EP News No. 31/2013
Table Of Contents
MEPs return to Brussels on 30 September for committee meetings and political group meetings in preparation for the Strasbourg plenary from 7-10 October.
Highlights:
Agricultural policy reform
Following last Tuesday's political agreement on the overhaul of EU agricultural policy, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development will take its first reading vote, which will then have to be confirmed in plenary at the second October session or the November session. (Monday)
NSA surveillance
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will hold the fourth and fifth in a series of hearings on issues to do with US surveillance in the EU. In the first session, MEPs will hear from whistleblowers formerly working in NSA and MI5 and debate legal protection of whistleblowers. The second hearing will focus on alleged hacking by the UK's intelligence services of Belgian telecoms firm Belgacom. Representatives of the British authorities and the Belgian data protection supervisor will take part in the discussion. (Monday and Thursday)
Sakharov Prize
MEPs will choose a shortlist of three finalists for Parliament's 2013 award for freedom of thought, in a joint vote by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Development and Sub-Committee on Human Rights. The European Parliament awards the prize every year to honour defenders of human rights and freedom of expression. (Monday)
Budget 2014
The Committee on Budgets will vote its position on the draft budget for 2014. It is set to push for a budget that matches promises made on growth and jobs for young people, research and SMEs and is sufficient to fund humanitarian aid. It will also seek to ensure that unpaid bills from 2013 are not rolled over to the 2014 budget. (Wednesday and Thursday)
Committee Meetings
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Sub-Committee on Human Rights
- Sub-Committee on Security and Defence
- Committee on Development
- Committee on International Trade
- Committee on Budgets
- Committee on Budgetary Control
- Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
- Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
- Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
- Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
- Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- Committee on Transport and Tourism
- Committee on Regional Development
- Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
- Committee on Fisheries
- Committee on Culture and Education
- Committee on Legal Affairs
- Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- Committee on Consititutional Affairs
- Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
- Committee on Petitions
- Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering
Other Issues
Plenary preparation
Political groups will prepare for the 7-10 October plenary session in Strasbourg, which will feature legislative votes on tobacco, shale gas, professional qualifications recognition and the European Border Surveillance System and also debates on refugee flows from Syria and migration policies in the Mediterranean Sea.
President Schulz
From Monday to Wednesday, EP President Martin Schulz will be in Tallinn, Estonia, to meet with Estonian President Toomas-Hendrik Ilves, Parliament President Ene Ergma (both meetings with a press point) and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.
Further Information
Zuzana Pavlickova
Press Officer
European Parliament Information Office in the UK
Email: zuzana.pavlickova@ep.europa.eu
Tel: 020 7227 4300
Pre-session press briefing. The regular briefing by the EP Press Service and political group spokespeople will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, 4 October. (Altiero Spinelli building, Room 5G2).
Diary Dates
Council Presidency
1 July-31 December 2013: Lithuania
1 January-30 June 2014: Greece
European Parliament plenary sessions 2013
7-10 October - Strasbourg
21-24 October - Strasbourg
18-21 November - Strasbourg
9-12 December - Strasbourg
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