The Week Ahead 30 November 06 December 2015

Transcription

1 The Week Ahead 30 November 06 December 2015 Plenary session and committee meetings, Brussels Plenary (Wednesday) Circular economy. MEPs will discuss a new package of draft legislation on waste and a sustainable economy to be presented by Commission Vice-Presidents Frans Timmermans and Jyrki Katainen at 15h. Hungary. MEPs will quiz the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová on progress made on assessment and in-depth monitoring of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary. Parliament asked the Commission for this assessment in a resolution voted on 10 June. Frontex/fundamental rights. A request that the Frontex border agency set up a complaints mechanism to deal with alleged breaches of fundamental rights will be put to a plenary vote at A proposal for reviewing Frontex s overall mandate is expected in December. EU-Liechtenstein tax agreement. Parliament will vote on an EU-Liechtenstein agreement of taxation of income from interest on savings deposits in Liechtenstein banks. This would effectively abolish banking secrecy in the principality. Committees EUROPOL. An informal deal to boost EUROPOL's ability to respond to threats, while improving scrutiny of its work, will be put to a vote in the Civil Liberties Committee. The deal was reached on 26 November by Parliament and Council negotiators. (Monday) EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: Gilles de Kerchove will debate the aftermath of Paris terrorist attacks and the implementation of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy, including short-term actions, with Civil Liberties Committee MEPs. (Tuesday) EU PNR and Data Protectionreform. Members leading ongoing talks with Council on both the Passenger Name Record (EU PNR) proposal on the use of air passengers' data to fight terrorism and on EU-wide data protection rules, will brief the Civil Liberties Committee on the state of play in the talks, including outstanding issues. The aim is to reach a deal by the end of (Monday) EN Press Service Directorate for the Media Director - Spokesperson : Jaume DUCH GUILLOT Reference No: APR03959 Press switchboard number (32-2) /19

2 Migration. Two draft laws to tackle the migration and refugee crisis, one on a permanent crisis relocation mechanism among member states and another on an EU common list of safe countries of origin, will be debated by the lead Civil Liberties Committee with the Commission, Council, the European Asylum Support Office and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. (Tuesday) Corporate tax transparency. A legislative initiative to increase transparency and ease the convergence of corporate taxation among EU member states will be voted by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. This proposal, which will detail what MEPs expect from the Commission, follows up the work of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings. (Tuesday) A special meeting of the Conference of Presidents of political groups will specify the mandate of a temporary committee that will follow up on the work done by the Special Committee on Tax Rulings. The mandate will be submitted for approval by the plenary on the very same day. (Wednesday) GMO maize. An objection to a Commission proposal to authorise food and feed products from genetically modified maize NK 603 x T25 in the EU for 10 years will be put to a vote at the Environment and Public Health Committee. (Tuesday) Upcoming Dutch Presidency. The Conference of Presidents of political groups will go to The Hague to meet the Dutch government, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, to discuss the priorities for the Dutch Council Presidency that will start on 1 January (Thursday) President's agenda. President Schulz will deliver the closing speech at an "interreligious dialogue" event, on Monday. On Wednesday, he will meet Vietnam s Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. On Thursday, Mr Schulz will hold a bilateral meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, followed by a press conference. Press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing on the week's activities at on Monday, in the Anna Politkovskaya EP press conference room, Brussels. Journalists can use #EPressbriefing to put questions on committee and plenary business before and during the briefing. 2/19

3 PLENARY SESSION Wednesday 02 December :00-18:30 Debates Resumption of session and order of business Decision adopted on the Circular Economy package [2015/2927(RSP)] Special report of the European Ombudsman in own-initiative inquiry OI/5/2012/BEH-MHZ concerning Frontex Report: Ska Keller, Roberta Metsola (A8-0343/2015) [2014/2215(INI)] Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Committee on Petitions Sustainable urban mobility Report: Karima Delli (A8-0319/2015) [2014/2242(INI)] Committee on Transport and Tourism 18:30 VOTES * EU-Liechtenstein agreement on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments Report: Sander Loones (A8-0334/2015) [2015/0175(NLE)] Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Special report of the European Ombudsman in own-initiative inquiry OI/5/2012/BEH-MHZ concerning Frontex Report: Ska Keller, Roberta Metsola (A8-0343/2015) [2014/2215(INI)] Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Committee on Petitions 3/19

