The EU next Week (3-7 September)
Discussion details
Welcome to the second edition of 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
EP political groups get ready for the State of the Union debate
EP political groups are preparing for the State of the Union debate with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to be held on the morning of 12 September in Strasbourg. The 10-13 September plenary session will also include a debate with Greece’s PM Alexis Tsipras on the future of the EU and votes on the reform of EU copyright rules as well as the European Solidarity Corps, antimicrobial resistance, the Cybersecurity Act and EU-wide penalties against money laundering. MEPs will also vote on whether to initiate the procedure to determine if Hungary is breaching the EU’s founding values.
This week Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be attendings a number of Committee meetings in Brussels. Highlights for the EP Committees vote on: safer products, fraud/non-cash payments and new VAT system legislation.
EP Committee to vote on safer products legislation.
The European Parliament (EP) Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on a new legislation to better prevent unsafe products from being sold in the EU. The new provisions aims to foster cooperation among national authorities and improve checks on products sold online or imported from non-EU countries. Data shows that 32% of toys, 58% of electronics, 47% of construction products or 40% of personal protective equipment do not meet EU safety or consumer information requirements. The EP will attempt to address this issue. (Monday)
EP Committee to vote on fraud/non-cash payments law.
A new proposal aiming to fight fraud coming from non-cash payments (cards, direct debit, mobile payments) is up for a vote in the the EP Civil Liberties Committees. The draft regulation would introduce definition of cybercrime offences, minimum levels for the highest penalties, provisions for the rights of cybercrime victims and improve criminal justice cooperation. (Monday)
EP Committee to vote on a new VAT system proposal.
A comprehensive reform of the EU VAT system to simplify and facilitate intra-EU trade and make the system more resilient to fraud is up for a vote by the EP Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. The new legislation would apply the principle of destination, whereby goods and services would be taxed at the VAT rates of the member state of destination, and set up a one-stop shop to serve for the declaration, payment and deduction of the tax. (Monday)
Summits & Meetings
Tuesday 4 September
- EC President Juncker will be giving the opening speech at EU Ambassadors´ Conference (Brussels, 15:00)
Wednesday 5 September
- EC President Juncker will meet with Quaestor Catherine Bearder (Brussels,16:00)
Thursday 6 September
- Conference of Presidents, in presence of the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (Brussels,11:00)
- EPP Political Assembly (Rue du Commerce 10, Brussels, 15:00)
Parliamentary Committees Calendar
Listed below you will find more details and information about this week EP’ meetings.
Monday 3 September
15:00 - 19:00
Committee on Budgetary Control
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B-001
2017 discharge: EU general budget - Commission - Rapporteur: Inés AYALA SENDER (S&D, ES) - Exchange of views on the reservations issued in the 2017 annual activity reports by the Commission Directorates General with
- Mr Jean-Eric PAQUET, Director-General of DG Research and Innovation,
- Mr Jerzy BOGDAN PLEWA, Director-General of DG Agriculture and Rural Development,
- Mr Marc LEMAÏTRE, Director-General of DG Regional and Urban Policy,
- Ms Paraskevi MICHOU, Director-General of DG Migration and Home Affairs,
- Representatives of DG European Neighbourhood Policy And Enlargement Negotiations,
- Representatives of DG International Cooperation and Development.
