European Parliament

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission’s conclusion that Ireland granted Apple Inc. illegal tax benefits, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years will be debated in plenary session on Wednesday around 16:00.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The State of the European Union, one of the year’s most important debates, kicks off on Wednesday 14 September at 9.00 CET. It’s an opportunity to find out what direction the EU will take in the coming year and what could have been done better. Find out the many ways to follow the debate online and how you can join the discussion on social media.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Recent development in Poland and how they affect EU fundamental rights were debated in plenary on 13 September. While some MEPs criticised Polish authorities for reforms affecting the country's constitutional tribunal, others called on the EU to respect the decisions by Poland's government. On Wednesday 14 September, MEPs adopted a resolution urging the Polish government “to solve the country’s constitutional crisis and find a compromise” in line with European Commission recommendations.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament rejected Malta’s nominee for the European Court of Auditors, Mr Leo Brincat, in a plenary vote on Tuesday. Mr Brincat had been approved by the Budgetary Control Committee in a close vote on 5 September. But Parliament did back Portugal’s nominee, Mr João Figueiredo, and the renewal of the mandate of Cypriot member, Mr Lazaros S. Lazarou, based on the committee’s recommendations. The final decision on the appointments to the Luxembourg body will be taken by the EU Council of Ministers.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament’s car emissions inquiry urgently needs more information from the EU Commission, it says in a resolution voted on Tuesday. Half-way through its mandate, the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS), has yet to receive some Commission documents on emission measurements and details of expert group work on vehicle type approval procedures, notes the text. The inquiry’s final report is due in spring 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The latest developments in Turkey further to the failed coup attempt in July 2016 will be debated by MEPs with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday at around 15.30. It will be followed by another debate on the situation in Gabon after the disputed re-election of President Ali Bongo.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament's inquiry committee investigating the car emissions testing scandal is now halfway through its mandate, but already it has a clearer view of how car manufacturers were able to claim that their cars polluted many times less than they actually did. MEPs vote on their interim report in plenary on Tuesday 13 September. Watch the video for an interview with report authors Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy and Pablo Zalba Bidegain.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : President Schulz opened the session by calling a minute’s silence for the victims of the severe earthquake in central Italy on 24 August, which killed almost 300 people, left over 3,000 homeless, damaged more than 70 villages, and in some cases destroyed whole communities.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will quiz UK candidate Commissioner for the Security Union Sir Julian King in Strasbourg on Monday evening to assess his candidature. Based on the committee’s recommendation, Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) will then decide whether to close the hearing procedure after which the full House can take a vote on Thursday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary session and committee meetings in Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : From Brexit and the economy, to the migration crisis and the terrorism threat, Europe is facing many challenges. The annual State of the EU debate on 14 September is an opportunity for MEPs to discuss the direction for the EU to take with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Read on to find out what political group leaders expect and how you can follow it yourself.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The European Parliament should give its consent to the ratification of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, recommended Environment Committee MEPs on Thursday. They also urged all EU member states to conclude the ratification process, to ensure its rapid entry into force. In a separate resolution, they also called on the EU to upgrade its emission reduction pledges, so as to close the gap between the individual targets agreed by the Parties and the Paris goals.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

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General : The EU’s budget has been criticised for years for relying too much on member states’ contributions and for being too inflexible when unexpected crises occur. MEPs discussed the issue with their national counterparts during a conference on how to finance the EU's budget on 7-8 September. Most panellists agreed that a reform was necessary to ensure more transparency and efficiency.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The Conference of Presidents today appointed Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, BE) as European Parliament point man for Brexit negotiations.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : For the best ideas for Europe's future, why not ask the next generation? In May 7,000 young Europeans gathered in Strasbourg for the second European Youth Event (EYE) during which they discussed how to best tackle the many challenges facing Europe. Fifty of the best ideas have been collected in a report, which was presented to Parliament on 6 September. Some of the ideas will be forwarded to parliamentary committees, which starting 11 October will discuss them with the young people involved.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The European Commission's ruling that Apple should pay Ireland €13 billion in taxes has reignited the discussion of how much tax large companies should pay. We talked to Markus Ferber, one of the Parliament's leading members on tax issues, who said the Commission's decision enjoyed the Parliament's full backing. He also warned that EU countries need to understand that attracting investment by granting tax deals is illegal under EU rules established by member states themselves.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) met on Monday to hear former EU commissioners (from 2010 to 2014) for the environment Janez Potočnik, and for industry and entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani.
Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plans to grant citizens of Kosovo and Georgia the right to travel to the Schengen area without a visa were backed by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Monday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP