The Week Ahead 29 February 06 March 2016 Political group and committee meetings, Brussels Border management and European coast guard. The setting up of a European Border and Coast Guard to manage migration at EU s external borders, while safeguarding the free movement of persons, will be debated by the Civil Liberties Committee with the Commission. The committee will also discuss draft legislation to step up checks at EU external borders, as well as travel documents for the readmission (return) of immigrants staying illegally in the EU. (Monday) Women refugees and asylum seekers. Violence against women refugees, their living conditions in camps and possible integration measures will be debated by MEPs and national MPs in a meeting to be opened by EP President Martin Schulz and Ireland s former President Mary Robinson. (Thursday) Press seminar on women refugees. Parliament's press service is holding a seminar on women refugees and asylum seekers where leading MEPs, experts and journalists will debate the conditions that women face while travelling to, and after arriving at, refugee camps in Europe and how to improve them. (Wednesday) Emission inquiry committee constitutive meeting. Parliament s Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) inquiry committee will hold its first meeting to elect its chair and vice-chairs. EMIS will investigate car makers breaches of rules on emission tests as well as alleged failures by the European Commission and member states to enforce EU standards. (Wednesday) Ukraine. Ukrainian MPs will join MEPs in Brussels for a 3-day Ukraine week conference on good parliamentary practice, law-making and representation. Participants will include the Verkhovna Rada s Speaker, Volodymyr Groysman, leading MEPs and EP President Martin Schulz. A roadmap on parliamentary capacity-building for Ukraine will be presented by former EP President Pat Cox. (Monday to Wednesday) Messrs Schulz and Groysman will hold a joint press point at 17.15, followed by a press conference by Ukrainian MPs and Chair of the EP's Ukraine Delegation Andrej Plenkovic at 17:30, on Monday. FYROM. The progress towards EU membership made by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2015 will be assessed in a resolution to be voted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Issues such as the country s name and a recent political stalemate have prevented FYROM from starting EU accession negotiations for almost six years now. (Monday) EN Press Service Directorate for the Media Director - Spokesperson : Jaume DUCH GUILLOT Reference No:20160222APR15222 Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 1/10
Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 7-10 March plenary session in Strasbourg. Amongst other topics, MEPs will prepare for debates with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the March EU summits, on migration management and on the international protection of whistle-blowers. They will also prepare for legislative votes on animal health, the revamped school milk scheme and port services. Progress reports on Montenegro and the FYROM will be finalised, as well as draft resolutions on the banking union, better EU law-making and the situation of women refugees, especially in the light of International Women's Day. President's agenda. EP President Martin Schulz will meet the President of Norway s Parliament Olemic Thommessen on Tuesday and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg on Wednesday. Pre-session press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing with the EP's political group spokespersons at 11.00 on Friday. (Anna Politkovskaya room, press centre, Brussels) EP Press Service contact during the weekend Michaela FINDEIS Tel: +32 498 98 33 32 2/10
THE PRESIDENT'S DIARY The President's diary Monday 29/02/2016 Brussels 16:00 Meeting with Volodymyr Groysman, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor, Grand Salon Protocolaire 16:30 Opening speech at the "High-level conference European Parliament - Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on capacity building for reform" - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 3rd floor, room C050 17:15 Press point with Volodymyr Groysman, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor The President's diary Tuesday 01/03/2016 Brussels 12:00 Meeting with Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor, Grand Salon Protocolaire 14:30 Joint political group leaders' meeting of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 6th floor, room B054 17:15 Meeting with Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor, Grand Salon Protocolaire The President's diary Wednesday 02/03/2016 Brussels 17:00 Meeting with Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway - Paul-Henri Spaak Building, 9th floor, Grand Salon Protocolaire The President's diary Thursday 03/03/2016 Brussels 9:00 Opening speech at Interparliamentary Committee Meeting: "Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU" - József Antall room 2Q2 11:00 Conference of Presidents 3/10
