The consequences of the Russian-led war in Ukraine will dominate the agenda of the European Parliament’s plenary session from 7 to 10 March in Strasbourg. MEPs will also debate foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU and the European response to rising energy prices.
After the adoption of a resolution on 1 March calling for tougher sanctions against Russia and further efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate status, MEPs will have two debates on the effects of the war.
Ukrainian refugees. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss with the EU Council and European Commission the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how to deal with the growing number of Ukrainians fleeing the war, with more than a million people already having arrived in neighbouring countries. On Thursday 3 March, EU interior ministers adopted the activation of the 2001 directive on immediate temporary protection for Ukrainians and their families and third-country nationals with a residence permit in Ukraine or with international protection (see EUROPE 12903/1). NGOs welcomed the decision, with Oxfam referring to it as a “turning point” for the EU, although they called for care to be taken not to discriminate against anyone.
The ramping up of the EU’s humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians and neighbouring countries facing a massive influx of refugees will also be discussed (see EUROPE 12902/5, 12901/6 and other news).
On Wednesday morning, MEPs will debate with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas the role of the EU in a changing world and the security situation in Europe following the Russian aggression and invasion of Ukraine.
MEPs adopted a resolution on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at an extraordinary plenary session on Tuesday 1 March (see EUROPE 12901/2).
The S&D group on Friday welcomed the rapid activation of the text on immediate temporary protection. It called for an international investigation into war crimes and for the Russian President to be brought before the International Criminal Court.
For the Renew Europe group, the strongest economic sanctions against the Russian economy and support measures for the Ukrainian people should be supported.
The Left group regretted on Friday that “not all third country nationals are automatically covered” by the directive on immediate temporary protection and condemned any form of racism at the borders against people fleeing this war.
The Parliament will discuss the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday (see EUROPE 12896/8). The EU is concerned about the destabilisation of the country, both because of Republika Srpska’s separatist ambitions and because of possible Russian destabilisation activities (see EUROPE 12900/16).
MEPs will debate foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU on Tuesday morning. They are expected to vote on Wednesday on the report by Sandra Kalniete (EPP, Latvia), which calls on the EU to take action against interference and disinformation, and concludes the work of the special committee on this subject (INGE) (see EUROPE 12879/14). The Parliament will vote on Wednesday, with the result announced on Thursday, on the creation of a special committee on foreign interference in all EU democratic processes, including disinformation (INGE 2), which will replace the existing committee and follow up on the recommendations contained in Ms Kalniete’s report.
Rising energy prices. As the European Commission plans to present energy guidelines next week in light of the invasion, MEPs will debate with the European Commission strategies to curb rising energy prices and gas market manipulation on Tuesday evening.
Already particularly high in recent months, mainly due to the high demand for gas as a result of the economic recovery, energy prices in Europe are soaring again as a result of the war in Ukraine (see EUROPE 12903/4).
In addition, on Wednesday, MEPs will vote on a motion for a resolution, on the initiative of Marie Toussaint (Greens/EFA, France), to reject the delegated act establishing the fifth list of priority cross-border energy infrastructure projects in the EU, known as ‘projects of common interest’ (PCIs) (see EUROPE 12883/31).
‘Pegasus’. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote to confirm the decision to launch a board of enquiry into the use in the EU of the Israeli spyware Pegasus, used in Hungary and Poland, among other countries (see EUROPE 12891/14). The results will be known on Thursday morning. The Conference of Presidents of the Parliament’s political groups adopted on 3 March the mandate to set up this board of enquiry to investigate the misuse of Pegasus spyware by EU governments.
Golden passports. On Monday 7 March, MEPs will debate ‘golden passports’ on the basis of the own-initiative report by Sophie In 't Veld (Renew Europe, Netherlands). The text calls for the gradual abolition of these passports, which allow third-country citizens to be granted citizenship in an EU Member State in return for investment. MEPs are also calling for a framework for ‘golden visas’ (see EUROPE 12891/16). The vote will take place on Tuesday.
‘Rule of law’ conditionality. The Parliament will adopt a multi-group resolution assessing the consequences of the EU Court of Justice judgments on the Rule of law conditionality regulation. The Parliament is calling on the European Commission to initiate proceedings against Poland and Hungary under this regulation (see EUROPE 12903/25). The ECR group confirmed on Friday that it would vote against the resolution. It will therefore present an alternative resolution.
Gender equality. MEPs will debate on Tuesday 8 March - International Women’s Day - the report by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (Renew Europe, France) on the external component of the third EU action plan for gender equality (GAP III) (see EUROPE 12878/32). According to the report, 85% of EU development spending should be devoted to gender equality, and the EU should lead the world in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights. The vote will take place on Wednesday and the results will be known on Thursday.
Human rights. One year after the coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021, the Parliament will vote on Thursday on a resolution on the situation in the country. It will also examine the situation of journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico (debate and resolution). After a debate, the Parliament will vote on an emergency resolution on the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Environmental Action Programme. The Parliament will formalise its final position on the comprehensive Environmental Action Programme for 2030 (8th EAP), which aims to accelerate the EU’s transition to climate neutrality and to a circular and ‘well-being’-oriented economy. MEPs are expected to confirm the interinstitutional political agreement reached in December 2021 (see EUROPE 12851/8). The vote is scheduled for Wednesday and the results will be announced on Thursday.
Batteries. MEPs will vote on the December 2020 proposal for a regulation to improve the sustainability of batteries throughout their life cycle, boost their circularity potential, and create a true European battery market. They will discuss on Wednesday and vote on Thursday on the report by Simona Bonafé (S&D, Italy) (see EUROPE 12888/13).
The ECR group is expected to vote against the report and said on Friday that the proposal on the table is “too ambitious”, as it will hamper innovation and increase battery prices in the transport sector at the same time as fuel prices are rising.
Circular economy. In a debate on the future sustainable textiles strategy, MEPs are expected to question the European Commission on the measures planned to make the textile industry more sustainable and competitive.
Economy. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the 2022 exercise of the ‘European Semester’ budget process in the light of the macroeconomic situation in the EU, which has seen a recovery continue during the Omicron wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, but whose strength will be affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its economic fallout.
The European Commission recommends a slightly expansionary fiscal stance for 2022 in order to maintain support for the sectors of activity most affected by the pandemic and to maintain investment in the environmental and digital transitions (see EUROPE 12839/1). The discussions will be based on the draft reports from the committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) (see EUROPE 12901/22), which will be adopted the following day.
On taxation, MEPs will vote: - the ‘Tinagli’ report on duty-free shops at the Cross-Channel tunnel terminal; - the ‘Belka’ report lending Parliament’s support to the December 2021 EU Council agreement on reduced VAT rates (see EUROPE 12848/8); - the ‘Niedermayer’ report on the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion (see EUROPE 12883/19); - the ‘Trademarks’ report on a European framework for national withholding tax schemes (see EUROPE 12877/19).
Cohesion. Two reports from the Committee on Regional Development will be put to a vote, one on territorial disparities, by Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia), the other by Cristina Maestre Martín de Almagro (S&D, Spain), on the role of cohesion in promoting innovation in the regions, especially in the area of connectivity. A debate on the implementation of 2021-2027 cohesion policy is scheduled for Thursday 10 March (see EUROPE 12877/10).
Social. The report by Marianne Vind (S&D, Denmark) on the EU’s new strategic framework for occupational health and safety post-2020 will be voted on Thursday.
Covid-19. MEPs will vote on the creation of a special committee called ‘The Covid-19 pandemic, lessons learned and recommendations for the future’. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and the editorial staff)