The work of the MEPs, meeting in the plenary session of the European Parliament from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 March, will focus in particular on the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union (Brexit), the social and market aspects of the first mobility package, the time change, copyright and collective redress.
Brexit. A debate is scheduled for Wednesday morning, 27 March, on the conclusions of the meeting of the European Council of 21 and 22 March (see EUROPE 12219/1, 12220/1). Brexit will then be on everyone's lips during a week that is crucial for the British.
On Thursday 21 March, the leaders of the Twenty-Seven decided to give the United Kingdom two options. Either the House of Commons votes next week in favour of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by British Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU, in which case the Brexit will be effective on 22 May, or Westminster votes against the agreement and in this case London will have to vote in favour of a long extension before 12 April, which must be accompanied by a viable plan to be accepted, or for leaving the EU without agreement.
Perhaps Mrs May will have already voted on the agreement before this debate between parliamentarians on Wednesday morning. British media reported on Friday a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday 26 or Wednesday 27 March.
Copyright. The vote on Tuesday 26 March on the Interinstitutional Agreement on Copyright Reform in the EU is particularly expected. This agreement was reached on 13 February last (see EUROPE 12193/18) and must receive the green light from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before it can enter into force.
As with the negotiations in recent months, there is some uncertainty about whether or not this agreement will be validated by MEPs (see EUROPE 12219/13), despite the positive voting instructions given to the EPP, S&D and ALDE. In addition, several pressure groups are conducting a lobbying campaign around this vote (see EUROPE 12216/10).
Mobility package I. Another of the key points of this Parliament plenary session will be the social and market aspects of the first mobility package (posting of drivers, driving time and rest periods, tachograph, cabotage and market access).
A debate is scheduled for Wednesday morning following the debate on the European Council conclusions, with a vote on these various issues. It was the meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Political Groups on Thursday 21 March that decided to put this issue back on the plenary agenda, almost two years after the publication of the Commission's proposals (see EUROPE 12219/11). The outcome of the votes is extremely uncertain and MEPs will have to vote on a request submitted by a number of MEPs on Monday 25 March not to vote on the texts.
Violeta Bulc, the Commissioner responsible for transport policy, would like if MEPs indicate their position on the matter, to initiate, or even conclude, interinstitutional negotiations ('trilogues') (see EUROPE 12218/17). The EU Council reached agreement on these issues last December (see EUROPE 12152/10).
Combined transport. Very closely linked to these social and road transport market issues, the dossier on combined transport, which is an integral part of the second mobility package, will also be put to the vote on Wednesday 27 March to conclude Parliament's first reading.
Following the definition of the respective negotiating positions by Parliament and the EU Council last year (see EUROPE 12059/10, 12152/10), the trilogues between the institutions (see EUROPE 12170/9, 12179/13) had started this year.
However, in the absence of agreement between the ambassadors of the Member States ('Coreper') on the negotiating mandate, in particular concerning exemptions from cabotage in international combined transport, the trilogues were interrupted (see EUROPE 12211/12). MEPs will therefore vote on this text at first reading.
CO2 from cars and vans. Under the 'climate' and 'transport' headings, Parliament will vote to confirm the Interinstitutional Agreement reached in December on the proposal for a regulation setting performance standards for the reduction of CO2 emissions from the European fleet of new cars and vans after 2021 (see EUROPE 12178/28).
Time change. MEPs will also vote at first reading on the end of the time change in the European Union.
Following the European Commission's proposal last September, which called for ending in 2019 the twice a year time change (see EUROPE 12094/10), Parliament's Transport Committee voted in early March to end it in 2021 (see EUROPE 12206/7).
On the EU Council side, Transport Ministers only validated a simple progress report last December (see EUROPE 12151/6).
Collective redress. Parliament will complete its first reading on the proposal to create a collective redress mechanism in the EU for European consumers deliberately harmed by unfair and illegal practices of the same company, in order to obtain compensation for the damage suffered. This vote will follow the vote in the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee of 6 December (see EUROPE 12154/4). The EU Council has not yet decided on its position.
