Economic union. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will discuss current proposals aimed at creating a genuine economic and monetary union, together with ECB president Draghi (behind closed doors) and later on with Commissioners Barnier (behind closed doors) and Rehn (open to the public). The Committee will present its response in a draft resolution towards the end of September (Monday).

Home-made explosives. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on a deal struck with Council on a new law to restrict access to chemicals that can be used to make home-made explosives. These include some used in terrorist attacks in recent years, such as the Norway bombings in July 2011 (Monday).

EU human rights envoy. The Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committees will hold their first meeting with Stavros Lambrinidis, who was appointed in July as the first EU Special Representative for Human Rights, following years of Parliament calls to create such a post, which aims at increasing the effectiveness of EU's Human Rights policy Monday).

European Year of Citizens. MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee will vote on an agreement with Council on the European Year of Citizens 2013, aiming at raising  awareness about the rights linked to EU citizenship, especially when it comes to moving to (or residing in) another EU country (Monday).

President's diary. On Tuesday, President Schulz will meet Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dačić as well as  Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (both followed by a press point). On Saturday, President Schulz will take part in the G8 speakers' meeting in Washington.

Preparing for the plenary. Parliament’s political groups will devote most of the week to preparations for the 10-13 September plenary session in Strasbourg. The main items on the agenda are the State of the Union address by Commission President Barroso, votes on the energy efficiency directive, on the rights of victims of crime, and on cleaner shipping fuels. Parliament will also debate Council's position on the EU budget for 2013 as well as the EU’s common foreign and security policy.

Pre-session press briefing. The regular briefing by the EP Press Service and political group spokespeople will be held on Friday 7 September at 11 a.m. (Jozsef Antall building, Room 6Q2).