http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_top_page/default/default_en.htm en © 2011 European Parliament http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Weekly presentation of the agenda of the European Parliament European Parliament This briefing presents the key items of the EP activities in the upcoming week like committee meetings, public hearings, visits etc. The agenda is presented by the EP spokespersons, ending with a Question and Answer session. This briefing presents the key items of the EP activities in the upcoming week like committee meetings, public hearings, visits etc. The agenda is presented by the EP spokespersons, ending with a Question and Answer session. European Parliament Webmaster webmaster@europarl.europa.eu no yes http://www.europarl.europa.eu/rss/podcast/logos/weekly_briefing_or.jpg http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_top_page/default/default_en.htm European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing: Week 22 (27 May - 2 June 2013) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2013-W22 "Committees, Brussels Post-summit debate. EP President Martin Schulz and political group leaders will quiz European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on the outcome of the EU summit on tax evasion and energy policy. (Tuesday) Road safety. The Transport Committee will vote on new rules changing the requirements for EU-wide standards on safety checks for cars, lorries and motorcycles. (Thursday) Clinical trials. Public Health Committee MEPs will vote on draft legislation to increase transparency and reporting requirements for the testing of medicines. (Wednesday) Baby milk. The Public Health and Food Safety Committee will vote on an update to legislation on food for infants. (Wednesday) Serbia. PM Ivica Dačić will be in the Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss Serbia's recent agreement and continued talks with Kosovo. (Wednesday) Libya. Ali Zeidan, Prime Minister of Libya, will discuss the current situation in his country with MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee. (Monday) EP elections. Early nomination of candidates and improved ballot papers are among draft recommendations to be put to a vote in the Constitutional Affairs Committee. (Tuesday) Lithuania Presidency. EP President Schulz and EP political group leaders will meet with Lithuania President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, and others, ahead of Lithuania taking the helm of Council. (Thursday-Friday) President's diary. On Tuesday EP President Martin Schulz will meet with members of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly ahead of their 2-day session in the European Parliament. On Wednesday he holds meetings with Ahmed Al-Jarwan Al Shamsi, President of the Arab Parliament, and with Ivica Dačić, Prime Minister of Serbia. " http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20130527MLT10532/20130527MLT10532.mp3 Mon, 27 May 2013 17:00:00 +0200 00:14:50 no EU, EP, Brussels, committees, summit, Van Rompuy, road safety, clinical trials, baby food, Serbia, Libya European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing: Week 19 (6 - 12 May 2013) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2013-W19 "Committees, Brussels Cyprus. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will debate financial assistance to Cyprus with Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Tuesday). MEPs will continue the discussion with Commissioner Olli Rehn and ECB executive board member Jörg Asmussen (Wednesday). A debate with the IMF - the troika's other constituent member - is planned for late May. Poverty assistance. Social affairs MEPs will vote on "EU Aid to the Most Deprived", a new fund to replace the EU's former food distribution programme. If confirmed in the EU's 2014-2020 budget, it will provide a wider range of support, including to homeless people and children living in poverty (Tuesday). Criminals' assets. The EP Civil Liberties Committee will vote on draft legislation to make it easier for national authorities to freeze, manage and confiscate assets acquired through crime (Tuesday). Van emissions. The Environment Committee will vote on a review of van CO2 emission rules to keep the EU on track to reach its 2020 target of 147g/km. The legislation aims to make "light commercial vehicles" more fuel-efficient, which will save money for small businesses, while curbing the climate impact of the EU's road traffic (Tuesday). 4th railway package. Representatives of the rail industry, passengers' organisations, rail workers, network managers and authorities will discuss with MEPs the opening of domestic passenger markets, better governance of railways, railway interoperability and safety (Tuesday). NATO. The Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss current foreign and security issues with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Monday). Charlemagne Youth Prize. President Schulz will be in Aachen to award the 6th edition of the prize – a joint initiative by the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation – for community projects run by young people (Tuesday). He will also deliver a laudatory speech for the Charlemagne Prize to Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania, in Aachen (Thursday). President's diary. On Friday, President Schulz will meet Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic and Enrico Letta, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, in Rome. " http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20130506MLT08022/20130506MLT08022.mp3 Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 +0200 00:12:25 no EU, EP, committees, Eurogroup, Dijsselbloem, Rehn, Asmussen, ECB, troika, Cyprus, poverty assistance, criminals' assets, CO2 European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing: Week 8 (18-24 February 2013) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2013-W8 "Committee meetings, Brussels Budget debate. Lead MEPs will debate the EU's long-term budget with European Council President Van Rompuy and Commission President Barroso. Parliament has the right to veto a deal reached by member state governments earlier this month. (Monday) Debate with Draghi. Economic affairs MEPs will hold two separate debates with Mario Draghi in his capacities as ECB chief and chair of the European Systemic Risk Board. (Monday) Emissions trading. The lead environment committee will vote on whether to delay auctioning a number of carbon credits to boost the low carbon price and green investments. (Tuesday) Horsemeat. The public health and food safety committee will debate the EU response to the discovery of horsemeat in products labelled as containing beef, with Commission and EU food safety agency (EFSA) representatives. (Monday) Freezing criminal assets. The justice and home affairs committee will vote on draft legislation for member states to freeze or seize assets gained by criminal activities. (Wednesday) MEP numbers. With Parliament set to have fewer seats after the 2014 elections, the constitutional affairs committee will vote on proposals to establish the number of MEPs for each country. (Tuesday) Media freedom. A draft resolution calling for the EU to monitor media freedom and support investigative journalism will be put to a vote in the civil liberties committee. (Thursday) " http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20130218MLT05904/20130218MLT05904.mp3 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0100 00:17:54 no EU, EP, committees, MFF, budget, Van Rompuy, Draghi, ECB, horsemeat, emissions trading European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 5 November 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W45 Committees Merkel. German chancellor Angela Merkel will address MEPs in a special meeting to discuss the future of Europe and efforts to solve the current financial and economic crisis. Before, the chancellor will have a meeting with EP President Martin Schulz. (Wednesday pm) European Globalisation Adjustment Fund 2014-2020. MEPs in the Employment Committee will vote a proposal to continue the EGF aimed at providing support for workers made redundant as a result of globalization for the next long-term budget period. MEPs propose not only to continue but also to extend the scope of the EGF to include temporary contract as well as the self-employed, such as farmers. (Tuesday) Airport package. The transport committee will vote on three pieces of airport legislation regarding noise, ground handling and slots to increase efficiency, capacity and competitiveness. (Tuesday) Rules to deal with banks in trouble. Rules on how to deal with banks in trouble will be presented to the economic and monetary affairs committee on Tuesday by rapporteur Gunnar Hökmark (EPP, SV). The EP has been calling for such legislation for over two years. (Debate on Tuesday) Fundamental rights. Civil liberties MEPs will vote a draft resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2010-2011. (Tuesday) LUX cinema prize. The Culture Committee will launch the EP prize for cinema, with a shortlist of three films to be considered for this year's award, the Hungarian film "Just the Wind", the Italian "Shun Li and the Poet" and the Portuguese "Taboo". (Monday) President's diary. EP President Martin Schulz will meet the wives of Belarusian political prisoners Alex Bialatski and Mikola Statkevich (Wednesday) and pay a visit to Italy, meeting among others Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. (Thursday) MFF journalists seminar. The EP press service is organizing a seminar for journalists with rapporteurs and political groups budget spokespersons on the Multi-annual Financial Framework, the EU long-term budget 2014-2020. (Wednesday) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20121105MLT03408/20121105MLT03408.mp3 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:00:00 +0100 00:20:30 no EU, EP, committees, Merkel, Eurozone, airport package, LUX Prize, banks, MFF, globalisation fund European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 24 September 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W39 Committee meetings - Brussels Banking union/supervision. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will start discussing the banking supervision plans presented to Parliament last week by Commissioner Michel Barnier. MEPs stressed that supervision rules must be ambitious, of good quality and provide for serious accountability of the banking supervisor (Wednesday). Financial markets. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will vote on the Market in Financial Services directive, which aims to step up investor protection, and also integration and supervision of financial markets, in order to keep pace with technical progress and financial product innovation (Wednesday). On Monday, the committee will discuss with financial experts and the Commissioners Barnier and Almunia ways to fight market manipulation following the Libor/Eurobor scandal. Sakharov Prize. The eight nominees for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be officially presented at a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs, Development and Human Rights committees. The Sakharov Prize will be awarded on 12 December (Tuesday). Single Market. The Internal Market Committee will vote a resolution calling for measures to remedy the key concerns citizens and businesses face when travelling or working abroad, such as opening a bank account, having professional qualifications recognized, getting health insurance or registering a car (Tuesday). Corruption and fraud. The Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering will discuss with experts how to fight corruption and fraud that harm the financial interests of the EU and what measures to take to prevent the misuse of EU funds (Monday) Presidents' Diary. On Tuesday morning, President Schulz will meet Speaker of Moldovan Parliament Marian Lupu (followed by a press point). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20120924MLT02706/20120924MLT02706.mp3 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:00:00 +0200 00:12:20 no EU, EP, committees, Eurozone, banking union/supervision, financial markets, Libor, Euribor, Sakharov Prize, single market European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 17 September 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W38 Committee meetings - Brussels Eurozone. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will debate core issues for the Eurozone. MEPs will discuss a draft resolution on the future of the economic and monetary union, as well as ECB activities in 2011. The Committee will also quiz the chairs of the financial supervisory authorities, including European Banking Authority chair Andrea Enria (Wednesday, Thursday). Protecting children on the internet. The Culture Committee will call for measures to better protect children against illegal and harmful internet content, reduce inequalities in internet access and promote education on the safe use of new media (Wednesday). Offshore oil and gas safety. Following the Deepwater Horizon accident and incidents in European waters, the Environment Committee will vote on a new law that aims to protect the EU's marine environment better in the event of major accidents. MEPs are expected to call for financial guarantees to cover clean up costs after accidents (Wednesday). Asylum. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on a new law that would make it impossible to transfer asylum seekers to member states where reception conditions are unsatisfactory. It will also vote on another law, laying down limited grounds for detaining asylum seekers and strengthening detainees' rights, e.g. to free legal aid, access to the labour market after nine months, and special help for the vulnerable. (Wednesday). EU farm policy reform. The Agriculture Committee will pursue its EU farm policy reform debate, focusing on market organisation, including wine planting rights and sugar quotas, rural development and the management of EU farm policy funds. Some 7,400 amendments have been tabled (Monday, Tuesday). President's Diary. On Tuesday, President Schulz will pay an official visit to Slovakia, where he will meet President Gašparovič, Prime Minister Fico and other leading politicians. He will also address the Slovak parliament. On Wednesday, he will meet a delegation from the Gulf States, led by Saudi Shura Council Speaker Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, before discussing the EU's long-term budget with Messrs Van Rompuy, Barroso and Christophias. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20120917MLT02601/20120917MLT02601.mp3 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:00:00 +0200 00:27:09 no EU, EP, committees, Eurozone, economic and monetary union, ECB, Enria, internet, children, asylum, CAP reform, European Parliament Weekly Briefing 18 June 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda Committee meetings - Brussels Credit rating agencies. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee votes on EU plans to tighten up rules governing credit rating agencies. Aims include regulating how they rate sovereign debt, curbing the dominance of the big three agencies and reducing the scope for conflicts of interest (Tuesday). Schengen. Danish justice minister Morten Bødskov will be at the Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday for a discussion and possible vote by MEPs on the correct legal basis for the legislation on the Schengen evaluation mechanism. Mr Bødskov will also be at the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday to discuss the Danish presidency's achievements in justice and home affairs. ACTA. The International Trade Committee, which leads on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ACTA, votes Thursday morning on whether to advise Parliament as a whole to approve or reject it, followed by a press conference. Four EP committees have already rejected ACTA in non-binding opinions. On Tuesday, the Petitions Committee will debate an anti-ACTA petition signed by some 2.8 million people. A seminar for journalists on ACTA with all leading MEPs will be held on Thursday afternoon. Syria. Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs will discuss developments in Syria with representatives of the Syrian opposition and the EU External Action Service (Tuesday). Animal Welfare. The Agriculture Committee will vote a resolution on animal welfare and public health measures intended to prevent the spread of animal related diseases. MEPs are set to call for common guidelines to safeguard animal welfare and for more power for EU food and veterinary authorities to monitor animal welfare inspections carried out by EU countries (Tuesday). Emergency call system. The Transport and Internal Market committees will vote on a resolution saying that the eCall in-car emergency call system, which automatically alerts the rescue services in the event of a crash., should become compulsory (Tuesday). EU farm policy. Agriculture Committee MEPs will debate their farm policy reform proposals, including less bureaucracy, new greening measures, better-targeted payments for farmers, and an overall drive to boost competiveness (Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20120618MLT00803/20120618MLT00803.mp3 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0200 00:25:56 no EU, EP, committees, ACTA, credit rating agencies, Schengen, Syria, CAP reform European Parliament Weekly Briefing 23 April 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W17 Committee meetings Financial transaction tax, economic governance, mortgage credit and bank capital requirements. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee votes on (tbc): the introduction of a financial transaction tax to deter highly speculative trading and make financiers contribute more to assist recovery, legislation to step up budgetary surveillance of Eurozone members and enable the European Commission to look further into the economic policy plans of those in particular financial trouble, new rules on mortgage credits, to reduce the build-up of risk and improve access to mortgage markets , and rules to boost the capital that banks must hold in reserve to fend off crises, cap bankers' bonuses and restore lending to small firms (all on Wednesday, tbc). Mario Draghi. The European Central Bank President will join the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for their regular monetary dialogue (Wednesday). Border controls. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will vote on legislation to allow the EU to introduce internal border controls for up to six months in the event of a threat to public order or internal security (Wednesday). ACTA. The International Trade Committee will debate its rapporteur's recommendation not to approve the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) (Wednesday). EP-President Martin Schulz will have a facebook chat on ACTA on Thursday. Breast implants. The Environment Committee will vote on a resolution on defective silicone gel breast implants, calling for stricter authorisation criteria, more checks on medical devices on the market and an implant recipient's "passport" (Wednesday). King Albert II of Belgium. On Thursday, King Albert II will visit Parliament. He will meet EP President Martin Schulz bilaterally, and then the Vice-Presidents, Quaestors and Belgian MEPs. President's Diary. On Tuesday, President Schulz will meet Danish Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt and Commission President Barroso to discuss future financing of EU policies as well as Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. On Thursday, he will meet South Africa's National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu (followed by a press point), and Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Azmi Mikati. On Friday, Mr Schulz will pay an official visit to Madrid, where he will meet Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20120423MLT43777/media_20120423MLT43777.mp3 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0200 00:18:25 no EU, EP, committees, ACTA, financial transaction tax, ECB, Draghi, border controls, King Albert II, budget European Parliament Weekly Briefing 26 March 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W13 Plenary Session and Committee Meetings – Brussels Brussels plenary session Derivatives. Parliament will vote on a deal its negotiators struck with EU Member States on new EU rules to make trade in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives safer and more transparent (vote Thursday). Enlargement. MEPs will debate and vote on the progress of Turkey, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro towards joining the EU (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Air passenger rights. Parliament will vote a resolution on air passengers' rights, saying that a coming update of EU rules must ensure that air fares are all-in, that stranded passengers get immediate help or are flown home when airlines go bust (vote Thursday). Committees and other business Troika on Greece. The Economic Affairs and Employment committees will hold a joint meeting with the Troika on Greece (EU, ECB, IMF) to discuss financial and economic developments in Greece (Tuesday). Data Transfer to the US. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on the Passenger Name Record (PNR) deal on the transfer of EU air passengers' data to the US authorities. Parliament's rapporteur recommends rejecting it (Tuesday). ACTA. The International Trade Committee will pursue its debate on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) (Tuesday). Giga-liners. The Transport Committee will quiz Commissioner Siim Kallas on supersize lorries and the Commission's new policy of allowing cross-border haulage with larger and heavier vehicles where both countries agree (Monday). CIA flights. The Civil Liberties Committee will hold a fresh public hearing on the CIA's alleged illegal detention and transfers of prisoners in Europe. A special committee inquiry on this produced a final report in February 2007 (Tuesday). President's diary. On Wednesday at 1.30 p.m., President Schulz will give a press conference on the European Citizens' Initiative rules, which enter into force 1 April and will enable 1 million citizens to ask the European Commission to propose legislation. On Wednesday, he will also meet Moldova's Prime Minister Vlad Filat (followed by a press point). On Thursday he will meet Italian Senate President Renato Schifani. Press briefing. A briefing on key topics of media interest will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. (Anna Politkovskaya Room, PHS 0A050). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20120326MLT41876/media_20120326MLT41876.mp3 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 +0200 00:27:16 no EU, EP, plenary, committees, derivatives, enlargement, air passenger rights, ACTA, CIA flights, Greece, troika European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 27 February 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W9 Committee meetings– Brussels ACTA. Discussion on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in the International Trade Committee starts Wednesday. Parliament will need to decide whether or not to approve the agreement. On Tuesday a petition against ACTA will be handed to the Petitions Committee, and on 1 March a public workshop with experts, and bloggers will look at issues such as ACTA's potential impact on civil liberties (Tuesday - Thursday). Roaming charges. Cutting the cost of using mobile phones abroad and boosting competition among telecoms service suppliers are the key aims of new legislation to be voted in the Industry Committee (Tuesday). Energy efficiency. The Industry Committee will also vote on legislation setting binding national energy efficiency targets and requiring measures such as renovating public buildings, which will help the EU to meet its 20% energy savings target by 2020 (Tuesday). Financial transaction tax/ Rating Agencies. Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs will pursue work on the financial transaction tax proposal, which aims to discourage highly speculative trading and make the financial sector contribute more towards assisting recovery from the financial crisis. Legislation on credit rating agencies and economic governance, and a discussion with Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker, will also be on the agenda (Wednesday). Aviation/emissions trading. The Transport and Environment committees will discuss the CO2 levy imposed by the EU's emission trading scheme on flights arriving at or leaving EU airports from January 2012. It is being challenged by the US, China, Russia and India (Tuesday, Thursday). Economic governance. MEPS will discuss economic governance, growth and jobs with members of national parliaments (Monday, Tuesday). President's diary. President Schulz will speak at the Greek Parliament in Athens on Tuesday. He will also meet President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, party political leaders and Parliament's speaker. On Thursday in Brussels, he will meet Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of Qatar Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani (followed by a press point). On Thursday at 17.00, he will speak at the European Council and debate with EU leaders, before giving a press conference. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20120227MLT39434/media_20120227MLT39434.mp3 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0100 00:24:51 no EU, EP, plenary, committees, ACTA, roaming, credit rating agencies, financial transaction tax, energy efficiency European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 30 January 2012 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2012-W5 Plenary Session and Committee Meetings – Brussels Fiscal Union. MEPs will react to the outcome of Monday's summit on the financial and economic crisis, and in particular the draft treaty on fiscal union. A resolution will be voted on Thursday (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Eurobonds. The desirability and feasibility of introducing Eurobonds is up for a debate by the full House. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee said last December that Eurobonds could become a source of stability for the Eurozone in the medium term, but cannot meet its short-term needs (debate and vote Thursday). Iran/Russia. MEPs will debate Iran, its nuclear programme and EU sanctions as well as the situation in Russia with foreign policy High Representative Catherine Ashton. A resolution on Iran will be put to the vote on Thursday, and one on Russia at the February plenary session in Strasbourg (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Derivatives trading. Parliament, Council and Commission will meet to strike a deal on new legislation on trade in derivatives, which is widely believed to have aggravated the global financial crisis. The draft aims to enhance the safety, transparency and stability of the over-the-counter derivatives market (Tuesday). European mortgage market. A press workshop on the new EU mortgage legislation, which aims to reduce the build-up of risk and improve access to mortgage markets, will enable journalists to exchange views with leading MEPs and representatives of other EU institutions as well as consumer and mortgage industry representatives (Tuesday, Wednesday). President's Diary. President Schulz meets Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk at 9.30h on Monday. At 14h he meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel (photo opportunity upon arrival). He will then address and exchange views with EU leaders at the summit, followed by a press conference. On Monday evening he meets Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, on Wednesday, Bundestag President Norbert Lammert, and on Thursday morning, Tunisia's Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali (followed by a press point). On Friday and Saturday, Mr Schulz will participate in the Munich Security Conference. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20120130MLT36526/media_20120130MLT36526.mp3 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0100 00:12:57 no EU, EP, plenary, committees, fiscal union, surobonds, Iran, Russia, Schulz, Merkel European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 19 December 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W51 Committee meetings - Brussels Intergovernmental pact. The Economic and monetary affairs and the Constitutional affairs committees will meet jointly with the MEPs representing the European Parliament in the Council working group on the new fiscal pact, one day after it starts its work (Tuesday). Eurozone/Mario Draghi. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will discuss sovereign debt markets and Eurozone developments with ECB President Mario Draghi. This will be his first visit to the committee since taking up his post (Monday). Derivatives trading. Parliament, Council and Commission will pursue talks on new legislation to regulate trade in derivatives, which is widely believed to have aggravated the global financial crisis. The draft aims to enhance the safety, transparency and stability of the over-the-counter derivatives market (Monday). Eurobonds/Credit Rating Agencies. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will vote a resolution on eurobonds. The Committee will also begin discussing new legislation to tighten up rules on credit rating agencies, including stiffer reporting requirements (Tuesday). Cross-border payments. MEPs, Council and Commission will try to agree a deal to make cross-border payment services faster, cheaper and safer for EU citizens. Ensuring that payment service providers compete fairly, eliminating hidden national bank charges, and accelerating transfers could save banks, clients and businesses up to €123 billion within six years (Wednesday). EU patent. The Legal Affairs Committee will vote on a deal with Council to create a single EU patent, aimed at cutting costs for firms and boosting the EU's competitiveness (Tuesday). Roaming. The Industry Committee will hold a hearing and begin discussing new legislation on mobile-phone roaming charges, which would set new retail and wholesale price caps and should boost competition (Tuesday). President's diary. President Buzek will pay an official visit to Uruguay (Monday-Tuesday) and Argentina (Wednesday-Thursday). He will be guest speaker at the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State (Tuesday). Parliament's offices close from 22 December until 3 January. Business resumes on 9 January, with a week of meetings of parliamentary committees and political groups. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20111219MLT34579/media_20111219MLT34579.mp3 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0100 00:16:48 no EU, EP, committees, ECB, Draghi, Eurozone, derivates trading, roaming, EU patent, eurobonds, credit rating agencies European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 28 November 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W48 Plenary session and committee meetings in Brussels Plenary session Summit preparations. The House will discuss the preparations for the summit on 9 December with the Council and the Commission (Vice-President Olli Rehn). The summit will deal mainly with the economic crisis and to Croatia's accession to the EU (Debate on Wednesday). Mario Draghi. The new President of the European Central Bank makes his first appearance since taking office, for the debate on the ECB Annual Report for 2010 (Thursday). 2012 Budget. Parliament votes on the 2012 budget on Thursday, endorsing the deal struck with the Council on 16 November. The overall budget for next year will amount to €129.1 billion, and the administrative budgets for the different institutions will rise by around 1% only, a cut in real terms. Croatia's accession. Parliament is expected to endorse Croatia's accession to the EU. Once it has voted, the accession treaty can be signed and ratified and the way is open for Croatia to join the EU (Debate on Wednesday evening, vote on Thursday). Funding for crisis-hit regions. The House votes on proposals agreed with the Council to speed up funding for crisis-hit regions in the EU. Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Latvia and Hungary in particular should benefit from special measures to help boost investment in jobs and growth and spur recovery (Vote on Thursday). International Aids Day, 1 December. Parliament will debate the EU's global response to HIV/AIDS and ask the Commission for a progress report on the action plan to reduce HIV infection rates across Europe (Thursday). Committee meetings and other business Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Nikola Poposki, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, will exchange views with the Committee on Foreign Affairs on his country's relations with the EU and future prospects (Tuesday). Conference of Presidents in Copenhagen. Political group leaders visit Copenhagen ahead of the Danish EU presidency. They have an audience with Queen Margrethe and meet members of the Danish government, the Folketing Speaker and Danish parliamentarians (Thursday and Friday). President's activities. President Buzek will meet human rights activists from Yemen on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, in Denmark, he meets the Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and has a press conference with her. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20111129MLT32674/20111129MLT32674.mp3 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0100 00:15:23 no EU, EP, plenary, committees, summit, ECB, Draghi, budget 2012, Croatia, AIDS/HIV, FYROM European Parliament Weekly Press Briefing 21 November 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W47 Committee Meetings and External Parliamentary Activities– Brussels Eurobonds/Credit Rating Agencies. The Economic Affairs Committee meets Commissioners Barnier, Rehn, Šemeta and Almunia, to discuss the eurozone crisis, in particular eurobonds, credit rating agencies and a financial transaction tax (Tuesday-Wednesday). Fair trials. Following a deal with Council, the Civil Liberties Committee votes on legislation giving anyone suspected or accused of a crime the right to be promptly informed of his or her rights in easy-to-understand language (Wednesday). Future transport policy. Transport Committee MEPs votes a resolution on EU transport policy until 2050, calling for CO2 emission cuts of 20% in road transport and 30% in air transport and shipping by 2020 (Tuesday). Human Rights activists/Sakharov Prize winners. At President Buzek's initiative, human rights activists and Sakharov Prize winners will meet to debate how new technologies can protect human rights and developments such as the Arab Spring. The event closes with a public debate at the BOZAR centre (Wednesday). EU-ACP meeting MEPs and MPs from African, Caribbean and Pacific states debate the Arab spring's effects on Sub-Saharan Africa, how indebtedness affects development funding and the food crisis at the 22nd EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Lomé, Togo (Monday-Wednesday). EU-Latin America. Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly committees will meet to discuss globalization, the financial crisis, drug trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters. President Buzek will address the assembly on 23 November and close the meeting (Monday-Wednesday). President's diary. On Thursday and Friday, President Buzek pays an official visit to Turkey, meeting President Abdullah Gül, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He will also address the Grand National Assembly and have an audience with Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Mr Buzek also pays official visits to Estonia, meeting President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Finland, meeting President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (Monday-Tuesday). In Brussels he will meet Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of the Côte d'Ivoire, followed by a press point (Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20111121MLT32033/media_20111121MLT32033.mp3 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:00:00 +0100 00:17:59 no EU, EP, committees, eurobonds, credit rating agencies, fair trials, transport, human rights, Sakharov Prize, EU-ACP European Parliament Weekly Briefing 03 October 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W40 Committee meetings - Brussels Budget 2012. The Budgets Committee holds its main vote on the EU's budget for next year. It will also vote on proposed further cuts to the EP budget for next year (Tuesday-Thursday). Eurozone. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will discuss the sovereign debt markets and the situation in the Eurozone with the ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet. It will be his last appearance at the committee before leaving the ECB (Tuesday). Angela Merkel/Euro. The German Chancellor will have a meeting with President Buzek and the political group leaders. A press point is scheduled for 17.30h (Wednesday). E-waste. Environment Committee MEPs will vote on improving rules to collect and recycle more of the EU's growing stream of electrical and electronic waste (Tuesday). Killing pests, protecting health. The Environment Committee will vote on modernising EU rules on pest control products to better protect public health and the environment, while cutting red tape for businesses (Tuesday). Home-made explosives. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will vote on legislation on the marketing of chemicals that can be used in home-made bombs, with a view to restricting public access to these chemicals (Tuesday). Major-accident hazards. Environment Committee MEPs will vote on rules on safety plans for around 10,000 industrial installations that manage hazardous waste and substances (Tuesday). Future regional policy. The Regional Development Committee will begin its discussion of a package of legislation on EU regional and structural policy after 2013 (Thursday). Election observation. President Buzek and Catherine Ashton host a high level meeting with speakers including Jimmy Carter, to discuss the role of international election observers two weeks before a delegation of MEPs travels to Tunisia to observe the first of the Arab Spring elections (Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20111003MLT28088/media_20111003MLT28088.mp3 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0200 00:19:56 no EU, EP, committees, budget 2012, Eurozone, Trichet, ECB, Merkel, e-waste, election observation, Carter European Parliament Weekly Briefing 29 August 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W35 Committee meetings - Brussels Situation in the Eurozone. The Economics Committee will discuss the sovereign debt markets with the President of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, the President of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, Polish Minister of Finance, Jacek Rostowski, and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn (Monday p.m). On Wednesday the committee will debate its draft report on the ECB's activities for 2010 and the way forward for the Bank (Wednesday p.m.). Mortgage credits. New legislation for residential mortgages in Europe will also be debated by Members of the Economics Committee. The legislation aims inter alia to reduce the build-up of excessive risk while guaranteeing better access to mortgage markets (Wednesday p.m). Palestinian Authority. The International Trade committee will vote on whether or not to give its consent to a trade agreement between the EU and the Palestinian Authority providing further liberalisation of trade in agricultural and fisheries products (Wednesday a.m.). Inauguration of "Simone Veil Agora" and "Solidarność 1980 Esplanade". President Jerzy Buzek will inaugurate the "Simone Veil Agora" and the "Solidarność 1980 Esplanade", parts of the promenade at the European Parliaments in Brussels. Simone Veil, former President of the European Parliament, Lech Walesa, former President of the Polish Republic and first leader of the Solidarność movement, Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister and Yves Leterme, Belgian Prime Minister will be among those taking part in the official ceremony and in the unveiling of the commemorative plaques (Tuesday, 12.00). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110829MLT25440/media_20110829MLT25440.mp3 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0200 00:15:40 no EU, EP, committees, Eurozone, Trichet, Juncker, Rehn, mortgage credits, Palestinian Authority, Simone Veil, Solidarnosc, Walesa, Tusk European Parliament Weekly Briefing 20 June 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W25 Plenary Session and Committee Meetings – Brussels Brussels session Economic governance. MEPs are scheduled to debate and vote on a package of legislation aimed at improving the EU’s macroeconomic policy arrangements with a view to avoiding future economic crises (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Consumer rights. Following an agreement with the Council, MEPs will hold the likely final vote on legislation to clarify the rights of shoppers, including in e-commerce (Thursday). CAP and cohesion policy. Options for reform of agriculture and regional policy, which together account for the bulk of EU spending, will be debated and put to the vote (debates: CAP Wednesday, cohesion Thursday; votes: Thursday). The EP Press Service is organising a seminar for journalists on the CAP reform (Wednesday). 2012 EU budget. Parliament is set to adopt its negotiating mandate for the 2012 budget (debate and vote Thursday). Mario Draghi. MEPs will decide whether to back the proposed new ECB President (vote Thursday). Committees and other business Cross-border traffic offences. Council and Parliament representatives will aim to agree on rules to ensure drivers who commit offences in an EU country other than their own do not avoid penalties (Monday). Food issues. The Agriculture Committee is to vote on legislation improving the EU’s food quality labelling schemes, such as those for products from a particular region (Tuesday). This issue will be part of the above-mentioned seminar on the CAP (Wednesday), while another EP Press Service seminar will deal with the separate issues of food package labelling and GMOs (Tuesday). EP President’s diary. The EP President will make a working visit to Prague for meetings with the Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas and parliamentary leaders (Monday). In Brussels, he have meetings with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev (Wednesday), the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and also, for the latest discussions on the future EU budget framework, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Commission President José Manuel Barroso (Thursday). EU summit. President Buzek will address the meeting of EU leaders before holding a press conference (Thursday evening, Justus Lipsius building). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110620MLT21874/media_20110620MLT21874.mp3 Mon, 20 May 2011 13:00:00 +0200 00:23:50 no EU, EP, plenary, committees, economic governance, CAP reform, cohesion policy, consumer rights, ECB, Draghi, food labelling, EU summit European Parliament Weekly Briefing 23 May 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W21 Committee meetings – Brussels Future EU financial framework. Parliament’s special committee on the size and shape of the EU’s budgets over the coming years will adopt its final report (Wednesday). CAP reform. The Agriculture Committee will adopt its position on what the forthcoming major reform of Common Agricultural Policy should include (Wednesday). Body scanners. Ahead of a decision from the Commission, which MEPs have the option of rejecting, the Transport Committee will adopt its stance on the use of body scanners in airports (Tuesday). Cross-border traffic offences. The Transport Committee will vote at second reading on new EU rules to ensure drivers who commit offences in an EU country other than their own do not avoid the penalties facing other drivers there (Tuesday). MEPs and lobbyists. EP President Jerzy Buzek will update the Constitutional Affairs Committee on progress in the working group, which he chairs, on codes of conduct for MEPs and for lobbyists in Parliament (Monday). Women and business leadership. The Women’s Rights Committee will adopt its position on how to ensure women are better represented in high-level corporate jobs. Whether to support binding quotas is one issue on the table (Wednesday). Radioactive waste. MEPs in the Industry and Energy Committee will adopt their position on plans for clearer common standards on how EU countries should deal with radioactive waste (Thursday). Derivatives trading. The Economics Committee will vote on legislation to bring derivatives trading within the scope of financial services regulation (Tuesday). EP President in Berlin. Jerzy Buzek will address the Bundestag’s EU affairs committee and have meetings with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Bundestag President Norbert Lammert, during a visit to Berlin (Thursday). Missing Children Europe - Queen Paola. An event organised in Parliament to mark the tenth anniversary of the organisation Missing Children Europe includes Belgium’s Queen Paola among its participants (Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110523MLT20051/media_20110523MLT20051.mp3 Mon, 23 May 2011 18:00:00 +0200 00:20:51 no EU, EP, committees, financial franework, CAP reform, body scanners, cross-border traffic offences, lobbyists, Queen Paola, Missing Children Europe European Parliament Weekly Briefing 11 April 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W15 Committee meetings - Brussels Food issues/GMOs in Europe. The Environment Committee votes on Commission plans to allow individual Member States to decide whether to ban cultivation of genetically modified crops. The same committee will discuss its second reading position on food labelling and measures to ensure the safety of food and feed products from Japan following the nuclear accident (all Tuesday). The Agriculture Committee meanwhile debates the proposed food quality regulation (Monday). Charges for lorries. The Transport Committee votes at second reading on new rules covering the charges levied on heavy goods vehicles transiting EU countries - the so-called Eurovignette scheme (Tuesday). Investor compensation. Legislation aiming to protect investors from fraudulent schemes such as that run by Bernard Madoff comes to a vote in the Economics Committee (Wednesday). Financial crisis. The Chair of the US Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, Phil Angelides, will discuss his report with the Parliament's special committee on the financial crisis and join MEPs for a press conference (Monday). Radio spectrum. The Industry Committee votes on plans to make more radio spectrum available for mobile broadband services (Tuesday). Western Balkans Joint Parliamentary Meeting. EP President Jerzy Buzek welcomes MEPs and national MPs from around Europe to a meeting, co-organised with the Hungarian Parliament, on the increasing the integration of the Western Balkans with the rest of Europe. Participants include Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Commission President José Manuel Barroso (Wednesday-Thursday). President's diary. Jerzy Buzek has meetings with, among others, the acting President of Moldova, Marian Lupu (Monday), European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and, for a discussion on the future size and shape of the EU budget, with Mr Orbán and Mr Barroso (all Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110411MLT17469/media_20110411MLT17469.mp3 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0200 00:22:09 no EU, EP, Brussels, committees, food issues, GMOs, transport, lorries, eurovignette, financial crisis, Western Balkans, radio spectrum European Parliament Weekly Briefing 21 March 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W12 Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Brussels session (Wednesday and Thursday) Disaster in Japan. Parliament is likely to add a debate on the disaster in Japan to its plenary agenda (Wednesday). Economic governance and EU summit. The session begins with a vote on the proposed treaty change to allow the creation of a permanent stability mechanism for the eurozone. MEPs will then debate with Council and Commission plans for the next EU summit, which aims to find agreement on a package of economic governance measures (both Wednesday). Parliament’s press service is organising a workshop for journalists on economic governance issues (Wednesday). At the European Council itself, EP President Jerzy Buzek will address EU leaders before holding a press conference (Thursday). Consumer rights. Parliament is set to debate and vote on a major update of Europe’s consumer rights legislation, notably to ensure proper safeguards for online shoppers (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Single permit for immigrants. Parliament is scheduled to vote on a law allowing legal migrants to make a single application for residence and work permits in EU countries (Thursday). Committee meetings/other business ECB/Trichet. The Economics Committee holds its regular monetary dialogue with ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet (Monday). Textile labelling. The Internal Market Committee holds its second reading vote on EU rules concerning the labelling of textiles, with country-of-origin labels among the key issues (Tuesday) Foreign Affairs/Ashton. The Foreign Affairs Committee will debate current issues with High Representative/Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton (Tuesday). Iceland. The same committee will vote on its regular assessment of Iceland’s progress towards EU membership (Tuesday). President’s diary. After completing his visit to Tunisia and Egypt with a press conference in Cairo (Monday), President Buzek returns to Brussels for meetings with, among others, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Wednesday) and Igor Lukšić, Prime Minister of Montenegro (Friday, with press point). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110321MLT15978/media_20110321MLT15978.mp3 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 00:20:58 no EU, EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Japan, economic governance, Trichet, consumer rights, Ashton, Iceland, Orban European Parliament Weekly Briefing 14 March 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W11 Committee meetings – Brussels Economic governance – national budgets. The Economics Committee and national MPs debate plans for coordination of national budget and other economic proposals with Mr Van Rompuy, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker and Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn (Tuesday). Later, the same committee will set out its stance on the future of credit rating agencies in Europe (Wednesday). European Neighbourhood Policy. The Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on its views on the future of the EU neighbourhood policy, for both the Mediterranean region and Eastern Europe (Wednesday). Migration policy. The same committee votes on how EU foreign policy should deal with migration caused by instability in neighbouring countries (Wednesday). The Civil Liberties Committee votes on related issues as part of legislation concerning EU borders agency Frontex (Thursday). EP President in Egypt and Tunisia/EP delegation in Egypt. Mr Buzek will visit Egypt and to Tunisia for meetings with key figures in government, opposition and civil society (Friday-Monday 21 March). A delegation of MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee will also visit Egypt (Saturday-Sunday). Novel foods. MEPs and the Council meet with the aim of reaching a compromise on legislation on new foodstuffs such as those resulting from cloning or molecular modification (Wednesday). SWIFT. The Civil Liberties Committee will discuss the implementation of the EU-US agreement on SWIFT, one day before the European Commission will present its evaluation (Wednesday). Single Work Permit for Immigrants. The Employment committee will vote on legislation making it easier for legal immigrants to the EU to obtain residence and work permits (Wednesday). EU summit. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will report back on Friday's summit at a special open meeting of the Conference of Presidents (Wednesday). President's diary. EP President Jerzy Buzek will also have meetings with the acting Moldovan President, Marian Lupu (with press point, Tuesday) and Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sagsyan (who also meets the Foreign Affairs Committee) (with press point, Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110315MLT15586/media_20110315MLT15586.mp3 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 00:22:35 no EU, EP, committees, economic governance, Juncker, migration, Mediterranean refion, Tunisia, Egypt, SWIFT, summit, van Rompuy European Parliament Weekly Briefing 24 January 2011 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2011-W04 Committee meetings – Brussels Hungarian Council Presidency. Hungarian ministers will be present in many EP committees this week to set out policy priorities for their country's six-month presidency of the Council (Monday-Thursday). Korea Free Trade. The EU's draft Free Trade Agreement with South Korea and the related safeguard clause – of particular interest to the European car industry - come to a vote in the International Trade Committee. Parliament's consent is essential if the agreement is to come into force (Wednesday). Croatia. The Foreign Affairs Committee is set to adopt its regular report on Croatia's progress towards EU membership – cooperation with the International Tribunal and state aid issues are among the likely topics (Wednesday). Patents. The proposal that those Member States who wish to take part in a joint patent scheme should be able to do so via the EU’s “enhanced cooperation” procedure will be put to the vote in the Legal Affairs Committee (Thursday). Economic Governance. MEPs in the Economics Committee will discuss the package of six pieces of legislation aimed at improving the EU's framework for economic governance and thereby avoiding future economic crises (Monday). European Political Parties. The Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on how to improve the existing rules on European-level political parties (Wednesday). Women's rights. MEPs in the Women's Rights Committee are set to vote on three subjects: violence against women, female poverty and wider progress regarding gender equality (Thursday). Citizens' Agora. MEPs will meet representatives of a wide range of civil society organisations to discuss ways to eliminate poverty and social exclusion in the EU (Thursday-Friday). Jerzy Buzek visits Malta. The EP President makes an official visit to Malta. He will have meetings with President George Abela, Prime Minister Laurence Gonzi, parliamentarians including opposition leader Joseph Muscat and civil society organisations (Monday-Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110124MLT12340/media_20110124MLT12340.mp3 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0100 00:12:57 no EU, EP, committees, Brussels, Hungarian Presidency, Croatia, Korea, patents, economic governance, Agora European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/agenda/2010-W45 Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Plenary session (Wednesday and Thursday) Hedge funds. MEPs will take their final vote on the deal that they have hammered out with EU Member States over the past year. The new laws on hedge funds and private equity will impose registration, reporting and initial capital requirements (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Energy. MEPs will also vote on an agreement with the Council to free up €146 million of uncommitted funds to finance energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects (debate and vote Thursday). EU-US summit. Ahead of the EU-US summit, MEPs will debate and fix Parliament's transatlantic priorities and examine relations with the US regarding bilateral trade, the fight against terrorism, climate change and data protection, including passenger name records (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Committee meetings (Monday and Tuesday) EU budget 2011. Conciliation negotiations for an agreement between Parliament and the Member States on the EU budget for 2011 continue during the week. Citizens' initiative. Constitutional Affairs Committee MEPs will discuss draft rules that would enable EU citizens to call directly upon the European Commission to propose legislation, provided that they can gather signatures from at least a million supporters (Tuesday). Economic governance/Jean-Claude Juncker. Economic Affairs Committee MEPs will discuss economic governance with Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker as well as the decisions taken at the October European Council (Monday). Enlargement. The Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss with Commissioner Stefan Füle the Commission's 2010 enlargement package, containing its strategy paper, the opinions on the applications by Montenegro and Albania and seven progress reports on the other (potential) candidate countries (Tuesday). Afghanistan. The Foreign Affairs Committee will outline its priorities for a new EU strategy for Afghanistan (Tuesday). EP President. Jerzy Buzek pays an official visit to Luxembourg, including meetings with Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker (Tuesday). The President will also meet with Norwegian Storting President Dag Terje Andersen in Brussels (Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20101108MLT92754/media_20101108MLT92754.mp3 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100 00:15:30 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, hedge funds, energy, EU-US summit, budget 2011, enlargement European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-78570-190-07-28-901-20100709IPR78569-09-07-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Security of gas supplies. The Industry Committee votes on an agreement on EU legislation aimed at guaranteeing the gas supply to customers at times of crisis. (Tuesday) Protection of animals. The Agriculture Committee takes a vote on a second-reading agreement on legislation to restrict animal testing in scientific experiments and introduce alternative methods that cause less pain or distress to animals. (Monday) Belgian presidency. Most EP committees hold discussions with Belgian ministers on the Council Presidency's policy priorities in various areas over the next six months (Monday-Thursday). EU-NATO relations. Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence Committee MEPs discuss EU-NATO relations and the new NATO strategic concept with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Wednesday) Trade and economic relations with Turkey. The International Trade Committee votes a resolution outlining steps to improve trade and economic relations with Turkey. (Wednesday) Anti-Counterfeiting. Progress in negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) Trade will be debated with Commissioner Karel De Gucht in the Civil Liberties Committee (Tuesday) GM crops. Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli presents new Commission proposals on the authorisation and cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to Environment Committee MEPs. (Tuesday) Employment policy and green jobs. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee is to adopt its political stance on guidelines and targets for Member States' employment policies. It also votes a resolution on creating green jobs in a new sustainable economy. (Wednesday) Inter-parliamentary meeting on cohesion policy. Regional Development Committee MEPs will meet their counterparts from national parliaments to discuss the Lisbon Treaty's practical implications for EU cohesion policy. (Monday) Summer recess. From 19 July the European Parliament's activities are suspended for the summer recess until 30 August. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100712MLT78614/media_20100712MLT78614.mp3 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0200 00:15:52 no EP, Brussels, committees, gas supplies, animal protection, Belgian presidency, EU-NATO, Turkey, GMOs, employment European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-76343-169-06-25-901-20100618IPR76342-18-06-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings - Brussels Special plenary session/EU summit. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will report to Parliament on the outcome of the 17 June European Council during a special plenary session in Brussels (Wednesday). EP President in Moscow. Jerzy Buzek makes an official visit to Russia, meeting President Dmitri Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatkó and the speakers of the two chambers of the Russian parliament, Sergei Mironov and Boris Gryzlov. Mr Buzek will hold a press conference at the end of the visit (Monday-Tuesday). The Human Rights Subcommittee will hear from Mr Buzek on human rights issues following his visits to Russia and China (Thursday). ECB/Trichet. The President of the European Central Bank takes part in the latest session of the monetary dialogue with the Economics Committee (Monday). Banking crisis. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee votes resolutions on cross-border crisis management in the banking sector and on the remuneration of directors of listed financial services companies (Tuesday). EU External Action Service. A meeting of the European Parliament, the Council Presidency, the High Representative and the Commission will take place in Madrid (Monday). The Legal Affairs Committee debates the status of staff of the new EU diplomatic service Biocides/Electronic equipment. The Environment Committee votes on new legislation on biocidal products, aiming to improve labelling requirements and reduce the need for animal testing among other things. A second vote concerns an update of the EU's rules on disposal of waste electronic equipment (Tuesday). EU enlargement. The Foreign Affairs Committee votes resolutions, on Iceland's application to join the EU, on Albania, and on Kosovo (Tuesday). Conference of Presidents - Belgian Presidency. Ahead of Belgium's six-month presidency of the Council, which begins in July, President Buzek and the political group leaders will meet the Belgian government, after which Mr Buzek and Prime Minister Yves Leterme will hold a press conference (Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100621MLT76398/media_20100621MLT76398.mp3 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0200 00:13:16 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, ECB, Trichet, banking crisis, enlargement, EU external action service European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/23-2010/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Road and water passenger rights. The Transport Committee deals with legislation giving bus, coach and boat passengers similar rights to those already available to air passengers (Tuesday). Air accident investigations. A draft law setting common standards for air accident investigations, such as how and when to inform relatives of those caught up in an accident, will be put to a vote in the Transport Committee (Tuesday). Waste electronic equipment. The Environment Committee votes on changes to the rules on electronic devices, aiming to reduce the quantity of toxic material they contain (Wednesday). Divorce rules. The Legal Affairs Committee will vote on whether Parliament should allow ten member states to work together on common rules concerning cross-border divorce issues (Tuesday). Derivatives markets/financial services. Ahead of legislative proposals due later in the year on the supervision of derivatives markets, MEPs in the Economics Committee will vote on their political stance on the issue. Also, the EP Press Service is organising a workshop for journalists on current legislation on financial services (both Wednesday). EP/Iran. The Foreign Minister of Iran, Manouchehr Mottaki, will take part in discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee (Tuesday). Bosnia and Albania. The Foreign Affairs Committee votes on the progress made by Albania and by Bosnia and Herzegovina in European integration (Tuesday). EP President visits Greece. Jerzy Buzek makes an official visit to Greece, meeting President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister George Papandréou, Parliamentary Speaker Philippos Petsalnikos and opposition leader Antonis Samaras (Wednesday). EP/Pakistan. Mr Buzek meets Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Brussels (Thursday). Energy policy. Ahead of next week’s interparliamentary meeting, President Buzek will discuss the idea of a European Energy Community with both the Industry and Environment Committees (Tuesday and Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100531MLT75268/media_20100531MLT75268.mp3 Mon, 31 May 2010 15:00:00 +0200 00:15:25 no EP, Brussels, committees, air travel, passenger rights, waste, divorce, Iran, Pakistan, Greece European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/19-2010/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Plenary session (Wednesday and Thursday) US Vice-President. Joe Biden will address a formal sitting of the European Parliament. He will also have a bilateral meeting with EP President Jerzy Buzek and a discussion with the Conference of Presidents (Thursday). SWIFT/PNR. Parliament adopts its position on negotiations with the United States on these two issues concerning data protection and anti-terrorist surveillance (vote Wednesday). EU 2020. MEPs will debate the EU’s plans to improve economic competitiveness with Commission President José Manuel Barroso (Wednesday, vote next session). Airport security charges. Parliament votes on rules to make the charges passed on to passengers for airport security more transparent (vote Wednesday). Discharge 2008. MEPs vote on whether to approve EU institutions’ financial management in 2008 (vote Wednesday). 