• 09:00  Meeting with Herman VAN ROMPUY, President of the European Council - Justus Lipsius

• 11:00  Meeting with Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF, President of Switzerland, followed by a press point - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 14:00  Meeting with António Manuel de OLIVEIRA GUTERRES, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 16:00  Speech at the closing panel of the UNRWA conference on "Engaging youth : Palestine refugees in a changing Middle East" - Egmont Palace, Brussels

• 09:00  Meeting with Staffan NILSSON, President of the European Economic and Social Committee - President's Office, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 11:15  Meeting with Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆ, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 14:00  Meeting with Salva KIIR MAYARDIT, President of South Sudan - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 16:30  Meeting with Gregor HAMMERL, President of the Federal Council of Austria - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 18:00  Meeting with Demetris ELIADES, Cyprus Defense minister - President's Office, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• 09:30  Speech at the conference on the future of the MFF: "The EU budget beyond 2013: which expenditure and which resources?" - Plenary Chamber, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building, followed by a press conference

• 11:45  Meeting with Igor LUKŠIĆ, Prime Minister of Montenegro, followed by a press point - Protocol Room, 9th floor, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building

• All Day :  Official visit to Morocco and participation to the VIII Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

• All Day : Participation to the VIII Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR), Chairman of the Committee on Budgets,  Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, and Nicolaï WAMMEN, Danish Minister for European Affairs

• Horn of Africa: the EU strategy, including the Operation Atalanta - Discussion with Alexander RONDOS, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa and Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts, Operation Commander (9.30 -12.30)

• Libya: lessons learned for European military capabilities - Discussion with Major General Marcel DRUART, Director of Operations Division, International Military Staff, NATO (15.00 – 17.00)

• Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the EU's policy on the matter including implications for the EU's strategic human rights policy (INI) - discussion on amendments to a resolution by Richard HOWITT (S&D, UK)

• Human Rights clauses in EU agreements: the EU-Central America Association Agreement and the EU-Peru and Colombia Trade Agreement- discussion

• Developments in relation to the former DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad), Colombia by video-conference - discussion

(09.00-11.15)

In association with the Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

• Human rights situation in Pakistan - discussion

In association with the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union

• Human rights situation in Morocco - discussion

• Discussion with Catherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission
  
  

• Discussion with Mohamed A. OMAR, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somaliland (11.45 - 12.30)
  

• Public Hearing on "One year on: the role of EEAS in the impulse and coordination of the Union's foreign policy" (15.00 - 16.30) - see Public hearings
  

• Discussion with Martin Kobler, UN Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the UNs Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (16.30 - 17.30)
  

Votes (9.00 – 10.15)

• Recommendation to the Council, Commission and the EEAS on the negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan Association Agreement (INI) - Vote on resolution by Anneli JÄÄTTEENMÄKI (ALDE, FI)

• Recommendation to the Council, Commission and the EEAS on the negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement (INI) - Vote on resolution by Tomasz Piotr PORĘBA (ECR, PL)

• Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the European Union's policy on the matter including implications for the EU's strategic human rights policy (INI) - Vote on resolution by Richard HOWITT (S&D, UK)
  

In association with the Delegation for relations with Switzerland and Norway and to the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee and the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee (11.15 – 12.30)

• Discussion with Jonas GAHR STØRE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, on the High North - including cooperation with Russia, energy and resources - the Arab Spring and developments in the Middle East
  

• Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: Application EGF/2011/006 ES/Comunidad Valenciana - Construction of buildings from Spain(BUDG) - vote on a report by  Barbara MATERA (EPP, IT)

• Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2013 - Section I - Parliament (BUDG) -vote on a report by Derak VAUGHAN (S&D, UK)

EU Multiannual Financial Framework and Own Resources - 2nd high-level Conference

(see "Other events")

• Discussion with Algirdas ŠEMETA, Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud (09.00)

• European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (COD) and European Venture Capital Funds (COD) - Discussion and Public Hearing on reports by Sophie AUCONIE (EPP, FR) and Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE) (15.00-17.30) - See Public hearings

Votes (10.00-12.30)

• Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) (CNS) - Vote on report by Marianne THYSSEN (EPP, BE)

• Amendment of Directives 2003/71/EC and 2009/138/EC in respect of the powers of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority (COD) - Vote on report by Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE)

• Discussion with Michel BARNIER, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services (15.00-17.00)

Votes (9.00-11.00) 

• List of permitted health claims made on foods - Vote on a resolution

• Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 (INI) - Vote on a resolution by Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL)

• Intergovernmental negotiating committee on a global legally binding instrument on mercury (INC) - Discussion with Commission representatives

• Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020) (COD) - Presentation by the commission and discussion on report by Jürgen CREUTZMANN (ALDE, DE) (15.00)

• Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs): competitiveness and business opportunities (INI) - Discussion on resolution by Paul RÜBIG (EPP, AT)

• Hearing on Horizon 2020: The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (See Public hearings)

• Implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems (COD)- Presentation by the Commission and discussion on report by Marian-Jean MARINESCU (EPP, RO) (09.00)

• A competitive digital single market - eGovernment as a spearhead (INI) - Vote on report by Silvia-Adriana ŢICĂU (S&D, RO) (10.00)

• Workshop on "Building a European energy infrastructure - selecting and implementing projects of common interest" - see "Others events"

Votes (10.30-11.45) 

• European standardisation (COD) - Vote on report by Lara COMI (EPP, IT)

• Administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’) (COD) - Vote on report by Adam BIELAN (ECR, PL)

• Common system for taxing financial transactions and amendment to Directive 2008/7/EC (CNS) - Vote on opinion to report by Frank ENGEL (EPP, LU)

End of votes

• Public procurement (COD) and Procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (COD) - Public hearing on reports by Marc TARABELLA (S&D, BE) - see Pubic hearings (15.00 - 17.30)

• Award of concession contracts (COD) - Public hearing on a report by Philippe JUVIN (EPP, FR) -  see Public hearings  (9.00 - 11.00)

• Discussion with Connie HEDEGAARD,  Commissioner for Climate Action, on Climate Change and Cohesion Policy (9.00-10.00)

• Votes (10.00-10.30)

• Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 as regards certain provisions relating to risk sharing instruments for Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (COD) - vote on a report by Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL)

• The role of Cohesion Policy in the outermost regions of the European Union in the context of EU 2020 (INI) - vote on a draft report by Nuno TEIXEIRA (EPP, PT)

• Study on “The Creative Motor for Regional Development. Arts and Culture Projects and the EU Structural Funding in Austria” - Presentation by Claudia SCHMIED, Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Arts and Culture (12.00-12.30)

• Public Hearing on "Legislative Package on Cohesion Policy (15.00-17.15) (See Public Hearings)
  

• Workshop on Environmental public goods in the new CAP/Impact of greening proposals and possible alternatives (15.00-16.30) (See Other Events)
  

• Structured dialogue with Maria DAMANAKI, Commissioner for Maritime affairs and fisheries, on political and legislative priorities for 2013 (17.30-18.30)
  

• Public Hearing on "Regionalisation in the context of the CFP reform" (15.00-18.30) (See Public hearings)
  

• Discussion with Lazaros LAZAROU on the European Court of Auditors' special report on whether EU measure contributed to adapting the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities (in the presence of Maria DAMANAKI, Commissioner for Maritime affairs and fisheries) (9.00-10.00)

• "Unblocking the Anti-Discrimination Directive" (09.00-12.30) - see Public hearings

Votes (10.45 - 11.00)

• European Refugee Fund for 2008-2013 (COD) - vote on resolution for second reading by Rui TAVARES (Greens/EFA, PT)

Joint meeting with Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (15.00-16.30)

• Rights, support and protection of victims of crime: minimum standards (COD) - discussion on directive, rapporteurs Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO (EPP, ES) and Antonyia PARVANOVA (ALDE, BG)

Votes  (10.00 - 10.30)

• Treaty of Lisbon: Draft Protocol on the concerns of the Irish people (NLE) - vote on a  report by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT)

• Treaty of Lisbon: Draft Protocol on the concerns of the Irish people (NLE) - vote on recommendation (consent) by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT)

• EP Rules of Procedure: amendment of Rules 87a and 88 (REG) - vote on regulation by Carlo CASINI (EPP, IT)

• EP Rules of Procedure: Rule 196: provisions concerning plenary sittings applicable in committee (REG) - vote on regulation by Andrew DUFF (ALDE, UK)

Joint meeting with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

• Rights, support and protection of victims of crime: minimum standards (COD) - discussion on directive, rapporteurs Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO (EPP, ES) and Antonyia PARVANOVA (ALDE, BG)

• Illegal hunting of protected migratory birds in the EU: discussion on petitions from Belgian, Bulgarian, French, German, Irish and Italian citizens

• Trade in seal products: discussion on a petition from Humane Society International

A nine-member trade committee delegation, led by Vital MOREIRA (S&D, PT), International Trade Committee Chair will visit Zambia and Kenya from 19 to 23 March to monitor progress in the negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with the East African Community (EAC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). It will identify the concerns of these countries and examine the prospects for concluding the negotiations and the likely impact of the agreements.

The members of the delegation are  Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Paweł ZALEWSKI (EPP, PL), Cristiana MUSCARDINI (EPP, IT), Maria BADIA I CUTCHET (S&D, ES), David MARTIN (S&D, UK), Niccolo RINALDI (ALDE, IT), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CS), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE).

A delegation of 11 Members of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will visit Washington DC on 18-22 March. The topics they will discuss with their US counterparts are data protection and privacy, EU-US cooperation in the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP), freedom of the internet, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the transfer of European air passengers' data to the US authorities under the EU-US Passenger Name Record Agreement (PNR), on which the committee will vote on 27 March.

On Monday, MEPs will attend a European Commission conference on data protection. From Tuesday to Thursday MEPs will meet, among others, their US counterparts in the Congress and representatives from the US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury and Commerce.

Members of the delegation are:

Alexander ALVARO (ALDE, DE), Sarah LUDFORD (ALDE, UK), Bogusław SONIK (EPP, PL), Dimitros DROUTSAS (S&D, EL), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Nuno MELO (EPP, PT), Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (EPP, EL) and Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE).

A nine-member trade committee delegation, led by Vital MOREIRA (S&D, PT), International Trade Committee Chair will visit Zambia and Kenya from 19 to 23 March to monitor progress in the negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with the East African Community (EAC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). It will identify the concerns of these countries and examine the prospects for concluding the negotiations and the likely impact of the agreements.

The members of the delegation are  Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Paweł ZALEWSKI (EPP, PL), Cristiana MUSCARDINI (EPP, IT), Maria BADIA I CUTCHET (S&D, ES), David MARTIN (S&D, UK), Niccolo RINALDI (ALDE, IT), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CS), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE).

A delegation of 11 Members of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will visit Washington DC on 18-22 March. The topics they will discuss with their US counterparts are data protection and privacy, EU-US cooperation in the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP), freedom of the internet, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the transfer of European air passengers' data to the US authorities under the EU-US Passenger Name Record Agreement (PNR), on which the committee will vote on 27 March.

On Monday, MEPs will attend a European Commission conference on data protection. From Tuesday to Thursday MEPs will meet, among others, their US counterparts in the Congress and representatives from the US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury and Commerce.

Members of the delegation are:

Alexander ALVARO (ALDE, DE), Sarah LUDFORD (ALDE, UK), Bogusław SONIK (EPP, PL), Dimitros DROUTSAS (S&D, EL), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Nuno MELO (EPP, PT), Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (EPP, EL) and Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE).

A nine-member trade committee delegation, led by Vital MOREIRA (S&D, PT), International Trade Committee Chair will visit Zambia and Kenya from 19 to 23 March to monitor progress in the negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with the East African Community (EAC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). It will identify the concerns of these countries and examine the prospects for concluding the negotiations and the likely impact of the agreements.

