EP this week: ACTA, EU summit, patent, border checks

MEPs will evaluate the results of the last EU summit and vote on the controversial ACTA agreement at the last plenary session before the summer recess in Strasbourg from 2 to 5 July. They will also discuss what has been achieved by the outgoing Danish Council presidency and will debate the priorities of the new Cypriot presidency. In addition the Parliament will also vote on a new EU patent system and a proposal calling for emergency eCall systems in all new cars.

EU summit

MEPs will debate on Tuesday the outcome of the 28-29 June EU summit on plans to build a real economic and monetary union and the EU budget for 2014-2020 with Council president Herman Van Rompuy and Commission president José Manuel Barroso.

Presidency

Cypriot president Demetris Christofias will present his country's agenda for the EU Council presidency the coming six months on Wednesday, which will be followed by a debate with MEPs. Meanwhile Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt will talk about what her country achieved during its presidency in the first half of 2012

ACTA

The Parliament will vote on Wednesday on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Without MEPs approving it, the agreement cannot enter into force in the EU.  Five EP committees have come out against the agreement.

EU patent

Applying for an EU patent could become cheaper and easier if the EP backs a deal with the Council on the new unitary patent system. In negotiations with member states, the Parliament helped to adapt the rules to better suit small firms' needs. The debate will take place on Tuesday, followed by a vote the next day.

EU budget for 2013

The negotiations for next year's EU budget will start on 9 July. On Wednesday MEPs will vote on a resolution calling on member states to refrain from making "artificial cuts" in payments and to make sure that their claims for EU funds are correct. The resolution also states that the Parliament's negotiators should push for a budget promoting growth and jobs.

Border checks

MEPs will debate complaints about the reintroduction of border checks between Schengen area countries with the Council and the Commission on Wednesday.

Road safety 

A resolution calls for all new cars to be equipped with eCall devices, capable of automatically alerting rescue services in case of an accident, by 2015. It will be debated on Monday and voted on the day after.

Foreign affairs

On Wednesday MEPs will debate with the EU's foreign policy representative the latest pressing issues outside the EU, including continuing violence in Syria and the election of a new president in Egypt. The situation in Georgia will also be discussed ahead of the elections there.