18 extra MEPs. Parliament will decide whether to allow treaty changes increasing the size of the European Parliament to take place without a full Convention (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Committee meetings (Monday and Tuesday) External Action Service. The committees on foreign and constitutional affairs debate their positions on the creation of the EU’s new diplomatic service (Monday -Tuesday). Greek crisis. Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Elena Salgado, President in office of ECOFIN, will discuss Greek economy with the Economics Committee (Tuesday). Industrial pollution. The Environment Committee holds a second reading vote on wide-ranging legislation covering pollution from industrial sites (Tuesday). EP/Canada. President Buzek will meet Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Wednesday). Covenant of Mayors. A large-scale meeting of mayors committed to action on climate change takes place in Parliament. Jerzy Buzek will join Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Commission President José Manuel Barroso for the opening session and a press conference. EU Open Days. Parliament marks Europe Day by opening its doors to the public in Brussels (Saturday) and Strasbourg (Sunday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100503MLT74046/media_20100503MLT74046.mp3 Mon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 +0200 00:19:28 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, USA, Biden, SWIFT, PNR, EU 2020, Open Days European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/18-2010/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Jerzy Buzek visits United States. The EP President makes an official visit to the USA, with meetings in Washington including Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Mr Buzek will also open Parliament's new liaison office with the US Congress. Later he will travel to New York and meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (Sunday-Friday). Lorry drivers working time. The Employment Committee votes on whether self-employed lorry drivers should be included in legislation limiting the working time of road transport workers (Wednesday). Late payments. Legislation to tackle the problem of late payments – a major issue for many small businesses – comes to a vote in the Internal Market Committee (Wednesday). Fake medicines and pharmacovigilance. MEPs in the Environment Committee vote on measures to prevent fake medicines being sold in Europe and to ensure that there is better reporting of side effects and safety problems affecting licensed drugs (Tuesday). Union for the Mediterranean. Ahead of the second summit in June of the new body linking the EU to its southern neighbours, the Foreign Affairs Committee will adopt its position on how to revitalise the process (Wednesday). EU Budget 2011. Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski will formally present the draft of next year's EU budget to the Budgets Committee. This is the first EU budget to be set since the Lisbon Treaty gave Parliament an equal say with the Council (Tuesday). Derivatives markets. The Economics Committee holds a public hearing on the future of over-the-counter derivatives, one of the key instruments at the heart of the financial market crisis (Tuesday). Energy efficiency. The Industry Committee is set to vote at second reading on measures to improve energy efficiency of buildings and the energy labelling of products, thereby formalising a deal already reached with the Council (Wednesday). Intellectual property/ACTA. The Legal Affairs Committee is set to adopt its political stance on a range of IP issues, including counterfeiting, online piracy and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement talks (Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100426MLT73442/media_20100426MLT73442.mp3 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0200 00:18:38 no EP, Brussels, committees, Buzek, USA, late payments, working time, budget 2011 European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Brussels Session ECB/Eurozone. MEPs will debate the performance of the European Central Bank with its President Jean-Claude Trichet, ahead of their annual vote on the ECB (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Earlier, Mr Trichet and Eurogroup chair Jean-Claude Juncker both make their regular appearances before the Economics Committee (Monday). ECB Vice-President-designate Vitor Constancio will answer the committee’s questions (Tuesday), ahead of a vote by the full Parliament on his candidature (Thursday). EU summit. MEPs will debate plans for the Spring European Council meeting devoted to economic issues (Wednesday). At the summit itself, EP President Jerzy Buzek will address EU leaders before holding a press conference (Justus Lipsius building, Thursday). Budget 2011. Parliament debates and votes on its priorities for the EU’s 2011 budget (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Other events Catherine Ashton/External Action Service. The High Representative/Commission Vice-President will discuss the setting up of the EU’s new External Action Service with the Foreign Affairs Committee. The committee will also hear from Vygaudas Ušackas, recently chosen to head the EU’s Kabul delegation and as EU Special Representative to Afghanistan (Tuesday). Tony Blair/Palestinian territories. The Quartet Special Envoy will be among the participants in a Development Committee hearing on the Palestinian territories (Monday). Budget Discharge. The Budgetary Control Committee is set to vote on whether to approve the EU institutions’ financial management in 2008 (Monday-Tuesday). EP President’s activities. Jerzy Buzek makes an official visit to Germany, including meetings with President Horst Köhler, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other political leaders (Monday-Tuesday). In Brussels he will meet Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Wednesday), Vlad Filat, Prime Minister of Moldova, Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank (both Friday) and Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Foreign Minister of Ukraine (Saturday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100322MLT71086/media_20100322MLT71086.mp3 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0100 00:19:43 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, summit, eurozone, Trichet, Juncker, Ashton, Blair European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Food labelling. The Environment Committee votes on legislation concerning the rules on labelling of pre-packed food products. Issues include both the extent of origin labelling and the question of how to indicate how healthy or otherwise a product is (Tuesday). Organ transplants. EU laws on common safety and quality requirements relating to the donation and transplantation of organs will be put to the vote, also in the Environment Committee. The new rules also aim to make exchange of organs between Member States simpler (Tuesday). Economic strategy. The Economics Committee debates how to revitalise the EU economy and the supervisory framework for financial services with national MPs and guests including Elena Salgado, Spanish Minister of Economy and Finance, Commissioner Olli Rehn, the ECB's Jürgen Stark (both Tuesday), Commissioner Michel Barnier and IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn (both Wednesday). EP President. President Buzek will have his first formal meeting with the College of European Commissioners (Wednesday). He will also have his regular meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (Thursday). Gas supply. The Industry Committee votes on legislation setting up an EU system aimed at guaranteeing the gas supply to customers at times of crisis (Thursday). The EP Press Service is holding a workshop for journalists on this topic, where the latest compromise amendments will be presented (Tuesday). Structural funds. The Regional Affairs Committee votes on legislation aiming to simplify the procedures for accessing the various EU funds for regional development (Thursday). Violence against women. Following International Women's Day, the Women's Rights Committee holds a public hearing on ways to tackle violence against women. EP President Jerzy Buzek opens the event, with participants including Bibiana Aído, Spanish Minister for Equality, Spain, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Mara Carfagna, Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities. The hearing will be followed by a press conference at 13h (Tuesday). Alongside this event, the EP Press Service is organising a seminar for journalists (Monday). Court of Auditors. The Budgetary Control Committee will hold hearings with, and then vote on, a series of candidates proposed for appointment to the EU Court of Auditors (Monday and Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100315MLT70605/media_20100315MLT70605.mp3 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100 00:17:46 no EP, Brussels, committees, food labeling, organ transplants, economic crisis, violence, women European Parliament EP Spokespersons present the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/09-2010/default_en.htm Plenary Session and Committee Meetings – Brussels Brussels Plenary Session EU summit. MEPs will assess the informal meeting of EU leaders of 11 February on the economic crisis (Wednesday). Goldstone report/Gaza. MEPs will debate the implementation of the recommendations in the report into the Israel-Gaza conflict drawn up by a UN panel chaired by Judge Richard Goldstone (Wednesday). Fisheries reform. Parliament will adopt its political position on plans to reform the Common Fisheries Policy (debate and vote Thursday). Less red tape. MEPs will vote on a new law to reduce the burden of accounting requirements on the smallest businesses (Thursday). *** EP – Middle East. President Buzek will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Tuesday) and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (Monday). EP – Bulgaria. President Buzek will welcome Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Parliament (Tuesday). EP – Belarus. Mr Buzek will also meet Sakharov Prize winner and Belarusian opposition leader Aliaksandr Mininkevich, along with Angelika Borys, leader of the Union of Poles in Belarus (Tuesday). Maternity Leave. The Women’s Rights Committee will vote on proposals to extend the minimum period of maternity leave set out in EU law (Tuesday). Financial Market Supervision. The Economics Committee will debate legislative proposals aimed at improving the EU’s system of financial market supervision, and also amendments to the hedge funds/private equity directive (Tuesday). Foreign Policy. The Foreign Affairs’s Committee votes on its annual report on the common foreign and security policy (Tuesday). WTO/Pascal Lamy. The Director General of the World Trade Organisation will meet the International Trade Committee (Tuesday). He will also meet President Buzek. EIB and CoA. Philippe Maystadt, President of the European Investment Bank will meet the Regional Development Committee (Monday) and Vítor da Silva Caldeira President of the Court of Auditors will meet the Budgetary Control Committee (Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100222MLT69310/media_20100222MLT69310.mp3 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0100 00:10:36 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, summit, Gaza, fisheries, Bulgaria, Belarus, Lamy, WTO European Parliament EP spokespersons present the weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/05-2010/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Spanish presidency. Fourteen Parliament committees will hold discussions with Spanish ministers about the priorities of the presidency of the Council in the different policy areas over the next six months (Monday-Thursday). Enlargement votes. The Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on resolutions assessing the progress made in the EU accession process by Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Wednesday). SWIFT. The Civil Liberties Committee will discuss the interim agreement signed on November 30 by Council on the exchange of banking data with the United States via the SWIFT network. MEPs are likely to vote on the issue in plenary session in February.(Tuesday tbc) Counter-terrorism strategy. MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee will discuss body scanners and other current issues in the fight against terrorism with the EU's anti-terrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, and the EU data-protection supervisor, Peter Hustinx (Wednesday). Afghanistan. The Security and Defence subcommittee holds a hearing on the situation in Afghanistan, gathering views from military, diplomatic and other sources (Monday). Haiti: Commissioner for Development, Karel de Gucht will brief MEPs of the Committee on Development on the humanitarian situation in Haiti after his visit there. (Monday) ICTY. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Serge Bammertz, will update the Foreign Affairs Committee on the court's work (Tuesday). Madeleine Albright/NATO. The former US Secretary of State, who is chair of a group reviewing NATO's strategic concept, joins a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Security and Defence Subcommittee (Wednesday). Financial market supervision/ECB. