Plenary session 13-16 January 2014 (Strasbourg)

Pre-session briefing STRASBOURG: Monday, 13 January - 16h30-17h - LOW N-1/201

Newsletter

Final draft agenda

Highlights 

Greece takes over EU Presidency from Lithuania

Parliament will discuss the programme of the incoming Greek Presidency of the Council with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in the week's key debate, which starts at 9h on 15 January and will be followed by a press conference. In a separate debate, on 14 January, MEPs will review the outgoing Lithuanian Presidency with President Dalia Grybauskaitė.

Freedom of movement for EU citizens

MEPs will debate the fundamental right to freedom of movement in the EU with Commission and Council representatives from 15h on 15 January. The last remaining restrictions on access to the labour markets of some member countries for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens expired on 31 December 2013.

Public services: Better value for money

Rather than just accepting the lowest bid when procuring works, goods or services or concluding concession contracts, public authorities will have more scope to pick the offer they consider most suited to their purpose, thereby ensuring better use of taxpayers' money, under new EU rules on public procurement and concessions to be voted on 15 January.

EU passports for sale?

MEPs will debate the controversial Maltese citizenship scheme with the Commission and Council on Wednesday afternoon and vote a resolution on 16 January. Under the 'individual investor programme', foreigners would be able to buy a Maltese passport subject to certain conditions but without having to be a resident of Malta. Some MEPs are expected to argue that the scheme must be based on investment and residence.

CO2 emissions: Cleaner vans by 2020

The CO2 emissions limit for new light commercial vehicles sold in the EU is to be reduced from 203 g/km today to 147 g/km by 2020, under draft legislation to be voted on 14 January. The text, already informally agreed with EU ministers, also paves the way for achieving further reductions after 2020, and provides for the introduction of a new test protocol.

Serbia, Kosovo and Iceland: Progress reports on EU integration

MEPs will back the launch of accession talks with Serbia and acknowledge Kosovo's success in holding its first ever country-wide local elections last year, in a debate on Wednesday. They await the Icelandic government's decision regarding a referendum on EU accession talks. They will vote on non-binding resolutions on 16 January.

A European strategy for plastic waste

MEPs will call for a European strategy to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment in a resolution to be adopted on 14 January. They want the most dangerous plastics banned by 2020, along with certain additives and certain plastic bags.

Horse-meat scandal showed up weak link in the food chain

Recent cases of food fraud, including the marketing of horse meat as beef, highlight the need for the EU to review the functioning of the food chain, step up controls and update labelling rules, says a non-binding resolution to be passed on 16 January.

Improve social protection for self-employed workers

Adequate social protection must be provided for the growing numbers of self-employed workers in the EU, stress MEPs in a resolution to be voted on 14 January.

Other topics

• MEPs oppose market authorisation for GM maize
• Should GM pollen in honey be labelled?
• Cracking down on criminal exploitation of wild animals and plants
• Parliament to call for EU-wide strategy for the homeless
• Carbon capture and storage projects should be encouraged
• MEPs want tougher labour inspections to crack down on social dumping
• EP to approve smart tachographs in trucks and coaches
• Data protection: what future for Safe Harbour deal after NSA affair?
• Helping EU firms compete for public contracts abroad
• Vote on woman candidate from Germany for ECB board
• Human rights and democracy resolutions

Watch the plenary live via EP Live and EuroparlTV

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