At the last plenary session of 2017, from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 December, MEPs will discuss the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, a subject central to discussions before the European Council on the 14 and 15 December.
This debate will take place on Wednesday morning and will be attended by European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Chief EU Negotiator on Brexit Michel Barnier.
On Friday 8 December, the Commission and the UK government reached agreements on the priority issues (citizens’ rights, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the financial settlement) that were pre-conditions for opening negotiations on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU 27 (see other article).
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani spoke to UK Prime Minister Theresa May on this subject by telephone on Friday. On Thursday 14 December he will set out the European Parliament’s position on the initial phase of negotiations for heads of state and/or government. The main political groups have taken note of the agreement that remain circumspect about the discussions to come.
Panama Papers. MEPs will also vote on the own initiative report by the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into the Panama Papers, the mandate of which is coming to an end. This vote, on Wednesday 13 December, will be preceded the previous day by a debate and a round table discussion at which investigative journalists will be invited to share their observations. The recommendations could be watered down on some points in view of the several amendments put down by the EPP Group which relates to the issues seen by the MEPs of the Greens/EFA Group as being key (see EUROPE 11921).
Sakharov Prize. Representatives of the Venezuelan opposition will be presented with the Sakharov prize on Tuesday 12 December. At the end of October, MEPs awarded this prize to the whole of the political opposition to the Maduro regime (see EUROPE 11892). The choice has been met with cries of protest, particularly from certain members of the GUE/NGL Group who could boycott the ceremony. The group’s position is not, however, universal.
MEPs will also vote on the draft regulation that seeks to extend the derogation to the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) for long-haul carriers until December 2013. Inter-institutional agreement on this text was reached on 18 October (see EUROPE 11887).
On Tuesday, Parliament will vote on extending the Juncker investment plan until 2020, following a debate in the morning. Inter-institutional agreement on this issue was reached at the end of October (see EUROPE 11895).
A vote will be held on a possible Parliament veto on the authorisation of phosphate additives in kebab meat while awaiting a safety review. MEPs on the environment committee support such a move (see EUROPE 11914).
Composition of European Parliament. On the sidelines of the plenary session, meetings of Parliamentary committees will take place. The institutional affairs committee will vote on Thursday 14 December on the draft report on the composition of the European Parliament after 2019. This vote was due to be held on 28 November but was postponed (see EUROPE 11882). This contentious issue should afford Parliament a clearer view on reducing the number of seats following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. A final formal decision, however, will require amendment of the text on revision of EU electoral law.
A joint declaration by the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council should make it possible to identify the major political priorities of the EU institutions in the 2018-2019 period. Maria João Rodrigues (Portugal), for the S&D Group, believes that the priorities listed are short on ambition, notably on fiscal harmonisation, social Europe, eurozone reform and the post-2020 budget.
Jerusalem. In foreign affairs, the status of the city of Jerusalem, recognised as the capital of the state of Israel by United States President Donald Trump, will also be debated in the light of developments in the situation on the ground. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will attended this debate (see EUROPE 11921).
MEPs will also discuss the Iranian nuclear agreement. Despite President Trump’s desire to call this agreement into question, the EU seems determined to keep it in place (see EUROPE 11919).
Discussion will also take place on matters of importance, such as the expulsion of the Rohingya from Myanmar on which there will be a vote, the role of the EU with regard to refugees in Libya and the political situation in Afghanistan.
Lastly, Parliament will vote on Wednesday on resolutions on the major challenges threatening the security of the EU, following a debate on foreign and defence policy. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)