Plenary opening: 30 years since Spain and Portugal signed EU accession treaties

It will be 30 years this Friday (12 June) since Spain and Portugal signed their EU accession treaties and so rejoined the EU family of democratic nations, noted President Schulz in his opening remarks. Not all the hopes of this historic moment were met, but both countries won their struggle against regressive forces and achieved stability. The EU promises of strength through democracy, and welfare for the many, not just wealth for the few, are still there, he added.

Schulz said he believed that despite their political differences, all MEPs share a determination to harness the EU’s political and economic strength, and the promise of its single market, to deliver prosperity and above all, jobs for young people.
Agenda changes

Tuesday

The debate and vote on the report on long-term shareholder engagement and corporate governance (Sergio Cofferati, S&D, IT) was postponed to July. The Tuesday morning time slot will by used for the debate on the state of EU-Russia relations (Rapporteur Gabrielius Landsbergis, EPP, LT).

Wednesday

The debate on negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), (rapporteur Bernd Lange S&D, DE) will begin at 8h.

Outgoing MEP

Schulz congratulated Andrzej DUDA (ECR, PL) on winning Poland’s presidential election, and noted that his European Parliament seat was vacant as of 26 May.