Summary

Next week, there will be a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Several significant debates, votes and committee meetings will take place.

On Monday, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will debate draft legislation concerning energy consumption. Under the proposed directives on energy efficiency and renewables, consumption of energy would need to drop 40% from 2005 levels by 2030, and renewable energy sources would need to increase from 27% to 35%. See the proposed directives here and here.

On Tuesday, the plenary session of the European Parliament will debate the conclusions reached by EU leaders at the European Council Summit on December 14-15, 2017. Among other issues, MEPs will discuss the Brexit negotiations, defense policy, migration and the reform of the Eurozone.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov will introduce the incoming EU Council Presidency priorities to MEPs, which include the digital economy, security, stability, and the connectedness of the Western Balkans.

On the same day, MEPs will debate the Future of Europe together with special guest Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland. This will be the first discussion in a series between MEPs and EU leaders on the future of the EU.

Also on Wednesday, the plenary session of the European Parliament will vote on a draft regulation concerning an extension of EU export controls on cyber surveillance tools, which could be used to hack computers, bypass passwords, or even violate human rights. See the proposed regulation here.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, January 15, 2018

Plenary session

17:00 – 21:00

Debates

• Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
  • Committee: ITRE
  • Rapporteur: José BLANCO LÓPEZ (S&D)
• Energy efficiency
  • Committee: ITRE
  • Rapporteur: Miroslav POCHE (S&D)
• Governance of the Energy Union
  • Committee: ENVI and ITRE
  • Rapporteurs: Claude TURMES (GREENS/EFA), Michèle RIVASI (GREENS/EFA)
• Conservation of fishery resources and protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures
  • Committee: PECH
  • Rapporteur: Linnéa ENGSTRÖM (GREENS/EFA)
• Implementation of EU macro-regional strategies
  • Committee: REGI
  • Rapporteur: Andrea COZZOLINO (S&D)
• International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans in the context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
  • Committee: ENVI
  • Rapporteur: José Inácio FARIA (EPP)
• Women, gender equality and climate justice
  • Committee: FEMM
  • Rapporteur: Linnéa ENGSTRÖM (GREENS/EFA)

Committee on Legal Affairs

19:00 – 19:30

• Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast) (COD) – vote on draft opinion in letter form
  • Rapporteur: Axel VOSS (EPP, DE)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

19:00 – 21:30

• Interoperability package – discussion with Julian KING, Commissioner for the Security Union (19.00-20.30)

Joint debate
20:30 – 21:30

• Situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy and assessment of the effectiveness of the reciprocity mechanism provided for in Article 1(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001 and Visa Suspension Mechanism – First Report – discussion with Matthias OEL, Director, DG HOME, European Commission

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Plenary session

09:00 – 11:50

Debates

• Review of the Estonian Presidency
• Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14 and 15 December 2017

12:00 – 14:00: Votes + explanations of votes

15:00 – 21:00
Debates

• EU support to the Colombian peace process
• Situation in Zimbabwe
• Control of exports, transfer, brokering, technical assistance and transit of dual-use items
  • Committee: INTA
  • Rapporteur: Klaus BUCHNER (GREENS/EFA)
• Trade and sustainable development chapters in EU trade agreements  

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Plenary session

09:00 – 11:50
Key debates

• Presentation of the programme of activities of the Bulgarian Presidency
• Debate with Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar on the Future of Europe

12:00 – 14:00

Votes + explanation

• Nomination of a Member of the Court of Auditors – Eva Lindström
  • Committee: CONT
  • Rapporteur: Indrek TARAND (GREENS/EFA)
• Nomination of a Member of the Court of Auditors – Tony James Murphy
  • Committee: CONT
  • Rapporteur: Indrek TARAND (GREENS/EFA)

Debates
15:00 – 21:00

• Composition of the European Parliament
  • Committee: AFCO
  • Rapporteurs: Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D)
• Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility, and international child abduction
  • Committee: JURI
  • Rapporteur: Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP)
• Marrakesh Treaty: facilitating the access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled
  • Committee: JURI
  • Rapporteur: Max ANDERSSON (GREENS/EFA)
• Fight against trafficking of women and girls for sexual and labour exploitation in the EU

Thursday, January 18, 2018 

Plenary session

09:00 – 11:50

Debates

• Implementation of the Youth Employment Initiative in the Member States
  • Committee: EMPL
  • Rapporteur: Romana TOMC (EPP)
• Implementation of the Professional Qualifications Directive and the need for reform in professional services
  • Committee: IMCO
  • Rapporteur: Nicola DANTI (S&D)

Votes + explanation

12:00 – 14:00

Major interpellations

15:00 – 16:00