Covid-19 obliges, Brussels will host, from Monday 14 to Thursday 17 September, a new plenary session of the European Parliament – the eighth to be held in the Belgian capital since the start of the pandemic (see EUROPE 12556/11).
On Wednesday 16 September, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will deliver her first State of the Union address in which she will set the course for the European institution’s action in the short and medium term.
In particular, she is expected to propose that the European Union set itself the objective of reducing its CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The pro-European political forces in the European Parliament also expect a strong message from her on respect for the rule of law in the Member States, particularly in relation to the EU budget, European migration policy and the affirmation of EU sovereignty in the light of the experience gained during the pandemic.
Own resources. MEPs will be asked to adopt, on Wednesday 16 September, the draft opinion on the Own Resources Decision of the EU budget prepared by its competent committee (see EUROPE 12551/10).
This step, once completed, will launch the procedure enabling the Commission to raise €750 billion on the markets to finance the European Recovery Plan. The Council of the EU will also be able to adopt this decision quickly and launch the ratification process in the EU27, so that the Recovery Plan can be implemented as soon as possible.
In parallel, the EU Council and Parliament are negotiating to finalise the details of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Recovery Plan (see other news).
The agenda of the plenary session includes two other dossiers related to the ongoing negotiations on the MFF.
RescEU. Firstly, the Commission’s proposal to strengthen the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism RescEU will be debated on Monday and put to the vote on Wednesday. This text, to be agreed in the framework of the negotiations on the 2021-2027 EU budget, is expected to receive broad support (see EUROPE 12552/16).
Just Transition Fund. Parliament will also adopt its position on the creation of the Just Transition Fund (see EUROPE 12533/3). The final vote will take place on Wednesday, and the results will be announced on Thursday. The Greens/EFA group has indicated that it supports the text but remains opposed to the introduction of gas subsidies.
Covid-19. On Tuesday, MEPs, the EU Council and the Commission will debate the lack of coordination on health assessments related to Covid-19 (see EUROPE 12553/1) and its consequences for the Schengen area of free movement of persons. In a resolution to be put to the vote on Thursday, MEPs are expected to call for a joint European approach and the establishment of a clear framework.
Two other resolutions will be voted on the same day. One will focus on the reconstruction of the European cultural sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
The other will set out measures to prevent future shortages of medicines, 40% of which in the EU come from non-Member States. In particular, MEPs could call on the Commission to create a European Strategic Medicines Reserve, along the lines of the RescEU mechanism.
Migration. On Thursday, MEPs will call on the EU Council and Commission to provide an urgent response to the humanitarian crisis in Lesbos (see other news). The situation on the Greek island has worsened considerably since the fire in the Moria refugee camp.
Rule of law. The plenary will debate on Monday and then vote on Thursday on a draft interim report on the so-called ‘Article 7’ procedure of the Treaty, which refers to “overwhelming evidence” of violations of the rule of law in Poland (see EUROPE 12529/13).
The situation of LGBTI people in the country and the willingness of the Polish government to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention (see EUROPE 12536/7) is of particular concern to MEPs.
Environment. On Wednesday, the plenary will also vote on revised rules to ensure that cars will meet EU NOx emission limits under real driving conditions from September 2022 (see EUROPE 12527/1).
In addition, a debate followed by a vote is scheduled for Monday and Wednesday on reducing carbon emissions from the maritime industry (see EUROPE 12556/14).
Foreign affairs. Tuesday morning will be devoted to Foreign Affairs. MEPs will first discuss tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell ahead of the European Council meeting on 24-25 September.
They will also discuss the situation in Belarus and may call for dialogue and action against those responsible for electoral fraud and repression (see EUROPE 12553/18).
In addition, MEPs will debate the poisoning of Russian political opponent Alexei Navalny (see EUROPE 12553/17) and vote on Thursday on a resolution on this subject, another on the Eastern Mediterranean and one on Belarus.
Finally, the situation in Lebanon will be discussed. Beyond the emergency aid needed for Beirut, the complicated political, social and economic situation in the country could be addressed.
Chunnel. A vote on the post-Brexit operation of the rail link between France and the United Kingdom (see EUROPE 12549/9) is expected to be added to the agenda by Monday, according to information obtained by EUROPE.
As the EU Council has adopted its position on the dossier (see EUROPE 12556/17), the coordinators of the political groups in Parliament have agreed that the draft regulation on railway safety and the proposal for a decision authorising France to negotiate should be submitted directly to the plenary for approval without going through the Parliament Transport Committee. This decision will enable French authorities to begin discussions with their British counterparts as soon as possible.
Brexit. As for Brexit, on Friday 11 September the chairmen of the political groups expressed their serious concerns about, among other things, the UK’s draft law on the internal market (see other news and EUROPE 12557/17). They hope to meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.
See the plenary agenda: https://bit.ly/3mapiL6 (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki with Mathieu Bion, Lionel Changeur and Camille-Cerise Gessant)