EU migration policy: MEPs will assess EU leaders’ progress
The results of the EU summit of 28-29 June, in which leaders are aiming to advance towards a deal on the EU’s policy on migration and asylum, will be the focus of a plenary debate on Tuesday with Council President Tusk and Commission President Juncker.
Parliament has been waiting since November 2017 for the EU member states to agree their position on the reform of the Dublin Regulation, key for the overhaul of the Common European Asylum System, so inter-institutional negotiations can begin. MEPs have repeatedly called on the Council to show real political will to reform the asylum legislation and put an end to migrants’ deaths trying to reach Europe.
MEPs will also assess progress made by heads of state or government in their two-days summit on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union, the next EU budget, Brexit negotiations as well as EU cooperation in security and defence.
Procedure: European Council and Commission statements
Debate: Tuesday, 3 July
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will be the eighth EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday morning at 9.00
A member of the conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), Mateusz Morawiecki was appointed Prime Minister of Poland on 9 January 2018.
This will be the eighth in a series of future of Europe debates between EU heads of state or governments and MEPs, following on from:
- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on 17 January 2018,
- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on 6 February 2018,
- Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa on 14 March 2018,
- French President Emmanuel Macron on 17 April 2018,
- Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on 3 May 2018, and
- Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on 30 May 2018,
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on 13 June 2018.
EP President Antonio Tajani and Mr Morawiecki will take part in a joint press conference.
The next EU leader to address the House will be Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, at the September plenary session in Strasbourg.
Procedure: Debate on the future of Europe, without a resolution
Debate: Wednesday, 4 July
Press conference: Wednesday, 4 July, at 12.45 by Antonio TAJANI, President of the European Parliament and Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Prime Minister of Poland
MEPs will debate on Monday and put to a vote on Tuesday the first EU programme dedicated to boosting innovation in the European defence industry.
With a €500 million budget for 2019-2020, the new European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) will help fund the development of new and upgraded products and technologies to make the EU more independent, make budget spending more efficient and stimulate innovation in defence.
The EU will co-fund projects implemented by consortiums of at least three public or private companies established in at least three different EU member states.
To win contracts, project backers will need to prove that they contribute to excellence, innovation and competitiveness. Projects specifically dedicated to SMEs and Mid-Caps (undertakings that are not SMEs and have a maximum of 3000 employees) will benefit from higher co-financing rates, as well as actions within the framework of PESCO.
Next steps
Once the full House and Council have formally approved the regulation, it will enter into force upon publication in the EU Official Journal, while the first capability projects are expected to be financed in 2019.
Procedure: ordinary legislative procedure, first reading agreement
2017/0125(COD)
Debate: Monday, 2 July
Vote: Tuesday, 3 July
Border security: final vote on new system to pre-screen visa-exempt travellers
Non-EU nationals exempt from visa requirements will have to get authorisation before travelling to the EU, under new rules to be voted on Thursday. Travellers considered to pose a security, irregular migration or high epidemic risk would be denied access.
The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), already informally agreed between Parliament and Council negotiators, should be operational in 2021, and will apply to more than 60 countries and territories whose nationals can travel visa-free to the EU.
The travel authorisation will cost 7 euros and be valid for three years. The vast majority of travellers will immediately receive a positive reply after filling in the form electronically, once their data have been checked against relevant databases.
Procedure: Ordinary legislative procedure, first reading agreement
2016/0357A(COD) and 2016/0357B(COD)
Debate: Wednesday, 4 July
Vote: Thursday, 5 July
MEPs will vote on draft new rules to improve enforcement and tackle illegal practices in road transport, and on posting of drivers and drivers’ rest periods on Wednesday.
Several proposals are up for a vote on Wednesday: applying posting of workers’ rules to the road transport sector, rules to tighten up enforcement in tackling the use of letterbox companies and dodging of rules for operating in national markets and finally, a proposal to modernise drivers’ rest rules to ensure better rest conditions for drivers.
With the vote, Parliament will set out its position for negotiating with EU governments on the proposed revision of rules, which aim to improve drivers’ working conditions and ensure a level playing field for operators across the EU.
Procedure: ordinary legislative procedure, first reading
2017/0121(COD), 2017/0122(COD), 2017/0123(COD)
Debate: Tuesday, 3 July
Vote: Wednesday, 4 July
The Legal Affairs Committee’s decision to open negotiations with Council will be announced on Monday. MEPs could contest the decision, asking for a plenary vote.
As per Parliament’s procedure (rule 69c), the decision adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee to begin negotiations with member states on the copyright directive will be announced at the opening of the plenary session on Monday afternoon. MEPs will then have until midnight on Tuesday to object to this decision.
If more than 10% of MEPs object (76 MEPs), a plenary vote needs to be scheduled to confirm or reject the committee’s decision. This possible additional vote would then be announced on Wednesday and would take place on Thursday, at noon.
Procedure: ordinary legislative procedure
2016/0280(COD)
Vote: possibly Thursday (to be confirmed)