Briefing
Newsletter - 15-18 April 2013 - Strasbourg plenary session
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Parliament will cap bankers' bonuses, step up bank capital requirements and make it easier for banks to lend to small firms in banking reform package to be voted on Tuesday.
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MEPs will debate the European Central Bank's past and future activities with its President Mario Draghi on Tuesday at 15.00. Cheap ECB loans to banks must be conditional, to ensure that they lend the funds on to the real economy and the ECB itself must be made more transparent and accountable, says a draft resolution to be voted on Wednesday.
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MEPs will quiz Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn and Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton on Wednesday about how the recent programme of financial assistance to Cyprus was handled. They are set to seek clarification of the actual amount of the total rescue package and Cyprus' own contributions.
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A proposed freeze on auctions of a portion of CO2 emission quotas, envisaged to revive the very low price of "polluter's permits" in the EU, will be put to a vote on Tuesday. The proposal aims to restore the incentive effect of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and to "green" industry. MEPs will also vote on an agreement with the Council to temporarily exclude intercontinental flights from the ETS.
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Parliament will debate the constitutional situation in Hungary with the Council and Commission on Wednesday. This follows the recent adoption of a set of amendments to Hungary's basic law by the Hungarian Parliament. The EP's civil liberties committee is checking whether these changes respect EU law.
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The EP will have its final say on Tuesday on proposals to open up airside services at major EU airports to more competition. The transport committee voted narrowly in favour of further liberalising ground handling services and inserted minimum quality standards, as well as measures to safeguard working conditions. The full House will vote without debate.
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Finland's Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen will visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday. He will debate the European Union's future with political group leaders, starting at 10.30. Mr Katainen's visit follows an invitation from EP President Martin Schulz. Messrs Katainen and Schulz will hold a press conference after the debate (tbc).
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Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins will deliver a formal address to Members on Wednesday at noon. Ireland holds the EU Council's rotating presidency until the end of June this year.
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A new legislative proposal laying down common rules for compiling population statistics in the EU will be voted on Thursday. The data gathered will be used inter alia to calculate qualified majority voting rights in the Council and entitlements to some EU funding.
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Since April 2012, EU citizens can take part in shaping EU policy through the European citizens' initiative. MEPs will assess with the Commission on Thursday the experiences and problems encountered in the first year of this new tool, which allows one million citizens from at least seven EU countries to ask the Commission to propose new laws.
Kontakter:
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Andrew BOREHAM