Summary

On Tuesday, January 17, EU MEPs elected the European Christian Democrat Antonio Tajani (EPP, Italy), as new President of the European Parliament. Mr. Tajani will remain in office for two and a half years. See all new nominations (including Vice-Presidents and Quaestors) here.

This week will be very busy in the European Parliament as it is a committee week.

On Monday, the Committee on International Trade (“INTA”) will discuss whether the European Parliament should approve the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (“CETA”) concluded between the EU and Canada. The Parliament’s consent is required for the Treaty to come into force. The vote in the INTA Committee will take place on Tuesday. The plenary is expected to vote on its approval in the course of February.

On Tuesday, the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (“EMIS”) will continue its hearings, taking evidence from Mr. Florian Heuberger, Head of Technical Service and Mr. Oliver Hoffman, Head of Development Powertrain, both of Audi AG.

On the same day, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (“ENVI”) will vote on its report on the proposal for a Directive amending the current Directives on waste. The proposal aims to set new EU targets to foster the recycling of waste, including of vehicles, e-waste and batteries, in an effort to reduce landfilling. See the proposal for Directive amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, and the draft Report; the proposal for a Directive amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, and the draft Report; the proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment, and the draft Report; and, finally, the proposal for a Directive amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, and the draft Report.

The ENVI Committee will also consider a draft Report on its Initiative on resource efficiency: reducing food waste and improving food safety. This calls on the Commission and EU Member States to: promote consumer understanding of food safety, food waste and good practices on food management and consumption; promote successful practices of food waste reduction, and resource conservation methods. It further calls on the Commission to allow tax exemptions on food donations, and on the Member States to establish incentives for limiting food waste.

On Wednesday, the Maltese Presidency of the Council will also present its priorities to various Parliamentary committees. Mr. Emmanuel Mallia, Maltese Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy, and Mr. Chris Agius, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, will introduce the priorities of the Presidency, respectively, on Telecom policy and the Digital Single Market, and on Research, Innovation and Space, both before the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (“ITRE”). Christian Cardona, Maltese Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, will introduce the Presidency’s broader program to the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (“IMCO”). Discussions will also take place on the Maltese Presidency’s priorities in the Transport and Tourism Committee (“TRAN”) with Joe Mizzi, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Edward Zammit Lewis, Minister for Tourism. Finally, the Presidency’s maritime and fisheries policy priorities will also be presented to the Committee on Fisheries (“PECH”) by Roderick Galdes, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights.

On the same day, the ITRE Committee (“ITRE”) will vote on its opinion on the proposal for a Regulation introduced by the European Commission on geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination on the basis of customers’ nationality, place of residence or place of establishment.

Finally, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (“TRAN”) is also expected to vote on a draft Resolution on the Commission Communication “An Aviation Strategy for Europe” that aims to foster the growth of the EU aviation sector by opening new markets and creating additional opportunities for companies, through the conclusion of new international agreements with key countries, and also to plan the means to manage the growth in traffic. The Commission also wants the EU to maintain its leadership on passenger rights and safety, and environmental protection, while fostering innovation and proposing a clear framework for drones.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, January 23, 2017 

Committee on International Trade

15:00 – 18:30 

• Discussion on the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part

  • Rapporteur: Artis Pabriks (EPP, LV)

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

15:00 – 18:30

• Consideration of draft report on Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 for a resilient Energy Union and to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change

  • Rapporteur: Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, NL)

Committee on Regional Development

15:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Ian Borg, Minister for European Funding and Cohesion Policy on Priorities of the Maltese presidency of the Council

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality (17.00 – 18.30)

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 

Committee on Foreign Affairs

09:00 – 18:30

• Exchange of views with Stefano Severe, UNHCR Representative in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the state of play and prospects for refugees including resettlement

• Exchange of views with Ahmed Said, Chair of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Parliament of the Arab republic of Egypt

• Exchange of views with George Vella, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, on the priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU on enlargement policy

• Exchange of views with Daniel J. Costello, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union, and Christian Leffler, Deputy Secretary General and EU chief negotiator for the EU-Canada SPA, on the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Canada

Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector

15:00 – 17:00

• Hearing of Mr Florian Heuberger, Head of Technical Service and Mr Oliver Hoffman, Head of Development Powertrain, Audi AG

Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion

09:00 – 12:30

• Public Hearing – The role of lawyers, accountants and bankers in Panama Papers” (Part I)

