Brussels, 03/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The situation in Greece following the referendum, the vote on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP), and the directive on shareholders' rights and good corporate governance will be the three main items on the agenda of the final plenary session of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg from 6 to 9 July, before the summer recess.
On Tuesday 7 July, Parliament will discuss the conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 June, immigration and the digital single market. European Council Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will both attend the debate. It is, then, on Tuesday that Greece, within the context of the Council conclusions, will dominate proceedings. MEPs are likely, too, to express their disappointment at the European Council conclusions on migration.
Parliament's recommendations to the Commission for the TTIP talks with the United States will be on the July agenda, after the postponement of the debate and vote at the June sitting. On Tuesday, debate will focus on investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), with MEPs divided over whether or not a mechanism for arbitration of disputes between investors and states should be included in the agreement (see EUROPE 11349). The vote will be held on Wednesday. Jaume Duch, one of the Parliament's spokespersons, said on Friday 3 July (our translation): “The international trade committee has confirmed the list of amendments to be put to the plenary. The political groups have tried to find common ground on how to ensure non-discriminatory protection for investors and on the issue of mediation”. “We've managed to come to an agreement”, stated a spokesperson for the S&D Group, referring to the compromise amendment on ISDS (ISDS to be replaced with a new transparent “public” system of investment protection under which private investment will not be able to affect public policy).
On Wednesday morning, MEPs will discuss the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
Shareholders should be able to vote at least every three years on a listed company's remuneration policy for directors under a draft directive to be debated on Tuesday and put to the vote on Wednesday (draft directive which seeks to encourage long-term commitment by shareholders).
Other important items in this plenary session: debate (at 3.00pm on Wednesday) on the recent terrorist attacks in France and Tunisia and on the support to be provided to this latter country. The circular economy (vote on Wednesday) and copyright (right to create and publish photographs of public buildings) will be two other important matters discussed. Parliament President Martin Schulz will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre and pay tribute to the victims at the start of the plenary session on Monday (over 8,000 Bosniaks were murdered on 11 and 12 July 1995). (Lionel Changeur)