Contract law. The interinstitutional agreements on contract law with regard to digital content (see EUROPE 12178/6) and the sale of goods (see EUROPE 12182/2) should be approved without difficulty by Parliament on Tuesday, given the massive support received in the parliamentary committee (see EUROPE 12199/31).
Cohesion. Three key cohesion policy texts - the Regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, the Interreg Regulation and the Framework Regulation laying down common provisions between the Structural and Investment Funds - will be adopted at first reading. The latter text was the subject of trilogues that ended in failure (see EUROPE 12210/6), with Member States not wishing to continue negotiations until they had visibility on the global agreement (see EUROPE 12212/15).
Clean Energy Package. MEPs are also expected to approve on Tuesday the Interinstitutional Agreements on four texts relating to the electricity market as part of the clean energy package.
These texts relate to the internal electricity market (see EUROPE 12163/5), risk preparedness in the electricity sector (see EUROPE 12144/2) and the updating of the statutes of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (see EUROPE 12158/27).
Plastics. Parliament will vote to confirm the Interinstitutional Agreement reached in December on the proposal for a directive that will ban around 10 single-use plastic products most commonly found on beaches (see EUROPE 12178/30). It will restrict the use of certain disposable plastics and increase recycling targets to combat ocean pollution and support the EU's transition to a circular economy.
Drinking water. Parliament will conclude its first reading on the proposal to recast the Drinking Water Directive, in order to consolidate its position (see EUROPE 12123/3), as the EU Council adopted its position too late for an Interinstitutional Agreement to be negotiated during this parliamentary term (see EUROPE 12208/9).
Algeria, Crimea, Venezuela. On the foreign affairs side, two debates on the situation in Algeria and Crimea will take place on Tuesday. The discussion on Algeria will take place in a very particular context, as thousands of demonstrators have been calling for the departure of the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika (see EUROPE 12213/30), for several weeks.
The Crimea issue, annexed five years ago by Russia, is at the heart of geopolitical tensions between the EU and Moscow (see other news).
After a debate on Tuesday, a vote on a resolution on Venezuela will take place on Thursday. While the humanitarian and political situation is still worrying, this will be the second resolution in a few weeks, after the one of 31 January recognising Juan Guaidó as acting legitimate president (see EUROPE 12184/9).
Enlargement. MEPs are expected to adopt their negotiating position on Wednesday on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) for the period 2021-2027, following the vote in the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (see EUROPE 12187/12). The EU Council reached a partial political agreement on 19 March (see EUROPE 12217/15).
Neighbourhood policy. Parliament will vote on the regulation on the single instrument 'Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)' proposed in the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12207/19, 12041/1).
Financial and tax crimes. Parliament will also vote on a roadmap on Tuesday on tax reorganisation and the fight against financial crime. This own-initiative report is the result of work carried out by MEPs of the special parliamentary committee 'TAX 3', set up to improve the EU's tax framework, which advocates in particular the creation of a European financial police force (see EUROPE 12203/5, 12202/16).
Protection of workers against carcinogens. The parliamentarians will also validate the Interinstitutional Agreement on the third revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, which was adopted on 29 January (see EUROPE 12182/27).
Sustainable finance. MEPs will adopt their position at first reading on sustainable financial investments taxonomy. This vote will follow the adoption of the draft report co-written by Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) and Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) on 11 March (see EUROPE 12212/9). The EU Council still has not defined its position on this matter.
Erasmus+ 2021-2027. Parliament will also validate its position at first reading on the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 budget, following the vote in the Culture and Education Committee on 20 February (see EUROPE 12198/27).
Budget discharges in 2017. MEPs must finally approve the discharge for the EU budget in 2017 for the institutions, agencies, joint undertakings and the European Development Fund. 53 reports are concerned. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau with editorial staff)