The members of the delegation are  Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Paweł ZALEWSKI (EPP, PL), Cristiana MUSCARDINI (EPP, IT), Maria BADIA I CUTCHET (S&D, ES), David MARTIN (S&D, UK), Niccolo RINALDI (ALDE, IT), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CS), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE).

A delegation of 11 Members of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will visit Washington DC on 18-22 March. The topics they will discuss with their US counterparts are data protection and privacy, EU-US cooperation in the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP), freedom of the internet, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the transfer of European air passengers' data to the US authorities under the EU-US Passenger Name Record Agreement (PNR), on which the committee will vote on 27 March.

On Monday, MEPs will attend a European Commission conference on data protection. From Tuesday to Thursday MEPs will meet, among others, their US counterparts in the Congress and representatives from the US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury and Commerce.

Members of the delegation are:

Alexander ALVARO (ALDE, DE), Sarah LUDFORD (ALDE, UK), Bogusław SONIK (EPP, PL), Dimitros DROUTSAS (S&D, EL), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Nuno MELO (EPP, PT), Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (EPP, EL) and Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE).

A nine-member trade committee delegation, led by Vital MOREIRA (S&D, PT), International Trade Committee Chair will visit Zambia and Kenya from 19 to 23 March to monitor progress in the negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with the East African Community (EAC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). It will identify the concerns of these countries and examine the prospects for concluding the negotiations and the likely impact of the agreements.

The members of the delegation are  Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Paweł ZALEWSKI (EPP, PL), Cristiana MUSCARDINI (EPP, IT), Maria BADIA I CUTCHET (S&D, ES), David MARTIN (S&D, UK), Niccolo RINALDI (ALDE, IT), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CS), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE).

A delegation of 11 Members of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will visit Washington DC on 18-22 March. The topics they will discuss with their US counterparts are data protection and privacy, EU-US cooperation in the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP), freedom of the internet, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the transfer of European air passengers' data to the US authorities under the EU-US Passenger Name Record Agreement (PNR), on which the committee will vote on 27 March.

On Monday, MEPs will attend a European Commission conference on data protection. From Tuesday to Thursday MEPs will meet, among others, their US counterparts in the Congress and representatives from the US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury and Commerce.

Members of the delegation are:

Alexander ALVARO (ALDE, DE), Sarah LUDFORD (ALDE, UK), Bogusław SONIK (EPP, PL), Dimitros DROUTSAS (S&D, EL), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Nuno MELO (EPP, PT), Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (EPP, EL) and Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE).

A delegation of 26 MEPs, led by EP President Martin Schulz, takes part in the Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly meeting on 24 and 25 March, in Rabat.  MEPs have a key role in supporting fellow parliamentarians in the democratic transition of the Arab Spring countries. Economic development in the region, the situation in Syria, will also be discussed. The 8th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is meeting under the Moroccan Presidency which will handover the Presidency to the EU.

The members of the delegation are EP President Martin SCHULZ, François ALFONSI (Greens/ALE, FR), Kriton ARSENIS (S&D, EL), Ines Ayala SENDER (S&D, ES), Malika BENARAB-ATTOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Vito BONSIGNORE (EPP, IT), Vacilia Viorica DANCILA (S&D, RO),  Isabelle DURANT (Greens/ALE, BE), Hélène FLAUTRE (Greens/EFA, FR), Vicente Miguel GARCÉS RAMÓN (S&D, ES), Gaston FRANCO (EPP, FR), Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK), Ioannis KASOULIDES (EPP, CY), Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP, EL), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR), Guido MILANA (S&D, IT), Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ (EPP, LT), José Maria OBIOLS GERMA (S&D, ES), Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT), Antonyia PARVANOVA (ALDE, BG), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Tokia SAÏFI (EPP, FR), Marie-Thérèse SANCHEZ-SCHMID (EPP, FR), Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES (GUE/NGL, CY), Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), Dominique VLASTO (EPP, FR)

A delegation of 26 MEPs, led by EP President Martin Schulz, takes part in the Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly meeting on 24 and 25 March, in Rabat.  MEPs have a key role in supporting fellow parliamentarians in the democratic transition of the Arab Spring countries. Economic development in the region, the situation in Syria, will also be discussed. The 8th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is meeting under the Moroccan Presidency which will handover the Presidency to the EU.

