Briefing
Newsletter - 12-15 September 2016 - Strasbourg plenary session
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Two days before the 27 EU heads of state or government – minus the UK – meet informally in Bratislava, Parliament will discuss the way forward for the European Union, following EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s annual “State of the European Union” speech on Wednesday morning.
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Parliament will assess the UK candidate for the post of Security Union Commissioner, Sir Julian King, during the Strasbourg session. On Monday evening, the Civil Liberties Committee will hold a public hearing with the candidate. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) will decide whether to close the hearing procedure and the full House will then take a vote on Thursday.
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The EU Commission’s conclusion that Ireland granted Apple Inc. illegal tax benefits, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other firms over many years, will be debated in plenary session in presence of competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Wednesday at 15:00.
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An interim report by the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS), which is investigating possible breaches of EU rules, will be debated and put to a vote on Tuesday. The committee, set up in response to revelations about cheating devices used to reduce pollutant emissions during official car tests, is to wrap up its work by spring 2017.
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MEPs are set to assess recent developments in Poland and their impact on fundamental rights in a debate on Tuesday afternoon and a non-binding resolution to be voted on Wednesday. The debate will follow Council and Commission statements.
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The Council of EU finance ministers will present its position on the EU draft budget for 2017 on Tuesday, as part of the annual budgetary procedure. Its proposed cuts of €1.28 billion in commitments (-0.81%) and €1.1 billion in payments (-0.82%), were deplored by Budgets Committee MEPs on 31 August, especially in view of the need to tackle the refugee crisis and slow economic growth.
Contacts:
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Andrew BOREHAM
Press Officer