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee holds a hearing on part of the financial market reform package and also adopts its annual report assessing the performance of the European Central Bank (Wednesday). Gender equality. The Women's Rights Committee will vote on the EU's progress in achieving equality between men and women (Monday). EP President. President Buzek will participate in the commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp (Wednesday) and in the World Economic Forum in Davos (Friday to Saturday). He will also meet European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (Thursday) and make the opening speech at a Polish artworks exhibition (Monday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20100125MLT67896/media_20100125MLT67896.mp3 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100 00:10:45 no EU, EP, committees, Spain, presidency, enlargement, crisis, SWIFT, Haiti European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/49-2009/default_en.htm Committee Week - Brussels High Representative/Commission Vice-President-designate. Catherine Ashton will have a first exchange of views with the Foreign Affairs Committee one day after starting working as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs (Wednesday). Baroness Ashton will face a hearing in January as her appointment - along with that of the rest of the future European Commission - is subject to Parliament's approval. EP/Spanish Presidency. EP President Jerzy Buzek and the political group leaders will have a meeting in Madrid with Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the Spanish government, ahead of the Spanish Council presidency, which begins in January (Thursday-Friday). Maternity leave. The Women's Rights Committee will hold a fresh debate on the proposals to extend the minimum period of maternity leave to 18 weeks (Tuesday). Egypt and Turkey. The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Tuesday), and the Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bağiş (Wednesday), will both have discussions with the Foreign Affairs Committee. President's diary. Mr Buzek will go to Lisbon to celebrate the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty at a special event (Tuesday). The President's other engagements include meetings with the President of Serbia, Boris Tadić (Monday, press point 6.15pm), the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Volodymyr Lyvtyn (Monday), and the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond (Wednesday). ACP-EU Assembly: Climate change and Madagascar's institutional and political crisis top the bill of subjects to be discussed at the 18th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Luanda (Republic of Angola) (Monday - Thursday). Ombudsman. The three candidates running for the position of European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros (Greece), Vittorio Bottoli (Italy) and Pierre-Yves Monette (Belgium) will outline their priorities at a hearing before the Petitions Committee ahead of the Parliament's election of the new Ombudsman in January 2010 (Monday). STOA: The founder of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, will tell MEPs about the latest developments of the internet at this year's annual lecture organised by Parliament's scientific research panel STOA (Tuesday). Global Warming and Food Policy. Sir Paul McCartney and IPCC Chair Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri take part in a meeting with MEPs to make the case that reducing meat consumption would play a part in reducing CO2 emissions (Thursday). Lisbon Treaty/Media workshop. Parliament's press service is organising a workshop for journalists on the changes in Parliament's role with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. (Monday) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20091130MLT65623/media_20091130MLT65623.mp3 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 00:09:42 no EP, Brussels, committees, Ashton, McCartney, Ombudsman, global warming, Spanish presidency European Parliament EP Spokespersons presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/46-2009/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels 1989-2009 Europe, whole and free. MEPs will reflect on the 20th anniversary of democratic change in Central and Eastern Europe at a formal session including an address from former Czecho-Slovak President Václav Havel. Before the session, EP President Jerzy Buzek will join a discussion with an audience of 89 people all born in November 1989 (Wednesday). Earlier, Mr Buzek will join European leaders in Berlin for a ceremony marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall (Monday). Brussels plenary. The plenary continues with debates on the latest EU summit and the prospects for appointments to the top EU jobs created by the Lisbon Treaty, Parliament’s new budgetary powers under the treaty and on EU-Russia relations ahead of the EU Russia summit on 18 November. Alzheimer’s disease and the situation in Honduras also feature on the agenda (Wednesday-Thursday). Court of Auditors annual report. Vítor Manuel da Silva Caldeira, President of the Court of Auditors, will present his institution’s report on the EU’s financial management in 2008 to the Budgetary Control Committee (Tuesday). Hedge funds/private equity. The Economics Committee holds a public hearing on proposed new rules for hedge funds and private equity investors (Tuesday). Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. The President of the autonomous Kurdish government in Iraq meets the Foreign Affairs Committee (Tuesday). Human Rights/Alex Van Meeuwen. The Human Rights Subcommittee will hold a discussion with the President of the UN Human Rights Council (Monday). Lux Prize for Cinema. Fatih Akin, director of Auf der anderen Seite, winner of the 2007 European Parliament Lux prize for European cinema, plus the film’s star Hanna Schygulla, will join the Culture Committee for a debate with representatives of this year’s finalists (Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20091109MLT64105/media_20091109MLT64105.mp3 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 00:16:01 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Iron Curtain, Berlin Wall, Havel, hedge funds, Lux Prize European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-59850-240-08-35-901-20090828IPR59848-28-08-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Swedish Presidency. Ministers from the Swedish government will outline their priorities for their Council Presidency in meetings with almost all the parliamentary committees (Monday-Thursday). President Buzek/Official visit to Sweden. EP President Jerzy Buzek will meet Swedish leaders and officials during a visit to Stockholm (Friday). Hearings for interim Commissioners-designate. Three committees hold hearings with nominees to fill vacancies in the current Commission, whose mandate runs to November. The Development Committee will question Karel de Gucht of Belgium, Algirdas Šemeta will be questioned by the Budgets Committee (both Tuesday), while the Regional Development Committee will hear from Poland’s Paweł Samecki (Wednesday). The full Parliament will vote whether to support their appointment at the September plenary session. Financial markets/US Congress. MEPs in the Economics Committee will exchange views on how best to supervise financial markets with their counterparts from the US Congress (Wednesday). SWIFT/data protection. The Civil Liberties and Economics Committees hold a joint meeting to discuss the latest developments regarding the availability of private bank transfer data to the US authorities under anti-terrorism legislation (Thursday). Financial crisis/developing countries. The impact of the financial market crisis on developing countries will be the subject of a discussion in the Development Committee with the President of the African Development Bank Group, Donald Kaberuka (Thursday). Second World War commemoration. President Buzek will join world leaders in Gdansk to mark 70 years since the outbreak of the Second World War (Tuesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20090831MLT59928/media_20090831MLT59928.mp3 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +0200 00:14:53 no EP, Brussels, committees, Swedish presidency, hearings, Commissioners European Parliament EP Spokespersons presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-49427-047-02-08-901-20090213IPR49426-16-02-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Vaclav Klaus. The President of the Czech Republic will address a formal session of Parliament after a bilateral meeting with EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering (Thursday). Reduced VAT. Parliament votes on plans to widen the scope for Member States to apply reduced VAT rates to certain services, including restaurants (debate and vote Thursday). Foreign Policy. The EU’s High Representative for foreign policy, Javier Solana, will take part in debates on the Middle East and on the EU’s wider foreign policy activity (debates Wednesday, votes Thursday). Economic new deal? The European Parliament and the Czech Presidency welcome national parliamentarians from EU Member States and candidate countries to a Joint Parliamentary Meeting on the EU economy. President Pöttering, European Council President Mirek Topolánek, Commission President José Manuel Barroso and ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet are among those taking part (Monday and Tuesday). Ecodesign and labelling. The Environment Committee votes on a series of proposals to improve the environmental design and labelling of a range of products. The committee will also decide whether to propose blocking a move to phase out incandescent light bulbs (Tuesday). Combating illegal logging. MEPs in the Environment Committee will also be deciding on legislation requiring those selling timber in the EU to take steps to minimise the risk that it is from illegal harvested sources (Tuesday). Pollution from ships. The Transport Committee votes on legislation to ensure all Member States apply criminal sanctions to those causing ship-sourced pollution (Tuesday). Access to documents. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on an update of the rules governing public access to EU documents (Tuesday). Euro-Med Gaza visit. President Pöttering will lead a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly delegation on a fact-finding mission to Gaza and the Middle East (from Sunday). He will hold a press conference ahead of the visit (Thursday, 1230). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20090216MLT49501/media_20090216MLT49501.mp3 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:00:00 +0100 00:27:52 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Czech presidency, Klaus, VAT, Solana, Middle East European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/04-2009/default_en.htm Committee meetings - Brussels Czech Presidency. Ministers from the Czech Presidency of the Council, including Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, will present their priorities to the relevant parliamentary committees. Press conferences are planned after several of these meetings. EP/Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will join a meeting of the political group leaders and have a bilateral meeting with EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering (Monday). ECB/Trichet. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee meets ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet a few days after the latest interest rate cut (Wednesday). The committee will also hear from Economics Commissioner Joaquín Almunia (Tuesday). Energy strategy. A report from the Industry Committee deals with energy security, crisis management and the future role of nuclear power among other issues (Wednesday). Whales and seals. The Fisheries Committee will vote on EU policies on whale hunting while the internal Market Committee holds a hearing on a possible ban on imports of products derived from seals (both Wednesday). Pollution. The Environment Committee votes on proposals to tighten controls on industrial pollution in the EU (Thursday). Croatia/FYROM/Kosovo. The Foreign Affairs Committee is due to adopt its latest positions on the EU ambitions of Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and on the EU's role in Kosovo (Wednesday). President's diary. President Pöttering will be meeting the speaker of the Czech Parliament, Miroslav Vlček, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari (both Tuesday), the chair of the Bosnian presidency, Nebojša Radmanović, the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor (both Wednesday) and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20090119MLT46638/media_20090119MLT46638.mp3 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0100 00:16:04 no EP, Brussels, committees, Czech presidency, Turkey, ECB, Trichet, energy European Parliament EP Spokespersons presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-43198-336-12-49-901-20081128IPR43197-01-12-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Dalai Lama. Completing a series of speakers for European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Dalai Lama will address Parliament, then join EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering for a press conference (Thursday). Climate change. Ahead of a vote at the next session, and before the European Council tackles the issue, Parliament will debate the package of proposals to tackle climate change with Commission and Council (Thursday). Earlier, the Temporary Committee on Climate Change will adopt its final report (Tuesday). Economic recovery plan. The financial crisis and the Commission’s economic recovery plan will be debated in the plenary (Wednesday). Food facility. MEPs will debate and vote on legislation setting up a €1bn fund to help developing countries facing volatile food prices (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday). Middle East. The Foreign Affairs Committee is to meet both Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (Tuesday) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Wednesday). EU Budget 2009. The Budgets Committee vote on amendments to the 2009 EU budget in the light of last week’s deal with Council (Tuesday). Discharge hearings. The Budgetary Control Committee begins its hearings on EU financial management in 2007, with Commissioners Fischer Boel and Rehn as well as the Commission Secretary General (Tuesday). French Presidency. A number French ministers will be discussing the outcome of their EU presidency with MEPs. They include Interior Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie (Monday), Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux and Justice Minister Rachida Dati at the Civil Liberties Committee, and Defence Minister Hervé Morin at the Foreign Affairs Committee (all Tuesday). Czech Presidency/Conference of Presidents. President Pöttering and the leaders of the political groups travel to Prague to meet ministers from the forthcoming Czech EU presidency, including Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. They will also meet Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic (Thursday-Friday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20081201MLT43299/media_20081201MLT43299.mp3 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0100 00:20:37 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Dalai Lama, climate, financial crisis, budget European Parliament Questions and answers http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-38688-280-10-41-901-20081003IPR38687-06-10-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Financial market supervision. MEPs vote on a formal request for the Commission to propose laws to improve the framework for supervising financial markets (debate and vote Thursday). Ingrid Betancourt. The plenary will be addressed by the former Colombian presidential candidate freed from 6 years as a hostage in July. Ms Betancourt will join EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering for a press conference (Wednesday) and take part in meetings with a number of EP bodies (Thursday). The plenary agenda also includes a debate on the forthcoming EU summit and votes on the use of EU symbols by Parliament, water scarcity in Europe, the EU’s health strategy and tackling poverty. Climate Change. The Environment Committee votes on the emissions trading system, on carbon capture and storage and on effort sharing in reducing CO2 emissions (Tuesday). Temporary workers. The rights of agency workers are at the heart of a second reading vote in the Employment Committee (Tuesday). Solvency II. The Economics Committee votes at first reading on the overhaul of the supervisory framework for the insurance sector (Tuesday). Budget 2009. The Budgets Committee devotes most of the week to its first reading vote on the 2009 EU budget (Monday – Thursday). CAP Health Check. The Agriculture Committee adopts its position on the proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (Tuesday). Joseph Blatter. The FIFA chairman joins a discussion with the Culture Committee (Monday). Lisbon Treaty. The Irish Foreign Minister discusses the Lisbon Treaty with the Constitutional Affairs Committee (Monday). Human rights. The EP, Commission and the UN hold a conference to mark 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Tuesday and Wednesday). There will also be an event for the European Day against the Death Penalty (Tuesday). Euro-Med Assembly. The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly holds a plenary session in Jordan, under the Presidency of Hans-Gert Pöttering (Saturday 11 – Monday 13 October). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20081006MLT38772/media_20081006MLT38772.mp3 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:00:01 +0200 00:04:25 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Betancourt, climate, budget, FIFA European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-38688-280-10-41-901-20081003IPR38687-06-10-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Financial market supervision. MEPs vote on a formal request for the Commission to propose laws to improve the framework for supervising financial markets (debate and vote Thursday). Ingrid Betancourt. The plenary will be addressed by the former Colombian presidential candidate freed from 6 years as a hostage in July. Ms Betancourt will join EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering for a press conference (Wednesday) and take part in meetings with a number of EP bodies (Thursday). The plenary agenda also includes a debate on the forthcoming EU summit and votes on the use of EU symbols by Parliament, water scarcity in Europe, the EU’s health strategy and tackling poverty. Climate Change. The Environment Committee votes on the emissions trading system, on carbon capture and storage and on effort sharing in reducing CO2 emissions (Tuesday). Temporary workers. The rights of agency workers are at the heart of a second reading vote in the Employment Committee (Tuesday). Solvency II. The Economics Committee votes at first reading on the overhaul of the supervisory framework for the insurance sector (Tuesday). Budget 2009. The Budgets Committee devotes most of the week to its first reading vote on the 2009 EU budget (Monday – Thursday). CAP Health Check. The Agriculture Committee adopts its position on the proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (Tuesday). Joseph Blatter. The FIFA chairman joins a discussion with the Culture Committee (Monday). Lisbon Treaty. The Irish Foreign Minister discusses the Lisbon Treaty with the Constitutional Affairs Committee (Monday). Human rights. The EP, Commission and the UN hold a conference to mark 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Tuesday and Wednesday). There will also be an event for the European Day against the Death Penalty (Tuesday). Euro-Med Assembly. The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly holds a plenary session in Jordan, under the Presidency of Hans-Gert Pöttering (Saturday 11 – Monday 13 October). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20081006MLT38770/media_20081006MLT38770.mp3 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0200 00:24:37 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Betancourt, climate, budget, FIFA European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-36383-252-09-37-901-20080905IPR36382-08-09-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Committee week - Brussels Conference of Presidents. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering and the political group leaders travel to Paris for a meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French presidency of the European Union (Wednesday). Renewable energy. MEPs will vote on around 1 200 amendments to a co-decision report which is part of the "climate change" package (Thursday). Economy. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet appears before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee as part of the quarterly monetary dialogue. The committee also holds a debate with Jean-Claude Juncker in his capacity as chair of the Eurogroup (Wednesday). Migration. Migration in Europe is the topic for discussion at a meeting of MEPs and national MPs (Wednesday-Thursday). Clandestine labour. A vote at the Employment Committee is linked to the proposals on sanctions for employers of illegal immigrants (Wednesday). Sakharov Prize 2008. The eight nominations for this year's Sakharov Prize for democracy and human rights will be formally presented at a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee (Tuesday). EP/Greece. President Pöttering will be in Athens to speak at a conference on entrepreneurship, and will also meet his counterpart at the Greek Parliament, Dimitris Sioufas (Monday). African week. Key issues facing Africa, including security of food supplies, will be on the agenda of several committees, which will welcome prominent figures, among them the director-general of the FAO, Jacques Diouf. President Pöttering will close the events of this, the first African Week held at the European Parliament (Monday to Thursday; press conference Wednesday). Eurobarometer. The findings of a special EP/Commission Eurobarometer survey on climate change will be presented at a press conference (Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080908MLT36531/media_20080908MLT36531.mp3 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 +0200 00:17:45 no EP, Brussels, committees, Paris, Sarkozy, Trichet, Juncker, African week, migration European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-34062-196-07-29-901-20080714IPR34061-14-07-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Committee meetings - Brussels French presidency of the EU. The presentation of the French presidency-in-office's plans continues this week, before almost all Parliament's committees (Monday-Thursday). Terrorism. The Civil Liberties Committee votes on a report on making incitement to terrorism a criminal offence and on another, related, report on the protection of personal data as part of judicial cooperation (Tuesday). Air pollution. A regulation imposing stricter rules on new motor vehicles will be put to the vote at the Environment Committee (Tuesday). Gender equality. Male-female equality is the subject of a report to be put to the vote at the Women's Rights Committee (Wednesday). Zimbabwe. Hebson Makuvise, spokesperson in Europe for the Movement for Democratic Change, will address the Development Committee (Tuesday). Immigration. The subject of penalties for employers of illegal immigrants will be discussed at a Civil Liberties Committee hearing (Wednesday). Budget. EP and Council delegations will hold a conciliation meeting with a view to reaching a preliminary agreement on the 2009 budget (Thursday). Structural funds. A hearing at the Regional Development Committee will examine how effective the EU's structural funds are. Meanwhile Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner will discuss the follow-up to the 2006 budget discharge at the Budgetary Control Committee (Tuesday). President's diary. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering will be in Paris for France's national day (Monday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080714MLT34130/media_20080714MLT34130.mp3 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0200 00:13:24 no EP, Brussels, committees, French presidency, terrorism, air pollution, gender equality, Zimbabwe, immigration, budget, structural funds, EP President European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-32360-175-06-26-901-20080620IPR32359-23-06-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Extraordinary plenary session and committee meetings Debate on EU summit. At a special plenary session, MEPs will assess the outcome of the European Council, particularly its conclusions on the Lisbon Treaty. Following the debate EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering will hold a press conference with Council President Janez Jansa (Tuesday). French presidency. President Pöttering and EP political group leaders go to Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy, members of the government and the speakers of the Senate and National Assembly. Several French ministers will present their work programmes before the EP's committees in Brussels (Wednesday, Thursday). ECB President / EMU. With inflation rising and an interest rate hike possible, Jean-Claude Trichet will appear before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for the quarterly monetary dialogue (Wednesday). In addition, MEPs and a panel of high-level experts will review the outcome of ten years of monetary union in Europe (Tuesday). Legal immigration. Following Parliament's vote on the "return" directive, the focus switches, at a hearing of the Civil Liberties Committee, to legal immigration and the blue card (Wednesday). Animal cloning. The Agriculture Committee will vote on a draft resolution, to be submitted to the July plenary, calling for a ban on the cloning of animals for food (Wednesday). Climate change. The best ways of achieving swift reductions in CO2 emissions will be discussed at the eighth thematic session of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change (Monday). Elsewhere, the Environment Committee will discuss three reports: on emissions trading, carbon storage and reducing greenhouse gases (Monday-Wednesday). Enlargement/Montenegro. The Foreign Affairs Committee adopts its annual report on enlargement (Tuesday) and also receives Milo Djukanovic, prime minister of Montenegro (Monday). Toy safety. The Internal Market Committee holds a hearing with representatives of manufacturers, distributors and consumers (Monday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080623MLT32520/media_20080623MLT32520.mp3 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0200 00:17:09 no EP, Brussels, summit, Lisbon Treaty, French presidency, immigration, climate European Parliament European Parliament Weekly Briefing 2 June 2008 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-30451-154-06-23-901-20080530IPR30450-02-06-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm The Week Ahead - 2-8 June 2008 Plenary session and committee meetings - Brussels Brussels plenary session. The session opens with a debate with Javier Solana on the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Council and Commission will make statements on EU-US relations and on the Barcelona process. Also on the agenda are an oral question on prostitution at major sports events and a report on food hygiene (Wednesday and Thursday). President's activities. EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering has meetings with Prince Albert of Monaco (Wednesday), FIFA President Sepp Blatter (Thursday) and the winners of the Charlemagne Youth Prize. Internal gas market. The Industry Committee will vote on a draft report on the gas market, taking into account recent negotiations with the Council (Thursday). ECB. The Economic Affairs Committee adopts its annual report on the European Central Bank (Tuesday). Media pluralism. A report by the Culture Committee looks at the issue of media concentration in the European Union (Tuesday). EU documents. At a public hearing with the Council and Commission, the Civil Liberties Committee will consider the question of access to EU documents, with a view to revising the current rules (Tuesday, plus press conference). EP-China. MEPs and their counterparts from the Chinese National People's Congress hold an interparliamentary meeting in Brussels (Monday and Tuesday). Inauguration of Politkovskaya Room. President Pöttering will take part in a ceremony officially naming Parliament's press conference room after Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (Wednesday, 4.30pm). Open Day. As it does each year, Parliament will open its doors to the public on Saturday 7 June. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080602MLT30543/media_20080602MLT30543.mp3 Mon, 2 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +0200 00:12:15 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Solana, EU-US, ECB, China, Politkovskaya, gas European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-29833-147-05-22-901-20080526IPR29832-26-05-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Committee meetings – Brussels Energy Globe. Eminent guests - including Kofi Annan and Mikhail Gorbachev - will take part in the ninth "Energy Globe Awards", which will be presented inter alia by President Pöttering - with a press conference attended by President Pöttering, Mr Gorbachev and Manika Gandhi (Monday and Tuesday). Energy package. Three reports completing the "energy package" will be put to a vote in the Industry Committee, including on the European Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators (Wednesday). Emission trading scheme and aviation. In the Environment Committee's second-reading look at this proposal, MEPs will be seeking reductions in airlines' CO2 output - and presenting amendments rejected by the Council (Tuesday). Criminal records. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on the exchange of data extracted from criminal records, a topic linked to the Fourniret trial, a case study in cross-frontier co-operation (Thursday). Nordstream. The Petitions Committee will vote on a report on the environmental impact of the proposed Baltic Sea gas pipeline (Tuesday). WTO Director General. Pascal Lamy is expected at the 7th thematic session of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change and at the Trade Committee for an item on the Doha Agenda (Thursday). Turkey. Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Babacan will attend an EP Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday and the 59th EU-Turkey parliamentary meeting (Wednesday and Thursday). Young people and the Middle East. Under the aegis of President Pöttering, 21 young Europeans, Israelis and Palestinians will work together at the EP from 25 to 28 May on relations between identities and politics. Middle East. An EP delegation goes to Israel and Palestine to meet Knesset MPs and local authorities (Monday-Friday). Official visit to Portugal. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering will pay an official visit to Portugal (Friday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080526MLT29906/media_20080526MLT29906.mp3 Mon, 26 May 2008 15:00:00 +0200 00:19:12 no EP, Brussels, committees, energy, awards, environment, Turkey, WTO European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/19-2008/default_en.htm The Week Ahead 5-11 May 2008 30-04-2008 - 16:08 Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Brussels plenary. MEPs will debate and vote on their annual report on human rights in the world, the rules governing lobbying in the EU institutions and on sports policy. They will also mark ten years since the decision to adopt the euro. (Wednesday and Thursday) Hans-Gert Pöttering in Morocco. The EP President makes an official visit to Morocco, meeting the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister among others. (Monday-Tuesday) Food additives/Water quality. Legislation on food additives comes to a second reading vote in the Environment Committee, as do water quality standards. In both cases major differences remain with Council. (Tuesday) Electricity market. Reform of competition rules for the electricity market gets a first reading vote in the Industry Committee – ownership unbundling is the key issue at stake. (Tuesday) Telecom package. Two committees examine the telecoms package, with draft reports due for discussion by the Industry Committee and experts giving evidence to the Internal Market Committee. (Tuesday) Jeffrey Sachs on food crisis. UN Special Advisor Professor Jeffrey Sachs will discuss rising food prices and their impact on developing countries with the Development Committee. (Monday) Women and War. The Development and Women’s Rights Committees hold a hearing on how women are involved in and affected by warfare. (Tuesday) Time share protection. The Internal Market Committee votes on legislation to protect consumers who buy into time-share holiday schemes. (Tuesday) Immigration. An EP Press Service seminar for journalists on the return of illegal immigrants draft directive includes a panel discussion with MEPs. (Wednesday) Tibet. The Information and International Relations minister in the Dalai Lama’s exiled Tibetan government will meet the Human Rights Sub-Committee. (Tuesday) EU/Religious leaders. President Pöttering joins the Council and Commission Presidents, Janez Janša and José Manuel Barroso, for a meeting with religious leaders. (Monday) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080505MLT28180/media_20080505MLT28180 Mon, 05 May 2008 16:00:00 +0200 00:22:57 no EP, Brussels, plenary, food crisis, telecom, human rights, electricity European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-25732-098-04-15-901-20080403IPR25728-07-04-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings - Brussels Official visit to Ireland. