EP this week: anti-discrimination, MFF, Schulz in Morocco

The EU's long-term budget, how to tackle discrimination, and preparations for the UN conference on sustainable development Rio+20 are just some of the subjects covered by EP committees this week. Also this week Parlementarium, the EP's visitors' centre, is expected to welcome its 100,000th visitor. Outside the EP, president Martin Schulz will attend a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean in Morocco.

Anti-discrimination

The civil liberties committee will hold a hearing on how to combat discrimination on Tuesday 900-1230 CET. MEPs will discuss the current EU legislation on equal treatment, equality, non discrimination before and after the Lisbon Treaty. They will also look at the obstacles that need to be overcome for the adoption of the proposed directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment irrespective of religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. 
 

EU finances

On Thursday there will be a high-level conference on the EU's long-term budget - known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - for 2014-2020. Together with representatives from national parliaments, MEPs will discuss what resources are needed and what the money should be spent on. The opening session will be in the presence of EP president Martin Schulz, European Commission president José Manuel Barroso and Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. At the end of the conference there will be a press conference.

Other issues

Catherine Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, will attend the foreign affairs committee meeting on Tuesday 1700-1830 CET to discuss Syria and Iran. On Wednesday the environment committee will hold an interparliamentary committee meeting on the preparations for the UN conference on sustainable development Rio+20 on 20-22 June 2012 with representatives from the national parliaments. The economic and monetary affairs committee will debate a proposal to introduce a financial transaction tax and broader financial service regulatory issues on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Outside the EP

EP President Martin Schulz will make an official visit to Rabat, Morocco, where he will participate in the 8th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.