Commission to sign off any future energy deals
In order to strengthen the internal energy market and the EU's energy security, the European Parliament will vote on Thursday at its mini-Plenary to establish the information exchange mechanism for intergovernmental agreements in the field of energy as part of the Energy Security Package proposed by the European Commission. According to the new rules, Member States will have to inform the EC of their intergovernmental agreements before they are signed. The states will be obliged to present their projects for energy agreements with countries outside the EU to the European Commission before they are signed (ex-ante). The Commission will have to check their compatibility with EU law, commit itself to preparing a position, and, if there is a case of incompatibility, give recommendations for their removal, and the governments, on their part, will carry out thei r implementation.
Vladimir URUTCHEV
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845145 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175145
Vladislav Panayotov Velev, Tel: +32 484 199 498
Stronger and smarter borders in the EU: establishing an entry-exit system
MEPs on the Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will vote on Monday on an entry-exit system that will speed up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures for non-EU nationals travelling to the EU. This system will modernise external border management by improving the quality and efficiency of controls and will support EU countries with the increasing numbers of travellers entering and exiting the EU. The proposed entry-exit system will allow for the effective management of authorised short stays, increased automation at border controls, and improved detection of document and identity fraud. The system will apply to all non-EU citizens who are admitted for a short stay in the Schengen area (maximum 90 days in any 180 day period). The EPP Group is insisting on giving access to law enforcement once the s ystem becomes operational.
Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845624 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175624
Twitter: @ppegrupo
David Stellini, Tel: +32 473 541 926
Lina Stenlund, Tel: +32 485 911 164
Cutting financing for terrorists
After the terrorist attacks in Paris, the EU Institutions and national governments decided to step up their fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. On Tuesday, the EU will move one step closer to the agreement on a new law as the joint Committees on Economic Affairs and Justice and Home Affairs vote on measures to better control financial flows from high risk third countries, to give more powers to EU financial intelligence, regulate national bank and payment account registers, and to tackle terrorist financing risks linked to virtual currencies and pre-paid cards. The measures are also in response to the April 2016 Panama Papers revelations.
Krišjānis KARIŅŠ
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845205 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175205
Twitter: @krisjaniskarins
Daniel Köster, Tel: +32 487 384 784
Preparing for the upcoming European Summit
During the debate in the mini-plenary on Wednesday, MEPs will discuss the preparations for the European Summit of 9-10 March which will focus on promoting investment, growth and competitiveness and on external security and defence. EPP Group Vice-Chairman Esteban González Pons will take the floor on behalf of the EPP Group.
Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845372 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175372
Twitter: @gonzalezpons
Javier Jimenez Arbelo, Tel: +32 475 48 04 46
Tackling the disappearance of migrant children in Europe
According to Europol, at least 10,000 refugee children are unaccounted for after arriving in Europe. The European Parliament will debate how best to tackle this issue on Wednesday. Anna Maria Corazza Bildt MEP, EPP Group Spokeswoman, will urge the European Commission to take more action to protect all children in migration, as announced last May in the European Agenda on Migration, and will call on Member States to increase cross-border cooperation and speed up the appointment of qualified and trained guardians for all unaccompanied children.
Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845128 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175128
Twitter: @AnnaMariaCB
Lina Stenlund, Tel: +32 485 911 164
MEPs to tackle issue of decriminalisation of domestic violence in Russia
MEPs will address the recent decriminalisation of domestic violence in Russia in a mini-Plenary debate on Wednesday. Nearly 50,000 crimes involving violence in the family were reported in Russia in 2015 mainly against women and it is estimated that on average, 40 women a day die in Russia due to domestic violence. Yet on 7 February, the Russian President passed a law which significantly reduces the penalties for domestic offences committed against spouses or children.
Cristian Dan PREDA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845261 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175261
Twitter: @CDPreda
Roberta METSOLA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845686 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175686
Twitter: @RobertaMetsola
Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845128 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175128
Twitter: @AnnaMariaCB
Agata Byczewska, Tel: +32 473 841 093
Last obstacle to 'roam like at home' removed
Parliament's Committee on Industry will formalise the so far only informal agreement to remove the last obstacle to 'roam like at home' on Tuesday. In the night from 31 January to 1 February, MEPs and representatives of the Member States had agreed on price caps for what telecom operators can charge each other. “Lower wholesale prices make room for lower prices for consumers. We stand firm on the promise made to consumers that roaming charges will disappear this summer", said Paul Rübig MEP, the EPP Group’s negotiator on the law.
