EU

In Parliament this week: #Terrorism, #FutureofEurope, anti-money laundering

Published

10 years ago

December 5, 2016

With committees meeting and the final plenary session of the year to prepare for, members have a busy week in store for them in Brussels. Members vote on proposals to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, to help member states better fight terrorism, and to make the EU more democratic and transparent. The political groups also prepare for next week’s sitting in Strasbourg, where the 2016 Sakharov Prize will be awarded to Yazidi survivors and advocates Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar.

On Monday (5 December), the civil liberties committee votes on a draft EU counter-terrorism directive. Under the directive travelling abroad for terrorist purposes, training, inciting terrorism or financing terrorist activities would all be made criminal offences.

Also on Monday, the transport committee votes on rules to open up the EU market for domestic passenger rail transport and to ensure equal conditions for railway companies. A press seminar on this subject with key MEPs and experts takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The foreign affairs and development committees meet on Monday with representatives of the Syrian Civil Defence. Better known as the White Helmets, they are a volunteer team of first responders in Syria.

Proposals to improve the democratic accountability and transparency of the EU institutions are to be put to a vote in the constitutional affairs committee on Thursday. Among the proposals are direct elections for the Commission president, the introduction of European party lists, and strengthening EU defence policy and economic governance.

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