Strasbourg: Turkey, tax, counter-terrorism, Cuba, trade defence

As another plenary session begins in Strasbourg, here are some of the key issues for discussion in the week ahead.

Turkey. Parliament will discuss Turkey’s 2016 reform efforts with Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn on Wednesday (5 July) and vote on a resolution on Thursday. They are likely to ask for EU accession talks to be suspended if proposed changes to the Turkish constitution go ahead. A press conference with the rapporteur Kati Piri MEP is scheduled after discussions on Wednesday at 11h30.

Tax transparency. Large multinationals should provide publicly available information on how much tax they pay and where, according to draft legislation designed to crack down on corporate tax avoidance worth EUR 50-70 billion a year in lost tax revenues. (Debate and vote Tuesday (4 July)).

Counter-terrorism. A proposal to establish a temporary committee on terrorism will be put to the vote. The new committee would examine what is needed to improve anti-terror cooperation in the EU. (Thursday)

Anti-dumping. Parliament could soon start talks with national governments on new EU anti-dumping rules designed to better protect EU industry and jobs against unfair trade practices from non-EU countries, if there are no objections at the July plenary session in Strasbourg. (Tuesday)

Epidemics on the rise. MEPs want the European Commission to come up with proposals to tackle the rise of HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C epidemics in Europe and develop a long-term EU level policy framework. (Debate Monday (3 July), vote Wednesday)

Cuba. MEPs are expected to give their consent to the first ever EU-Cuba cooperation agreement at noon on Wednesday after a debate with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday afternoon, thereby marking a turning point in bilateral relations.

Boost economies in Africa and EU neighbourhood. The European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) scheme aiming to mobilise €44 billion in private investment will be put to the vote on Thursday, if the responsible committees approve it beforehand. The aim is to help boost jobs, growth and stability, thus addressing the root causes of migration in fragile states.

Summit conclusions and G20. MEPs will debate the outcome of the 22-23 June European Council meeting and address issues on the agenda of the 7-8 July G20 meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk and the Commission (Wednesday).

Outgoing/incoming EU presidency. MEPs will review the achievements of the Maltese presidency of the EU Council with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday morning, Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will present the incoming EU Council Presidency priorities.

Products to last. MEPs will propose measures to tackle planned obsolescence for tangible goods and for software in a non-legislative resolution to be put to the vote on Tuesday. They will ask for minimum resistance and repair criteria to be established for each product category.

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