Plenary session 24-27 February 2014 (Strasbourg)

Final Agenda

Highlights include: CO2 emissions: cleaner cars by 2020. The CO2 emission limit for new cars sold in the EU is to be reduced from 130 g/km in 2015 to 95 g/km by 2020, under draft legislation to be voted on Tuesday (25 February). 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 emissions test protocol that better reflects real-world driving conditions.

Confiscating crooks' assets

EU-wide rules to make it easier for member states to trace, freeze, manage and confiscate crooks’ assets will be put to a vote on 25 February. Today, less than 1% of the proceeds of crimes such as drug trafficking, counterfeiting, human trafficking and small arms smuggling are frozen and confiscated.

Aid to the EU’s most deprived citizens for 2014-2020

EU aid to the most deprived citizens will be prolonged until 2020 and maintained at €3.5 billion thanks to Parliament. The informal deal with the Council of Ministers, to be endorsed in a vote on Tuesday, ensures that the Fund is immediately fully operational, covering bills as from 1 January 2014.

Vote on life-saving emergency call system for cars

Emergency call devices that automatically alert rescue services to car crashes would have to be fitted to all new models of cars and light vans by October 2015 under draft rules to be voted on Wednesday. “eCall” technology would use the 112 emergency number to enable rescuers to reach crash scenes faster, thus saving lives and reducing injuries.

Tobacco directive set for final vote in Parliament

Legislation to make tobacco products less attractive to young people will be put to a vote on Wednesday (26 February). Already informally agreed with EU ministers, it would require all packs to carry a health warning covering 65% of their surface. E-cigarettes would be regulated, either as medicinal products, if they are presented as having curative or preventive properties, or as tobacco products.

Insurance: MEPs to call for honest advice and an end to small print

New rules on how insurance brokers and salesmen should advise clients will be debated on Tuesday and voted on Wednesday. By updating an existing EU directive, MEPs aim to put an end to unfair or misleading information, including small print and marketing communication, and further harmonise rules on how insurance is sold in Europe.

EU-Swiss relations under fire

The issue of how Switzerland’s 9 February referendum vote to curb immigration from EU countries will affect its relations with the EU will be debated by political group leaders on Wednesday morning. The majority in favour was 50.3%.

EU action to halt escalation of violence in Ukraine

Possible EU sanctions and further diplomatic efforts to stop violent clashes in Ukraine will be debated on Wednesday afternoon. MEPs will vote a resolution on Thursday (27 February).

Formal sitting with Czech President Miloš Zeman

President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman will deliver a formal address on Wednesday at noon. Zeman, who was prime minister from 1998 to 2002, became the country’s first directly elected president in March 2013.

Other topics

• Making the EU more attractive to foreign students and researchers
• Vote on visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens
• Rail reform: MEPs want to lift market entry barriers to boost passenger services
• Progress of “Youth Guarantee” schemes to get young people into jobs
• Vote on EU-Turkey deal to return clandestine migrants
• Iraq: MEPs to discuss outbreak of violence in Anbar province
• Making cross-border crime investigations easier
• Overhauling European Arrest Warrant rules
• Making online public services accessible to everyone
• Indonesia: MEPs to back deal to combat rainforest destruction
• Economic coordination must deliver more on jobs and growth
• Tackling human rights flaws in the European Union
• Punish the client, not the prostitute
• Balancing private copying levies and artists' income
• Visa-free travel for 16 ACP countries, UAE, Colombia and Peru

Watch the plenary live via EP Live and EuroparlTV. European Parliament Press Service website. European Parliament Audiovisual Services for Media

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