4 Sustainable urban mobility Report: Karima Delli (A8-0319/2015) [2014/2242(INI)] Committee on Transport and Tourism 19:00-23:00 Debates (at the end of the votes) Implementation and legacy of the European Year for Development [2015/2994(RSP)] Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges Report: (O /2015) [2015/2967(RSP)] Situation in Hungary: follow-up to the European Parliament Resolution of 10 June 2015 Report: (O /2015) [2015/2935(RSP)] Protection of Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Report: (O /2015) [2015/2728(RSP)] One-minute speeches (Rule 163) Explanations of votes 4/19

5 THE PRESIDENT'S DIARY The President's diary Tuesday 01/12/2015 Brussels 12:00 Closing speech at the event "interreligious dialogue" - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 6th floor, room B001 18:00 Speech at event of European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) - Thon Hotel, Rue de la Loi 75 The President's diary Wednesday 02/12/2015 Brussels 15:00 Chairing of the Plenary 16:30 Meeting with Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, Prime Minister of Vietnam - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor, Grand Salon Protocolaire The President's diary Thursday 03/12/2015 The Hague All day - Binnenhof Meeting of the Conference of Presidents with the incoming Dutch Presidency 10:15 Meeting with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of The Netherlands 10:45 Meeting with Dutch Government, preceded by family photo 12:45 Press Conference with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of The Netherlands 15:00 Meeting with Members of the Second Chamber and Senate The President's diary Sunday 06/12/2015 Munich 11:00 Keynote speech and participation in debate at the event "Last exit Germany: Which immigration policy does Europe need?" - Munich Kammerspiele, Maximilian street 26 5/19

6 PRESS CONFERENCES Briefing on the parliamentary agenda Monday 30/11/ :00-11:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 "Lobbying transparency in the EU institutions: overcoming the gaps" Tuesday 01/12/ :00-11:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 Philippe LAMBERTS (BE), Greens/EFA Co-President, Benedek JÁVOR (Greens/EFA, HU), and Julia REDA (Greens/EFA, DE) "Latest developments in tobacco control" Wednesday 02/12/ :00-11:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&D, FR) 6/19

7 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES Subcommittee on Human Rights Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G-2 In association with the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee: Discussion on the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Eastern Ukraine and in Crimea Discussion on human rights and humanitarian law violations in the context of the Yemeni conflict Discussion with Fabrice LEGGERI, Executive Director of FRONTEX Discussion on combatting slavery in Mauritania Kristina-Antigoni ELEFTERIE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_HumanRights Subcommittee on Security and Defence Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001 Jointly with the Committee on Development Public hearing "Development and Security, particularly in the Sahel region" (see Public Hearings) Václav LEBEDA BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Defence Subcommittee on Security and Defence Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3E-2 With the Council and Commission and EEAS EUNAVFOR Med Sophia - countering human smugglers in the Mediterranean - Discussion with: Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR Med Sophia; Lieutenant General Wolfgang WOSOLSOBE, Director General of the EU Military Staff Debriefing on the Foreign Affairs Council of 17 November 2015 (FAC - Defence) and the activation of Art TEU - Discussion with Pedro SERRANO, Deputy Secretary General for CSDP and crisis response, EEAS In association with the delegation to the EU-Armenia and EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee 7/19

8 Discussion with Tinatin KHIDASHELI, Minister of Defence of Georgia The outcome of the EDA Ministerial Steering Board of 17 November discussionwith Jorge DOMECQ, Chief Executive, European Defence Agency Migrant smuggling and its implications for the EU external security - discussion with: - Roderick PARKES, Senior Analyst, EU Institute for Security Studies - Representative of the EEAS (tbc) The implementation of the article 42.7 TEU ("mutual defence clause") - discussion with Alexander MATTELAER, Academic Director, Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Václav LEBEDA BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Defence Committee on Development Monday 30/11/ :15-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001 Jointly with the Subcommittee on Security and Defence Public hearing on Development and Security, particularly in the Sahel region ( see Public hearings) Kristina-Antigoni ELEFTERIE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) deve-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Development Committee on Development Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001 Public hearing on the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (see Public hearings) The role of development cooperation within EU external actions - discussion with Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Fact-finding mission of the Committee on Development to assess the long-term consequences of the Ebola epidemic, 1-5 November Presentation of the mission report by Norbert NEUSER, Head of Delegation, followed by a presentation of the Mobile Laboratories Project by Professor Stephan GUENTHER, EMLab Coordinator, Bernhard Nocht Institute, Hamburg Work programme and operational strategy of DG ECHO for discussion with Christos STYLIANIDES, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management 8/19

