The European Agenda: 16-20 December

The European Agenda is provided by Orpheus Public Affairs

European Parliament – Committee and Constituency week, Brussels
Monday 16 December

Meeting on Kazakhstan and its human rights commitments: Myth and reality, Paul Murphy MEP (IE)

International Trade and Security and Defence Subcommittee joint activity: Public hearing on the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT); and, Discussion with the Commission on investment protection and investment-to-state dispute settlement in Free Trade Agreements

Economic and Monetary Affairs: Monetary dialogue with Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank; discussion of the single resolution mechanism the European semester for economic policy coordination and Annual Growth Survey 2014.

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety: discussion on cloning of animals.

Industry, Research and Energy: Renewal of the EU-Russia agreement on cooperation in science and technology; vote on a resolution on the ‘Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe’; vote on a decision on Space surveillance and tracking support programme; vote on a motion for a resolution on the reduction of EU regulatory burden on SMEs.

Internal Market and Consumer Protection to discuss: Directive on Package travel and assisted travel arrangements

Fisheries: Hearing on Evaluation of the Mediterranean Fisheries Regulation.

Constitutional Affairs: presentation of trilogue report on the ‘Statute and funding of European political parties and European political’

Trilogue: Commission, Council, European Parliament

Trilogue on Tobacco Products Directive- negotiation between the Commission, Council and Parliament to reach agreement on controversial legislation, concerning e-cigarettes.

Council

Foreign Affairs Council: to discuss Association Agreements with the Republic of

Moldova and with Georgia, as well as recent events in Ukraine; to brief ministers on the latest round of talks with Iran concerning its nuclear programme, to prepare for lunch meeting with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, ministers will debate relations with the EU's strategic partner, Russia. Also up for discussion will be the latest developments in Syria, in particular the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, the humanitarian situation and the preparation for a peace conference scheduled for 22 January, as well as the Lebanon, the situation in the Central African Republic, the situation in Myanmar/Burma and a meeting of the EU- Morocco Association Council.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council: the Council will seek to reach political agreement on a proposal to establish the maximum quantities of fish from specific stocks that can be caught - total allowable catches (TACs) -, as well as the limits on the fishing effort (number of days at sea) for EU vessels. Ministers will also be briefed by the Commission on its proposal for a regulation on information provision and promotion measures to increase the competitiveness of EU agriculture and agri-food industry on both the internal and export markets.

Tuesday 17 December

European Parliament

International Trade: Vote on the EC-Serbia Interim Agreement and EU-Chile Trade Agreement, Head of Russia’s trade negotiations on Russia’s membership of the WTO.

Budgetary Control: presentation of the study on nuclear decommissioning Bulgaria.

Economic and Monetary Affairs: discussion on a regulation on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions and the directive on payment services in the internal market and a vote on the Ferreira report on the Single Resolution Mechanism, voting on the Directive on Insurance mediation report and a vote on a resolution on insurance of natural and man-made disasters.

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety: CO2 emissions from cars and a vote on the placing on the market of a GM maize product - awaiting approval for over 10 years; and a vote on a resolution on fees paid to the EMA; aviation emissions; and a discussion on the safety of the aspartame with the EFSA .

Industry, Research and Energy: joint committee meeting European and National Parliaments –'The EU Internal Energy Market for the 21st Century'

Transport: will vote on air passenger rights and fourth railway package.

Hearing on the NSA and mass surveillance of EU citizens, expected to include a video interview from Edward Snowden

Council

General Affairs Council: the meeting will be largely concerned with final preparations for the European Council meeting of 19-20, ministers will discuss the enlargement and the stabilisation and association process, with a view to opening accession negotiations with Serbia, FYROM, Turkey and others, aswell as adopting conclusions on the EEAS review.

Eurogroup meeting before ECOFIN

Wednesday 18 December

European Commission presents new air quality package

Extraordinary meeting of the Financial and Economic Affairs Council (ECOFIN): the meeting was organised to reach agreement on the single decision-making authority and a single fund for the resolution of failing banks through the single resolution mechanism (SRM) a central pillar of Europe's planned banking union.

Thursday 19 December

European Council: a thematic discussion on the Common Security and Defence Policy; discussion on the completion of Economic and Monetary Union, in particular, further strengthening economic policy co-ordination; the ‘Task Force on the Meditarranean’; and energy issues.

Friday 20 December

European Council: See 19 December

The European Agenda is provided by Orpheus Public Affairs

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