Highlights

The Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Development will discuss the situation in Afghanistan on 1 September, together with Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Afghanistan, the EEAS and the European Commission. This debate, which follows up on the meeting with Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission of 19 August, is expected to focus on the political and security situation in Afghanistan, the humanitarian dimension and regional stability.

The Committee on Budgets will discuss the Council's reading of the EU Budget for 2022 on 31 August. A working document analysing the Council's position and drawing an initial assessment in the light of Parliament's priorities will be looked into. The document contributes to the preparation of Parliament's reading. The Committee will also discuss the delay with regard to new own resources proposals on a digital levy and a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism with Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

The Committee on International Trade will discuss the draft report on the International Procurement Instrument, on 1 September. The instrument was originally proposed in 2012 as a tool to promote a level playing field and reciprocity in accessing third countries' public procurement markets. The European Commission’s report on the EU's trade defence activities for 2021 will be looked into with the EU's Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, Denis Redonnet, on 2 September.

The Committee on Employment and Social Policy will go over the amendments to the report on the employment and social policies of the euro area for 2021, on 1 September. It will also discuss the amendments to the report on democracy at work, aiming to achieve a European framework for employees' participation rights and revising the European Works Council Directive. The recovery and resilience plans in the social area and social expenditures will be looked into with Commission representatives.

The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will vote on its opinion regarding the draft EU budget for 2022, on 31 August and 1 September. The European Commission adopted its statement of estimates for the 2022 EU budget in the beginning of June, proposing EUR 166 293,1 million in commitment appropriations for the Multiannual Financial Framework Headings with an additional contribution from the Next Generation EU instrument as external assigned revenue of EUR 143 502,8 million.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee will go over the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 with Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski on 1 September. It will discuss the African swine fever, the impact of the CAP on generational renewal, local development and jobs in rural areas, and the EU-Marocco agreement. The provisionally agreed text on the extending the term of Community plant variety rights for asparagus, flower bulbs, woody small fruits and woody ornamentals will also be voted.