9 Kristina-Antigoni ELEFTERIE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) deve-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Development Committee on International Trade Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1 Introduction of emergency autonomous trade measures for the Republic of Tunisia (2015/0218(COD)) - Rapporteur: Marielle de Sarnez (ALDE, FR) - Consideration of draft report Agnese KRIVADE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) inta-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Trade Committee on International Trade Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1 Electronic voting at The United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration (2015/2930(RSP)) - Adoption of question for oral answer End of voting Protection against dumped and subsidised imports from countries not members of the EC (2013/0103(COD)) Discussion with the Commission Public hearing: Trade and economic relations with Australia and New Zealand: from reflections to negotiations (see Public Hearings) Agnese KRIVADE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) inta-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Trade Committee on Budgets Thursday 03/12/ :45-12:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q-1 Committee on Budgetary Control Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3 9/19

10 Committee on Budgetary Control Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3 Discharge 2014: EU general budget - European Commission (DEC) - Rapporteur: Martina DLABAJOVA (ADLE, CZ) - Discussion with the Member of the European Commission responsible for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne THYSSEN, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Iliana IVANOVA Discharge 2014: EU general budget - European Commission (DEC) - Rapporteur: Martina DLABAJOVA (ADLE, CZ) - Discussion with Neven MIMICA, Member of the European Commission responsible for International Cooperation & Development and Johannes HAHN, Member of the European Commission responsible for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Danièle LAMARQUE Discharge 2014: EU general budget - 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs (DEC) - Rapporteur: Claudia SCHMIDT (EPP, AT) - Discussion with Neven MIMICA, Member of the European Commission responsible for International Cooperation & Development, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Danièle LAMARQUE Discharge 2014: EU general budget - 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs (DEC) - Rapporteur: - Claudia SCHMIDT (EPP, AT) - Presentation of the Annual Report of the Investment Facility by Luca LAZZAROLI, Director General and Deputy Head of Operations of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for Operations outside the EU Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050 Discussion with Jonathan HILL, Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union ( ) Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Tuesday 01/12/ :00-16:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050 Votes ( ) Activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (recast) (COD) - Vote on a report by Brian HAYES (EPP, IE) Extension of the term of office of the Chairperson of the European Banking Authority (EBA) (NLE) - Vote on a report by Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT) Extension of the term of office of the Chairperson of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) (NLE) - Vote on a report by Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT) Extension of the term of office of the Chairperson of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) (NLE) - Vote on a report by Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT) Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union (RSP) - Vote on a motion for a resolution and oral question Bringing transparency, coordination and convergence to Corporate Tax policies in the Union (INL) - Vote on a report by Anneliese DODDS (S&D, UK) and Luděk NIEDERMAYER (EPP, CZ) Stocktaking and challenges of the EU Financial Services Regulation: Impact and the way forward towards a more efficient and effective EU framework for Financial Regulation and a Capital Markets Union (INI) - Vote on a report by 10/19

