MEPs meeting in plenary session will work from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 October on the ban on disposable plastics, improving tap water quality, the Facebook/CambridgeAnalytica scandal and the conclusions of the European Council of 17 and 18 October.
Ban on disposable plastics. MEPs will vote on Wednesday 24 October on the proposal for a directive to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic products in the EU, on which Parliament’s ‘environment’ committee voted on Wednesday 10 October (see EUROPE 12114).
This includes prohibiting cutlery, straws, cotton swabs, plates, ultra-light plastic bags (other than food film) or oxo-degradable plastics.
As a reminder, the EU Council has not yet established its negotiating position, but a political agreement in principle ('general approach') could be reached in November (see other news).
Tap water. MEPs will vote on the proposal to update the Drinking Water Directive on Tuesday 23 October, following the vote of Parliament’s ‘environment’ committee on 10 September on improving tap water quality (see EUROPE 12093).
According to the latter vote, the maximum doses of lead should be reduced by half, and those of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) should also be reduced. Member States should also encourage the provision of tap water in restaurants.
In the Council, the Member States have not yet reached agreement, with negotiations continuing under the Austrian Presidency (see EUROPE 12060, 12048).
Motorway charges. The report on the revision of the ‘Eurovignette’ Directive (1999/62/EC) will also be approved at first reading by MEPs on Wednesday 24 October, following the vote of Parliament's ‘transport’ committee last May (see EUROPE 12026).
Discussions are at a standstill in the Council, with Member States currently focusing on the social and market aspects of the first ‘mobility’ package (see other news).
Budget 2019. On Wednesday 24 October, MEPs will also validate their negotiating position on the EU's draft budget for 2019, following the vote in the ‘budget’ committee on Tuesday 16 October (see EUROPE 12114).
The conciliation procedure on this matter can then begin with the Council, which formally adopted its position on 4 September (see EUROPE 12088).
Facebook/Cambridge Analytica. Seven months after the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal (see EUROPE 11984) broke, MEPs will vote on a resolution on Thursday 25 October on data protection on social networking platforms. They will be based on the text adopted by the ‘civil liberties’ committee on 10 October (see EUROPE 12114).
The draft resolution calls, among other things, for a full and independent audit of how Facebook protects the personal data of its users by the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
A debate with Vĕra Jourová, the Commissioner for Justice, will precede the vote on Tuesday and the political groups have until Monday 22 October to table their amendments.
European Council conclusions. A debate will also be held with Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, on Wednesday 24 October, on the meeting of Heads of State or Government on 17 and 18 October (see EUROPE 12120, 12119). The Brexit issue will be on everyone's lips, while negotiations are still delicate, particularly on the solution to avoid the return of a physical border to Ireland.
Debate with the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis. In the thematic series of debates with European leaders, Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania, will be the eleventh to present his vision on the future of the European Union on Tuesday 23 October. He should be asked about the holding of the controversial referendum on the family on 7 October.
Jamal Kashoggi. A resolution, following a debate two days earlier, will be voted on Thursday 25 October on the disappearance and alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi. The latter had last been seen on October 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul (see EUROPE 12116). The Saudi authorities are suspected of having tortured and murdered him in the diplomatic building.
Schengen Information System. On Wednesday 24 October, MEPs will also approve the results of the inter-institutional negotiations ('trilogues') of 12 June on the reform of the Schengen Information System (SIS) (see EUROPE 12039). This includes strengthening controls at the EU's external borders. Additional resources will be provided to the relevant authorities.
Antibiotics in livestock farming. The results of the trilogues between Parliament and the June Council on the Regulation on veterinary medicinal products (see EUROPE 12035) will also be endorsed on Thursday 25 October. The main objective of this new legislation is to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.
COP 24. Parliament will decide on the position to be defended by the EU at COP 24 in Katowice (2-14 December), on the basis of the very ambitious position adopted by the ‘environment’ committee.
It invites all parties - including the EU - to update their nationally determined contribution (NDC) by 2020 to close the gap between commitments and what is required to meet 2° and move towards 1.5°, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, and in particular wishes the EU to raise its 2030 target to 55% (see EUROPE 12115). The European Council has just taken a decision (see EUROPE 12120).
Neo-fascist violence. MEPs will finally vote on a resolution on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe. This follows a debate that took place on 2 October in Parliament’s plenary session (see EUROPE 12109). Five different draft resolutions have been put on the table, with the S&D, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups being similar. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)