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C50
Votes (17.30-18.15)
Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) (COD) - Vote on a report by Sophia IN 'T VELD (ALDE, NL)
Tax treatment of pension products, including the pan-European Personal Pension Product (INL) - Vote on a report by Sophia IN 'T VELD (ALDE, NL)
Harmonising and simplifying certain rules in the value added tax system and introducing the definitive system for the taxation of trade between Member States (CNS) - Vote on a report by Jeppe KOFOD (S&D, DK)
Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards rates of value added tax (CNS) - Vote on a report by Tibor SZABYI (S&D, HU)
Joint meeting with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Meeting room PHS 3C050 (18.20-18.30)
Controls on cash entering or leaving the Union (COD) - Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations. Report by Mady DELVAUX (S&D, LU) and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES)
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1
Votes
Rules and procedures for compliance with and enforcement of Union harmonisation legislation on products - Adoption of draft report - Rapporteur: Nicola DANTI (S&D, IT)
Mutual recognition of goods lawfully marketed in another Member State - Adoption of draft report - Rapporteur: Ivan ŠTEFANEC (EPP, SK)
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Regional Development
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 6Q2
Votes
Increase of the financial envelope of the Structural Reform Support Programme and adapt its general objective (COD) - vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations, rapporteur Ruža Tomašić (ECR, PL)
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Culture and Education
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3E2
Votes
Promoting automatic mutual recognition of diplomas - adoption of motion for a resolution further to a question for oral answer
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Legal Affairs
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 4B1
Use of digital tools and processes in company law - rapporteur Tadeusz Zwiefka (EPP, PL) - consideration of draft report
Cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions - rapporteur Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT) – consideration of draft report
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A2
Hearing on minimum standards for minorities in the EU (15.00 - 16.30) - see draft programme
Establishing the Internal Security Fund - rapporteur Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE) - Presentation by the DG HOME, European Commission with a focus on the new elements and new approach in the new MFF compared to the current proposal (16.30 - 17.00)
Votes (18.00 - 18.20)
Combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment (COD)- rapporteur Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (S&D, DE) - vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the negotiating team
Decision approving the conclusion by Eurojust of the Agreement on Cooperation between Eurojust and Albania (CNS)- rapporteur Laura Ferrara - (EFDD, IT) - vote on a draft report
Joint meeting with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) (18.20 - 18.30) - the programme is available here
Controls on cash entering or leaving the Union - rapporteurs Mady Delvaux (S&D, LU) and Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) - vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
15:45 - 18:30
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3G3
Mission to Estonia - 2018 - Presentation by EIGE (15.45 - 17.00)
The International Women's House - discussions with representatives of the organisation (17.00 - 17.45)
Votes (17.45 - 18.30)
Gender Budgeting: State of Play and way forward - rapporteur Angelika Mlinar (ALDE, AT) - vote of motion for a resolution
15:00 - 18:30
Committee on Petitions
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G3
Debates(after 16.00)
Report on the Annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman in 2017 - Rapporteur Eleonora Evi (EFDD, IT) - consideration of draft report
Petitions for discussion in committee on the basis of the Commission's written reply or other documents received
Air and noise pollution in Valencia: Petition 48/2018 by E.G.G. (Spanish) on the levels of air pollution in the city of Valencia
Situation in Venezuela:Petition 0425/2017 by Ignacio Hernandez (Spanish, Venezuelan) on the application of the "Country Strategy Paper Venezuela 2007- 2013" where the EU committed to consolidate democracy in Venezuela, Petition 0616/2017 by Frederik Ereu (Italian) on serious human rights violations in Venezuela, Petition 0740/2017 by Patricia Carrera Arrocha (Spanish) on behalf of ‘Citizens of the World in Defence of Venezuela’, bearing 13 226 signatures, on the situation in Venezuela
Wednesday 5 September
08:30 - 09:00
“PEST Committee's shortcomings / Monsanto's case in USA”
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050
Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE), Rapporteur PEST Committee, Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), Michael L. Baum, and Robert jr Kennedy
Thursday 6 September
Subcommittee on Human Rights
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 4B001
Workshop on the study on Venezuela and Cuba - In association with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss with experts the situation of the rule of law and human rights in Cuba and Venezuela as well as the EU's engagement, including the EP's Sakharov prize and related activities. Programme available here.
09:30 - 12:30
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3
Military Mobility (2018/2156(INI)) - Rapporteur: Tunne Kelam (EPP, ET)
The Council’s Annual Report in accordance with Operative Provision 8 of the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (2018/2157(INI)) - Rapporteur: Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL, DE)
14:00 - 18:00
Special Committee on the Union’s authorisation procedure for pesticides
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q2
Debates
Public Hearing on" Environmental Impacts of Pesticides, including Mitigation Measures at Member State Level” and “Stakeholders Recommendations on the Current EU Regulation on the Approval of PPP"
09:00 - 12:30
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1
Exchange of views with Director General of DG MOVE, Mr Hololei
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