11 Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE) End of votes Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Tuesday 01/12/ :45-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050 Joint meeting with the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Annual Growth Survey and the Alert Mechanism Report - Economic Dialogue and discussion with: - Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President and Commissioner for the Euro & Social Dialogue - Pierre MOSCOVICI, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs - Marianne THYSSEN, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Thursday 03/12/ :00-17:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A002 Votes Skills policies for fighting youth unemployment - Adoption of draft report - Rapporteur: Marek PLURA (EPP, PL) End of votes Hearing: Member States' active labour market policies - see Public Hearings Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q2 Objection pursuant to Rule 106: list of invasive alien species - Consideration of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Pavel POC (S&D, CZ) Joint debate Votes Objection pursuant to Rule 106: authorisation of GM maize NK603 x T25 - Consideration of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE) Objection pursuant to Rule 106: authorisation of GM maize NK603 x T25 - Consideration of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Sylvie GODDYN (ENF, FR) Discussion with the European Commission on the Fitness Check on Oil Refining Industry Discussion with WHO, EFSA and the European Commission on glyphosates Objection pursuant to Rule 106: list of invasive alien species - Adoption of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Pavel POC (S&D, CZ) Objection pursuant to Rule 106: authorisation of GM maize NK603 x T25 - Adoption of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE) Objection pursuant to Rule 106: authorisation of GM maize NK603 x T25 - Adoption of motion for a resolution - Rapporteur: Sylvie GODDYN (ENF, FR) 11/19

12 Transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions - Adoption of draft opinion - Rapporteur: Nessa CHILDERS (S&D, IE) End of votes Implementation of environmental legislation - Discussion with Commission representatives on the Ambient Air Quality Directive Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 ACER Market Monitoring Report and other ongoing activities, Presentation by Alberto POTOSCHNIGg, Director ACER and Lord Mogg, Chairman of the Board of Regulators ACER Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 ( ) Single Market Strategy, Discussion with Elżbieta BIEŃKOWSKA, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Second list of Projects of Common Interest, Presentation and Discussion with Dominique RISTORI, Director General, DG Energy ( ) Joint committee meeting with IMCO Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Tuesday 01/12/ :00-17:00 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 Joint committee meeting with ITRE Committee on Transport and Tourism Thursday 03/12/ :00-12:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 Committee on Regional Development Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G3 Committee on Regional Development Tuesday 01/12/ :00-12:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G3 Discussion with Corina CREŢU, Commissioner for Regional Policy Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 Discussion with Tom VILSACK, US Secretary for Agriculture Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 12/19

13 Discussion with Bernard VALLAT, Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), on the mandate and activities of this organisation State of play on the on-going trilogue negotiations: - Organic production and labelling of organic products, amendment to Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council - Zootechnical and genealogical conditions for trade in and imports into the Union of breeding animals and their germinal products - Protective measures against pests of plants Hearing on "New Techniques for Plant Breeding" ( ) - see Public hearings Committee on Legal Affairs Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, IE2 Workshop on adoption: cross-border legal issues - jointly with the Committee on Petitions- see Special events Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A2 EU cooperation with Turkey in the area of asylum, migration and management of the EU's external borders - discussion with Matthias RUETE, Director- General, Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission ( ) Personal data protection: processing and free movement of data (General Data Protection Regulation) and processing of data for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties (COD) - discussion on the state of play of trilogue negotiations, rapporteurs Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE) and Marju LAURISTIN (S&D, EE) ( ) Use of Passenger Name Record data (EU PNR) (COD), discussion on the state of play of trilogue negotiations, rapporteur Timothy KIRKHOPE (ECR, UK) - ( ) VOTES ( ) Agreement on strategic cooperation in the fight against serious crime and terrorism between the United Arab Emirates and Europol (CNS), rapporteur Alessandra MUSSOLINI (EPP, IT) - vote on draft report Agreement on operational and strategic cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europol (CNS), rapporteur Lorenzo FONTANA (ENF, IT) - vote on draft report Third-country nationals: conditions of entry and residence for the purposes of research, studies, pupil exchange, training, voluntary service and au pairing (Recast) (COD), rapporteur Cecilia WIKSTRÖM (ALDE, SE) - vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) and repeal of Decisions 2009/371/JHA and 2005/681/JHA,, rapporteur Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES) - vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations (to be confirmed) Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A2 13/19

