Single Market Strategy - new impetus for SMEs
On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on the Single Market Strategy during the mini-Plenary. The European Commission presented the strategy last October. The Rapporteur, EPP Group Member Lara Comi, underlined that the Single Market Strategy is expected to bring new impetus to SMEs, start-ups and services. "The European Union can no longer afford to continuously lose the full potential benefits of the Single Market. Our economy could take advantage of an additional €615 billion a year by simply unleashing the Single Market's full potential. If we want to continue to seek support amongst Europeans for the European project, we must step up", she added.
Towards a more efficient use of energy and energy savings
On Tuesday, a Report on the Energy Efficiency Directive spearheaded by EPP Group MEP Markus Pieper will be voted on in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. The efficient use of energy and energy savings are key factors in making the Energy Union in the EU a success. But how far are we in implementing the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive? This Initiative Report takes stock of the progress, points to best practices, underlines the necessity of keeping bureaucracy and red tape down, and the importance of a more coherent and flexible energy legislation. The Report also points out that the 20% efficiency target for 2020 will be met despite the fact that most Member States have not fully implemented the Directive.
EU-US Privacy shield
The EU-US 'privacy shield', meant to replace the Safe Harbour Agreement, is a proposal that would put in place a framework regulating the transfer of data between the EU and the US that would protect the fundamental rights of Europeans as well as end legal limbo for businesses. MEPs will debate a non-binding Resolution on the new framework on Wednesday and vote on it on Thursday.
Cross border e-identification tools
During the mini-Plenary Session on Wednesday, the European Commission will answer Parliament's questions on cross border e-identification tools and online services. The Commission thinks that the shift to e-government in Europe through the development of e-identification tools and a wide availability of online services is essential for competitiveness, reducing costs and making life easier for European citizens.
Shaping the Digital Single Market
On Wednesday, the Plenary will discuss the Digital Single Market Strategy. The strategy consists of 16 points, such as eCommerce, geo-blocking and copyright. The EPP Groups wants a Digital Single Market to come to life as soon as possible, since its completion could contribute €415 billion a year to Europe's economy. "Digitalisation can help us unlock the full potential of our European Single Market", said Andreas Schwab, the EPP Group Spokesman in the Internal Market Committee, stressing the need for such a strategy.
Non-Tariff Barriers
On Thursday, the mini-Plenary will vote on a Report on non-tariff barriers in the Single Market. "Abolishing unjustified non-tariff barriers is a task for the European Union and its individual Member States. It can be achieved by enhanced compliance towards the already-existing laws by the Member States, with the European Commission holding national governments to their commitments", said Dariusz Rosati, the EPP Group's Shadow Rapporteur in the Internal Market Committee.
European Public Prosecutor's Office and EUROJUST
On Tuesday, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will hold a hearing to debate the ongoing negotiations of the two legislative proposals on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and on the reform of Eurojust, both lead by EPP Group MEPs Barbara Matera and Axel Voss respectively. The hearing will discuss important aspects of the negotiations and the role of the EPPO and Eurojust, the relation between them and other players participating in the fight against crime in the EU.
Persecution of Aramean Christians in Iraq in the spotlight
On Wednesday, the EPP Group will hold its Interreligious Dialogue to shed light on recent alarming incidents with Aramean Christians in Iraq being persecuted by ISIS. In Iraq and Syria, most of what Christians have built in almost 2000 years has been lost. The EPP Group has invited the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, and other prominent figures, to discuss their situation. They are the voice of the persecuted communities and will reach out to the European Institutions and other organisations that operate in the area.
Public hearing on European deposit insurance scheme
On Monday, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal for a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) with the participation of EPP Group Vice-Chairwoman and Rapporteur Esther de Lange MEP. "The EPP Group believes this proposal, which aims to finalise the architecture of the Banking Union, is too important to be rushed as it will have lasting consequences for the credibility of the European banking sector. This is why we need to have an extensive public debate on the steps that need to be taken prior to the approval of a European deposit insurance scheme and on how it would function should it be set in place", she pointed out. The Banking Union already has direct supervision by the ECB over the biggest European banks and a resolution mechanism and fund, necessary in case banks face imminent bankruptcy and need to be dismantled. The EDIS proposal aims to finalise the structure of the Banking Union by guaranteeing savings of all European deposit holders up to €100,000 on a European level.
Press Conferences
- Monday @ 11.00 hrs: Briefing on the parliamentary agenda
- Tuesday @ 15.30 hrs: Adina-Ioana Vălean on 'Regional and European Values for Sustainable Energy in Central and Eastern Europe'
- Thursday @ 13.00 hrs: Lara Comi on the Single Market Strategy