Committee on International Trade

09:00 – 18:30 

• Consideration of draft opinion on EU guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under financing operations supporting investment projects outside the Union (COD)

  • Rapporteur: Salvatore Cicu (EPP, IT)

• Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations – Bilateral safeguard clause and the stabilisation mechanism for bananas of the Trade Agreement between the EU and its Member States and Colombia and Peru, of the other part (COD)

  • Rapporteur: Marielle de Sarnez (ALDE, FR)

• Adoption of draft recommendation (consent) on Conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part (NLE)

  • Rapporteur: Artis Pabriks (EPP, LV)

• Discussion on Protection against dumped and subsidized imports from countries not members of the EU (COD)

  • Rapporteur: Salvatore Cicu (EPP, IT)

• Presentation by Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, representing the President-in-Office of the Council, on the priorities of the Maltese Presidency in the area of International Trade Policy (15.00 – 16.30)

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

09:00 – 18:30 

• Adoption of draft report on Directive amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste

  • Rapporteur: Simona Bonafè (S&D, IT)

• Discussion with Mr José Herrera, Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Maltese Presidency

• Discussion with Mr Chris Fearne, Minister for Health, Maltese Presidency

• Adoption of draft report on Directive amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste

  • Rapporteur: Simona Bonafè (S&D, IT)

• Adoption of draft report on Directive amending Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment

  • Rapporteur: Simona Bonafè (S&D, IT)

• Adoption of draft report on Directive amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste

  • Rapporteur: Simona Bonafè (S&D, IT)

• Adoption of draft opinion on European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2017

  • Rapporteur: Nuno Melo (EPP, PT)

• Consideration of draft report on Initiative on resource efficiency: reducing food waste, improving food safety

  • Rapporteur: Biljana Borzan (S&D, HR)

Committee on Regional Development

09:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Iliana Ivanova, Member of the European Court of Auditors, on ECA report on Financial Instruments

• Workshop on Building blocks of a future EU cohesion policy – first reflections (10.30 -12.15)

• Vote on a draft resolution on Delayed implementation of ESI Funds operational programs – impact on cohesion policy and the way forward (RSP)

  • Rapporteur: Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE, BG)

• Discussion with Marc Lemaître, European Commission, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy

Committee on Culture and Education

09:00 – 18:30

• Vote on a draft resolution on Implementation report on Creative Europe (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Silvia Costa (S&D, IT)

• Vote on a draft resolution on Implementation report on Europe for Citizens(INI)

  • Rapporteur: Silvia Costa (S&D, IT)

• Priorities of the Maltese presidency of the Council – discussion with Hon. Evarist Bartolo, Minister of Education and Employment,  and Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government

• Public hearing on “Academic further and distance education as part of the European lifelong learning strategy” (15.00-18.30)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

09:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship (15.00-17.00)Wednesday, January 25, 2017 

Committee on Development

9:00 – 18:30

• Adoption of a draft report on Revision of the European Consensus on Development (INI)

  • Co-rapporteurs:  Bogdan Brunon Wenta (EPP, PL) and Norbert Neuser (S&D, DE)

• Discussion with George Vella, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta on the Priorities of the Maltese Presidency in humanitarian aid 

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

9:00 – 18:30

• Preparatory Action for EU Defence Research – Discussion with: Philippe Brunet, Director, Space Policy, Copernicus and Defence, DG GROW, European Commission, and Denis Roger, Director, European Synergies and Innovation, European Defence Agency

• Military cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe – Discussion with Lieutenant General Andrzej Falkowski, Polish Military Representative to NATO, and Colonel Serhii Rechych, Defence Adviser, Mission of Ukraine to the EU, and with the Representatives from Lithuania and Slovakia (tbc)

• The future of EU Battlegroups – Discussion with Brigadier General Daniel Grammatico, Director Operations, EU Military Staff, and Niklas Novaky, University of Aberdeen, visiting researcher at VUB Brussels

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

• Economic Dialogue and discussion with Edward SCUCKYBA, ECOFIN President and Minister for Finance of Malta (09.15-10.30)

• Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations – Prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading (COD)

  • Rapporteur: Petr Ježek (ALDE, CZ)

• Vote on a report Establishing a Union program to support specific activities enhancing the involvement of consumers and other financial services end-users in Union policy making in the field of financial services for the period of 2017-2020 – (COD)

  • Rapporteur: Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, BE)

• Vote on Banking Union – Annual Report 2016 (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Danuta Maria Hubner (EPP, PL)

• Joint ECON-BUDGET Meeting  (12.00-12.30)

• Discussion with Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Michel Prada, Chairman of the IFRS Foundation Trustees (15.00-16.00)

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

9:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on the Clean Energy Package and preparations for the annual State of the Energy Union Report, as part of the Structured Dialogue

• Presentation of STOA study “Language equality in a digital age – towards a Human Language project” (together with CULT committee)

• Priorities for Telecom policy and the Digital Single Market, Mr. Emmanuel Mallia, Maltese Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy and priorities for Research, Innovation and Space, Mr. Chris Agius, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport

• Priorities for Industrial and SME policy, Mr. Chris Cardona, Maltese Minister for the Economy, Investment and priorities for the Energy policy, Mr. Konrad Mizzi, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

9:00 – 18:30

• Presentation of the Council Presidency’s program with Maltese Minister Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business

Committee on Transport and Tourism

9:00 – 18:30

• Priorities of the Maltese presidency of the Council – discussion with Joe Mizzi, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure  and Edward Zammit Lewis, Minister for Tourism

• Presentation by Markku Mylly, EMSA Executive Director

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

9:00 – 18:30

• Discussion with Blairo Maggi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil

• Vote on a draft resolution – Minimum Standards for the Protection of Farm Rabbits (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Stefan Eck (GUE/NGL, DE)

• Vote on a draft resolution – Responsible ownership and care of equidae (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Julie Girling (ECR, UK)

Committee on Fisheries

15:00 – 18:30

• Priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council – discussion with Roderick Galdes, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

9:00 – 12:30

• Vote on draft resolution – Equality between women and men in the European Union in 2014/2015 (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Ernest Urtasun (Greens/EFA, ES)

• Vote on draft resolution – EU funds for gender equality (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Clare Moody (S&D, UK)

• Vote on draft report – Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) – recommendation to Council

  • Co-rapporteurs: Constance Le Grip (EPP, FR) and Maria Arena (S&D, BE)

• Priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union – discussion with Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties (11.00-12.30)

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion

10:30 – 12:30

• Joint exchange of views PANA/ECON with presidency of Malta and the incoming presidency of Estonia to discuss their priorities in the area of tax evasion and anti-money laundering 

Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion

14:00 – 16:00

• Joint exchange of views PANA/ECON with presidency of Malta and the incoming presidendy of Estonia to discuss their priorities in the area of tax evasion and anti-money laundering

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

9:00 – 12:00

• Presentation of the Council Presidency’s program – Discussion with Evarist Bartolo (Minister for Education and Employment), Helena Dalli (Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs, and Civil Liberties) and Michael Farrugia (Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity)

• Discussion with James Calleja (Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP))

• Discussion with Juan Menéndez-Valdés (Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND))

• Discussion with Madlen Serban (Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF))

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

9:00 – 18:30

• Joint meeting of ITRE and IMCO on “Online Platforms and the Digital Single Market: Opportunities and Challenges for Europe”

• Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations – Use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union

  • Rapporteur: Patrizia Toia (S&D, IT)

• Public Hearing – “The Review of the Framework for Electronic Communications”

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

9:00 – 18:30

• Adoption of draft opinion – Annual Report on the Single Market Governance within the European Semester 2017

• Rapporteur: Antonio López-Istúriz White (EPP, ES)

• Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations – Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons

  • Rapporteur: Vicky Ford (ECR, UK)

Committee on Transport and Tourism

9:00 – 12:30

• Vote on a draft resolution – An Aviation Strategy for Europe (INI)

  • Rapporteur: Pavel Telička (ALDE, CZ)

• Presentation by M Herics, Rapporteur of the Court of Auditors’ Special Report 23/2016 on Maritime transport in the EU: in troubled waters – much ineffective and unsustainable

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

9:00 – 12:30

• Priorities of the Maltese presidency of the Council – discussion with Roderick Galdes, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights

Committee on Fisheries

9:00 – 12:30

• Vote on the draft corrigendum relating to the EMFF (Regulation (EU) No 508/2014)

• Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations – Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (recast) (COD)

• Vote on a draft interim report – Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands (INI)

  • Rapporteur: João Ferreira (GUE/NGL, PT)

• Vote on draft recommendation – Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands (NLE)

  • Rapporteur: João Ferreira (GUE/NGL, PT)

• Discussion with Pascal Savouret, Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), on the 2017 work programme