The agenda of the first plenary session after the European Parliament returns to business on Monday 15 January will focus on the future of Europe, the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU, and the outcome of the last European summit.
Several debates are scheduled for Tuesday morning with European Council President Donald Tusk and Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, then with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boïko Borissov.
In particular, Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will speak on the future of Europe on Wednesday morning. The debate will inevitably cover Brexit negotiations and Ireland’s specific situation in this respect.
The GUE/NGL Group hopes to take advantage of the debate on the future of EU – the first debate in a series of discussions by European leaders – to tackle the Irish situation and, in particular, the question of the Northern Ireland peace process.
Russia. Another topical issue to be debated is Russia and the way Russian propaganda is influencing member states. This debate was chosen by the EPP Group which hopes, especially, to look at Russian influence through disinformation and Russia’s role in the elections in certain EU countries.
When it comes to voting, MEPs will notably take position on the control of EU exports, especially cyber-surveillance tools for civil and military purposes that can be used by dictatorial states, such as devices allowing the interception of mobile phones, computer hacking, bypassing of passwords, or the identification of internet users (see EUROPE 11937). There will be a vote on Wednesday.
In the area of foreign affairs, there will be discussion on EU support for the peace process in Colombia and the situation in Zimbabwe.
Electric fishing. Another sensitive and highly controversial issue is electro-fishing. On Tuesday, the Parliament will take a stance on common European rules concerning the way, the place and the time when a person may fish in the EU, Parliament explains in a press release (see EUROPE 11934).
The new legislation is expected to provide common measures on fishing gear and methods as well as on authorised species in all EU waters. Above all, the main issue at stake with the vote is to restrict the use of methods described as innovative and consisting of “electric pulse fishing” to bring the fish up from the ocean depths towards fishing nets.
NGOs consider this method to be truly detrimental to marine ecosystems. A number of scientific studies take the same view, as do fishing representatives from certain member states such as France. The European Commission does not accept this argument.
Other issues will be tackled during the plenary session, including the Commission’s proposal to set in place a tax on the use of plastic bags. European Parliament political groups are divided between the environmental usefulness and relevance for European budgetary resources and the fear that European citizens will consider the measure yet one more tax burden imposed by Brussels.
MEPs will also be invited to confirm the political agreements reached in the relevant parliamentary committee on review of European rules on renewable energies and energy efficiency (see EUROPE 11914), as well as on the governance of the Energy Union (see EUROPE 11921).
Finally, on Thursday, MEPs will discuss implementation of the youth employment initiative (see EUROPE 11919) and the directive on recognition of professional qualifications. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)