Summary

Next week will be a short week in the European Parliament.  Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather (virtually) in Brussels for committee meetings and political group meetings.  A few interesting debates are scheduled to take place.

On Tuesday, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (“AGRI”) will have an exchange of views with Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn regarding the new proposal for the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (“MFF”) and the recovery plan after the outbreak of COVID-19.  The debate will focus on the future Common Agricultural Policy and other agricultural matters.  On May 27, 2020, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a proposal for a recovery fund that would allow the European Commission to borrow EUR 750 billion to distribute and invest in the form of grants and loans in the areas and sectors that are worst hit by the pandemic-driven economic downturn.  The proposal reinforces the budget for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development by EUR 15 billion.  The Just Transition Fund will receive an additional EUR 32.5 billion for alleviating the social-economic impact of the green transition and investing in the clean energy transition.  The Commission’s recovery fund proposal is available here.

On Thursday, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) will debate on a framework of ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies.  They will discuss a report prepared by MEP Assita Kanko (BE, ECR) that will serve as an opinion on a final report of the Committee on Legal Affairs (“JURI”).  JURI’s report will be the formal position of the Parliament regarding ethical aspects of artificial intelligence.  The draft opinion of the JURI committee sets out a series of principles for a legal framework for artificial intelligence at the EU level that is supervised by national competent authorities.  It calls for a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence with appropriate risk assessments and safeguards to prevent bias and discrimination.  The draft opinion also supports an EU Agency for Artificial Intelligence that must coordinate and enhance national enforcement of these principles.  MEP Kanko of LIBE endorses the principles of human autonomy and redress for artificial intelligence, but takes a lighter approach to regulating.  She suggests that where it would be premature to adopt legal acts, a soft law framework should be used.  She notes that artificial intelligence can potentially enhance public safety and security, but also stresses that robotics are not immune from making mistake and thinks that reflection is needed on the complex issue of liability in the context of criminal justice.  The draft report of the JURI committee is available here and MEP Kanko’s draft report is available here. 

Meetings and Agenda

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

09:00 – 11:00

Debates

  • Exchange of views with Commissioner Johannes HAHN, responsible for Budget and Administration, on the new MFF proposal and the recovery plan after the outbreak of COVID-19 with special focus on the future CAP and agricultural matters.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

  • No meetings of note

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

09:00 – 18:45

Debates

  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the drugs situation in Europe – presentation by Alexis GOOSDEEL, Director, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) (9.30-11.00)
  • Report on the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies: combating negative attitudes towards people with Romani background in Europe (INI) – consideration of draft report – exchange of views with the following: (16.50-18.15)

1) Helena DALLI, Commissioner for Equality

2) Michael O’FLAHERTY, Executive Director, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

3) Daniel STRAUß, Representative of Romnokher, German NGO

4) Presentation of the European Implementation Assessment by EPRS

  • Rapporteur: Romeo FRANZ (Greens/EFA, DE)

Possibly

  • LIBE Mission to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in Warsaw, Poland, 24-25 February 2020 – presentation of mission report (18.15-18.40)

Vote (18.40-18.45 announcement of the result)

  • Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak (RSP), adoption of motion for a resolution
  • Rapporteur: Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES) 

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

10:00

  • Extraordinary Meeting.
  • T.B.D. 

Committee on Budgetary Control

14:00

  • Remote Technical meeting on the Revision of the OLAF regulation 

Friday, June 5, 2020

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

11:00

  • Extraordinary Meeting.
  • T.B.D.