PRESS CONFERENCES "Glyphosate" Wednesday 02/03/2016 Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&D, FR), Frédérique RIES (ALDE, BE), Angeliki LYSIMACHOU and Martin PIGEON "Ukraine week: capacity building for reform" Monday 29/02/2016 17:30-18:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0Α050 Andrej PLENKOVIĆ (EPP, HR), Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, Yurii LUTSENKO, Maksym BURBAK, Yurii BOIKO, Oleh BEREZIUK, Oleh LIASHKO, Yuliia TYMOSHENKO, Yaroslav MOSKALENKO, Viktor BONDAR "The Common Fisheries Policies and the Problems of the Fishing Sector in Spain" Tuesday 01/03/2016 11:00-11:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0Α050 Estefanía TORRES MARTÍNEZ (GUE/NGL, ES) "Situation of Basque prisoners and role of the EU" Tuesday 01/03/2016 14:00-14:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0Α050 Tatjana ŽDANOKA (Greens/EFA), François ALFONSI, and Lorena LOPEZ DE LA CALLE "The Truth Committee on Greek public debt: the next steps" Tuesday 01/03/2016 17:15-17:45 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 Sofia SAKORAFA (GUE/NGL, EL), Zoe KONSTANTOPOULOU, and Éric TOUSSAINT "GUE/NGL tackles the car emission scandal" Wednesday 02/03/2016 10:30-11:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 Merja KYLLÖNEN (GUE/NGL, FI), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (GUE/NGL, CZ), and Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, CY) Facing challenges for the survival of bees in Europe" Thursday 03/03/2016 10:30-11:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 Lidia SENRA RODRÍGUEZ (GUE/NGL, ES) and Xesús ASOREY Pre-session briefing Friday 04/03/2016 11:00-11:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 0A050 4/10
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES Committee on Foreign Affairs Monday 29/02/2016 15:00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 Progress report on Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (2015/2895(RSP) - Rapporteur Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SE) - Adoption Committee on Budgetary Control Monday 29/02/2016 15:00-18:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A-002 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Monday 29/02/2016 15:00-18:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 Situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (INI), co-rapporteurs Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) and Kashetu KYENGE (S&D, IT) - discussion on amendments (15.20-16.30) Joint debate on the new border and coast guard package as presented by the Commission on 15 December 2015 (16.30-18.00) - discussion with the Commission on the following reports: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. European Border and Coast Guard (COD), rapporteur Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV) Reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borderrs (COD), rapporteur Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO) European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals (COD), rapporteur Jussi HALLA-AHO (ECR, FI) European Maritime Safety Agency (COD), rapporteur Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV) Community Fisheries Control Agency (COD), rapporteur Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV) "Crime and Corruption Cost of Non-Europe" - discussion on the study with the Centre for European Policy Studies (18.00-18.20) VOTES (18.20-18.30) Follow-up to the Resolution on the US Senate report on use of torture by the CIA (RSP) - vote on questions for oral answer to the Commission and Council Subcommittee on Human Rights Thursday 03/03/2016 09:00-12:30 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5G-3 Discussion with Emily O'REILLY, the European Ombudsman on the recommendation related to the lack of a human rights impact assessment in the preparations of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement Discussion with members of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts regarding the disappearance of the 43 teaching students in Ayotzinapa and feedback from the DROI mission to Mexico/Guatemala Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality Thursday 03/03/2016 09:00-12:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 5/10
International Women's Day (IWD) - Interparliamentary committee meeting with national parliaments on "Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU" - see Special events Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector Wednesday 02/03/2016 08:30-10:00 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 6Q2 Opening of the meeting with the provisional Chair Election of the Chair With the newly elected Chair Election of the Vice-Chairs Chair s announcements Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Wednesday 02/03/2016 15:00-16:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 4Q1 Economic Dialogue and discussion with Euclid TSAKALOTOS, Minister of Finance of the Hellenic Republic 6/10
