On Thursday 18 June, MEPs meeting in plenary session adopted the creation of three new special committees and a committee of inquiry, all four with a one-year mandate, as well as a standing sub-committee.
The creation of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Subcommittee on Taxation was approved by 613 votes to 67, with 8 abstentions. Composed of 30 members, it will deal with the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion as well as financial transparency for tax purposes (see EUROPE 12504/17).
The European Commission welcomed this decision. “The European Parliament has for many years been an essential partner of the Commission in the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion. I am certain that this new subcommittee will become a key forum to take forward that fight, in the interest of honest citizens and businesses throughout Europe”, said European Taxation Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni in a statement on Friday 19 June.
Three special committees. The European Parliament also approved, on the same day, the creation of special committees on the fight against cancer (651 votes in favour, 28 against and 8 abstentions), on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (548 votes in favour, 83 against and 56 abstentions), and on artificial intelligence and digital transformation (574 votes in favour, 41 against and 72 abstentions).
The setting up of such structures had been the subject of arduous negotiations between the political groups and was finally approved at the Conference of Presidents of the political groups last week (see EUROPE 12504/18).
The special committees were the result of a suggestion by Parliament's secretary-general Klaus Welle and former Parliamentary president Antonio Tajani (EPP), whose political group had campaigned for more action in the fight against cancer.
The exact composition of the members of the Special Committees and the Sub-Committees will be decided at the July plenary session.
A committee of inquiry. On Friday, the European Parliament also approved (653 votes in favour, 53 against, 31 abstentions) the setting up of a committee of inquiry on the transport of live animals to examine “allegations of breaches of the application of Union law”.
The European Parliament hopes to shed light on serious breaches of animal welfare legislation detected during the transport of live animals to third countries and crossing the EU for this purpose. The Commission has been regularly informed of systematic and serious violations committed during the transport of live animals, the Parliament notes (in particular during the road transport of animals from Europe to Turkey).
The Committee of Inquiry, which will have 30 members, will submit its final report within 12 months of the adoption of the decision on its constitution. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana, Sophie Petitjean and Lionel Changeur)