14 EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy: discussion with Gilles de KERCHOVE, EU Counter-Terorism Coordinator, and debriefing by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU on the outcome of the extroardinary JHA Council of 20 November 2015 ( ) International protection: crisis relocation mechanism (COD), rapporteur Timothy KIRKHOPE (ECR, UK) - discussion with Commission, Council and European Asylum Support Office ( ) International protection: EU common list of safe countries of origin (COD), rapporteur Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR) - discussion with Commission, Council, European Asylum Support Office and EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ( ) Committee on Budgetary Control Thursday 03/12/ :00-12:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3 Discharge 2014: EU general budget - European Commission (DEC) - Rapporteur, Martina DLABAJOVA (ALDE, CZ) - Discussion with the Member of the European Commission responsible for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos MOEDAS, in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Alex BRENNINKMEIJER Discussion with the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Frans TIMMERMANS - Discussion on transparency (in the wide sense), better regulation and simplification, and the internal audit service (independence, restructuring) Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Thursday 03/12/ :30-11:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3E2 Joint meeeting with the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (9:30-11:30) Discussion with Tekalign MAMO, FAO Special Ambassador, on the occasion of the International Year of Soils Committee on Culture and Education Thursday 03/12/ :00-12:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050 Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on Education and Youth Committee on Legal Affairs Thursday 03/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5E2 In camera ( ) Request for the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Georgios KYRTSOS (EPP, EL) (IMM), rapporteur Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT) - vote on draft report Request for the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Stelios KOULOGLOU (GUE/NGL, EL) (IMM), rapporteur Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ) - vote on draft report VOTES ( ) Community trade mark (COD), rapporteur Cecilia WIKSTRÖM (ALDE, SE) - vote on draft recommendation for second reading 14/19

15 Laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (COD) (Recast), rapporteur Cecilia WIKSTRÖM (ALDE, SE) - vote on draft recommendation for second reading Memorandum of Understanding between the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and Eurojust (CNS), rapporteur Kostas CHRYSOGONOS (GUE/NGL, EL) - vote on draft report Committee on Constitutional Affairs Thursday 03/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G2 Discussion with Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights (10.00) Afternoon ( ) The renegotiation of the United Kingdom constitutional relationship with the EU - discussion Improving the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty (INI), co-rapporteurs Elmar BROK (EPP, DE) and Mercedes BRESSO (S&D, IT) - discussion State of play regarding the negotiations of the Institutional Agreement on Better Regulation - discussion Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality Thursday 03/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G3 VOTES ( ) (15.00) External factors that represent hurdles to a European female entrepreneurship (INI), rapporteur Barbara MATERA (EPP, IT) - vote on draft report Hearing on the situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU, rapporteur Mary HONEYBALL (S&D, UK) - see Public Hearings Committee on Petitions Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, IE2 Workshop on adoption: cross-border legal issues - jointly with the Committee on Legal Affairs - see Special events Committee on Petitions Thursday 03/12/ :30-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B1 Annual report on the activities of the Committee on Petitions (INI), rapporteur Lidia Joanna GERINGER DE OEDENBERG (S&D, PL) - vote on draft report Protecting the best interests of the child (across borders) in Europe - vote on a joint PETI-JURI oral question to the Council and Commission 15/19

16 PUBLIC HEARINGS Development and Security, particularly in the Sahel region Monday 30/11/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001 Parliament's Development Committee and Security and Defence Subcommittee will hold a hearing to debate development and security, particularly in the region of Sahel. After opening remarks by Linda McAVAN (S&D, UK), Chair of the Committee on Development, the hearing will be organised in two panels. The first panel with Alex VINES, (Research Director, Area Studies and International Law; Head, Africa Programme, Chatham House) and Gabor IKLODY (Director of Crisis Management and Planning Directorate, EEAS) addresses the combined challenges of security and development. The second panel with H.E. Pierre BUYOYA (African Union High Representative for Mali and the Sahel, former President of Burundi) and Toby LANZER (United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel) focuses on challenges in the Sahel. Closing remarks by Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. Václav LEBEDA BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Defence New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Tuesday 01/12/ :00-12:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 5B001 Parliament's Development Committee will hold a hearing to debate the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. The hearing will be organised in three panels on the objectives of the new alliance, on governance of food security, and it will introduce civil society views on the New Alliance and alternative approaches. Kristina-Antigoni ELEFTERIE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) deve-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Development New Techniques for Plant Breeding Tuesday 01/12/ :00-17:00 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development will meet experts, scientists and industry representatives to discuss with them new techniques for plant breeding. MEPs will be interested in future prospects of plant breeding in the EU and 16/19

