European Union

Written by Katarzyna Sochacka and Clare Ferguson,

© European Union 2018 – Source : EP

The highlights of the November I plenary session were the debate on the future of Europe with Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, as well as the debate and vote on the interim report on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. Parliament also held debates on floods in Europe; regulating virtual currencies and initial coin offerings; and EU resilience in the face of foreign actors’ potential attempts to influence the upcoming EP election campaign. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa addressed the Parliament in a formal sitting. Members debated HR/VP Federica Mogherini’s statements on the future of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Central American migrants at the Mexican border, and the effects of US sanctions on Iran for European companies. Parliament voted on legislative proposals, inter alia, on energy efficiency; promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources; on the European Electronic Communications Code and BEREC; and on rail passengers’ rights and obligations. Members adopted reports on the implementation of the EU Agreements with Georgia and Moldova, and voted on reports on humanitarian visas and on the implementation of the EU Common Position on arms exports. The 2018 Lux Prize, which promotes European cinema, makes promising films accessible to a wider audience and encourages debate on values and social issues across Europe, was awarded to ‘Woman at war’ (Kona fer í stríð), by Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson.

Interim report on the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027

Members discussed and adopted the interim report on the Commission’s proposals for a new multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, which sets out the next EU budget. In the light of the commitments the EU has already undertaken, the report criticises the proposal to cut the EU’s resources as a share of post-Brexit EU-27 GNI to 1.3 %. However, it also welcomes the opportunities to increase financial flexibility and the move towards ambitious reform of EU resources and revenue. On the basis of the position agreed during the session, Parliament is ready to begin negotiations with the Council with the aim of adopting the new MFF before the May 2019 elections.

Implementation of the EU-Georgia and EU-Moldova Association Agreements

During a joint debate, Parliament discussed and adopted two reports on implementation of the EU Association Agreements with Georgia and Moldova. Parliament’s Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee reported that implementation of the 2014 Association Agreement with Georgia is largely positive. While dealing with some foreign interference from both Russia and Turkey, Georgia is nevertheless making good progress on rule of law and human rights issues, with some exceptions regarding high-level corruption and the protection of vulnerable groups. Moldova, a priority country for Parliament’s democracy support within the Eastern Partnership, on the other hand, appears to be seeing some serious backsliding on democratic values and electoral reform.

Clean energy package

Preparing the governance of the energy union to face the challenges of climate change and meeting international commitments on reducing emissions was the subject of a joint debate on the clean energy package for the EU. Following negotiations between the EU institutions, Members approved compromise agreements regarding three proposals, which include a binding 32 % target for use of energy from renewable sources by 2030, indicative targets on national contributions and on a 32.5 % improvement in energy efficiency and the governance of the energy union.

The European Electronic Communications Code and BEREC

Parliament discussed and adopted a package of telecoms proposals to establish a European Electronic Communications Code and develop the mandate of the corresponding regulatory body, (known as BEREC). The proposed lighter regulatory regime seeks to boost investment in high-capacity networks, improve use of radio frequencies, and provide access to broadband services for all citizens, as well as reinforcing consumer protection. A cap on charges inside the EU has already been agreed.

Multiannual plan for Adriatic fisheries

Parliament adopted its position on a proposed multiannual plan for Adriatic fisheries. Overfishing has exhausted anchovy and sardine stocks in the Adriatic, and current fisheries management is criticised as ineffective. Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH) opposed Commission proposals for radical changes to setting allowable catches, preferring instead to strengthen current measures.

Rail passengers’ rights and obligations

Members discussed a Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) report on Commission proposals to strengthen rail passengers’ rights and obligations that deal with the difficulties of obtaining compensation when booking parts of a journey with different carriers, as well as others, such as accessibility and assistance. Carriers’ rights to claim force majeure have been the subject of disagreement to date. As Members endorsed the report, backing strengthened passenger rights, higher compensation rates and better assistance to persons with reduced mobility, this fixes Parliament’s position for interinstitutional negotiations, once Council reaches its position.

Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for Latvia

Parliament approved a decision on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Latvia. The country will receive some €17 730 519 for reconstruction of the regions affected in floods in 2017, subsequently qualified as a ‘major natural disaster’.

Implementation of the EU Common Position on arms export

Members adopted a resolution calling for strict interpretation and full implementation of the EU Common Position on arms export. The EU’s unique position ensures transparency and information-sharing on conventional arms exports by setting common minimum standards for Member States to assess export licence applications for military technology and equipment. The motion calls for increased parliamentary and public oversight of national arms exports from the EU.

