Aktuaalne sel nädalal 

Plenary session, Strasbourg

Brexit. MEPs will discuss the current state of play of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU with Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier, followed by a vote on a resolution. (Wednesday).

European Central Bank President. Christine Lagarde is expected to obtain a recommendation from the plenary to become the next ECB President. Before the secret ballot, Plenary will hold a debate on the role of the ECB in the EU´s economic policy. (Tuesday).

Amazon forest fires. The situation and destruction of forests worldwide, as well as in the EU, will be debated with Council and Commission. In July, the Commission adopted a communication outlining action to protect and restore the world’s forests (Monday and Tuesday).

Plant patents. MEPs will quiz the EU Commission on how to ensure that products obtained from essentially biological processes, such as crossing, cannot be patented. The debate comes ahead of the 1 October deadline for submitting statements on the patentability of naturally obtained plants to the final appellate instance in the European Patent Office (EPO) (Monday).

Foreign electoral interference in Europe. MEPs will hold a debate on foreign electoral interference and disinformation in national and European democratic processes, as they threaten the stability of political systems in member states and the cohesion of EU integration. Plenary will also vote on a resolution (Wednesday and Thursday).

Hong Kong. The latest developments in Hong Kong will be debated with the Commission and the Council. The former British colony has seen a wave of protests since the Hong Kong Parliament proposed a new law that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to China (Monday).

Research and Erasmus. MEPs are set to approve a €100 million top-up for the EU’s research programmes (€80 million for Horizon 2020) and youth mobility (€20 million for Erasmus+) (Wednesday).

EU aid after 2018 floods in Austria, Italy, Romania. Nearly €300 million in EU aid due to floods in 2018 will go to Austria, Italy, Romania, after a vote to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund following the extreme weather events in 2018 (Wednesday).

New European Commission. The EP Conference of Presidents will hold an exchange of views with European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen and approve the detailed schedule for the hearings of Commissioners-designate (Thursday).

President’s diary. EP President David Sassoli will meet Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stef Block, Italy’s European Affairs Minister Vincenzo Amendola, Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, outgoing Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as well as designated EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, all on Tuesday.

Pre-session press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing at 16.30 on Monday in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Press conference room, Strasbourg.

EP Press service contacts