17 ways to ensure that the EU plant sector is able to develop and grow. Ján JAKUBOV BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) agri-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Agriculture Trade and economic relations with Australia and New Zealand: from reflections to negotiations Tuesday 01/12/ :30-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1 The first panel, which includes Hon. Tim GROSER (New Zealand Minister of Trade), Hosuk LEE-MAKIYAMA (Director of European Centre for International Political Economy) and Pekka PESONEN (Secretary General, COPA-COGECA) will discuss the outlook for EU-New Zealand trade talks. The speakers of the second panel "Towards EU-Australia FTA negotiations" will include Justin BROWN (Acting Deputy Secretary for Trade of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Liina CARR (Confederal Secretary at The European Trade Union Confederation) and Pascal KERNEIS (Managing Director of the European Services Forum). Concluding remarks by Daniel CASPARY, INTA Standing Rapporteur for Australia and New Zealand. Agnese KRIVADE BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) inta-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Trade The use of private security companies in the context of European security and defence Thursday 03/12/ :45-12:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 3G-2 The hearing will be chaired by Anna FOTYGA (ECR; PL), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. Elżbieta KARSKA, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries, Geneva, talks talk about the mandate of the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries to deal with private military and security companies. Prof. Elke KRAHMANN from Brunel University London, Prof. Marc COOLS from Ghent University and Free University Brussels and Colonel Chris SANDERSON OBE JP (Industry Board Director, the International Code of Conduct Association (ICOCA)) will introduce other aspects of private security, including EU external action, challenges for integration in the public domain and industry perspective. 17/19

18 Václav LEBEDA BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Defence Member States' active labour market policies Thursday 03/12/ :00-16:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, P1A002 At the hearing MEPs will discuss member states' active labour market policies in the context of the Active Inclusion Strategy, that the Commission launched in This strategy stipulates focus on three strands to fight exclusion: offering adequate income support, guaranteeing access to high-quality public services and supporting labour market activation. The presentations of the six invited experts will be followed by an exchange of views. The situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU Thursday 03/12/ :00 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1G3 Organised by the Women 's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, and in the context of the draft report (INI) being drawn up by Mary HONEYBALL (S&D, UK) on the same topic, MEPs will have the opportunity to discuss with experts the problems facing women refugees and asylum seekers in Europe As stated in Ms Honeyball's draft report "asylum systems have largely been seen through the lens of male experience. Despite the creation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), law, policy and practice in member states continues to vary significantly and there is a noticeable gap in the protection given to women seeking asylum in the EU. The invited experts will speak on the following topics: Protection for women refugees in Europe: a glaring gap Protecting women and girls in the current refugee crisis - A UNHCR perspective Gender related asylum claims in Europe Yalla Trappan: working for integration through social enterprises Maja OREL SCHWARZ BXL: (+32) PORT: (+32) femm-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_GenderEqual 18/19

19 SPECIAL EVENTS The persecution of Christians in the world a call for action Tuesday 01/12/ :15-12:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 6B001 A high-level conference organised by Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for interreligious dialogue, titled "The persecution of Christians in the world a call for action" will take place on Tuesday in the EP's premises. The meeting, organised in the framework of the Art. 17 dialogue, includes contributions by EP President Martin Schulz, who will draw the conclusions together with Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, as well as Anthony L. Gardner, US ambassador to the EU, Andrea Riccardi (Community of Saint'Egidio), Dr. Paul Bhatti from Pakistan and Ms Helene Berhane from Eritrea, who will sing a gospel before the closing remarks. Workshop on adoption: cross-border legal issues Tuesday 01/12/ :00-18:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 1E2 Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Petitions Following the Committee on Petitions fact-finding visit to London on 5-6 November, this workshop will examine citizens' concerns, petitions and legal issues related to crossborder adoptions in the EU. Mairead McGUINNESS (EPP, IE), EP Vice-President and EP Mediator for International Child Abduction will participate in the debate. Experts in the field of family law will make presentations on different aspects of the cross-border recognition of adoptions, which is the subject of a report by Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP, PL) for the Legal Affairs Committee. Niina SALORANTA BXL: (+32) STR: (+33) PORT: (+32) lega-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Legal peti-press@europarl.europa.eu 19/19