The European Parliament will meet in plenary session in Strasbourg from Monday 12 to Thursday 15 June. MEPs will debate and vote on artificial intelligence. They will also discuss a number of issues relating to Ukraine, including the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, reconstruction and the country’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. They will also be calling for greater food security in the EU.
Digital. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the report by Dragoș Tudorache (Renew Europe, Romanian) and Brando Benifei (S&D, Italian) on artificial intelligence (AI). The following day, Parliament is due to adopt its position with a view to future interinstitutional negotiations.
The report, which was adopted in committee in May, was subject to a number of last-minute adjustments (see EUROPE 13180/1). Remote biometric identification should be at the heart of the debate, as should prohibited practices and high-risk AI systems (see EUROPE 13197/5).
Ukraine. On Tuesday, after a debate on the humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam (see EUROPE 13195/3), MEPs will discuss with representatives of the European Commission and the EU Council the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine (see EUROPE 13191/8) and the country’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community (see EUROPE 13190/18). A resolution will be voted on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, MEPs will discuss the request to the Commission to confirm its positive assessment of Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Convention of 2 July 2019).
Agriculture. In a debate on Tuesday and a vote on Wednesday, MEPs are expected to call on the EU to strengthen its food security and strategic autonomy (see EUROPE 13171/10).
In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the draft report by Marlene Mortler (EPP, German) calls for the use of EU strategic food stocks and the development of a strategy to make farmers less dependent on third countries for protein and animal feed.
To read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/7er
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday, MEPs will question the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and in particular the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU is attempting to mediate between the two countries to improve their bilateral relations (see EUROPE 13193/15).
Mr Borrell will also make a statement on the political situation in Nicaragua, before the European Parliament adopts a specific resolution on Thursday. He will then talk to MEPs about his recent trip to Cuba, during which he focused on private sector development (see EUROPE 13190/24).
Parliament will then debate the situation in Lebanon. At a time when the country is going through a serious socio-economic crisis, the government has been in office since May 2022, the presidency has been vacant since the end of October 2022 and the municipal elections have just been postponed sine die. MEPs will vote on a resolution at the July plenary session.
On Wednesday, Parliament will vote on two motions for resolutions, the first concerning an EU/Thailand partnership and cooperation agreement tabled by Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgarian), and the second on a similar agreement with Malaysia tabled by Gheorghe-Vlad Nistor (EPP, Romanian).
Western Balkans. Also on Wednesday, Parliament will welcome the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani. Since the end of May, the north of the country has been the scene of violence following the election of Albanian mayors in four municipalities with a Serb majority (see EUROPE 13190/20). In response to the boycott and low turnout, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced new elections (see EUROPE 13193/16).
Human rights resolutions. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate: - the case of torture and criminal proceedings against Ukrainian minors Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov by the Russian Federation; - the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, in particular the case of press owner and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai; - the humanitarian situation in Sudan, in particular the deaths of children trapped in the fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces. All three resolutions will be put to the vote on Thursday.
European Ethics Body. On institutional issues, the European Commission will present to MEPs its recent proposal to set up a European Ethics Body to draw up standards on ethics and integrity in public life (see EUROPE 13197/14).
Poland. On Wednesday 14 June, MEPs will focus on the situation in Poland, between the revision of the Polish electoral law, the recent law dubbed the ‘Lex Tusk’ on foreign interference (see EUROPE 13196/19), and the latest ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU on the disciplinary chamber of the Supreme Court (see EUROPE 13194/13). A resolution is being prepared for submission to the July session.
Composition of the European Parliament. Following a vote in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) on Monday evening, the plenary session will be called upon to ratify MEPs’ proposal on the composition of the Parliament for the 2024-2029 term (see other news).
Future of the EU. On Tuesday morning, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, will set out his vision for the future of the European Union in the Chamber.
EU Summit. On Wednesday, MEPs will begin the day with an exchange of views with the Council of the EU and the Commission on the European Council of 29 and 30 June.
See the European Council agenda: https://aeur.eu/f/7ex
Spyware. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the proposal for a recommendation from the PEGA Committee, which investigated the use of spyware by Member States against representatives of civil society and political opponents. In May, PEGA adopted two reports which will be put to the vote on Thursday (see EUROPE 13178/24).
Justice. On Monday, MEPs will debate two texts aimed at strengthening the cross-border collection of electronic evidence: - a regulation on European orders for the production and preservation of electronic evidence in criminal matters; - a directive on the appointment of legal representatives for the purpose of taking evidence in criminal proceedings. The vote will take place on Tuesday (see EUROPE 13111/30).
On Wednesday, MEPs will debate extending the mandate of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), so that it can lead investigations into all types of violations of EU restrictive measures and prosecute them in the courts of the twenty-two Member States that recognise it. This oral question was voted on in April by the parliamentary committee (see EUROPE 13170/23).
Internships. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the quality of internships in the EU and will again call on the Commission to present legislation aimed in particular at setting adequate compensation for such internships. The draft report from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will be put to the vote the following day (see EUROPE 13178/22).
Child labour. The Commission will be speaking on Monday, the World Day Against Child Labour.
Competition. Also on Monday, MEPs will debate the report on European competition policy for 2023 (see EUROPE 13169/20), presented by René Repasi (S&D, German). The vote will take place on Tuesday.
Economy/Taxation. On Tuesday, MEPs will approve €100 million in macro-financial assistance for North Macedonia in the form of loans (see EUROPE 13115/12).
MEPs will debate on Wednesday and vote on Thursday the own-initiative report by Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Danish) on the massive ‘Pandora Papers’ data leak (see EUROPE 13146/37).
Budget. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the draft amending budget 1/2023 tabled by Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe, French) concerning the technical adjustments resulting from the political agreements reached on several legislative proposals, in particular concerning REPowerEU, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the ‘Union Secure Connectivity’ programme.
On Monday, Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgarian) will present his report on the implementation, monitoring and control of EU funds for major transport infrastructure projects in the EU.
Sustainable development. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the EU’s contribution to implementing and achieving the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On Thursday they will vote on the own-initiative report urging a double effort and recommending an ambitious EU position at the UN High-Level Political Forum in July (see EUROPE 13186/26).
Environment/Climate. On Thursday morning, MEPs will hold a debate with the Commission and EU Council on the worsening water shortages and drought in certain European countries and regions in the south of the EU (Spain, Italy and France) as summer approaches. They are expected to call for greater action to preserve and improve water resources.
On Monday, MEPs will discuss the Commission’s proposal from 14 July 2022 for a ‘Memorial Day for the Victims of Climate Change’, one year after the deadly floods in Belgium and Germany and on Thursday, MEPs will vote on a motion to recommend the creation of this ‘Day’. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys and Anne Damiani, with the editorial staff)