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European Parliament plenary session: 3-6 February 2014 (Strasbourg)

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20120119_general_view_hemicycle_031Newsletter
Final Agenda

Highlights include:

Ailing banks: Parliament will be asked to back ambitious approach
In the light of the difficult negotiations under way with member countries on the single mechansim to wind up ailing banks, the full Parliament will be asked for its formal endorsement of the position of its negotiators, adopted by the economic and monetary affairs committee in December. A debate will be held on Tuesday and the vote on Thursday.

MEPs to vote to ease air travel for passengers
MEPs will fine-tune a draft law which to make it easier for air passengers to get compensation for long delays and damaged or lost baggage in a vote on 5 February. The revised rules would also govern information and assistance duties, rerouting, and reimbursement.

Financial market fraud: Offenders could face at least four years in jail
Judges imposing their countries’ maximum penalties for serious offences such as insider dealing would have to stipulate at least four years in jail under draft rules to be put to a vote on Tuesday. These rules, already informally agreed with member state negotiators, aim to restore confidence in the EU's financial markets and improve investor protection.

EU-Russia relations in the spotlight ahead of Sochi Olympics
MEPs will debate last Tuesday's EU-Russia summit on Wednesday with the Council and Commission. The summit, held in Brussels, and bringing together Presidents Herman Van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso and Vladimir Putin, addressed key security and foreign affairs challenges, in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics, including tensions in the EU's and Russia's shared neighbourhood, Syria, Iran and trade-related issues.

Syria and Egypt: MEPs to call on EU to do more
The continuing plight of civilians in Syria, despite the start of the Geneva II peace talks; and the forthcoming presidential elections in Egypt and trial of the ousted Egyptian president Morsi will be in the spotlight during Wednesday's foreign affairs debate. MEPs are expected to call on the EU to step up its engagement.

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Vote on licensing EU-wide online music services
Online service providers wanting to offer new cross-border or EU-wide online music services would find it easier to get licences under a draft law to be voted on Tuesday. The law, already informally agreed with the Council, should also ensure that artists’ rights are better protected and their royalties paid promptly.

Formal sitting with Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic and former chair of the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs, will deliver a formal address to members on 4 February at noon. He last visited the European Parliament in February 2007. Italy will hold the EU’s rotating Presidency from July.

Better social rights and working conditions for seasonal workers in the EU
Non-EU seasonal workers will benefit from better working and living conditions, including proper accommodation, under a draft law to be voted by the full Parliament on Wednesday. The new rules, already agreed by EP and Council negotiators, aim both to end exploitation and to prevent temporary stays becoming permanent. The European Commission estimates that more than 100,000 third-country seasonal workers come to the EU every year.

Sharpening EU trade defence tools
Plans to sharpen EU trade defence tools against dumped or subsidized imports will be put to a vote on Wednesday. They will make it easier for small EU firms to build a case halting unfair competition from third countries and reduce anti-dumping investigation times to enable the EU to respond faster.

MEPs want binding climate targets of 40% CO2 cuts and 30% renewables by 2030
MEPs call in a non-binding resolution, tabled jointly by the environment and energy committees and to be voted on Wednesday, for a 40% cut in CO2 emissions, a 30% target for renewable energy and a 40% target for energy efficiency by 2030. These targets should be binding, they will say, in contrast to the lower targets proposed by the European Commission on the 22 January.

Proposals to ease formalities for people moving to a different EU country
MEPS vote on Tuesday on proposals designed to save time and money for people moving to a different EU country. The new rules would simplify procedures for proving the authenticity of certain public legal documents such as birth or marriage certificates. Standard multilingual forms would also be offered as an alternative to national forms, in order to cut translation costs.

Other topics include
·         Steel industry: MEPS to call for anti-crisis measures
·         Parliament to press for progress on financial transaction tax
·         Online shopping: MEPS to call for more reliable parcel delivery in the EU
·         Fundamental rights of LGBTI people in the EU
·         FYRoM, Montegnegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina: MEPS assess progress in 2013
·         Syrian refugees in Bulgaria
·         MEPs debate deaths of refugees during alleged 'push backs' off Greek coast
·         MEPs say rules on labelling country of origin of meat could confuse consumers
·         Vote on Klaus-Heiner Lehne's European Court of Auditor's nomination
·         EU help to kick-start Greenland's diamond industry

Watch the plenary live via EP Live and EuroparlTV

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