Summary

Next week will be a political group week and a committee week in the European Parliament.  Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will hold meetings with their respective political group to prepare the plenary session, to be held from October 22 to 25, in Strasbourg.

On Monday, members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) will debate on the draft report prepared by LIBE on the Commission proposal for a Directive laying down rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences.  The proposal seeks to improve access to information and information sharing among enforcement authorities to address the challenges brought by new (communication) technologies, and fight terrorism.  See the Commission proposal here and the draft report here.

On Thursday, the Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (“TAX3”) will hold a public hearing on “Golden visas and other national schemes providing tax privileges (free ports, special economic zones)”.  Two panels will take place.  The objective of the first one will be to assess the possible money-laundering risks associated with the practice of “golden visa” programs, by which EU Member States award residence or citizenship, mainly to non-EU citizens, in exchange for investment.  Representatives from the OECD will attend and participate in this panel.  The second panel will focus on risks posed by free ports and special economic zones to the EU in the area of money laundering and tax evasion.  See the draft program of the hearing here.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, October 15, 2018

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

15:00 – 18:30

Debates

• European Border and Coast Guard (COD) – presentation by the Commission, rapporteur Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) (15.00-15.45)

• Eurojust Report on Terrorist Financing – presentation by Olivier LENERT, National Member for Luxembourg at Eurojust (15.45-16.30)

• Rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences (COD) – consideration of draft report

  • Rapporteur: Emil RADEV (EPP, BG) (16.30-17.15)

Votes (17.15 – 18.30)

• Interoperability between EU information systems (borders and visa) (COD) – adoption of draft report and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the composition of the negotiating team

  • Rapporteur: Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL)

• Interoperability between EU information systems (police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration) (COD) – adoption of draft report and vote on the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations and on the composition of the negotiating team

  • Rapporteur: Nuno MELO (EPP, PT)

• Protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law (COD) – adoption of draft opinion

  • Rapporteur: Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA RUIZ (ALDE, ES)

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

• No meetings of note

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

09:00 – 12:30

Votes (09.55 – 10.35)

• Economic policies of the euro area (INI) – Vote on report

  • Rapporteur: Costas MAVRIDES (S&D, CY)

• Cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions (COD) – Vote on report

  • Rapporteur: Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT)

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance

14:00 – 17:30

Public hearing

• Public hearing on “Golden visas and other national schemes providing tax privileges (free ports, special economic zones)”.

Committee on Budgetary Control

09:00 – 12:30

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

09:15 – 12:30

Vote (09.30 – 10.15)

• Transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union (COD) – Vote on a report and the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations

  • Rapporteur: Enrique CALVET CHAMBON (ALDE, ES)

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

09:00 – 12:30

Debates

• Hearing of Dr Bernhard URL, Executive Director of EFSA, in view of renewal of his mandate

• Minimum requirements for water reuse – Consideration of draft report

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

Votes

• Objection pursuant to Rule 106 – Adoption of motion for a resolution

  • Co-rapporteurs: Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE), Guillaume BALAS (S&D, FR), Lynn BOYLAN (GUE/NGL, IE), Eleonora EVI (EFDD, IT), Arne GERICKE (ECR, DE), Valentinas MAZURONIS (ALDE, LT), Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP, FI)

• Objection pursuant to Rule 106: GMO maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122, and genetically modified maize combining two, three or four of the single events MON 87427, MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017 and 59122 and repealing Decision 2011/366/EU (D058361) – Adoption of motion for a resolution

  • Co-rapporteurs: Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE), Guillaume BALAS (S&D, FR), Lynn BOYLAN (GUE/NGL, IE), Eleonora EVI (EFDD, IT), Arne GERICKE (ECR, DE), Valentinas MAZURONIS (ALDE, LT), Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP, FI)

• Interim report on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 – Parliament’s position with a view to an agreement – Adoption of draft opinion

  • Rapporteur for the opinion: Ivo BELET (EPP, BE)

• CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles – Adoption of draft report

  • Rapporteur: Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

09:00 – 18:30

Interparliamentary Committee Meeting with National Parliaments

(14.30 – 18.00)

• Fundamental Rights aspects of Roma inclusion and fighting anti-Gypsyism – this interparliamentary meeting aims promote an exchange of views between European and national parliamentarians on barriers to Roma inclusion and possibilities to overcome them. Draft programme and further information available here.