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All but the smallest EU importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum, gold and their ores will have to do "due diligence" checks on their suppliers, and big manufacturers will also have to disclose how they plan to monitor their sources to comply with the rules, under a draft EU regulation on “conflict minerals” agreed by MEPs, ministers and the EU Commission on Tuesday in Strasbourg. It aims to stop the financing of armed groups and human rights abuses through trade in minerals from conflict areas. (Read more: Conflict minerals: MEPs secure mandatory due diligence for importers )

Progress in deciding how the Paris climate agreement is to be applied by its 197 signatory countries and the “Marrakesh Action Proclamation”, approved last week at the UN climate change conference (COP22) in Morocco, will be the key topics in a Wednesday morning debate with EU climate action and energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete. It should start at about 10.30. (Read more: Climate change: debate on Marrakesh conference outcome with Commissioner Cañete )

Various ways to avoid or cushion the negative impact of austerity were debated in Tuesday's morning debate with Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis on EU economic priorities in 2017 and yearly “European Semester” economic policy coordination work. While some MEPs argued that austerity could not be avoided by overspending and incurring debt, others called for expansionist investments and a more social Europe. (Read more: Avoiding austerity: EU economic priorities debate )

In the wake of several tax evasion scandals, including the “Panama Papers” revelations, Parliament has backed Council’s position, and given the go ahead, by 590 votes to 32, with 64 abstentions, for tax authorities across Europe to automatically share information about bank account holders. (Read more: Tax evasion: MEPs back automatic exchange of bank data to track account owners )

Latest developments in Syria, including last week’s attacks on rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo, will be debated with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday at 15.00. In a second debate, MEPs will discuss whether EU accession talks with Turkey could be frozen or made subject to further conditions. The situation in the West Bank, including settlements, will also be debated with the High Representative later in the afternoon. (Read more: Syria, EU-Turkey relations and West Bank up for debate on Tuesday afternoon )