This week in the EP: credit rating agencies, ACTA, Schengen, CAP

Tighter rules for credit rating agencies, the final committee vote on ACTA and the latest reform proposals for the EU's common agricultural policy are on the Parliament’s agenda this week. Members of Syria’s opposition will also be visiting Parliament to discuss the situation with MEPs and the European External Action Service. Finally, this week will also see Parliament’s budget committee approve the mandate for the 2013 budget negotiations with the Commission and the Council.

Tighter rules for credit rating agencies, which includes changing how they rate sovereign debt and reducing conflicts of interest and the dominance of the big three agencies, will be put to the vote in the economic and monetary affairs committee on Tuesday 19 June.

The international trade committee, the committee leading on ACTA, will vote Thursday morning on its recommendation. The result is due to be put to plenary. So far, four committees have given negative opinions on the agreement. The petitions committee will debate an anti-ACTA petition signed by some 2.8 million people on Tuesday.

Danish justice minister Morten Bødskov will be in Parliament to discuss the recent Council decision to exclude the EP and the Commission from the management of the Schengen area. He will meet members of the legal affairs committee Tuesday and will be in the civil liberties committee Wednesday to discuss the outgoing Danish presidency’s six-month record in the fields of justice and home affairs.

Members of the Syrian opposition will be in Parliament Tuesday to discuss the escalating situation in their country with foreign affairs committee members and representatives of the EU External Action Service.

The proposed new reform of the EU's common agricultural policy - including plans for a greener agriculture with less red tape, better targeted farmer payments and greater competitiveness - will be debated by agriculture committee MEPs Tuesday.

The agriculture committee will also vote on a strategy for improving animal welfare and on plans for controlling the spread of animal related diseases, including calling for common EU-wide guidelines on animal welfare and EU monitoring of national inspections.

MEPs, governments, industry representatives, NGOs and researchers will discuss the Digital Agenda for Europe - the EU's roadmap for a digital society and economy - at  the European Economic and Social Committee on Thursday and Parliament on Friday.