The members of the delegation are EP President Martin SCHULZ, François ALFONSI (Greens/ALE, FR), Kriton ARSENIS (S&D, EL), Ines Ayala SENDER (S&D, ES), Malika BENARAB-ATTOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Vito BONSIGNORE (EPP, IT), Vacilia Viorica DANCILA (S&D, RO),  Isabelle DURANT (Greens/ALE, BE), Hélène FLAUTRE (Greens/EFA, FR), Vicente Miguel GARCÉS RAMÓN (S&D, ES), Gaston FRANCO (EPP, FR), Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK), Ioannis KASOULIDES (EPP, CY), Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP, EL), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR), Guido MILANA (S&D, IT), Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ (EPP, LT), José Maria OBIOLS GERMA (S&D, ES), Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT), Antonyia PARVANOVA (ALDE, BG), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Tokia SAÏFI (EPP, FR), Marie-Thérèse SANCHEZ-SCHMID (EPP, FR), Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES (GUE/NGL, CY), Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), Dominique VLASTO (EPP, FR)

A 6-member delegation of MEPs will travel to Senegal (24-27 March) to observe the second round of presidential elections on 25 March. The delegation is led by Santiago FISAS AYXELA (EPP, ES) and the other members are Maurice PONGA (EPP, FR), Alain CADEC (EPP, FR), John Attard-Montaldo (S&D, MT), Enrique Guerrero Salom (S&D, ES) and Norica NICOLAI (ALDE, RO)

The delegation will observe in Dakar and surrounding areas. They also hope to meet candidates from the first round of the elections.

A delegation of 26 MEPs, led by EP President Martin Schulz, takes part in the Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly meeting on 24 and 25 March, in Rabat.  MEPs have a key role in supporting fellow parliamentarians in the democratic transition of the Arab Spring countries. Economic development in the region, the situation in Syria, will also be discussed. The 8th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is meeting under the Moroccan Presidency which will handover the Presidency to the EU.

The members of the delegation are EP President Martin SCHULZ, François ALFONSI (Greens/ALE, FR), Kriton ARSENIS (S&D, EL), Ines Ayala SENDER (S&D, ES), Malika BENARAB-ATTOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Vito BONSIGNORE (EPP, IT), Vacilia Viorica DANCILA (S&D, RO),  Isabelle DURANT (Greens/ALE, BE), Hélène FLAUTRE (Greens/EFA, FR), Vicente Miguel GARCÉS RAMÓN (S&D, ES), Gaston FRANCO (EPP, FR), Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK), Ioannis KASOULIDES (EPP, CY), Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP, EL), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR), Guido MILANA (S&D, IT), Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ (EPP, LT), José Maria OBIOLS GERMA (S&D, ES), Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT), Antonyia PARVANOVA (ALDE, BG), Carmen ROMERO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Tokia SAÏFI (EPP, FR), Marie-Thérèse SANCHEZ-SCHMID (EPP, FR), Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES (GUE/NGL, CY), Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), Dominique VLASTO (EPP, FR)

A 6-member delegation of MEPs will travel to Senegal (24-27 March) to observe the second round of presidential elections on 25 March. The delegation is led by Santiago FISAS AYXELA (EPP, ES) and the other members are Maurice PONGA (EPP, FR), Alain CADEC (EPP, FR), John Attard-Montaldo (S&D, MT), Enrique Guerrero Salom (S&D, ES) and Norica NICOLAI (ALDE, RO)

The delegation will observe in Dakar and surrounding areas. They also hope to meet candidates from the first round of the elections.