Humanitarian visas

Members discussed a call for a Commission proposal on a system of humanitarian visas in the EU, to give people a clear procedure to follow when in need of international protection. Parliament voted 349 in favour of and 199 against (with 47 abstentions) the resolution, thus not reaching the absolute majority required by Article 225 TFEU. Despite protestations, the President rejected the request to re-run the vote.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Four parliamentary committee decisions (from EMPL, ECON, IMCO, INTA) to enter into interinstitutional (trilogue) negotiations were confirmed. Only one vote was held, on an EMPL committee report on transparent and predictable working conditions, where the committee’s decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations was approved.

Read this ‘At a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, November I 2018‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

A new EU sanctions regime should punish people who attack human rights activists, among other crimes, the Dutch foreign ministry has said.

A motley crew of has-been politicians from fringe EU parties flocked to Russia-occupied Ukraine to cheer on puppet rulers there last week.

German finance minister Olaf Scholz and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire have agreed a joint plan for a eurozone-only budget to be presented in Monday's Eurogroup meeting in Brussels, with view to adoption at the 14 December euro summit, German media reported. Eurozone finance ministers, rather than the European Commission, would be in charge of designing investment programmes to be paid via new taxes.

Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl (FPO) has criticised the European Union's policy towards Israel. "I have the impression that particularly strict standards are being applied to Israel," she said in an interview with the Times of Israel. Austria is working to inject "more realism" in EU-Israel relations, she added. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to speak this week in Vienna at a high-level anti-Semitism conference.

Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Sunday met US investor and philanthropist George Soros to discuss how to resettle the Soros-funded Central European University (CEU) in Vienna after it was pushed out of Hungary, Austrian daily Kurier reported. The two reportedly also agreed that Brexit is regrettable and that a hard Brexit must be avoided, while on the issue of migration policy they had "quite different views".

EU foreign ministers will discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday. The EU has the opportunity to show that it is not a political dwarf in the Balkans, where not only economic, but also political reforms are necessary.

EU governments and European Parliament representatives may agree on draft legislation to screen foreign direct investment (FDI) into the EU in a meeting on Tuesday, Franck Proust, a French MEP representing the parliament in the talks, told Bloomberg. The EU currently has no joint rules to review investment from, for example, China, to protect national security or public order - while Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US have well-established schemes.

French president Emmanuel Macron called on Sunday for closer ties between Germany and France, saying Europe "has the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos". Europe must not "become a plaything of great powers," he said in a speech to the German Bundestag, on the annual day of mourning for victims of war, while also urging larger defence spending.

Five members of Theresa May's cabinet are attempting to lobby the prime minister to make amendments to the UK's withdrawal agreement to leave the European Union, while EU ministers will be in Brussels on Monday (19 November) for what the prime minister has termed "an intense week of negotiations".

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (18 December) urged a Franco-German push to make Europe a stronger and more confident global player that could prevent "chaos" on the world stage.

Women in Europe are still dying because doctors refuse to perform abortions. Caroline Hickson explains why moral concerns should not stand in the way of the primary goal of any healthcare system, to care for and protect its patients by providing quality care for all.

The deal agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Union has detonated the biggest political dispute in British politics since Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich in 1938 waving a leaf of paper and proclaiming he had won “Peace in our time”, writes Denis MacShane.

Markets for raw materials have recovered from the 2008 financial crash, fuelled by the continued digital transformation of the economy and the rapid deployment of green technologies. Is the world on track for a repeat of the resource boom seen in the early 21st century?

Representatives of the Brazil government and of the Brazil soy supply chain are planning to engage in renewed discussions with EU stakeholders and policy-makers in Brussels this week, writes Nathalie Lecocq.

The European Union first adopted a raw materials strategy in 2008, at a time when commodity prices were at an all-time high and fears were running high of a global scramble for natural resources. The financial crash that followed conveniently swept the issue under the carpet. But this may have only been temporary.

Lignite has been the driving force of the Greek economy for the last six decades and the government intends to keep it that way, even though this most polluting of fuels is now becoming uncompetitive, writes Nikos Mantzaris.

European Union members will have to recycle at least 70% of packaging by 2030, under new rules brokered earlier this year. But there are complex mechanisms behind the recycling curtain and not all countries are ready yet to keep up with the pace.

The EU now has a whole raft of rules, both finalised and pending, geared towards increasing the effectiveness and, perhaps more importantly, profitability of recycling. But beyond the headline targets, how are countries going to stick to the rules?

Those who report corruption, criminal acts and breaches of public trust must be protected, writes Martin Jefflén, who calls for lowering the barriers when it comes to reporting wrongdoing in the corporate sphere.