The EU next Week (27-31 August)
Discussion details
Welcome to this late edition of the ‘the EU next Week’. In this space I try to uncover and detail Brussels' political agenda highlighting the most relevant parliamentary sessions and meetings to provide readers with the instruments to navigate the system and make informed decisions.
EU AGENDA
Tuesday 28 August
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis to visit Minsk
Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food safety will be in Minsk, Belarus to meet with senior officials from the Belarusian government. On the same day, the Commissioner will visit the EU funded project site in Navahrudak and the Lithuanian Centre of Education, Culture and Information in Rymdziuny. "I am looking forward to engaging in fruitful discussions with our Belarus counterparts on issues related to animal diseases, including African Swine Fever, bilateral market access issues, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination and non-communicable diseases among others'', said Commissioner Andriukaitisahead.
Wednesday 29 August
Mobilising €34m from the Solidarity Fund for Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria
The Budgets Committee is set to vote on mobilising €34m from the EU Solidarity Fund for Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria, which were all hit by natural disasters in 2017. This money from this fund, if awarded, will be used to support reconstruction efforts and cover some of the costs of emergency services, temporary accommodation, clean-up operations and protecting cultural heritage.
Introducing a new framework for crowdfunding
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will discuss the possibility of introducing an EU framework for crowdfunding service providers to enable crowdfunding platforms to offer their services throughout Europe and to unlock early stage financing for businesses. This proposal aims to modernise financial services using technology.
Regulating cross-border payments
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee is set to discuss new regulation, which aims to ensure that charges for cross-border payments made in euro currency within the EU are aligned with charges for domestic payments made in the official currency of another member state. Currently, charges for cross-border payments in euro currency from non-eurozone area member states are much higher than between eurozone countries.
Meetings with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/Bosnia and Herzegovina Foreign Minister
Foreign Affairs Committee members will encounter the Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov before discussing the Commission’s 2018 report on the country. After that, MEPs will assess and scrutinise the 2018 report on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress made by the country.
Thursday 30 August
Informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Vienna concludes.
EU Foreign Affairs ministers meets in Vienna, Austria for an European Council Informal meeting of ministers, also known as Gymnich. (The informal meeting will be opened with a discussion on current developments in the Middle East. During the working session on transatlantic relations, ministers will discuss the general state of relations and will address topics such as the preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the denuclearisation of North Korea. Discussions about South-East Europe will be aligned to developments in the coming months, with a focus on enlargement).
Negotiations for visa liberalisation for Kosovo
The Civil Liberties Committee to vote on whether to start negotiations with the Commission and EU ministers on a new legislation granting visa-free access to the EU for Kosovo citizens for 90 days in any 180-day period, provided they hold a biometric passport.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES CALENDAR
Listed below you will find more details and information about this week EP’ meetings.
Wednesday 29 August
Committee on Budgets
14:30 - 18:30
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3
- Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland (BUD) - Rapporteur: Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL) - Consideration and adoption
- Draft Amending Budget No 4 to the General Budget 2018 Accompanying the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland (BUD) - Rapporteur: Siegfried MURESAN (EPP, RO)
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
09:00 - 18:30
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050
- Corporate taxation of a significant digital presence (CNS) - First exchange of views on report by Dariuzs ROSATI (EPP, PL)
- Common system of a digital services tax on revenues resulting from the provision of certain digital services (CNS) - Rapporteur Paul TANG (S&D, NL) - First exchange of views
- European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) for Business (COD) - Consideration of a report by Ashley FOX (ECR, UK) (11.00-12.00)
- Charges on cross-border payments in the Union and currency conversion charges (cod) - Consideration of a report by Eva MAYDELL (EPP, BG) (14.30-15.00)
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
09:00 - 18:30
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1
- Establishing a European Labour Authority (COD) - Considerations of amendments. Report by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL) (10.00-11.00)
- Transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union (COD) - Consideration of amendments. Report by Enrique CALVET CHAMBON (ALDE, ES) (11.00-12.30)
- European Social Fund Plus (COD) - Consideration of a report by Veronica LOPE FONTAGNÉ (PPE, ES) 15.00-16.00)
- Workshop on European Social Fund Plus (16.00-17.30)
Joint meeting: Committee on Transport and Tourism and Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
11:00 - 12:30
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2
- Establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (COD) - consideration of draft report by Henna Virkkunen (EPP, FI), Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, RO) and Mirosław Piotrowski (ECR, PL)
Website of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Transport and Tourism
09:00 - 18:30
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2
- Autonomous driving in European Transport (INI) - consideratrion of draft report, rapporteur Wim van de Camp (EPP, NL)
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
09:00 - 18:30
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3G3
- Study on "The revival of wolves and other large predators and its impact on farmers and their livelihood in rural regions of Europe" - Presentation by John D. Linnell (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research - NINA).
Committee on Fisheries
14:30 - 18:30
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001
- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (COD) - exchange of views, rapporteur Gabriel Mato (EPP, ES)
Thursday 30 August
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3G3
Exchange of views with a Commission representative (DG AGRI) on the drought situation in Europe
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
09:00 - 17:30
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q2
LIBE mission to Bulgaria, Frontex Joint Operation, 12 – 14 February 2018 - Presentation of a draft mission report (9.00 - 9.30)
Votes (9.20 - 10.00)
Implementing decision on subjecting the new psychoactive substances N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin- 4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (cyclopropylfentanyl) and 2-methoxy-N-phenyl-N-[1-(2- phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]acetamide (methoxyacetylfentanyl) to control measures(NLE) - Rapporteur Branislav Škripek (ECR, SK) - vote on a draft report
Listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo*) (COD) - Rapporteur Tanja Fajon (S&D, SI) - Vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the composition of the negotiating team
Study “Cost of Non-Europe in the Fight against Terrorism” - Presentation by Wouter van Ballegooij, European Added Value Unit, DG EPRS by Marco Haefner, RAND Europe (10.30 - 11.15)
Decision approving the conclusion by Eurojust of the Agreement on Cooperation between Eurojust and Albania (CNS) - Rapporteur Laura Ferrara (EFDD, IT) - Consideration of a draft report (11.15 - 11.40)
4th meeting of the European Migration Forum “Towards a more inclusive labour market for migrants: Seizing the potential by addressing the challenges”, 6/7 March 2018 - Presentation of the report of the 4th meeting of the European Migration Forum (11.40 - 12.30)
DELEGATIONS
Friday 31 August
Delegation to Riga
On 30 and 31 August, a delegation of the Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (TAX3) will travel to Latvia. The visit aims at discussing with both political counterparts and experts the circumstances regarding the voluntary liquidation of ABLV Bank, which was the third largest bank of Latvia.
The delegation will also visit the premises of the Freeport of Riga, and will hold meetings with civil society stakeholders to gain a better understanding of Latvian financial and customs policies.
The delegation will meet with counterparts from the responsible committees of the Latvian Parliament; the Minister of Finance; the anti-money laundering authorities, and the association of Latvian Commercial Banks.
A press conference will be held at the end of the visit, on Friday at 13.00 in the European Parliament's office in Riga.
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