Hearing on the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, "Horizon 2020"

MEPs from the Industry, Research and Energy committee will hold a hearing related to the six legislative proposals on the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Uffe TOUDAL-PEDERSEM, Danish Presidency, experts and academics are among the participants. The debates will focus on the following topics: excellent science, societal challenges, industrial leadership and SMEs and participation priorities. It will be chaired by Amalia SARTORI (EPP, IT).

Organised by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, this hearing will revisit the current state of EU legislation on equal treatment, equality and non-discrimination before and after the Lisbon Treaty. It will also address the concrete obstacles to the adoption of the proposed directive on equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

A draft programme includes list of experts participating in the discussions.

The Committee on Regional Development will hold a Public Hearing with representatives of banking sector, academia and civil society on "The Legislative Package on Cohesion Policy". Invited speakers will focus on the "Improving policy effectiveness through simplification and result orientation."
 

Members of the economics and monetary affairs committee will discuss the setting up of European funds to finance social entrepreneurship companies and provide venture capital with industry representatives and academics.  The funds, part of the Commission's single market flagship initiatives, aim to reduce the fragmentation in these sectors thereby increasing investment opportunities and also access to funds. During the hearing the two draft reports prepared in reaction to the Commission's legislative proposals will also be presented.

The Internal Market Committee will hold a hearing on Modernising EU Public Procurement rules (M.Tarabella (S&D). It aims to bring together all stakeholders with a view to making these more efficient and more supportive of common societal goals. The hearing on Award of Concession Contracts (P.Juvin (PPE) will look at how concessions contracts are awarded and managed, with emphasis on procedural requirements.

Hearing on the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, "Horizon 2020"

MEPs from the Industry, Research and Energy committee will hold a hearing related to the six legislative proposals on the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Uffe TOUDAL-PEDERSEM, Danish Presidency, experts and academics are among the participants. The debates will focus on the following topics: excellent science, societal challenges, industrial leadership and SMEs and participation priorities. It will be chaired by Amalia SARTORI (EPP, IT).

The Internal Market Committee will hold a hearing on Modernising EU Public Procurement rules (M.Tarabella (S&D). It aims to bring together all stakeholders with a view to making these more efficient and more supportive of common societal goals. The hearing on Award of Concession Contracts (P.Juvin (PPE) will look at how concessions contracts are awarded and managed, with emphasis on procedural requirements.

The foreign affairs committee holds a public hearing on Wednesday, 21 March 2012, from 3 to 4.30 p.m., in room JAN4Q2 on "One year on: the role of EEAS in the impulse and coordination of the Union's foreign policy". Speakers include Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pierre Vimont, Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service, david O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service, Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, Karel Pinxten, Member of the Court of Auditors, Stephan Keukeleire, University of Leuven / College of Europe

The Committee on Fisheries will hold a hearing on "The issue of regionalisation in the context of the CFP reform". Representatives of fishermen organisations, civil society and academia will discuss with MEPs one of the major topics of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The aim of the regionalisation is to move from micromanagement at EU level and to ensure that rules are adapted to the specificities of each fishery and sea area. Actors of the regionalised CFP and its targets and instruments are the main subjects to be discussed during the hearing.

Professor Alan MATTHEWS, of Trinity College Dublin, will present a briefing note on 'Environmental public goods in the new CAP: Impact of greening proposals and possible alternatives' as part of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development meeting on Monday 19 March.  
 

Workshop on "Building a European energy infrastructure - Selecting and implementing projects of common interest"

The debate will be organised in two panels: Selection of ‘projects of common interest’ and Implementation and monitoring of ‘projects of common interest’.

"EU Budget beyond 2013: which expenditure and which resources?"

A high-level conference with national parliamentarians on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2014-2020) and the system of 'own resources' is being organised in the European Parliament's hemicycle on 22 March. The conference is co-sponsored by the Danish Council Presidency and the European Commission.

Speakers at the opening session of the conference will be the President of the European Parliament, Martin SCHULZ; the Danish Presidency, Prime Minister Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel BARROSO.

The conference will be webstreamed and the opening session as well as the closing session will be aired by EbS.