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering will meet Prime Minster Bertie Ahern and President Mary McAleese during an official visit to Ireland (Monday-Wednesday). Official visit to Qatar. The President will then make an official visit to Qatar at the end of the week, where, in addition to a series of bilateral meetings, he will speak at the 8th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade (Saturday-Sunday). Plenary session. Parliament holds a plenary session in Brussels (Wednesday and Thursday). Highlights include: - vote to approve Commissioner Vassiliou; - oral question on combating cancer; - progress reports on the accession of Croatia and FYROM; - resolution on Tibet. Juncker. On Monday the Eurogroup President will address the Economic Affairs Committee, which is also holding a hearing on hedge funds (Tuesday). CFSP. Javier Solana, High Representative for the CFSP, will discuss current external relations issues with the Foreign Affairs Committee (Tuesday). Waste. The Environment Committee will vote on a draft second-reading recommendation updating the framework directive on waste. Some amendments rejected by Council will be re-tabled, on topics such as recycling and hazardous waste (Tuesday). Terrorism. A round table with national parliaments will tackle the issue of "provocation to commit terrorist offences", with the European Commission, the EU Counter-terrorism co-ordinator and the Council of Europe (Monday). Immigration. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs travel to Denmark, for the next in a series of visits to immigrant detention centres across Europe (Thursday). Nepal. An EP delegation will travel to Nepal, to observe its legislative elections (Monday-Saturday). Missing child hotline. A meeting to consider prospects for a Europe-wide alert system for missing or abducted children will hear from Gerry and Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine has been missing since May 2007 (Thursday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080407MLT25953/media_20080407MLT25953.mp3 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:00:00 +0200 00:16:55 no EP, Brussels, plenary, Vassiliou, Croatia, FYROM, Tibet, Juncker, Solana European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-25078-091-03-14-901-20080328IPR25077-31-03-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Committee meetings - Brussels Hearing of Androula Vassiliou. The Commissioner designate from Cyprus, proposed as the replacement for Markos Kyprianou with the health portfolio, will face a three-hour hearing before the Environment Committee, allowing MEPs to consider whether to back her appointment. (Tuesday) Hans-Gert Pöttering visits Denmark. The EP President makes an official visit to Denmark, including meetings with Queen Margrethe and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He will also give a speech at Copenhagen University and visit the European Environment Agency. (Tuesday-Wednesday) Climate Change. The Temporary Committee on Climate Change will adopt its interim report on the scientific data on climate change. Meanwhile, the Development Committee will hold a hearing on cooperation with developing countries in the fight against climate change. (both Tuesday) Immigration/Poland. A delegation from the Civil Liberties Committee makes the latest in a series of visits to centres in the Member States for asylum seekers and immigrants, this time in Poland. They will also visit the EU border agency Frontex and meet the Polish Interior Minister. (Tuesday-Thursday) Human rights in the world. The Foreign Affairs Committee is set to vote on its annual report on human rights in the world. (Wednesday) Financial markets/McCreevy. Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy will meet the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, as turmoil continues on the financial markets. (Tuesday) Lobbying the EU. The Constitutional Affairs Committee will vote on a report on the systems in place to ensure transparency in lobbying activity in the European Union institutions, Parliament included. (Tuesday) EU/Burma. A hearing organised by the Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee will consider how EU policy can influence change in Burma/Myanmar. (Wednesday) Sport in Europe. The Culture Committee is set to adopt a wide-ranging report on EU sport policy. (Tuesday) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080331MLT25204/media_20080331MLT25204.mp3 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:00:00 +0200 00:16:08 no EP, Brussels, committees, commissioner, hearing, climate, lobbying, immigration European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-24680-084-03-13-901-20080319IPR24678-24-03-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm The Week Ahead - 24-30 March 2008 Plenary session and committee meetings - Brussels Plenary session. The outcome of the EU Spring Summit will be the subject of a debate with President-in-office of the European Council Janez Janša and Commission President José Manuel Barroso at a special plenary session. Mr Janša will then join EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering for a press conference. (Wednesday) Middle East. Parliament's new working group on the Middle East will hear from Quartet representative Tony Blair, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. (Tuesday) Discharge 2006. The Budgetary Control Committee will vote on whether to recommend approving the financial management of the Commission, Parliament and other EU institutions and bodies in 2006. (Tuesday-Thursday) Jean-Claude Trichet. The ECB President's regular dialogue with the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee comes at a time on increasing concerns about the impact of the financial market crisis on the real economy. (Wednesday) Rajendra K. Pachauri. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will take part in the latest thematic session of the Climate Change Committee, and then a press conference. (Wednesday) Organ donation. A report in the Environment Committee considers how to tackle risks in organ transplants, as well as organ shortages and trafficking. (Wednesday) Protecting pedestrians. The Transport Committee votes on legislation aimed at reducing the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed or injured in collisions with motor vehicles. (Wednesday) EuroMed Assembly. President Pöttering will lead the EP delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together MEPs with MPs from EU countries and their Mediterranean neighbours, as it meets in Athens. This session will focus on energy and the environment. (Thursday-Friday) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080319MLT24611/media_20080319MLT24611.mp3 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:00:00 +0100 00:14:04 no EP, Brussels, plenary, committees, Middle East, Discharge 2008, Jean-Claude Trichet, Rajendra K. Pechauri, Organ donation, Pedestrians, Euro Med assembly European Parliament EP Spokespersons presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-22065-056-02-09-901-20080222IPR22064-25-02-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm The Week Ahead 25 February - 2 March 2008 Committee meetings - Brussels Visits by EP President. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering visits the United Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he will have an audience with the Queen and meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Mr Pöttering then travels to Greece (Thursday and Friday), where he will meet Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. CAP health check. The Agriculture Committee will vote on around 600 amendments to its report on changes to the common agricultural policy (Tuesday). China. A report by the Development Committee looks at China's influence in Africa, including the situation in Darfur and human rights (Wednesday). Human rights. Three hearings involving the Human Rights Subcommittee take place this week: on birth registrations and children's rights (Wednesday morning, with the Development Committee); on Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons (Wednesday afternoon); on Guantánamo Bay (Thursday morning, with the Civil Liberties Committee). 2006 budget discharge. Commissioners Hübner and Spidla are due to appear before the Budgetary Control Committee to present their action plan on improved supervision of the co-management of structural funds. Parliament's discharge is also on the agenda (Monday). Telecoms package. Representatives of the telecommunications industry will have talks with members of the Industry Committee at a hearing on the framework directive on this sector and the new EU regulatory body (Tuesday). Middle East. Marc Otte, EU special representative to the Middle East, will report to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the situation in the region (Monday). Enlargement. The Foreign Affairs Committee votes on two monitoring reports on the accession to the EU of Croatia and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (Wednesday). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080225MLT22222/media_20080225MLT22222.mp3 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:00 +0100 00:22:36 no EP, Brussels, committees, CAP, China, human rights, telecom, enlargement European Parliament EP Spokesmen presenting the main points of the EP weekly agenda http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-19631-028-01-05-901-20080125IPR19630-28-01-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm Plenary session and committee meetings – Brussels Plenary session. MEPs will hear the CFSP High Representative, Javier Solana, on the situation in Iran before debating the US anti-missile defence system with the Council and the Commission. Among the texts to be put to the vote are the second reading of the postal services directive, two first-reading co-decision reports on the extension to Bulgaria and Romania of the simplified system of EU external border controls, a report on co-operation among Member States' special intervention units and a report on the energy efficiency action plan (Wednesday and Thursday). Middle East. EU special representative for the Middle East peace process Marc Otte, Israel's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Majalli Whbee, and Palestinian Legislative Council political committee chairman Abdellah Abdellah, will be received by the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly's political affairs and security committee (Monday). Ukraine. Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will be received first by the Foreign Affairs Committee, then by President Pöttering, with whom it will hold a press point (Monday). Climate. Commissioner Dimas returns to the Environment Committee to discuss the legislative package proposed by the European Commission (Monday), whereas the EP temporary committee will hold a hearing on the impact of climate change on sustainable development (Tuesday). Telecoms. The European Commission will present the "Telecoms package" to the Industry Committee, and MEPs will hold a preliminary debate on it (Tuesday). Women in prison. The Women's Committee will vote on a report dealing inter alia with the family and social impact of the imprisonment of mothers (Monday). Yemen. President Pöttering receives Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Brussels on Thursday. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20080128MLT19776/media_20080128MLT19776.mp3 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:00:00 +0100 00:16:18 no EP, Brussels, Ukraine, climate, telecoms, Yemen, plenary, committees European Parliament Weekly Briefing 17 December 2007 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/51-2007/default_en.htm The Week Ahead 17-23 December 2007 14-12-2007 - 09:32 Committee meetings - Brussels Special plenary session. Parliament holds an extraordinary plenary session on Tuesday 18 December to debate the outcome of the December European Council. The session also includes the formal signing of the EU budget for 2008. The Portuguese Presidency, which is winding up its six-month period of office, will also look back over its achievements at meetings with EP committees this week. Slovenian Presidency. In line with normal practice ahead of a new Council presidency, Parliament’s President and the leaders of the political groups will travel to Ljubljana for a meeting with the Slovenian government. EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering will hold a press conference with Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansa (Wednesday). He will also meet France Cukjati, Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament (Thursday). Postal services. The second-reading recommendation for the postal services directive will be put to the vote in the Transport Committee, which is expected to confirm Parliament's first-reading position (Tuesday). Trichet. The President of the European Central Bank is due to appear before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee as part of the quarterly monetary dialogue (Wednesday). Terrorism. A draft recommendation of the European Parliament, to be put to the vote at the Civil Liberties Committee, looks at factors that favour terrorism and the recruitment of terrorists (Tuesday). EP-Latin America. The first working plenary session of the Eurolat Assembly, composed of MEPs and their Latin American counterparts, takes place in Brussels (Tuesday to Thursday). Parliament's offices will be closed from 21 December 2007 to 2 January 2008 for the Christmas and New Year Holidays. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20071217MLT15786/media_20071217MLT15786.mp3 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:00:00 +0100 17:16 no EP, Plenary, Portugal, Slovenia, presidency, summit, budget European Parliament Introduction of main themes by M. Van den Broeke http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/47-2007/default_en.htm Opening remarks by Head of EP Press service Marjory van den Broeke - presentation of main agenda points: EP-Council agreement on budget 2008, visit of Spanish PM Zapatero, vote on Charter of fundamental rights, Court of Auditors Annual report, gun control, TV directive, railway interoperability, financing of European political parties, agenda of various Committee meetings, signature of agreement between EP and Council of Europe http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20071127MLT13848/media_20071127MLT13848.mp3 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:00:00 +0100 07:46 no Budget, Zapatero, funadmental rights, Court of Auditors, guns, TV, railways, European political parties European Parliament Details on certain issues by spokespersons http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/event_by_week/47-2007/default_en.htm Spokesman Cezary Lewanowicz - details on Budget 2008 agreement, report on gun control, Spokesman Federico De Girolamo - details on Regulation on financing of European political parties, M. van den Broeke - details on weeks press conferences http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20071127MLT13850/media_20071127MLT13850.mp3 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:00:01 +0100 15:05 no Budget, gun control, European political parties