The European Parliament mini-plenary on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 April will be characterised by possibly more heated debates on the situation in Hungary, Greece and Turkey than by votes on ambitious legislative texts. Reactions to the results from the first round of the French presidential election are also expected.
In response to the European Parliament proposal, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, will defend the controversial policies of his government, as well as certain measures deemed inappropriate with European values, such as the law on foreign universities and referenda on ways of “Stopping Brussels”. Other Hungarian decisions infringing European law, such as the refusal by Budapest to relocate refugees that are already in Greece or Italy, will also be discussed.
At this stage, the European Commission is refusing to consider Mr Orbán’s policy as a systemic risk to respect for the rule of law in the European Union (see EUROPE 11767). The Commission Vice President, Frans Timmermans, is expected to repeat his view to the European Parliament that the Commission would prefer to continue with political dialogue.
The real explanations are expected to be provided on Saturday 29 April when the Christian Democrat political camp, to which Mr Orbán Fidesz party belongs, will meet up to discuss the Hungarian situation ahead of EU27 summit that will be focusing on the Brexit negotiations.
Turkey. In light of the Turkish referendum obtained by a small majority in support of increasing the powers of President Erdogan, the main groups of the European Parliament are expected to repeat their call to freeze EU accession negotiations with Turkey (see EUROPE 11769).
Greece. Returning from the Spring IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington, the President of Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, will keep his promise to provide an update at the plenary on the continuing negotiations involving the second follow-up mission to the third Greek recovery plan (See other article). He is also expected to be quizzed by MEPs about his statements caricaturing southern countries in the Eurozone (see EUROPE 11764).
It should be pointed out that MEPs will also debate the European Commission proposals that will be unveiled that day for introducing a European pillar of social rights and to help better reconcile private and professional life (see EUROPE 11762).
At a legislative level, the European Parliament will provide the Commission with a discharge for implementing the 2015 budget (see EUROPE 11771). It will also adopt several reports on: cooperation between Denmark and Europol (see EUROPE 11766); - the Minamata Convention on mercury (see EUROPE 11751); - hybrid provisions involving third countries (see EUROPE 11730); - the European Year of Cultural Heritage (see EUROPE 11722); - fishing fleet management in the outermost regions; - the Union flagship initiative for the clothing sector adopted after the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh (see EUROPE 11750).
Finally, MEPs will be given a chance to respond to the political crisis in Venezuela, where demonstrations by opposition supporters have resulted in several deaths over recent days. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)