Paul RÜBIG
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845749 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175749
Twitter: @paulruebig
Daniel Köster, Tel: +32 487 384 784
Reinforcing EU trade defence
The EU, as most WTO members, uses trade defence instruments to restore a level playing field for their industry in situations of unfair trade practices. The EPP Group wants trade defence instruments to be used in a balanced way that protects EU industries from unfair trading practices while at the same time not creating undue burdens for importing industries taking into account the nature of global value chains. "In our view, any decision should be based on a solid and comprehensive assessment and should be compatible with the existing WTO rules", says Christofer Fjellner MEP, EPP Group Chief Negotiator for the Parliament's position on the EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy regulations for non-EU countries. The vote in the International Trade Committee will take place next Tuesday.
Christofer FJELLNER
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845536 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175536
Twitter: @Fjellner
Meike Bogdan, Tel: +32 473 850 507
Better protection of workers from carcinogens
The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will vote on Tuesday on the Parliament's response to the Commission's proposal to amend existing EU rules on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work to better prevent work-related cancers. The Report proposes to expand the scope of the Directive to include reprotoxic substances, which are believed to cause fertility problems (male and female). Currently, the protection of workers from these substances is rather weak as it is limited to the provisions of the Chemical Agents Directive. Claude Rolin MEP, EPP Group Chief Negotiator on the issue, said: “This revision is of the utmost importance to better protect workers from carcinogen, mutagen and reprotoxic substances. We have been waiting more than 10 years to have this proposal for a revision. The E uropean Parliament now needs to adopt an ambitious and pragmatic Report with a view to negotiations with the European Council.”
Claude ROLIN
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845116 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175116
Twitter: @clauderolin
Greet Gysen, Tel: +32 497 028 054
Assessing the EU support programmes for the cultural and creative sectors
The European Union is a promoter of many cultural programmes to support and develop cultural activities and the creative sector. On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on the implementation Reports on two Union programmes which fall under the Culture and Education Committee's responsibility, namely the Creative Europe Programme and the Europe for Citizens Programme. The Creative Europe Programme supports the capacity of the European cultural and creative sectors to operate transnationally and internationally and promotes the circulation of cultural and creative works and the mobility of cultural and creative players. The Europe for Citizens Programme should raise awareness of remembrance, the common history and values of the EU and the EU's aim. The responsible EPP Group MEPs, Bogdan Wenta and Santiago Fisas, underline that the cultural he ritage of the EU is a rich and diverse mosaic of cultural and creative expressions shaping our past and our future. Therefore we have to continue and guarantee the support of cultural access and participation for everyone through our new programmes.
Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845169 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175169
Twitter: @SantiagoFisas
Bogdan Brunon WENTA
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845190 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175190
Meike Bogdan, Tel: +32 473 850 507
Empowering women in agriculture
On Tuesday, MEPs from the Agriculture and Women's Rights Committees will vote on Parliament's position on women and their roles in rural areas. The EPP Group MEP in charge of drafting this proposal, Marijana Petir, has fought for the recognition of the importance of women’s contribution to the economy in rural zones as entrepreneurs, heads of family businesses and promoters of sustainable development. Taking this into account, the text puts forward some concrete proposals to help women in such areas, for example by providing services to improve their working and living conditions, or by improving their access to land or credit.
Marijana PETIR
BRU: +32 (0)2 2845429 - STR: +33 (0)3 88 175429
Jean-Luc Feixa, Tel: + 32 477 680 090
Chairman's agenda
Wednesday: Speech at the 'Political Ash Wednesday', CSU, Passau, Germany
Thursday: Meeting with European Commissioner Günther Oettinger
Marion Jeanne, Tel: +32 479 840 293
Press Conferences
Monday @ 11.00 hrs: Briefing on the parliamentary agenda
Thursday @ 09.30 hrs: Aldo Patriciello and Francesc Gambús on an innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular health in Europe