PUBLIC HEARINGS Budgetary capacity for the Euro area Wednesday 02/03/2016 18:00-20:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 1A-002 Joint hearing BUDG/ECON Contact Ron KORVER BXL: (+32) 2 28 44659 STR: (+33) 3 881 74903 PORT: (+32) 498 98 35 88 EMAIL: econ-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Economics Armin WISDORFF BXL: (+32) 2 28 40924 STR: (+33) 3 881 73780 PORT: +32 498 98 13 45 EMAIL: budg-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_Budgets 7/10
SPECIAL EVENTS Ukraine Week Monday 29/02/2016 15:00-21:30 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak Tuesday 01/03/2016 09:00-19:00 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli Wednesday 02/03/2016 08:00-12:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak Ukrainian MPs will join MEPs in Brussels for a 3-day Ukraine week conference on good parliamentary practice, law-making and representation. Participants will include the Verkhovna Rada s Speaker, Volodymyr Groysman, leading MEPs and EP President Martin Schulz. A roadmap on parliamentary capacity-building for Ukraine will be presented by former EP President Pat Cox. (Monday to Wednesday) Messrs Schulz and Groysman will hold a joint press point at 17.15, followed by a press conference by Ukrainian MPs and Chair of the EP's Ukraine Delegation Andrej Plenkovic at 17:30, on Monday. Contact Gediminas VILKAS BXL: (+32) 2 28 46396 STR: (+33) 3 881 64504 PORT: (+32) 498 98 33 30 EMAIL: foreign-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_ForeignAff Seminar: Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU Wednesday 02/03/2016 09:45-13:00 Brussels, Altiero Spinelli, 5E2 Wednesday 02/03/2016 15:30-18:00 Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak, 3C050 Seminar for journalists (09.45-18.00) Organised by the European Parliament Press Service, the aim of this seminar is to enable MEPs, invited experts and journalists to discuss the current situation in refugee camps and measures that might be taken at European level. The morning session will discuss women's rights and gender equality and the situation of women refugees and migrants. In the afternoon session, the discussion will focus on protecting women and girls in refugee camps across the EU and the successful integration of immigrants. Parlamentarium (18.00) At 18.00, a photo exhibition on "DISPLACED women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU will be officially opened by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR) Vice-President. The photos, by award-winning photo journalist, Marie DORIGNY, will give a true insight into the plight of women refugees and asylum seekers in their gruelling journey across Europe. Contact Ioannis DARMIS BXL: (+32) 2 28 43816 STR: (+33) 3 881 74692 PORT: (+32) 498 983 269 8/10
Damián CASTAÑO BXL: (+32) 2 28 48643 STR: (+33) 3 881 73479 PORT: (+32) 498 983 335 Photo exhibition: "DISPLACED: women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU Wednesday 02/03/2016 18:00 Brussels, Bruxelles - Brussel Parlamentarium, rue Wiertz 60, Brussels Opening: 2 March 2016, 18.00 The European Parliament`s Visitors` Centre, the Parlamentarium, is hosting a temporary exhibition Displaced: Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the EU by awardwinning photojournalist, Marie DORIGNY. The exhibition will be officially opened by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), Vice-President of the European Parliament In order to provide a true insight into the plight of women refugees and asylum seekers on their journey across Europe, the European Parliament invited award-winning photojournalist, Marie Dorigny, to photograph this subject matter. The photographs were taken over the course of December 2015 and January 2016. The project showcases all the principal stages of the gruelling journey undertaken by women refugees in Europe: the arrival by boat to Greece; the train journey across several countries and the final arrival and processing of asylum requests in Germany. The exhibition remains open until 1 June 2016. Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU Thursday 03/03/2016 09:00-12:30 Brussels, Jòzsef Antall, 2Q2 Interparliamentary Committee meeting Co-organised by the Committee on Women s Rights and Gender Equality and National Parliaments Ahead of International Women s Day 2016, scheduled for 8 March, this joint meeting will discuss the situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU. The event will be divided into three workshops. 1. Violence against women refugees and asylum seekers (organised in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) 2. Gender and healthcare: the situation of refugees and asylum seekers ( organised in cooperation with the European Institute for Gender Equality) 3. Integration of women refugees (organised in cooperation with the European Commission) Inauguration speeches will be made by Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE), President of the European Parliament and Mary ROBINSON, Former President of Ireland. 9/10
Contact Maja OREL SCHWARZ BXL: (+32) 2 28 32357 PORT: (+32) 473 86 49 74 EMAIL: femm-press@europarl.europa.eu TWITTER: EP_GenderEqual 10/10