ombudsman – candidates running for the post of European Ombudsman will present their priorities. The full House is expected to elect the new Ombudsman by secret ballot during the December plenary session. (16-19 December)

Wednesday December 4, 2019

Committee on Foreign Affairs

9:00 – 17:30

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Votes

  • Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2018 (2019/2125(INI)) – adoption of amendments.
    • Rapporteur: Isabel WISELER-LIMA (EPP, LU)
  • Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy – annual report (2019/2136(INI)) – adoption of amendments.
    • Rapporteur: David McALLISTER (EPP, DE)
  • Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2018 (2019/2135(INI)) – adoption of amendments.
    • Rapporteur: Arnaud DANJEAN (EPP, FR)

Debates

(Interparliamentary Committee Meeting with representatives from the EU National Parliaments)

  • EU foreign policy priorities for the new institutional cycle. Exchange of views with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep BORRELL
  • The future of enlargement – how to overcome the credibility deficit and boost reforms. Exchange of views with the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér VÁRHELYI (tbc)

Committee on Budgetary Control

9:00 – 18:30

  • Closure of the accounts for European Asylum Support Office (EASO) for the financial year 2017 (RSP) – Adoption on the motion for decision on closure of accounts
    • Rapporteur: Petri SARVAMAA (PPE, FI)
  • 2018 Discharge to the Joint Undertakings – Exchange of views with the representatives of the following Joint Undertakings, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Ildikó GALL-PELCZ : Development of Fusion for Energy (F4E), Clean Sky 2, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)
    • Co- rapporteurs: Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), Joachim Stanisław BRUDZINSKI (ECR, PL)
  • ECA Special Report 5/2019 (Discharge 2018): FEAD-Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived: Valuable support but its contribution to reducing poverty is not yet established – Presentation of the Special Report by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Iliana IVANOVA
    • Rapporteur: Maria GRAPINI (S&D, RO)
  • ECA Special Report 11/2019 (Discharge 2018): The EU’s regulation for the modernisation of air traffic management has added value – but the funding was largely unnecessary – Presentation of the Special Report by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Iliana IVANOVA
    • Rapporteur: Matteo ADINOLFI (ID, IT)
  • 2018 Discharge to the Agencies – Exchange of views with the representatives of the following agencies, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Rimantas ŠADZIUS

– European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

– European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX)

– European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

  • Co- rapporteurs: Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL), Joachim Stanisław BRUDZINSKI (ECR, PL) and Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL)
  • 2018 discharge: General budget of the EU – European Commission (DEC) – Exchange of views Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner responsible for Jobs and Social Rights, in the presence of Tony MURPHY, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible
    • Rapporteur: Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE)
  • ECA Special Report 15/2019 (Discharge 2018): Implementation of the 2014 staff reform package at the Commission – Big savings but not without consequences for staff – Presentation of the Special Report by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Pietro RUSSO
    • Rapporteur: Isabel García MUNOZ (S&D, ES)

Website of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

10:00 – 18:00

Joint meeting ITRE-TRAN

Vote

  • Establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (COD) – Vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations.
    • Co-rapporteurs: Henna VIRKKUNEN (EPP, FI), Marian-Jean MARINESCU (EPP, RO) and Dominique Riquet (Renew, FR) 

Vote

  • Labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters COD) – Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations.
    • Rapporteur: Henna VIRKKUNEN (EPP, FI)
  • Exchange of views with Jean-Eric PAQUET, Director General of DG Research and Innovation, on missions and partnerships in Horizon Europe
  • Presentation by the Commission of the Annual Report on the Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations
  • Exchange of views with the Commission on the state of play of the implementation of the Directive on security of network and information systems (the NIS Directive)

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

9:00 – 12:30

Debates

  • Presentation of plans to review Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC) (With the Commission)

Committee on Regional Development

15:00 – 18:30

  • Study commissioned by Policy Department B, “Research for REGI Committee – Cohesion policy: The European Parliament’s role since the Treaty of Lisbon” – Presentation by Haris Martinos and Serafin Pazos-Vidal, authors of the study

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

9:00 – 18:30

Hearing

  • “The reform of the Common Agriculture Policy”

The future of the EU farm policy in the midst of its ongoing reform will be debated by members of the Agriculture Committee and experts on Wednesday afternoon. The public hearing will focus on the future of direct payments and rural development and on the new delivery model based on national CAP strategic plans, a separate panel will discuss financing, management and monitoring of the CAP and in the end the debate will shift to the common market organisation and market-related measures to protect farmers and quality products.

Committee on Culture and Education

9:00 – 18:30

Hearing

  • “The European Capitals of Culture: Impacts, Challenges and Prospects”

The hearing will focus on the long-term legacy of the ECoC initiative, on the impact of the award on the development of cultural strategies of those cities, their networking and capacity building. It will also address the issue of how to exploit the potential of the ECoC initiative more efficiently and tackle challenges more affectively, both at programming and organisation levels.

 

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

9:00 – 18:30

  • Hearing on “Lessons to be drawn from the 2019 elections and proposals in view of the debate concerning the Future of Europe” (10.00-12.30 and 14.30-18.30).

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

9:00 – 12:30

Hearing

  • Hearing on the EU strategy for Gender Equality (2020-2024) – The aim of the hearing is to receive input from civil society and the academic world regarding the report on the same topic that will be drafted in the coming months.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Committee on Budgetary Control

9:00 – 12:30

  • 2018 discharge: General budget of the EU – European Commission (DEC) – Exchange of views with Johannes HAHN, Commissioner responsible for Budget and Administration, in the presence of Lazaros S. LAZAROU, Annemie TURTELBOOM, Jan GREGOR and Eva LINDSTRÖM, Members of the European Court of Auditors responsible
    • Rapporteur: Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE)
  • ECA Special Report 20/2019 (Discharge 2018): EU information systems supporting border control – a strong tool, but more focus needed on timely and complete data – Presentation of the Special Report by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Bettina JAKOBSEN
    • Rapporteur: Tsvetelina PENKOVA (S&D, BG)
  • ECA Special Report 24/2019 (Discharge 2018): Asylum, relocation and return of migrants: Time to step up action to address disparities between objectives and results – Presentation of the Special Report by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Leo BRINCAT
    • Rapporteur: Tamás DEUTSCH (EPP, HU)

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

9:00 – 10:30

  • Exchange of views with Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, on the delegated act setting the Union list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs)

Committee on Regional Development

9:00 – 12:30

Votes

  • Establishment of the Reform Support Programme – Procedural vote aiming the re-adoption of the opinion adopted by REGI committee on 22 November 2018, rapporteur for the opinion Cristian Ghinea (Renew, RO)
  • EUROCITIES – Exchange of views with Mathias De Clercq, mayor of Ghent, executive committee member
  • European Committee of the Regions opinion on “Socioeconomic structural change in Europe’s coal regions” – Exchange of views with Mark Speich, rapporteur

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

9:00 – 13:00

Debate

  • Gender-based discrimination in the Western Balkans – exchange of views (12.00-13.00) (to be confirmed)

 Friday, December 6, 2019

  • No meetings of notes